Chosen

Lately we've been thinking about the beautiful word chosen.  The dictionary definition alone is pretty amazing... one who is the object of choice or of divine favor.

When you take a look at how God uses this word though, it takes on a new radiance.

He chose us before He began creating the foundation of this earth.

He chose us to be a treasured possession.

He chose us first.

We're chosen.  Picked by God. And He wraps us in words like treasure, royal, and special possession.

That is amazing love.

To remind ourselves of just how chosen we are, we created this little graphic inspiration, splashed with shades of radiant gold, to remind us that God calls us a treasure and that we are very, very chosen. It's not just a love expression for us though, it's for anyone with an open heart.  So take this little treasure for yourself today and begin to call yourself "chosen". 

Feeling quite special,

The Velvet Lime Girls

Inspirations from 1 Peter 2:9, John 15:16, Ephesians 1:3-4 & Galations 1:5

We've been thinking about how beautiful the word chosen is lately.  The dictionary defines it as one who is

Healer

Sometimes a name says it all. With God though, one name simply can't encompass all of His nature, His attributes, and the many ways He loves us.  The early writers of the Bible had several names they used to describe God and the many facets of his nature. You may have heard of a few like Jehovah-Jireh, which means the Lord will Provide, or Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord is our Peace.
There are many more and you can read about them at sites like this - Names of God.
One of the names of God we've been drawn to lately is Jehovah-Rapha.  Just listen to a few of its meanings:

I Am the God who heals you.
Great Physician.
The God who heals.
The Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of His people.

The word Rapha actually means to restore, or make healthful, become fresh, completely healed, purified, repaired.  Amazing.  And this is just one of the many descriptive names of God.  Oh, how He loves us.
We wanted to capture the essence of this name of God and hang it in our studio, so, we filled our brushes with a crimson-fuchsia watercolor wash, swept them across some grainy paper and then layered a couple meanings of Jehovah-Rapha on the top. What a beautiful facet of God to reflect on throughout the day.
Here's a copy of our simple expression for you to print out, tape up somewhere, or pass along to a friend.  It's the last in our series of 7 faith-seeds we wanted to plant into your life this past week. A perfect ending to 7 days of celebrating the One who loves us the most. Our God. Our Great Physician.

The Velvet Lime Girls

His Touch

A Touch.  
Sometimes that's all you need to brighten your day.  
A touch from someone who loves you.  
A touch from someone who cares.  
A touch from someone who can just soothe everything away.

It's comforting to know that there is a God who is still reaching out to touch us, to care for us, to love us, to heal us.  He revealed this caring nature through His Son, Jesus, who walked on this earth for a short time, and the historical accounts of Jesus' life are moving.

The historical account referenced in the artwork above records multitudes came to touch Him. That's a whole lot of people coming out to touch Jesus ... because power went out from Him and healed them.  Healed them all. Not just one or a few. ALL.

He still heals today.  Yeah, that's right, because according to another historical document, He's the same yesterday, today and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8).  He's still reaching out in love to touch our lives, comfort us, and heal us.

We hope our simple artwork moves you to reach out and touch Him today.  Maybe in a prayer or maybe in reading from that vintage collection of love notes to us, called The Holy Bible.  There's a book inside there called John that's a beautiful place to begin and to feel His embrace.


His touch can change everything,
The Velvet Lime Girls


P.S. This is the 6th in our series of 7 faith-seeds this week. These are just for you.  Just for you to print out, tape up somewhere, or pass along to someone who may need a little lift in their spirit today.  One more tomorrow :-)

Be Still

Be Still.

How often do you really let yourself do this? 

Really slow down, pause and be still. 

We found a few more definitions for be still  this morning.

Be quiet

Attention

Calm down

Stand silent

Let be and be still

Be still, be calm, see

Let go of your concerns!

Wow, when you say it that way, with all those meanings, it is powerful.

So, we hope you'll join in with us today as we, let go of concerns, be still, be calm, see, let be, stand silent, calm down, pay attention, be quiet and know that He is God.

The Velvet Lime Girls

P.S. This is the 4th in a series of 7 faith-seeds that we're giving away to you.  Just for you...to print out, tape somewhere, or share with a friend who may need a little encouragement today.  

Please feel free to pass it along.

Love Note for You.

Here's a little love note for you today.  A heart shaped sentiment brushed in cantaloupe

colored swashes and a blush background.  It's a perfect setting for God's favorite name for you...Beloved.

Just say it over and over today... to remind yourself of just how much YOU are loved.

The Velvet Lime Girls

Healing Words

We've just finished our morning walk outside the studio on this lovely morning here in Georgia and we wanted to send out the third art sentiment in our faith-seeds series.  These are heartfelt expressions and watercolor plays that we scatter around here to build our faith or encourage one another.  They're simple, but powerful, because we layer a love note, a love expression, from God on top of everything.  And that changes everything.  As a well-known speaker once said, "One word from God can change everything."* We believe the words we place on these simple art expressions can change things in your life, and the lives of others. So, print it out, tape in on things, and pass it along to someone who may need a love note from God to them.

This third faith-seed is for those who need healing in any area of their lives.  Those who need a visit from the Great Physician himself.  He reveals Himself through His Word, and these words are so powerful.  We hope you let them soak into your spirit all day long.

Nothing is impossible with God,
The Velvet Lime Girls

P.S. Quote by Gloria Copeland

Faith- Seed #2

Well, hello again! Thanks for joining us on this second day of our seed planting :-)
We're scattering these little faith seeds out over the next 7 days for readers to print out for themselves, tape onto walls, or pass along to someone who just may need to be reminded of a beautiful promise from God.  

We hope our watercolor wash builds your faith today. 

We'll see you here tomorrow with another faith-seed just for you.

Live Blessed,
The Velvet Lime Girls

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.
                                           

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.

Poppies!

A poppy burst open this morning in our studio garden. 
It's been said that one can actually hear the sound of a poppy opening...a subtle little "pop!" 
One thing's for sure, they do make a grand entrance!
A poppy opens up with such bright faced joy, and summer surprise in its petals, that we've wondered if it silently plans the explosive, celebratory debut for weeks ahead, inside its fuzzy little head?  

That little head must swirl around with thoughts of celebration, joy and gratitude...and it's probably because the poppy has its mind set on right things, on good things, on the beauty that is to come in its life.

This poppy unfolded a few thoughts in us today. Thoughts about the same joy, the same celebration, that we can hold in our hearts, as we, like the poppy, set-our-minds-on-good things, good thoughts and promises spoken directly to our hearts by God.
 
We know that when we let our thoughts, inspired by God, swirl around in our heads and hearts, we too, like this fresh-faced poppy, will be able to lift our heads and be filled with a joy, a gratitude, that simply overflows and kind of "pops" out into our own worlds.

So today, we'll be looking at the poppy party going on and letting our hearts join in with lovely thoughts like this...
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of The Lord rises upon you."
Isaiah 60:1

Enjoying the party in the garden and in our hearts,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Details

Pause for just a minute today as the weekend begins and soak up a little inspiration from our studio garden. 
                                                         
Columbine hats dancing in the breeze.                 
   
       
Geranium buds lifting their heads with gratitude.
                       
Stamens shouting praise. 
                   
And pansy faces glowing bright with hope.

The details spinning around us in the garden are enough to make us dizzy!  Details, details, details ... everywhere!
                       
Reminders of the delight God finds in the details of our lives. How amazing...the creator of this magnificent garden actually delights in us.  
                                        
Just listen to the way it's expressed in this ancient sentiment: 
"...God delights in every detail of our lives"  Psalm 37:23
 New Living Translation

Living in His delight,
The Velvet Lime Girls 

Inhale Grace, Exhale Praise

A phrase from a song captured our hearts recently and when we glanced at this dogwood blossom with it's "heart" open wide, breathing in grace, and exhaling a "praise" of sorts with its outstretched petals, we just had to share it with you all! 

It beautifully captured the essence of what we hope our lives will be...beautiful displays of our Heavenly Father, living our lives with hearts open to Him, breathing in all of the Grace He gives and then pouring out a life of continual praise to Him through everything we do!

Inhale Grace, Exhale Praise,
The Velvet Lime Girls

"He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, 
a praise-song to our God."  
Psalm 40:3  

Iris Inspiration

Dutch irises have been dancing around our studio this week. These purple-hued ballerinas, twirling and stretching, with demi-pliés, pirouettes and artful arabesques, have been gently spilling out of our studio vases. It's enough to cause us to start executing a perfect glissade across our studio drawing tables! 

These petite irises really know who they are, they know the hands, the "fingers" that have made them, and they bear the unmistakable mark of their creator. 

You'll never find one of these creations displaying a poor self image, feeling worthless or giving-in to a bad day. They have the very life of God in them. His hands have made them, shaped them, and they bear the mark of their creator, right down to the very last, tiny detail.

 How could they not celebrate, with the value, the worth, the love that's been given to them?

Their exquisite display of beauty is a mere shadow of the value, the worth, the love that God has showered on each of us.  He tells us we are "wonderfully created" and that His thoughts about us are so vast, that if we counted them, they'd "outnumber the grains of sand".

You really should just jump up right now and do a little pirouette, as you read this love letter excerpt that is written to you.  He's totally smitten with you.  When you're loved like this, (and you really know it, and receive it), ... you can dance everyday, regardless of your surroundings.

So, take a cue from these irises. Lift your head up, stretch your arms out wide and let that "crown of glory and honor" you've been given shine in your world today.

Inspired by the irises,
The Velvet Lime Girls

BOUQUET OF FAVOR

FAVOR. 

It’s a sweep-you-off-your-feet, love expression from God, catching your breath with His extravagant fragrance of grace, and filling your heart with such gratitude, that you just bury your head in God’s embrace at the end of the day, and say...“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

And the familiar words, “He-can-do-over-and-above-more-than-we-can-ask-or-think,” pounds loudly in your spirit with each thrilled heartbeat. Oh, don’t you just love it when God sweeps you off your feet with a beautiful bouquet of favor?

We do. 

It's brought us to our knees in gratitude and stilled anticipation about the creative journeys ahead. May we share a little of our joy with you today? A few of the “petals” from this bouquet of favor we've been given?

Thanks to the work of Jan Draheim, Rebecca Hubert and Leah Cochran of Painted Planet Licensing, we met some wonderful new companies last year and created artwork and sentiments for products that they launched last week at the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market.

Here’s a peek of a few favorites…

We’ll have more photos to come of journals, stationery items, garden flags, and other home accents that also launched.

Here’s a glimpse of one of the creative teams we’ve been blessed to work with. The talented team at Divinity, pictured below with us.

Laura, Marybeth, Keith Schwartz, Nicole McMaster

Keith Schwartz, President of Nicole Brayden Gifts and Divinity Boutique, and Nicole McMaster, Purchasing and Logistics Manager, are a creative team who spin out ideas, concepts, and visions so fast, that we’re inspired to get back in the studio to start sketching and writing! And our hearts were touched to see that the man at the helm of this great company, Keith Schwartz, has connected their company to an endeavor that certainly must touch the heart of God, the Production with Purpose program. See below. 

Divinity’s Facebook page gave us an informative read on the difference between Fair Trade and Free Trade. Read about it here at Huffington Post.

We’ll look forward to being involved with such a noble cause through our artwork and sentiments for Divinity.

During last week’s product launches, we made a quick stop by the Gregg Gift showroom, a division of Enesco Gifts, to see the totes, Bible covers, ceramic crosses and coin purses we designed for them. Although we were missing the third member of our team, Rebecca, her color inspirations can be seen in many of the products.

Laura and Marybeth with Gregg Gift products featuring Velvet Lime Girls' artwork.

We also stopped by the Carson Home Accents showroom to see the lovely display of placemats, table runners, napkins, tea towels, pot holders and aprons we designed for them. It almost makes you want to pull out the pumpkins and get ready for fall again!

We’ll share more product launches this week and you can look for these items in the spring at gift stores nationwide. 

For those of you who are retailers and would like to carry these products in your stores, please visit the company websites at: Divinity Boutique,  Carson Home Accents and Enesco/Gregg Gift.

Grateful Girls surrounded with favor,

Marybeth, Rebecca and Laura

The Velvet Lime Girls

“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”  

Ephesian 3:20 - The Message