Light of the World

Today we're sending you a single-stem, light-filled Christmas tulip to say "Merry Christmas to you" and to remind you of the reason many are so joyful during this season of light. It's the celebration of the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, "the one who is the true Light arrived to shine on everyone". (John 1:9) 
Laura's husband, James Rhodes, is the artist who created this luminescent tulip that radiates hues of lemon, gold and saffron. When he's not busy at Rhodes Design Group, he finds great joy in bringing "God-colors into the world", (Matthew 5:14), through his pastel paintings.  We're often inspired by his works that hang in our studio, and as Christmas approaches, we wanted to share this light-filled artwork with you as a visual gift and reminder of the "light who has come into the world." (John 12:46)

"What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.  The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out..." John 1: 5 - The Message

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, 
The Velvet Lime Girls

PEACE

Peace.  It's wrapped itself all around each one of the Velvet Lime Girls lately. Around Laura, with a husband just coming out of the Emory Hospital ICU, around Marybeth, with a daughter overcoming a concussion, and around Rebecca, as she and her amazing team oversee the 1000+ children at Northpoint Church.
Yeah, we've each experienced a peace that transcends all comprehension lately, and we just had to let you know, if you're facing some kind of challenge or amazing busyness this Christmas season, there really is a peace that can hold you and calm you.  
So, we've created a simple graphic for you today as a gentle reminder that the Prince of Peace wants to come into your life and bring a calm that can settle any storm or any busyness you may be facing today.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Wrapped in His Peace, 
The Velvet Lime Girls 

P.S. If you're in need of a little extra comfort today, pour yourself a cup of tea, and settle-in to the words of this Comfort Song.  Even if the music style isn't your cup of tea, the soothing words here promise to bring healing to any heavy hearts out there. There are long pauses, so soak in the whole ten minutes of comfort and peace.

Garland Your Life with Grace

Garlands of Grace draping your life.  Doesn't that sound like a lovely way to live?
Oh, we think so, and these watercolor embellished flowers from our garden seem to convey just what a grace-draped life would look like... relaxed elegance and refinement in the midst of raindrops and watercolor-splashes.  What a beautiful way to live.  When we read this passage below from The Message today it inspired the colorful splatters above and brought some new insights about Wisdom.

"Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;
never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
She’ll garland your life with grace,
she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”
Proverbs 4:3-9

So, we're on a little mission around here in our studio to Get Wisdom.
And just like this slender branch of buds, we believe Wisdom will garland our lives with grace.

Getting Wisdom,
The Velvet Lime Girls 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the great Mom's out there! Yep, you know just how our Mother bird feels in our graphic above. You know the joy that comes in giving to your children ... even when it's the very last worm.


"For it is in giving that we receive."  Francis of Assisi

Celebrating and honoring Mothers everywhere,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Easter Blessings

One of the highlights of the year around our studio is the celebration of Easter.  It's much more than bunnies, chocolate and Easter egg hunts for us. Although we do joyfully participate in all these fun traditions, Easter is really a time when we pause, with honor and respect, to remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on our behalf, and on Sunday we celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We hope you'll pause to read the full historical account of the first Easter as recorded in the Bible. You'll find it over in chapters 18, 19 & 20 of the book of John. Today we're sending out a lighthearted Easter blessing to you and we hope you'll feel free to pass it along to others. It's a vibrant little graphic to share as we remember the greatest blessing ever given to all of us at Easter.

The Velvet Lime Girls 

The Hope of All the World

Here's a little wreath for you to hang in your heart today.

Festooned with birds, ornaments, greenery and a star, it looks like many other wreaths you might pass in the mall or neighborhood.  Nestled in the center however, is a reminder of what the Christmas season is all about, the birth of a Savior.  The birth of Jesus Christ, the hope of all the world.
The words in the center of our wreath have been translated in numerous other ways and, like a mirror reflecting new views from different angles, the varying translations reveal fresh insights into the HOPE that Jesus brings into our world. We couldn't squeeze them all into this wreath, but here's one of our favorite views:

"... The mere sound of His name will signal hope, even among far-off believers." The Message

Oh, we love that phrase ... the mere sound of His name will signal hope.

Now that's a perfect thought to encircle your thoughts and festoon your life today. Why it's even better than a  pretty Christmas wreath. Jesus, the Hope of all the world.

Pausing to listen to the sound of His name,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Peace

Peace.  What a wonderful gift from God. Peace.

We thought we'd send you a simple ornament sketch today that carries a relaxing expression.

Inhale Peace. Exhale Peace.

Yeah, you can do that right now.

Right in the midst of your busy day, your full schedule, the surprise you hadn't planned on, or the list you haven't finished. We know about the squeeze of cares that can just seem to press some of the joy out of Christmas this time of year, but we've learned that God's peace can put everything in order.  We think it's because that's the way we were created to live.  In Peace.

History records that just as Jesus Christ was born an announcement was made about peace coming to all of us.  Here it is, in case you missed it:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:14

So, it's right here ... that peace you need today.  It's been given to you and our hope is that you'll pause a moment and receive this gift.  Just slowly inhale God's peace, and then watch as your world begins to change, with cares crushed beneath the sound of an exhale. The exhale of His peace.

Breathing in His Peace,

The Velvet Lime Girls 

Grateful Hearts

Hello December 1st! 

O-o-o-h, you came a little earlier than we expected.  We have to admit that we're still savoring all the grace and gratitude that the month of Thanksgiving brought into our hearts and into our studio. We love the slow, easy pace of the month of November.  A month filled with just giving-thanks, recognizing our blessings and exhaling gratitude into the world.  

So, we thought why not extend this grace-gratitude-grateful-feeling right into the month of December?  After all, it's the month we celebrate the most wonderful gift ever given to us.  The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Oh, what a gift from God! A Savior who would come to us and as The Message translation records, move into our neighborhood.

"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." John 1:14

So pause on this first day of December and allow Him to move into your neighborhood... into your work, your relationships, your challenges, your joys, your dreams...your life.

God's presence in our lives can really bring a new perspective to things, a deep sense of gratitude. A gratitude that will be a magnet for miracles in your life.

With grateful hearts,

The Velvet Lime Girls

Patriotic Quote for the 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to you today!  On this day when we look back and remember our Independence Day as a nation, we thought we'd pull out a patriotic image we created back in 2010. 

Although the quote from Abraham Lincoln came almost a century after the historic 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, the same message hope is conveyed.

And it's a message that still rings true for America today.

"...this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom..." 

Celebrating with grateful hearts & fireworks today,

The Velvet Lime Girls

Never Give Up

Here's a little encouragement just for you today.  A reminder that with God nothing is impossible. Absolutely nothing. He's actually able to do more than we can even ask or think, and He's concerned about the things that concern us. (Ephesians 3:20 and Psalm 138:8)

We hope our Grace-Graphic™ lifts your spirit today and gives you the kind of tenacity, that says in the face of any challenge, "Never, never, never give up." Winston Churchill 

Churchill had it right when he refused to give up, and you can do the same. You can tap into the strength, determination and reassurance that God offers to you. He's right here, ready to help you.  We like the way The Message conveys the kind of care He offers:

"Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds." Matthew 6:26

So let the little bluebird above, peeking down to a powerful promise in our Grace-Graphic™, be a reminder that you're cared for and absolutely nothing is impossible for you, with God.

Careless in the care of God,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Heart Thoughts

Here's a little love note from us to you today.  Just a gentle reminder to choose a treasure place that is worthy of your heart.  We like the way The Message translation sums this thought up:

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being"  Matthew 6:21.

It's so true, the place where your treasure is, IS the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Enjoying pink-watercolor-splashed-thoughts of our treasure,

The Velvet Lime Girls

Amazing Day

We've had a rainy, drizzly Monday morning here in Georgia today and all the Velvet Lime Girls had a big choice to make when each of us woke up.  All three of us, perhaps like a few of you out there, had some challenges pop up.  Some changes in our day that we had not expected.  The kind of changes that just make you not want to skip around singing "Zip-A-Dee-Do-Da" all day.

So, we each decided to make a choice.  A good choice.  A choice to remember that the sun is really shining behind those clouds today and with God's help, we can choose to make this day great. 

We remembered that many years ago God offered a group of people a choice.  A choice to live life in a way that would result in blessing or hardship.  It was a pretty simple choice to make, but just in case they missed it, God gave them one more push in the right direction and said, "Choose life!" (See Deuteronomy 30:19 for details)

We believe He's still kind of doing that each day.  Encouraging us to choose life. 

So, we pulled out the most celebratory graphic on our studio walls, one we had planned to save for a fun Friday post ... and we're posting it today, right in the middle of this rainy Monday! A day that will, with God's help, be AMAZING.  And we'll say a little prayer for you too today, that your day turns out to be as amazing as ours. And if you happen to hear a few lines from that Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah song, it's us singing in the studio!

"Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Zip-A-Dee-A

My oh my what a wonderful day

Plenty of sunshine heading my way

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Zip-A-Dee-A"

Choosing Amazing,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Paths

We're taking a pause from posting one of our regular whimsical pieces of artwork that are used by manufacturers for various gift items or products.  We love creating those light-hearted designs, but in our studio we're often surrounded by totally different styles of art, and on many occasions, it's a work-in-progress by James Rhodes, the husband of Laura, one of the Velvet Lime Girls.  When he's not busy at Rhodes Design Group, he often slips into the studio, and as he says, "picks up his crayons and starts coloring again".  We like the way he colors and it brings us such inspiration that we wanted to share it with you today.  This piece is not yet signed because it's a work in progress, but those bright-faced daisies in the foreground, that weathered barn, and those billowy clouds just had to be shared with others outside of our studio.  We gave you a peek at some of James' other pieces that grace our studio walls in these posts:  Color of Light and Work of Art in Progress. 

The path in this piece of artwork, with it's grassy mounds of wheat, goldenrod, and bright-faced daisies, waving their tousled heads in the breeze, just seem to whisper over and over to us thoughts about paths. Paths are so important in this life. It's important to choose the right one. When you have Someone to walk with you, guide you and encourage you on your path ...it is a beautiful gift.  Here are just a few of the path promises that have carved themselves onto our hearts lately, like a well-loved path in a grassy field.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path .." Psalm 119:105

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight." (or direct your paths) Proverbs 3: 5-6

"The path of the righteous shines brighter and brighter". Proverbs 4:18
To us, those words brighter and brighter always convey the idea of  better and better...and those joyful little daisies in the foreground of this picture just seem to be shouting this...as loud as their little petals will let them.

We'll be writing  more about this grassy path as the work is completed and would love to hear what comes to your mind when you see the grassy path, the barn, the clouds, the green expanse, or that little peek of aquamarine-blue sky in the left hand corner.  Oh, this one is going to be fun to follow!  Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Walking on the paths prepared for us,
The Velvet Lime Girls 

A Door of Hope

If you're in need of a little hope today, here's a promise just for you. God has a door of hope. Right in the middle of any valley you may be walking through. The Message conveys this promise so beautifully:

And now, here’s what I’m going to do:

I’m going to start all over again...

    I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.

Acres of Hope is a lot of hope.  And that's what God is offering. So today we're sending this little graphic out to encourage you to look for that door of hope that God has promised to provide just for you.

The Velvet Lime Girls

FAITH

Faith DOES thank God!  Right smack in the middle of the story. 

"Like an arrow that's already been shot, it reaches forward to grab hold of God's promises." Rick Renner

If you're in the middle of a story right now, facing a challenge, an impossibility or uncertainty, we're sending this graphic out today to encourage you.  To remind you that your faith in God is powerful.

While reading Sparkling Gems From the Greek, we found out that the Greek word for faith is pistis, a word that "denotes a force that is forward-directed and aggressive - never passive or backward-reaching, but always reaching forward to obtain or achieve a specific target or goal."

Wow.  Faith is never passive.  It's always reaching forward to obtain a goal. It's actually the evidence, "the confident assurance, that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."  Hebrews 11:1

When you let this confident assurance, this evidence, this faith, really build up in your spirit, it becomes a powerful force.  A force that enables you to believe God for the impossible, and thank Him in advance.

So take your confident assurance, your faith, and let it fly like an arrow today, piercing through to the promises of God.

Walking by faith,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Friday Fun Day

It's Friday!
Do you still get a thrill when Friday rolls around?  We do!
Fridays are fun days here in the Velvet Lime Girls Studio.  We explore new colors, talk about new design ideas and just have some creative playtime.  Surrounding yourself with fun, expressive colors and design is a great way to start the weekend.

So, we'd like to share a bright little promise with you today as you slip into your weekend!

We washed this day-brightener with piñata-type colors. A fun fuchsia background, vibrant-white type and a few tangerine splashes.  Just looking at it creates a little celebration in your heart!  And if you let these words soak into your spirit ... you really will feel like celebrating on this Friday afternoon!

Have a great weekend,
The Velvet Lime Girls

Strength, Wisdom & Peace

Strength, wisdom & peace. 
If you need one of these today, it's reassuring to know they're available to you right this very minute.  They really are. They're just waiting for you to take them and use them, for whatever challenge you may be facing. So go ahead, take this little word of encouragement, placed on a brushed crimson background with goldenrod type and let it strengthen you today.
The first brush of fall is in the air around here, so the goldenrod color was a perfect fit for this graphic day-brightener.  Goldenrods are waving their buttery, yellow heads all over Georgia this time of year.
When we discovered the botanical name for goldenrods was Solidago canadensis, and that the word Solidago  means "to make whole",  we knew the type in goldenrod hues was the fitting color for this graphic encouragement. It's a color that reminds of The One who makes us whole.
So receive the strength, receive the wisdom, receive the peace offered to you today by God, and let this graphic be a reminder of just how equipped you are for whatever you may be facing. 

"He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak... But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Isaiah 40:29-31



Walking in His strength, wisdom & power,
The Velvet Lime Girls 

Faith Seed #1

Here's a little gift for you on this Monday morning.  It's the first of 7 art sentiments for you to print out for yourself or share with someone who may need a little extra faith right now. We're calling these faith seeds... simple art expressions that come straight from the heart of God.  They can also be found in their original form in that treasury known as The Holy Bible.

We're scattering these seeds out there for anyone who has a battle they may be facing in their health, or in a relationship, or in their emotions, or in their finances, or in their family... or in anything.  Join us over the next 7 days as we share a simple piece of artwork for you to plant deep in your spirit. 

These will build your faith.  

We were inspired to do this by the Battle of Jericho, one of the most intimidating battles every fought and recorded in the Book of Joshua.  The Israelites faced a formidable city named Jericho. This walled fortress could have been intimidating, if they had tried to conquer it in their own strength, but with bold, brave faith in God, the Israelites listened and obeyed His instructions, and with a loud shout on the 7th day ... they watched the walls come tumbling down.  

The story is a blueprint for us today when we face formidable challenges. It reminds us that with God, nothing is impossible.  

Nothing. 

Nothing. 

Nothing. 

In fact, with God, all things are possible.

So let these faith seeds empower you with strength.  Print them out, tape them on your walls, hang them in your car, stick them on your mirrors, share them with your friends, or pass them on to someone who needs a lift in their spirit today.  These are powerful words, because they are not our words, but God's words, straight from The Bible.  And when these words are mixed with faith, you're  going to want to shout ... as you watch the walls you face come tumbling down.

Believing with you, that all things are possible with God,

The Velvet Lime Girls

P. S.  As a reminder, we do not sell products with our artwork.  We just license our artwork to manufacturers.   If you are a retailer and would like to have the Be Brave Keep Going artwork in your store, it is available in various canvas sizes through MET Colors

Their website is being updated but the highlighted link will connect you with them.

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

The Color of Light

Lighthouses are slipping into our studio each week.  It's true.  A fresh new one seems to have appeared weekly over the last month.  They've been bringing a little color and light into our studio as we prepare our portfolios for the Surtex show in New York.  These lighthouses, created by Laura's husband, James Rhodes, are quite different from our whimsical, inspiration artwork, and they just seem to fuel our creativity.  We thought we'd share a little of this color and light surrounding us today. So, step into the studio and take a look around with us!

All the lighthouses began with strokes of pigment from Sennelier soft pastels that lie in casual piles along the edges of our studio. Chalky containers holding color, light and life.

At first glance, one might think these simple sticks of earthy substance were just stubby chunks of color. Nice to look at, but not much potential for anything beyond lying in rows.

But in the right hands, these chalky, earthen vessels are transformed into beautiful works of art. 

The soft pastels are quiet reminders of how beautiful our lives can become when we place them into the hands of God.  The master creator will pick us up, regardless of how ordinary we may look lying on the sidelines of life, and transform us into beautiful works of art. His strokes shape us into little earthen vessels that carry His light into the world and spill reflections of His color and life on to everyone around us.

Oh, you can be so beautiful in the right hands.

"Get away with me and you’ll recover your life... Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30

Grateful for the colors surrounding us today,
The Velvet Lime Girls