Traditionally made of silk, Deborah’s stoles are made of 100 percent dupion and she sources fair-trade wherever possible.
From Peacock with ‘fish’ tails to Quark mapping
People may come to Deborah with a fixed idea of design. Others are more abstract in concept – incorporating water, for example, or mountains. Whatever, designs are usually intensely personal. Even if there is no idea in place at first Deborah will work with the client to find an appropriate visual way of expressing their individual spiritual journey or message.
Rev Linda Galvin says, “My red stole features the Holy Spirit, both in the flames of Pentecost and a dove. Red stoles are traditionally worn at Pentecost and festival days and I felt this representation of the Holy Spirit in flame colours from purple to red was appropriate.
“It was also the colour stole that Winchester diocese chose for ordination (rather than the normal white stole) and I wanted to incorporate a cross into it, and so chose a cross shape that was given to me by a fellow Ordinand who had been to Jerusalem and the Holy Land and bought me a wooden cross back in this style.”
Deborah describes a request to have an peacock because the woman being ordained had seen a mosaic of a peacock (early Christian symbol of eternal life) at the Vatican and fish – so Deborah’s made the peacock’s tail feathers the fish. The design for the ordination stole of a former quantum physicist was created from an image of Quark mapping. Trees, bumblebees, fire, flowers, birds, animals, crosses and other spiritual symbols – whatever’s chosen is personal and individual.
“The design is a piece of the person themselves,” comments Deborah, who says she’s never refused to incorporate an idea, although will steer people away from too many concepts in a design.
Border Agency Chapel, Gatwick – Deborah’s most challenging commission
“It was difficult surroundings, and the inmates were mostly males from India and Africa. Therefore the design couldn’t be too Western, says Deborah about creating the large 6ft banner, lecturn fall and altar frontal for the chapel. “I wanted to make sure that it represented familiarity and also that it offered comfort and hope.”
The resulting design – with deep blue sky and bright yellow sun and featurin an African tree and dove – fabric was sourced from world textiles using pieces of material and different styles, for example batique.
Stoles and the rules for style and colour
Deacons usually wear stoles crossed at the side, whereas priests are entitled to wear a stole round the neck and hanging down.
Different coloured stoles are worn depending on the church season or events:
Red is worn at Pentecost and also used for confirmation and ordination, purple during Advent and Lent, before the major festivals of Christmas and Easter (seasons of spiritual preparation, reflective and penitential ).
Stoles are in green when there are no festivals or particular seasons, representing growth and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
White or gold is the colour for special festivals – Christmas, Easter, Saints Days – and weddings and baptisms.
And white is for weddings and christenings.
Ninety percent of Deborah’s customers are women – and many choose to use material from wedding dresses for their stoles. A recent design was double-sided, with one used for wedding, the reverse more suitable for christenings.
And in line with practices of shopping today, last word to customer review …
… Linda Galvin: “The beauty of Deborah's work is reflected in her ability to interpret people's basic ideas and to transform them into such wonderful and meaningful creations.”
From Peacock with ‘fish’ tails to Quark mapping
People may come to Deborah with a fixed idea of design. Others are more abstract in concept – incorporating water, for example, or mountains. Whatever, designs are usually intensely personal. Even if there is no idea in place at first Deborah will work with the client to find an appropriate visual way of expressing their individual spiritual journey or message.
Rev Linda Galvin says, “My red stole features the Holy Spirit, both in the flames of Pentecost and a dove. Red stoles are traditionally worn at Pentecost and festival days and I felt this representation of the Holy Spirit in flame colours from purple to red was appropriate.
“It was also the colour stole that Winchester diocese chose for ordination (rather than the normal white stole) and I wanted to incorporate a cross into it, and so chose a cross shape that was given to me by a fellow Ordinand who had been to Jerusalem and the Holy Land and bought me a wooden cross back in this style.”
Deborah describes a request to have an peacock because the woman being ordained had seen a mosaic of a peacock (early Christian symbol of eternal life) at the Vatican and fish – so Deborah’s made the peacock’s tail feathers the fish. The design for the ordination stole of a former quantum physicist was created from an image of Quark mapping. Trees, bumblebees, fire, flowers, birds, animals, crosses and other spiritual symbols – whatever’s chosen is personal and individual.
“The design is a piece of the person themselves,” comments Deborah, who says she’s never refused to incorporate an idea, although will steer people away from too many concepts in a design.
Border Agency Chapel, Gatwick – Deborah’s most challenging commission
“It was difficult surroundings, and the inmates were mostly males from India and Africa. Therefore the design couldn’t be too Western, says Deborah about creating the large 6ft banner, lecturn fall and altar frontal for the chapel. “I wanted to make sure that it represented familiarity and also that it offered comfort and hope.”
The resulting design – with deep blue sky and bright yellow sun and featurin an African tree and dove – fabric was sourced from world textiles using pieces of material and different styles, for example batique.
Stoles and the rules for style and colour
Deacons usually wear stoles crossed at the side, whereas priests are entitled to wear a stole round the neck and hanging down.
Different coloured stoles are worn depending on the church season or events:
Red is worn at Pentecost and also used for confirmation and ordination, purple during Advent and Lent, before the major festivals of Christmas and Easter (seasons of spiritual preparation, reflective and penitential ).
Stoles are in green when there are no festivals or particular seasons, representing growth and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
White or gold is the colour for special festivals – Christmas, Easter, Saints Days – and weddings and baptisms.
And white is for weddings and christenings.
Ninety percent of Deborah’s customers are women – and many choose to use material from wedding dresses for their stoles. A recent design was double-sided, with one used for wedding, the reverse more suitable for christenings.
And in line with practices of shopping today, last word to customer review …
… Linda Galvin: “The beauty of Deborah's work is reflected in her ability to interpret people's basic ideas and to transform them into such wonderful and meaningful creations.”
