Red, White & Blue

Our flower garden started a 4th of July celebration last week. 

Explosions of red, white and blue began popping out in every direction. 

And we didn't even have to wait until dark!

Two young, budding photographers captured a few of these patriotic portraits 
just in time for a little fireworks celebration right here in our blog.

So, if your annual 4th of July parade has been rained out.. pull up a chair, roll out a blanket, find some barbecue, spray on a little insect repellent for atmosphere and celebrate with us. 

                          Our eyes are filled with wonder at the

                                                           RED

Photo-Saxon Skinner - 11 years old

                                                      WHITE

                                      

                                                    and BLUE

Photo-Saxon Skinner - 11 years old

                        Our hearts are filled with praise at God's
                                                     GRACE

                                                    JOY

                                                             
                                                and  LOVE

  

Photo- Meredith Skinner- 15 yrs old

This 4th of July garden celebration has us singing in the studio today and we hope you'll join along.

"God bless America,

Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her

Through the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home

God bless America, My home sweet home."

Celebrating Independence Day,

The Velvet Lime Girls

P.S. A special thank-you to Meredith and Saxon Skinner, Laura's niece and nephew, for letting us see the garden celebrations through their lens.

Tangerine Tango

Last summer the zinnias had a festive little party in our flower garden. Dancing around in vibrant luminescent colors from an ethereal palette, they put on a show stopping performance and we couldn’t resist snapping a photo for color inspiration.

The tangerine zinnia right in the middle, sizzled with creative color and we began to dream of ways to include this shade in our future art collections. Wow, what inspiration one color can bring! Imagine our surprise, in January, when we read that tangerine had been selected as the new color of the year for 2012! Great minds think alike!!! Pantone named the 2012 color pick, Tangerine Tango, and we think it describes our zinnia shade quite well. For a little more color inspiration visit: http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/category.aspx?ca=88

With tangerine tango smiles,

The Velvet Lime Girls

Sallie’s Seeds

A packet of zinnia seeds has slept quietly in my kitchen drawer for almost two years. Given to me by my friend, Sallie, they weren’t entirely forgotten, just neglected by daily schedules… the intent to plant them was always there, I just never seemed to find the time. Early this summer I was thrilled to have a morning free and eagerly clasped the packet of seeds and planted them in the rich soil of my flower garden. Ahhh, … I could just feel their relief to be in their new home … a place where they could flourish and become everything that was hidden inside of them. How amazing that these dry, brittle, unimpressive seeds that I thought might not even be alive could produce the creations that now cover my flowerbed. Brilliant, vibrant, expressive colors with little yellow faces have exploded from these unassuming little seeds. Who would have thought such beauty could be contained inside? It made me think of how God views us …. His little seeds on this earth. Many of us have yet to flourish and become everything that has been hidden inside of us. We need to plant ourselves in rich soil and that takes a little time. This week, find time to nourish yourself with a little time with your Creator. Sink yourself in the rich soil of prayer and reading His Word …. And get ready for the quiet explosion that will come. You are a seed just waiting to bloom.

Laura