Explore the rich history and symbolism of the color pink in art, culture, and Christian worship—especially its joyful role on Gaudete Sunday during Advent. This Carrot Top Studio blog post celebrates pink’s meaning, spiritual significance, and connection to clergy stoles, liturgical colors, and visual storytelling in worship.

Bring the meaning of Advent into your everyday spaces with simple at-home worship practices. This Carrot Top Studio post shares three creative, family-friendly ideas for Advent at home—including candle-lighting rituals, gratitude practices, and our popular Advent Finger Labyrinth digital download. Discover accessible ways to slow down, pray, and prepare your heart during this season of hope, whether you’re worshiping alone, with family, or with your faith community.

Discover how the symbols of Advent—candles, stars, wreaths, and light—can help deepen worship and reflection. This post explores the meaning behind Advent symbols and introduces Carrot Top Studio’s Advent Bingo, a creative digital download designed for churches, classrooms, and families. Learn how this playful resource helps children and adults alike connect visually with the story of Christ’s coming while celebrating hope, peace, joy, and love.

As autumn arrives, embrace creative rituals that bring joy, stillness, and connection. From journaling and sketching to handwritten note cards and seasonal tea towels, these simple practices turn ordinary moments into sacred rhythms. At Carrot Top Studio, we believe art and faith intersect in everyday life, helping you slow down, nurture your spirit, and find beauty in the cooler days of fall and Ordinary Time.

Looking for simple Sabbath ideas this summer? Explore creative, spiritual practices like mindful walks, visual prayer spaces, coloring pages, and more—all designed to help you rest and connect with God during the slower pace of Ordinary Time.

Explore public domain art perfect for Ordinary Time worship planning. This curated list features sacred imagery and seasonal symbolism from different periods in art history to visually enhance summer sermons and church liturgies. Image pictured, a detail of “The Angelus” by Jean-Francois Millet

Celebrate the joy of handwritten connection with Carrot Top Studio’s artful note cards. Discover why sending snail mail still matters—and how a simple note can become a meaningful blessing in someone’s mailbox this summer.

In this deeply personal faith reflection, Carrot Top Studio’s founder shares how a life rooted in Christ has been shaped by community, creativity, and God’s steady presence through every season. From childhood prayers to ministry in Haiti, from laundry room worship to launching a liturgical art business—this story testifies to God’s grace woven through both extraordinary and ordinary moments. A meaningful read for anyone seeking encouragement in their spiritual journey, creative calling, or role in faith-based service.

Discover the beauty and depth of Ordinary Time through handcrafted clergy stoles that reflect themes of creation, spiritual growth, and everyday faith. At Carrot Top Studio, we embrace the creative freedom this liturgical season offers—designing green stoles rich in symbolism, texture, and meaning. Whether you're preaching on discipleship, justice, or the sacredness of daily life, our Ordinary Time stoles are created to visually support your message and ministry.

Discover the story behind The Little Beetle With Big Meaning, a blog post exploring how a whimsical beetle illustration became a powerful symbol of transformation, resilience, and quiet beauty. From nature-inspired art to faith-filled reflections, this piece delves into the deeper meaning behind the design and how it connects to our creative journey at Carrot Top Studio. Perfect for lovers of nature, faith-based art, and meaningful surface design.

Discover the story behind the Carrot Top Studio 21st Anniversary Stole, a green clergy stole inspired by symbols of faith, community, and hope—bees and honeycomb. This handcrafted liturgical stole honors the often-overlooked season of Ordinary Time and celebrates 21 years of sacred visual storytelling at Carrot Top Studio. Whether you're looking for meaningful vestments, church anniversary gifts, or inspiration for your ministry, this blog post weaves together faith, art, and tradition in a way that resonates with clergy and creatives alike.

Celebrate 21 years of faith-inspired creativity with Carrot Top Studio. In this reflection on art, ministry, and the movement of the Holy Spirit, we share how our handmade clergy stoles and liturgical art have grown from a single idea into a creative calling. Discover how Pentecost themes of wind, fire, and renewal continue to shape our studio—and how a big move to Wisconsin marks our next chapter.

2024 Favorites: A Year of Creativity, Growth, and Joy

This year, I embraced habits and discoveries that enriched my life and creative journey. From binge-watching shows like Shrinking and Great British Baking Show to reading powerful novels like The Other Wes Moore and Go As a River, 2024 was filled with inspiration. I hit a milestone with 57 blog posts for Carrot Top Studio, experimented with daily digital drawings, and even found joy in simple routines like adding spinach to breakfast or pushups to my mornings. Join me in reflecting on the little joys that made this year unforgettable!

Advent invites us into a season of waiting, a journey of heart and spirit that goes beyond counting down to Christmas. Rooted in the powerful themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, Advent encourages us to pause and prepare for the coming of Christ. Through weekly candle-lighting and reflection, we are reminded that even in darkness, light and hope grow stronger. In this post, discover ways to deepen your Advent journey through prayer, scripture, and communal traditions. And as a special closing, enjoy a peaceful haiku crafted to capture the beauty of anticipation.

This Advent season, discover meaningful ways to prepare for Christmas with my selection of both new and favorite devotional resources. From Encountering Emmanuel by Heather Khym, which invites us to pause and experience God’s presence, to Light From Afar, an international Advent devotional by Upper Room Books, these resources offer fresh perspectives and global reflections. I’m also returning to cherished art devotionals like Biola University’s Advent Project and The Visual Commentary on Scripture from King’s College London. These selections blend art, scripture, and daily inspiration, creating a rich, reflective experience ideal for deepening your Advent journey. Explore these resources on the Carrot Top Studio blog to embrace the themes of hope, peace, and joy in meaningful, visual ways this season.

In this blog post, I want to take you on a journey into the fascinating world of surface design and share what it’s like to license art. For those who might not be familiar, the surface design industry encompasses the creation of patterns, illustrations, and graphics that adorn everyday items—from fabrics and wallpapers to stationery and home decor. It’s an industry where art meets functionality, turning ordinary objects into extraordinary pieces through beautiful designs.

Welcome to Carrot Top Studio, where art and faith intertwine to create captivating narratives and timeless treasures. Join us on a virtual tour of our creative sanctuary, where every stroke of the brush and stitch of the needle is infused with passion, purpose, and a deep reverence for the sacred.

In the ever-evolving landscape of worship, the integration of visual elements has become increasingly vital. As we seek to engage congregations on a deeper level, the use of public-domain art presents a wealth of opportunities to enrich our worship experiences. This blog post shares some examples of art suitable for Lent.

At Carrot Top Studio, our core values are not just guiding principles—they are the heartbeat of our artistic endeavor. We embrace the transformative potential of art, celebrate diversity, purposefully adorn and inspire, connect through storytelling, and strive to empower minds and spark change. Learn more in this blog post.

In the spirit of community and connection, I am grateful for the opportunity to leverage the strength of relationships within the Carrot Top Studio family in this blog post.