Sprechen sie deutsch?

Did you know that Catholic Embroidery's products are offered with International Customization?

One of the greatest things about our customization services is the ability to accommodate a variety of styles, names, dates, quotes, devotions, and even languages. Our signature Catholic aprons are not only meant for the English language, but extend to a variety of languages, thus spreading Catholic symbolism and devotion around the globe. Here is an example of such an order for aprons, which now grace the kitchens and tables of Catholic families across Germany.

Our Do Small Things Apron in German ready to ship, along with Sacred Heart aprons, to families across Europe.

To our International readers: Welcome! Is there an interest for Catholic Embroidery in your country?

God bless,

Mary

Check out our full line of signature Catholic aprons at: www.catholicembroidery.com

Beautiful Hands of a Priest

The approaching month of May begins the great season of ordinations. This is a bustling time for our embroidery shop as we prepare last-minute details for custom vestments and linens. I cannot think of a more rewarding project than preparing fabrics and floss for the altar!

The photos below were taken of a set of linens we embroidered in collaboration with Altarworthy for a priest who will be ordained in Texas in the next few weeks. Please pray for him and all new priests!

The Beautiful Hands of a Priest 

Unknown Author

  We need them in life's early morning,
            We need them again at its close;
            We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
            We seek it while tasting life's woes.

  When we come to this world we are sinful,
            The greatest as well as the least.
            And the hands that make us pure as angels
            Are the beautiful hands of a priest.

  At the altar each day we behold them,
            And the hands of a king on his throne
            Are not equal to them in their greatness
            Their dignity stands alone.

  For there in the stillness of morning
            Ere the sun has emerged from the east,
            There God rests between the pure fingers
            Of the beautiful hands of a priest.

When we are tempted and wander
          To pathways of shame and sin
          'Tis the hand of a priest that absolve us.
          Not once but again and again.

And when we are taking life's spouse,
          Other hands may prepare us a feast
          But the hands that will bless and unite us,
          Are the beautiful hands of a priest.

God bless them and keep them all holy,
          For the Host which their fingers caress,
          What can a poor sinner do better
          Than to ask Him who chose them to bless

When the death dews on our lids are falling,
          May our courage and strength be increased
          By seeing raised o'er us in blessing
          The beautiful hands of a priest.

God bless,

Mary

O Lord, send us priest!

O Lord, send us many priests!

O Lord, send us many holy priests and religious vocations!

www.catholicembroidery.com

Our Threaded Family Tree - Part I

The art of embroidery and needlework lies deep within our family's history. Despite the fact that our family heritage includes such striking differences in American settlers - such as Irish Immigrants, Italian printers and butchers, German aristocrats, and rebel soldiers in the Civil War - one thing seems to remain a general interest among many: embroidery and needlework.  Join us as we travel around the country, tracing a deep-rooted interest in sewing amidst a world of Indians, Immigrants, and convents, unknowingly paving the way for what is now known as, "Catholic Embroidery". 


Part I - From Convent to Continent
John and Carmelina Lania


As a young woman, Carmelina lived at a convent in Italy where she learned how to sew and embroider. In the early 1920's, the then married Carmelina and her husband John, immigrated to America with their 6 year old son, Vincent (Marks' uncle). John and Carmelina spent their lives in New Jersey raising a family and making a living in the garment making business. In their trade, Mr. and Mrs. Lania would "finish" garments by frogging them, finishing gowns, silks, etc. Mrs. Lania was known for making button covers by hand and embroidering pillows and a variety of other garments. 


Though the garment business of this early American entrepreneurial couple has long since been closed, the Lania Legacy still lives on today in the Serafino home. Mark's stories recall the happy years of his early childhood, where the Lania family treated him as a grandson and showered him with the best of Italian hospitality.

Mr. Lania with Mark as a child - Photograph Circa: 1960

www.catholicembroidery.com

All content © Catholic Embroidery

UPDATE: Rosary Case Giveaway WINNER

Many thanks to all who participated in our recent Rosary Case Giveaway. 

And the winner is...

Mary Ann R. !!!!

Congratulations, Mary Ann! Please contact Mary at: needles@fidnet.com to claim your free Rosary Case.

Stay tuned for more giveaways and promotions, coming soon!

God bless,

Mary

www.catholicembroidery.com

Project: Heart of Mary Design Debut ~ Cope

Measuring around 5" tall, this image is perfect for a family embroidered afghan, mantle scarf, or your own special project. 

New to the Catholic Embroidery Design Gallery - our Signature Heart of Mary design! Made to partner  our Sacred Heart Design, this Heart of Mary boasts the joy and sorrow of Our Lady in one beautiful and striking image.

This deep, rich red heart is wrapped in a crown of luscious roses in honor of Mary's Motherhood and title "Rosa Mystica", wounded with seven swords of Sorrows, and topped with a flaming Lily of Purity.

Just as soon as this new design was off the drawing board and digitized, it made it's debut into the world of embroidery on what couldn't be a better project: a handcrafted and custom-made Cope for a soon-to-be newly ordained priest. The final project is more beautiful than ever imagined, thanks to the talent of the Altarworthy seamstress and Our Lord's guidance within our workshops. We are privileged to have the Heart of Mary design serve as a beacon of Our Lady when all eyes are directed toward the altar in this unforgettable vestment set.

Handcrafted Traditional Latin Mass Vestment Set - Heart of Mary embroidered Cope.

Close up of cope hood

Gotcha Covered!

Missal & Book covers made and embroidered by Catholic Embroidery have been very popular items among Mass-goers across the world. Our handmade covers protect many different kinds of books, devotionals, breviaries, and bibles.  The Custom Cover option on our website offers the ability to customize a cover to any size book and with any choice of monogram on our missal cover designs.

In addition to custom covers, we have now added a new product line of Signature Missal Covers - already designed and assembled covers to fit specific books and ready to ship. This is a great option for anyone who has a standard size book that fits within our categories. Plus, these Signature Missal Covers are being offered at reasonable prices and are ready to ship - ideal for gift-giving!

Check out some of our new designs - and like always: more to come soon!!

Covers for the New Daily Missal - Midwest Theological Forum

Cover for the New Marian Missal

Cover for the Bonaventure Press St. Joseph Missal

Visit www.catholicembroidery.com

Project: Easter Altar Frontal

We are very blessed to work with seamstresses around the country who use their God-given sewing talents and love of the sewing art for the glory of the Altar and the service of the Priesthood. A few weeks ago, St. Anne's Liturgical Sewing in Indiana called and asked if we could embroider one of our Agnus Dei designs for an altar frontal project for a local church as a "last minute" Easter project. We were able to work with this immediate need, embroidering the Agnus Dei design on a piece of silk sent to us by the seamstress and mailing it back to her in record timing.

On Easter morning, a new altar frontal greeted parishioners as they filed into the pews of this Catholic church. What a beautiful way to reflect the joy that only comes from the glory of Christ in His Resurrection - the Triumphant Lamb of God.

www.catholicembroidery.com

2012 Catholic Homeschool Conference

Half of Catholic Embroidery's Shopping space at the conference

This year marked 4 years of our attendance as vendors at the St. Louis Catholic Homeschool Conference. With the entire lower level of the Cardinal Rigali Center filled with Catholic vendors of all sorts, the best of educational and Catholic-based items were not lacking... from textbooks and reading treasures to host of holy cards and and the best in beautiful images of our Faith in all forms of art - including stitches. It was a day enjoyed by hundreds of Catholic parents and teens. It was a pleasure to meet with old friends and new.

Customers enjoyed special prices on almost all of our items!

The apron table was a favorite amongst attendees

Our new embroidered rosary cases were an Easter basket ideal

Catholic Embroidered Key Fobs - a style for everyone

Every year, we host a gift certificate giveaway game of "guess the number of stitches". This year's feature design was the Agnus Dei - Triumphant Lamb of God. Attendees placed guesses that ranged from 100 to 50,000 stitches. The winner with the closest guess was Amy B., who guessed 15,000 stitches. 

The exact number???

16,144 stitches

That's approximately 100 yards of thread!

Congratulations, Amy!

A big thank you to all who visited us at this year's conference. We look forward to seeing you next year!

www.catholicembroidery.com

Rosary Case Giveaway

For a chance to win the embroidered Rosary Case of *your choice*, simply leave a comment on this post, telling us your favorite style rosary case. (To view entire collection, click here.)

Become a follower to this blog and qualify for TWO chances to win the comment drawing, which will close on April 12th at 11:59PM Central time. 

Our rosary cases are handmade in the USA and embroidered with your favorite signature Catholic Embroidery designs. Never lose your rosary again and enjoy the beauty of the Faith through stitches in your purse or pocket.

"Christ Before Me, Christ Behind Me"

These words of St. Patrick can apply to every aspect of life... but what about bedtime? Asking Christ to bless "the night or day before me and the night or day behind me" is illustrated boldly in our new St. Patrick's Breastplate Pillowcase.  This lovely linen features our new Mini Celtic Cross design along with the powerful monogram, applicable and appropriate for any pillow. Best of all, it's made for standard or queen sizes!

Do you have a favorite bedtime or morning prayer that you think would be perfect for a pillow? Let us know in the combox!

From Our Family to Yours

Introducing the Catholic Embroidery Blog - a cyber space designed to offer news on your favorite Catholic embroidered products, giveaways, discount codes, and tidbits from the world of our family's Catholic embroidery workshop.

Be sure to visit our blog often, so you don't miss out on anything new or interesting pertaining to your favorite products and the Faith. Learn about the patron saints of embroidery, travel with us as we attend Catholic conferences across the nation, and meet our friends and patrons in the blogging and website world.

~From Our Family to Yours~
St. Serafina, pray for us!

www.catholicembroidery.com