BEAUTI-FULL.

It was a drizzly, cold day here in Georgia yesterday. The kind of day that just makes us want to hang onto our cup of coffee or green tea as we hum around and work inside our studio.   With the snow falling on the northeast coast though, we decided not to complain about the weather here in Georgia. Instead, we made a choice to look, really look, for the beauty that is out there when the landscape is a bit dreary.
Look what we found "blooming" outside on a gray, drizzly day!  A flourishing lichen, spilling shades of celadon, lemongrass and smoky blue all over the day. What a beautiful sight.  We probably would've never noticed how full of beauty this little lichen was, hanging onto a weathered wind chime, if everything was blooming all around it.  The stark surroundings just seem to frame it in for a perfect photo session and sharing with you today.

                                                                                             
It's kind of made us think about the beauty that God sees in us, regardless of what is or has been going on in our lives.  We could have been going through a winter time of sorts in our minds, our outlook, our circumstances, but God still sees the beauty in us, the beauty He has for us, the beauty He longs to infuse into our lives.  Even if the weather, the attitudes, the day, have shaped up to be one large pile of ashes, He promises to bring ..."beauty out of the ashes".

                                                                                               
  The Voice translation says it this way:
"God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, to anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness." Isaiah 61:3

This promise was part of the framework for the artwork in one of our new mini-books that Divinity Boutique released this month.(In retail stores soon.) The mini-book was created with teens in mind, but it's a good read for anyone. A reminder that each of us are full of beauty,("Beauti-FULL"), in the eyes of the One who loves us most.  We hope you'll pause and take in a little inspiration from the artwork below and then share it with someone who needs to be reminded of just how beautiful they are in God's eyes.

After all this talk about where beauty really comes from, we've been pondering that phrase, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".  Perhaps a truer version would be something like this:
 "Beauty comes from the eyes of the One we behold."  Because, when we look at Him, focus on Him, The One who loves us most, created every detail about us, cares for us, and sees beauty even in our ashes...His beauty just spills out all over lives.  It's kind of like we exchange our thoughts, our misconceptions, our perceptions about us and begin to see ourselves as he sees us.  Beauti-FULL.  Just like the dry, crusty lichen, draped on the wind chime outside.

Have a Beauti-FULL day,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Gift Mart 2015

G-R-A-T-I-T-U-D-E.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude this week.

This week over 50 gift items will make their debut at the AmericasMart in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Velvet Lime Girls artwork has been chosen to grace each one of them.  50 is big for us.  50 is really big for three girls who simply believed God could use them to inspire others through their artwork.   Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with God.

May we take just a moment to thank each one of you who have encouraged us along the way?
Thank-you for the kind words from our Facebook friends, direction from our licensing team, Painted Planet Licensing,  opportunities from manufacturers, Divinity Boutique, Legacy Publishing, Enesco, Custom Decor, Carson,  and to everyone who gave us advice, insight or just a bit of your valuable time. Each one of you hold a gratitude spot in our hearts. Thank-you.

We'll be talking about some of our favorite items later this week, but for today, here's a small sampling of some of the gift items that are showing up this week with our artwork.  If you are a retailer attending the Mart, stop by the showrooms listed below each product group.

3 Grateful Hearts in Atlanta,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Stepping into 2015

We've put aside the  fancy shoes and fancy food.
                          

And we've embraced the new year with an expectancy that just makes us want to twirl!

Little celebration twirls are so good for the soul!

When was the last time you were so happy you just wanted to twirl? We can learn a lot from little ones who haven't forgotten the joy of twirling.

For us, the twirling, the anticipation, the expectation ... it all springs from God. The One who loves us the most.

The One who plants seeds of hope, courage and creativity inside of us.

The One who brings a sparkle to our lives.

The One who calls us blessed.

The One who writes out a sky-canvas printable for everyone, that seems to read, nothing is impossible with God.

A sky-scripture for all to download into their souls.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible."  Luke 1:37

So, with all this sky inspiration and twirling going on, we've put on our "big girl" shoes today, this first day of the year. 

"Big girl" shoes to wear as we begin our work of pouring out the creative ideas inside of us onto canvas, paper, computer and products.  We'll look forward to sharing some of our inspirations with you all, right here, throughout 2015.

Happy New Year,

The Velvet Lime Girls

P.S.  Thank-you's to:

Alexa Ladikos, for her petite feet, sparkly shoes and twirls.

Kelsey Rhodes, for her two pairs of shoes on one set of cute feet.

Penny-Anne Machemehl, for her hand-crafted cross, crystal and necklace.

We'll be featuring Penny-Anne's studio in a January blog.