This commission for an ivory Ordination stole came from a carpenter. They wanted a reference to the fact they were a carpenter and that the cross of the crucifiction was hewn from rough timbers. Embroidered on the lining on both…
Author: Elaine Bradshaw
IHS Christogram
The client for this stole had quite a specific idea in mind for their Ordination stole. They wanted me to use the IHS Christogram and to incorporate the ‘cross of nails’ through the centre. We began by choosing the style…
Celtic Cross
The client for this Ordination stole had a very clear picture of what they wanted for their piece. On one side a Celtic cross standing on top of a rock and on the other some nails entwined with thorns and…
Persian Cross
This very striking Ordination stole began with a very simple brief, to represent the client’s Iranian heritage. The Persian blue was to be the dominant colour and they would like a dove to be included. I did some research into…
In The Beginning
The client wanted this green Ordinary time stole to reflect the Creation story. It is an example of one of my more complicated designs, with many small elements added to create the finished picture. The main focus was to the…
May My Prayers Be Set Before You
The inspiration for this Ordination stole came from Psalm 141 May my prayers be set before you like incense, May the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. The image shows a figure with arms raised and…
I Am The Light Shining In The Darkness
This stole is the third in a series commissioned by a client who wanted the reference to radiating light to appear in each of the stoles. Here the ‘light’ is radiating out from Christs heart as he hugs a kneeling…
Let The Little Children Come To Me
This commission came from a priest whose ordination stole I had made last year. They wanted this green Ordinary Time stole to reflect the saying of Jesus ‘Let the little children come to me’. I was asked to incorporate an…
Our Lady of the Assumption
This commission came from a school in Blackpool that wanted to say goodbye and thank you to their priest who was moving to a new parish. I was asked to use the school logo which featured Blackpool Tower, their school,…
Chesire Countryside
This commission came as a gift for a minister from her parishioners for her Ordination this summer. It was a new one for me as they wanted it to feature a red tractor, a black and white cow and a…