I am Anne and I am a member of Foothills Unitarian Church in Fort Collins, CO. When my wife and I decided to marry legally after 30 years of commitment together, we met with our minister, the Rev. Gretchen Haley in her office as we set about planning—maybe to make sure we weren’t rushing into anything! She closed the door for privacy and I spotted her beautiful stoles hanging on a rack on the back of her door. She told me about her ordination stole, which tells the story of her call to ministry in dyed silk, stitching and images of the places and concepts of her spiritual formation. The artist’s work moved me and it clearly remains a very important touchstone for her.

Something clicked for me that day. I knew I had found a calling—a way to combine my unique backgrounds in architecture, fine art, sewing and ethnography into something beautiful in support of those who lead and uphold the spiritual community I call my spiritual home.

I now create handmade, high-quality vestments designed for the wide diversity of Unitarian Universalist ministers in addition to clergy members of other progressive churches and organizations. Ready-to-wear designs include stoles for regular Sundays, activism and social justice work, and special events such as water, flower and fire communion Sundays, weddings and celebration of life events.

I carve out special time each year to work on a limited number of custom stoles for ordination or other special occasions as well. In collaboration with the recipient, I distill the story of your call to ministry and create an elegant visual and tactile representation of your story, constructed with care, quality and beauty.

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing a ready-to-wear stole or collaborating on a custom stole. I’d love to hear from you.