Windows of Heaven

Velvet Lime Designs Windows of Heaven, originally uploaded by Velvet Lime Designs.

Some images speak loudly from the first glance. When I saw this simple window nestled in a tiny garden on Roanoke Island I heard the phrase “I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing”. My husband James captured the moment on camera and Marybeth, our art director/graphic designer transformed it into a beautiful art image. Her creative use of wispy flourishes to convey the “blessings pouring through the window” is a glimpse into her creative treasury. I believe there are windows around us each day … with blessings waiting to come through. Look with expectant hope for yours today.

*Laura*

Blessed are those whose lives you touch...

Blessed are those whose lives you touch..., originally uploaded by Velvet Lime Designs.

How does one pay tribute to the woman who raised a great son that grew up to became my husband? Beautiful pictures and eloquent words all seem to fall short, but, Marybeth somehow captured the essence of a tribute worthy of my mother-in-love and placed it in our most recent image. We presented to my dear mother-in-love, Anne Rhodes, on the occasion of her 80th birthday celebration last week.

I will be forever grateful to my mother-in-love and the gift she has given me in my husband. Many of the character traits that caused me to fall in love with him over 36 years ago are the very traits that she instilled into him at a young age. She planted great seeds as a young mother and she has continued to plant good seeds into all of our lives. So, the words on this image that say “Blessed are those whose lives you touch” simply become more true each day.

Here’s a photo of the new image and a photo of the woman who inspired this new image, my mother-in-love, Anne Rhodes ... accompanied by Rebecca and Alexa.

– Laura

The crown series is finished...

VelvetLimeCrownSeries, originally uploaded by Velvet Lime Designs.

Wanted to share with you our final “piece of the puzzle” in our crown series. We’ve recently designed “Lord of Lords.” We really love the crowns and hope you will, too. We’ll have these on our website soon and then prints will be available on our Etsy site. We’ll keep you posted...

Running Through The Trees

Running Through the Trees, originally uploaded by Velvet Lime Designs.

I started seriously running again thanks to a reunited friendship. It was about half way though our run, as my legs felt like they were on fire, that I had the realization that some friendships are so valuable that we have to make the effort to cultivate them.
We live in a culture of keeping friendships easy. Checking on facebook and commenting on status updates. For many relationships this is great. We get to keep in touch and reconnect with old friends. But then there are those friendships that uplift and challenge us to be better in life. This takes time and effort and in the end it is worth it.
It is with this type of friend you share your true dreams and passions. They challenge you to pursue all dreams and can normally make you laugh harder than anyone else. As we ran last Saturday on the path winding though the trees, my friend challenged me to push myself to run one more mile to get closer to my next larger goal. It may not be a marathon it may just be adding a little adventure to your life!

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

-Rebecca

Silliness...just for the creativeness of it!

Shiny happy acorn people!, originally uploaded by Velvet Lime Designs.

So here's a peek at what we do when we're supposed to be doing WORK....or just when someone needs an inspirational lift! James came in with a handful of burr oak acorns – complete with their “hairy” caps, knowing that I would completely embrace them. And well, here you have it! Our acorn people. I made each of these on challenging days for Laura.

The one on the left with red lips was for her birthday (OK, that wasn't a challenging day). The second one is a knight in armor (painted silver, mind you)....he’s holding a flag that says “I will put on His armor today.” The third one is an angel (complete with wings and halo) that says “He shall give His angels charge over you.”

And the last one, I think, was for a budget day. It was really how The Acorn People started. I am, by nature, a people pleaser. When I saw Laura on this particular day, I decided to create an art project to make her smile. So I “dressed up” the acorn in a Hawaiian shirt and waving a flag that said ““Don't worry. Be Happy.” Usually, I make it and leave it when she’s not at her desk or not looking. Then I go back and sit at my desk and wait for the laughter.

Simple distractions every now and then...no major art talent needed. Just seriously fun stuff.

*Marybeth*

Heaven on Earth...

Wisteria, originally uploaded by Velvet Lime Designs.

Lying underneath the wisteria growing near our stone wall last spring I heard the phrase “days of heaven on earth” on each inhale of the magnificent aroma. The broad spectrum of lavender showcased in each bloom is beautiful enough even without the fragrance, but the addition of that permeating infusion of natural aromatherapy brings it to a new level of “divine.” It is a glimpse of heaven … a peek into the eternal realm … a little bit of heaven on earth with every exhale from its drooping bloom clusters.

We’re working on capturing some of this aroma in a new image and hope that its fragrance fills the heart of each viewer as they pause to notice the little glimpses of heaven on earth each day.

Laura

He is my rock.

He is my rock., originally uploaded by Velvet Lime Designs.

We are working on some new ideas that involve rocks and, more specifically, ballast rocks. Laura has taken some photos of ballast rocks from the coast of North Carolina (Roanoke Island) that were retrieved from underwater by Laura’s dad (there’s that strong man again!). We’d like to develop this idea a little bit more... adding ballast/balance to your life. We’ll see where it takes us. Looking forward to showing you more artwork soon.