Brave Bluebells

The bluebells are blooming in our studio garden.  They pushed their heads up through the dirt, moss, and pine straw last week and this morning they've been catching dew drops on their turned-up curly heads. We've caught them dancing around too.

We think it's because they've been brave.  
Brave enough to push through the hard, brown barrier that hung over their heads all winter long. 
Brave enough to believe their Creator had a purpose for them.  
Brave enough to trust the love they are wrapped in.  


When you've been so beautifully created, wrapped in such love, how could you not be brave?
When someone cares enough to trace the length of your petals with lavender love lines, mist your face with drops of dew from Heaven and wrap your heart in a tender embrace... you can push through anything.  

Love makes you brave.

"You make me brave, you make me brave,

 You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave, you make me brave

No fear can hinder now the promises you have made."

                         Bethel Music

So take a cue from the bluebells.  Be Brave.

You can push through any challenge you face today with the strength that comes from being loved by God.

"Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

The Velvet Lime Girls

Coaster with Velvet Lime Girls artwork, courtesy of 

Legacy Publishing Group

A Work of Art in Progress

We love the beginning of any work of art.  Those first few strokes of color that slip out, so brave and bold, pulling shapes off a blank canvas, liberating the vision inside an artist. The first stroke, as beautiful as it may be, is merely the beginning of something so much bigger and grander.  

There are other strokes to add, other colors to blend, other highlights to scatter, for a true work of art to be created.  To a casual observer, there may be moments when everything just seems to not-be-working-out-well-together.

But, the artist has a vision inside and sees the final end before the beginning.  And each stroke, even the ones that seem out of place or the ones that mess things up, bring the piece closer to it's beautiful completion.

                            
At each stage, it simply progresses to something more glorious than before.  And those little strokes that began the artwork's story are so very glad they trusted the artist with a master plan. 

"Trust" 12"x16" pastel on paper
© James Rhodes 2015

Life is so beautiful when it's lived in trust. 

     " For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. 

 They are plans for good and not for evil, 

plans to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

The Velvet Lime Girls

P.S. A special thank-you to James Rhodes, (the husband of Laura, one of the Velvet Lime Girls), for letting us photograph his latest piece of artwork as it progressed in our studio.
Gratitude also to his art instructor, Kathryn Gentile , who gently pulls the gifts and talents out of each of her students as she teaches at Johns Creek Art Center.
                                           

Mini-Flags for Spring Gardens!

Spring has fluttered-in to all of Georgia.  The cherry trees have been in full bloom and, as Laura's youngest granddaughter recently observed, the trees look like snow trees filled with puffy clouds of snow petals. We are totally captivated by these snow trees when an April breeze fills the air and releases hundreds of blushing pink petals to dance across the sky.  Oh, spring is so beautiful here in Georgia under a cherry tree filled with snow petals.

We started announcing the arrival of this beautiful season with some of the cute mini-flags we created for CARSON.  The mini-flags grace our garden pots, flowers, and herb gardens. The flags seem to echo the thoughts we hum in our hearts as we stroll around our studio garden.
This one greets us every morning as it rests in a glazed pot of moss:

This one settled into the herb garden:

And this one waits to be given to a friend:

We just create the artwork for these cute flags and do not sell them here, but you can find the flags online at  AMAZON ,  ChristianBook.com or retail gifts stores that carry CARSON gift products.  (The helpful folks at Carson customer service can direct you to a store with a call to 1.800.888.1918)

If you own a retail store, here's a link and photo of the current Carson wholesale catalog: 
CARSON- Retailer Catalog for Mini Flags

We hope you take a moment to enjoy the sites and scents of spring around you today... and take a pause to sit under a cherry tree that might be "snowing".

Enjoying springtime,
The Velvet Lime Girls