<![CDATA[Altarworthy Handmade Vestments - Blog]]>Thu, 06 Mar 2025 04:12:34 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[catholic art exhibition]]>Sat, 27 Oct 2018 07:00:00 GMThttp://altarworthy.com/blog/catholic-art-exhibition
​     Pentecost is the birth of the Church. The time that follows in the liturgical calendar is “Time after Pentecost” – the explosive growth and flourishing of the Church as the Holy Spirit prompts the apostles to spread the faith to all nations. Because of this, the liturgical color for this season is green.
     St. Martin is an inspiring model for this season of renewal and evangelization in the Church, combining first duty and love to God, with true charity for neighbor. A Roman cavalry soldier, born to pagan parents just after Christianity was no longer illegal, he eventually converted to Christianity as a young man.
​     One bitterly cold night he came upon a beggar naked and shivering in the cold. Removing his own cape, he cut it in half with his sword and gave it to the man. That night Martin had a dream in which Jesus was wearing the half cloak and spoke of him, saying, “Martin who is still a catechumen hath clothed me.” Eventually, St. Martin would become the third bishop of Tours and establish an abbey which would be one of the earliest monastic foundations in France.
     The cut of this chasuble is a modified bell chasuble whose origins come from one of the earliest vestment shapes (conical) derived from common Roman attire.
     The front pillar and Tau cross on back are ornamented with carnelian and pearl semi-precious gemstones. Carnelian (ruby) was the first of twelve stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel in the breastplate of the high priest. Pearls are often referred to in the bible symbolizing the virtue of faith. The silk shantung lining is a terracotta/ clay hue reminding us of our earthly temporal nature, made from dust and to dust we will return.

Now through December 2nd,  we're thrilled to be featured as 2 of the 44 works selected in the "7th Juried Catholic Arts Exhibition" which happens every two years at the Archabbey in PA.

 The goal of the exhibition is to put priests and sacred art patrons in contact with current working Catholic artists for new  projects. Some of the works are available for purchase (as is this vestment "Time After Pentecost" featured in the show).
           
Details:
www.gallery.stvincent.edu
​www.gallery.stvincent.edu
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About the green damask...
We have painstakingly recreated the design motif of this large repeat and then commissioned the milling in a silk blend damask for our vestment house. It faithfully reproduces the textile worn by St. Martin of Tours in the 15th century painting (above).
]]><![CDATA[The first blog]]>Sat, 20 Oct 2018 05:41:20 GMThttp://altarworthy.com/blog/the-first-blog
Picture
When I was about 5 or 6 years old, my Dad helped an elderly colleague move. I never knew her name or even where she was moving, but she was a grandmotherly type and her tiny house was filled with “lady things”. Being raised with my brother by a single Dad, this was the first time I recall ever seeing female things. They were alien. Fascinating. I wanted to touch them all and the kind woman noticed this and took time to show me some of her treasures as she packed them into boxes.

Before we left that evening, she opened a tiny lacquered box with herons edged in gold and asked if I knew what the silver dome was inside. I couldn’t guess. She asked if I would learn to sew someday, and I assured her “Oh yes!” without any idea what she was talking about. She gave me the box to take home and I never saw her again.

​Decades later that box has remained with me without any real effort on my part. It wasn’t an important trinket. I don’t know why I still have it. But 10 years ago I started repairing vestments (how I became Catholic is a different story), but I suddenly recalled that little orange box and pulled it out to use it for the first time. A full 40 years had passed and I saw it with new eyes. The graceful name engraved on the side stopped me in my tracks...

Maria
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