HAPPY Winner!

HAPPY! That's how we hope the winner of our Bloom necklace will feel tonight. We've had a full day of creating designs for our new collection in the studio today and the drawing occurred a little after 8:00 tonight. Thank-you to those of you who took the time to friend us, comment to us or like us. We also appreciated the emails and phone calls.

We'd like to announce that the winner is ... Lynn Weatherly Davis!

Congratulations Lynn! We hope you enjoy wearing our necklace as much as we enjoyed creating it and that it always reminds you to "Bloom where you are planted".

We LOVED doing this giveaway and are already planning another one for next month!

Marybeth, Laura and Rebecca - The Velvet Lime Girls

A Give-Away!

Our first ever Velvet Lime Designs give-away begins today. There really are some things in life that are free and this is one of them. Here’s a photo of our give-away, a “seed-thought” necklace featuring one of our favorite new designs, BLOOM. It’s a nice reminder to “bloom where you are planted”.

Our friend, K & M Originals, will handcraft our BLOOM artwork onto the surface of a Scrabble piece. You can even pick the letter that appears on the back!

Here are the details and how you enter. The give-away begins today and will last one week, (August 9-16^th). Just make a comment here on our Velvet Lime Designs blog http://velvetlimedesign.blogspot.com and you are automatically entered. One entry per person please.

The winner will be selected from a random drawing in our studio next Tuesday, August 16th. Our “seed thought” necklace with the BLOOM design will be mailed to the winner after the drawing.

So, make a comment and enter our contest … and while you’re there, “like” us, become a friend and share us with your friends! Thanks!

Someone Cares

This feathery branch transcended all of its garden neighbors on Roanoke Island. The garden was filled with proud roses, boisterous bougainvillias and flowers everywhere who were absolutely misbehaving in an out -of -control explosion of color. This one though, softly spoke louder than all of them. Each tiny branch thread, covered with short strands of hair whispered a message of calm. It knew it was a creation that had been fashioned tenderly with great attention to detail. It was loved and cared for … someone had taken the time to dress it in countless wisps of smoky color.

It reminded me of us. Regardless of what is going on around us, we are loved and cared for. We’ve been tenderly fashioned with great attention to detail. I like the way a doctor named Luke said it years ago, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered, don’t be afraid” Luke 12:7

With the noise in our world today, it’s comforting to remind ourselves that there really is someone who cares for us. Someone who watches over every detail of our life … down to the number of hairs on our head.

Laura

P.S. Our landscape architect friend, Alex Brunson, believes our photo is of a Royal Purple Smokebrush. www.brunsonandco.com

Thank-you.

Thank-you.

It’s a word straight from the language of the heart.

When it’s expressed through the creativity of two young girls, it’s as refreshing as a bright open-faced sunflower. Marybeth’s daughters, Madison & Katie, gave me these hand-crafted cards yesterday and I was thrilled! (The girls have been a secret source of inspiration at Velvet Lime Designs on several occasions). As they handed me the cards with a giant bouquet of sunflowers, I was touched by the detail in the cards. The hand drawn letters became a canvas for their tiny drawings of grapes, tomatoes, flowers, and stars. And their color combinations were absolutely spontaneous and inspiring.

We love it when our inspiration comes from places like this … no need for a fancy inspiration conference, expensive get-away, or luxurious vacation (although we would graciously accept any of these) J … our inspiration was carried to us by two little sets of hands.

Inspiration really is everywhere. We hope you find yours in the small things today.

Laura

Beach Trip

Some thoughts just refresh you. This one floats over the most relaxing place we know … a slouchy, comfortable chair on the beach. Just sit in it for a minute. You can feel the tension seep out through your toes as they sink in soft sand, every care melting away in a caress of sunlight.

A beach rest is a ripple compared to the overpowering wave of deep rest God offers. It envelopes our cares and pulls them out to sea with a strong rip-tide…. leaving us refreshed and restored.

We’re sparkling sea glass lying on the beach.

Washed. Fresh. Clean. Reflections of peace.

So, sit down in our beach chair today and wrap yourself up in the big thirsty blanket of thought conveyed in our art image … a thought about real rest. We like the way The Message says it:

“Are you tired and worn out? Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me … Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” Matthew 11:28 & 29

Laura

What I’ve Learned...

Life has seemed a little complicated and overwhelming the past few weeks. I’ve struggled with how to put it into words here. I really can’t so I gave up trying and pushed it away. Today, I came across this Maya Angelou quote posted on the Kind Over Matter blog (a very inspirational blog and I highly recommend them!). And I love what it says. I’ve seen it before. It seems fitting right now. So I am reposting.

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I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

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Ah, my inspiration for the day. And now back to dreaming about and making art.

~Marybeth

THRIVE

Thrive … it’s such an encouraging word. It just makes you want to pull yourself up and reach for the stars again … like this little passion flower growing in my garden. She’s growing in a forlorn section of my garden, an area overlooked and covered with weeds. Who would ever think that such beauty could come out of this mess? But here she is, with her perky little head adorned with enthusiasm, dressed and ready to go, as if she’s strolling into a grand gala.

Wow, what an entrance she makes! She barely notices the desolation around her and instead brightens her entire surroundings.

We’re encouraged to live this way. And we can, when our strength finds its roots in the nourishment that comes from connecting with God. Years ago, a psalmist said it this way ... You’re a tree planted by streams of water… your leaf does not wither…whatever you do prospers. Psalms 1:3

So, no matter what surroundings or circumstances you find yourself in, sink your roots down deep, nourish yourself in connection with God... and begin to flourish and thrive again.

Laura