Embroidered vestments
with Celtic designs
Ruth is no longer able to accept any commissions.
She is sorry to disappoint you but she invites you to take a look at some of her wonderful work through these pages.
Her studio is 6 miles west of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland, where she designed and made original and unique vestments, mostly featuring Celtic designs. Everything was individually designed in consultation with her clients.
Most of her work went straight out to clients so usually she only had one or two of the vestments that she had made for her husband on display at her studio - whatever colour was not in use for the current season.
Pictured right is a detail from a recently made stole that has headed to the south of England. The green fabric is Glastonbury brocade and the silk of the angel is a turquoise and gold shot silk that changes colour depending on the angle at which you see it. The "incense smoke" is hand painted silk stitched with irridescent thread. The chains of the thurible are hand embroidered and the fringe is handwoven. The embroidery extends up the full length of the stole.
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This site is all about the ecclesiastical work of textile artist Ruth Black. I hope you enjoy browsing the site and that you find it easy to navigate.
I am a Scottish Vestments maker specialising in pieces inspired by our Celtic and Pictish past often using our ancient carved cross slabs, high crosses and early medieval manuscripts as a starting point for many of my designs. My tartan-lined and embroidered stoles have travelled to all parts of the world.
Some of my work can be seen by appointment at my studio in Inchmore. I usually aim to have a couple of stoles available for immediate purchase, but apart from those, most of what I am able to show you are things I have made for my husband so I would need to bring them out to the studio. i.e. an appointment is essential if you want to see actual examples! Everything else I have made has already gone to the client, though you may be lucky enough to catch me with work in progress. Visitors are always welcome.
Throughout the site you can see images of things I have made over the years. I usually have a couple of sample stoles which are available for immediate purchase, but otherwise everything is individually made to order only. If you want any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I always try to make things that have particular significance for the recipient, perhaps by the design or by the choice of fabric. Much of what I do incorporates tartan, but this is not essential - I am happy to work with plain fabrics and traditional damasks, silks, velvets and wools. What I don’t work with are cheap synthetic fabrics. If you are looking for off-the-peg, bargain basement vestments, then please keep looking, but if you want something special that combines history and tradition with meticulous work to create a vestment or parament that will stand the test of time, then you have come to the right place.
Facebook and Newsletter
If you use Facebook then please click on the link above right.
If you are not a Facebook fan but still want to keep in touch, then you can subscribe to my newsfeed, but I seldom send out anything, perhaps just once a year or so. I have started a new list for this, so if you want to be included, please email me and I will add you in. Your details will never be passed on to any other organisation.
