I devoted a lot less time to
my baby clothes store, Little Characters, in February. Patrick and I have been putting almost all our time and energy into trying to ensure that at least one of us has a good, paying job come summer. I'm currently chasing a dream. I'll know in the next month or two if it will become a reality, but I've just started to get some breaks from running.
And anyone who knows me well knows how I use my breaks . . . to work on my store! :D
I decided to treat myself. I delayed working on the next set of holiday designs for April (I do
plan to create Passover/Pesach, Easter, and revamped Earth Day designs) and instead I focused on something closer to my heart . . . Unitarian Universalism.
I would estimate that I've spent well over a hundred hours on designs for
Jewish,
Christian,
Muslim, and
Hindu designs for baby clothes - with most of that time going toward the
Jewish baby gifts. I feel very proud of that, because celebrating diversity is certainly a reflection of my values.
But those values come from my Unitarian Universalist faith, so it was about time I create something based on that! I just completed my first collection of
UU designs for baby clothes, and T-shirts for toddlers, kids, youth, or parents.
Creating this collection was pretty involved. Each design says either "Little UU" or just "UU" and the letters are filled with symbols from the world's religions. I drew each of those symbols. (If you zoom in really big, the waves
in the lines will prove that to you! Don't worry though - it will look smooth when printed regular size on the products)
You'll find beautiful versions of the Sufi Winged Heart, the Shinto Torii (Gate), the Pagan Triple Moon, the Taoist Yin Yang, the Jewish Chai (Life symbol), the Christian Ichtus (Fish), the Hindu Om, the Bahai Nine Pointed Star, the Christian Cross, the Muslim Star & Crescent, the Buddhist Dharmachakra (Wheel Showing the Eight-fold Path), and the Jewish Star of David. And, of course, I couldn't forget the UU Chalice! Each period is filled with a chalice.
Here are some examples of products. JUST CLICK ANY PICTURE TO BUY. You can also browse the
Unitarian Universalist section of my store to find the size, color, and product that's just right for you or email me at drawnbyk@gmail.com. I'm happy to do a special order changing any of the colors in the design at no extra charge. I could also add to the design to make it more personal for your congregation or church activity. Depending on how much time that would require, there may be a slight increase in the price.
Drawing each of these religious symbols was a spiritual practice for me. I thought about what each meant to me, and I tried to chose symbols that represented the elements of the traditions that called to me personally. For example, even though I think the Jewish symbol of the Hamsa (hand) is visually beautiful, I don't feel as inspired by a sign that's primary purpose is to ward off the evil eye.
I guess it is ironic that my first design focusing on Unitarian Universalism still included signs from all these other religions. I could have started with a design that only had a chalice, and that might have been more true to UU identity. The truth is that I've seen a couple of gorgeous chalice designs on Cafepress by other artists. I haven't seen anything quite like what I just created, so it was less intimidating to start with this. I hope to move on to doing some original chalice designs and I'm very excited to create a design based on a popular children's chalice lighting verse.
In the mean time, I'm happy with this beginning. I think that these T-shirts could be a good way of spreading the good news about Unitarian Universalism without proselytizing. I suspect that someone might see the shirt and ask the wearer a question. What better way to start conversations about Unitarian Universalism than with a question?!
