The Language of Color

A spoonflower color map for selecting color

There hasn't really been an opportunity to share with anyone the experience in the color class, not to the depth that I would like to share. I realize, the experience hasn't become fully integrated. It is important for me to review what I have experienced and put into words what I was inspired by. What did I feel? What did I think of the information? Was it consistent with the color presentations that I currently have in place?  How do I see myself using the information? What do I already do that was confirmed? What is missing that can make a big difference in how I use and share the information and my passion for color and design?

I have added design for this reason. Color is a design element. It is the context of how it is used that determines it's success in an application.

For example, how color is used in a quilt varies from how it is used in an interior application or how a color is used in packaging, on a product or for a car.. the color communicates something to the viewer or the audience. It is the addition of the other elements and principles of design that can have the potential to diminish or exaggerate the color message. The line and the shape can have as much communication power as the color selection, yet, color is most likely the most communicative of any of the design elements- it elicits a quicker response than the written word. The mind often times acknowledges the visual cue (or in this case hue) before the written word itself.... This can be illustrated by the Stroop effect or sometimes called the Stroop test.  (the first link describes the theory, the second link takes you directly to the test/experiment)

This is my passion! I love experimenting with different applications and discovering how to convey the same message. Color is different in every space, every application. Every finish and substrate has its own influence on how the color is perceived. The reflective quality of the surface and the lighting, natural vs. artificial will impact how a color is perceived.

There are so many areas of color to explore and discover, I become overwhelmed with its magnitude. It is truly a language all to itself. Each hue has a meaning that is universally and collectively accepted*. In my experience and the experience of other professionals, I have found, is that if the individual connotation of the color is different than the collective, it is due to a traumatic or unpleasant memory, usually from childhood. The color is collapsed with the event and becomes a substitute of the memory. The color elicits the emotion that the incomplete event would evoke if it were recalled. It is essential for a color consultant to set aside his or her personal color connotations in any type of color recommendation. Wether it be for a product, logo development and brand recognition, the color of someone else's living room or the scarf color most appropriate for accessorizing their wardrobe, color objectivity is essential.

*There is a cultural aspect to color that is unique to traditions in specific parts of the world. The impact of these cultural connotations is becoming secondary to the more universal communication of the color message. Could the universal communication of color be due to the physiological responses to color? Nature is also a factor in how color is responded/reacted to in the different areas of the world.

White in Greece is different than White in Minnesota..

Santorini Church-Greece (the link to where I pulled the photo)

My previous neighborhood-bad winter that year! 

Grandma's Feather Pillows! Yellow Ticking

Grandma- of course, here she wasn't a grandma yet... this is in the 1920's

Yellow Ticking

Bed Pillows and smaller pillows- not quite done yet... inspired by the yellow... 

Mom and I remade/restuffed my grandmothers feather pillows. These pillows must be close to 65-70 years old.  Mom found a delightful ticking fabric... I don't know where.. whenever I think of it, I never find it... My grandmother had pretty ticking fabric as well. She made her own feather pillows, from her own geese. ... I don't know how you 'clean' feathers... I am not a duck.

Planning for the new studio layout.....

Good evening, I know two in one day... I just checked the stats and the blog is 7 visits away from 500 in ONE month! That is sooo exciting... Of the six of you out there that I know who you are, which of you is visiting over and over and over and over and over to get me all excited! And if it isn't one of you, I would love to meet the rest of you...

This afternoon, I have been listing things for the move. Doing a mental scan of what is in storage and where in this little two bedroom house I am going to fit all of my things and my housemates. (I am moving in with a good friend of mine and we are going to share expenses while preparing for the next endeavor. Renovation of a property of our own.)

I have lists of furniture, artwork, lamps, shelving (lots and lots of shelving) seating and an abundance of little tables... they are great to practice faux finishes on and they fill in a corner nicely.. not too many empty corners in the next place I am afraid.

However, the basement is unfinished and open. There is a new washer and dryer downstairs (which we will not have to share, not that I minded with the last place, but my friend is looking forward to that... as he is coming from an apartment complex where there is shared laundry on each floor) This area will become my studio space... It won't be the orange room, but it WILL be three times as big! The walls will be painted Swiss White. It is a soft grey white, very lovely, not a stark white, so color matching will not be a problem.. The orange room, while it was beautiful.. DRASTICALLY changed the color of whatever I was working on....

And a garage... we will have a NICE two car garage, a bit oversized for CARS to live in and be happy during the snowy winter months... no more of this...

A place for the cars and tools to live.. I have been told I have good tools ... for a girl! 

Take a look at this when the temps hit those 90's this week!

I think I will get back to my space planning.. just sharing the excitement.. Thanks for reading!

Sewing Lessons Resume

The pillows to be recovered, the backing fabric and essential tools for accurate grain line in Home Decorating Sewing

Next friday marks the return of a favorite client and project of mine. I have been working with P. for a little over three years now. She had retained me to assist her in designing and instructing her on the construction of her Master bedroom draperies. She had found a lovely spice colored jacobean floral on cotton. We did an oversized goblet pleat and they turned out beautifully. When it came time for her to take on her Living room and Dining Room, she was overwhelmed with where to start.

As I reminded her of my design background, she agreed to have me go to work and pull a look together for her.. The result is nearing completion now, as she and her husband will be returning from two months abroad, the valance for the dining room is all we have left.

We have had such fun together and have become quite good friends. She is truly an inspiration to me. So, P.D, this post is for you...

Here is a brief snapshot of the highlights of the project.. the living room at least... the Dining room will be unveiled as we complete the valance.

Pillow Fabrics, Top-backing, right, face fabric, back, welt fabric.

Client/Student cutting her own fabric, professional guidance provided by... me.

When I presented 15 different fabrics to her, she loved each and everyone, the next challenge was how to make them all work in the room without becoming to overwhelming. Because she and her husband are well traveled, she wanted a space that was eclectic, put together and expressive... she liked the idea of expressive. The walls are a wonderful creamy, peach based... pink. Originally the sofa was covered in a soft sage/celery green Corragio cotton damask. The two cane backed arm chairs had a deeper pink/cream plaid cushions.

The cushion body and silk bias welt for the cane chairs

The finished chair cushion- all of the fabric motifs speak to the small caning shapes in the furniture, while the stylized quatrefoil shape speaks to a more romantic time, coupled with the fern frond area rug.. it seemed a perfect, exotic marriage of texture, color and shapes.

The draperies were some that she had made herself, by following a Sunset publication. She did quite a good job on them. These are details of the new draperies.

 Notice the repeated 'caning' pattern.  This is another color way of Schumacher's Betwixt fabric. There are two color ways used in the room to create coherence. Changing color ways allows me additional control of 'painting' in color in the perfect promotion for the room.

The pleat detail of the drapery panel. The panels are 1 and 1/2 widths wide flat compared to the single widths that were  made originally by the homeowner. The new draperies are hand drawn with a wand...P.D. laughs and says opening and closing her draperies now is like magic... they have such weight to them as they glide along the rods. She says they are a pleasure to open and close daily. 

 I suggested multi fabrics on the deck and bolsters of the cane backed french provincial style sofa, a second fabric for the cushion and the four pillows in an embroidered silk of bright colors, a soft cotton tweed the same as the wall color was selected for the pillow backs to create a calm effect from the back of the sofa, when seated at the desk. But the front of the sofa, WOW, impact upon arrival into the room.

Before, Pink and green color scheme, all of the wood is dark.

The new Living Room, a more complex color scheme adds interest and keeps the patterns transitioning together. The bookcases were painted a creamy white to showcase the books and open u the corners. The drapery hardware is a silver leaf rod and verde rings and finials. 

 Looking forward to next friday and working on the Dining room.. here is a teaser...

In process photo of the Dining drapery panel..... 

A Little bit of Research

Good Day everyone! Thank you for checking in today. There are so many other things that people can choose to do. This morning as I was in the shower, I had a thought (which is a good thing-they have gone missing lately) I was reminded of a book I picked up back in May/June actually a series of books.

I knew I was ready for a change. (little did I know it was to be in EVERY area of my life, none- the -less, change is change) I also knew that creativity is something that is my angle. It is how I perceive the world, people, products, movies, books, everything I do, is perceived through the filter of creativity. It is my processor, information is broken down into design elements and principles (I know, I talk about them a lot) and then I assess what is working and what is not working and create/add the what is missing. It is a bit more complicated than that and the challenges around it are subject matter for  a whole different post.

So, back to this subject. I started with the Craft, Inc. book. I admit, I didn't get very far and then it got packed into a box, which will emerge and be resumed when stability of home returns.  This morning in the shower, I was reminded of one of the first things talked about in the book.

Myths people have about why a creative business won't work for them... or something of that nature. One of the first ones and memory fails me, as to which one it is at the moment, one of the top three if I recall... was the lack of formal design/fine arts training. The book states that this is not necessary for the success of a creative endeavor/business.

I would like to know what readers think. (I know there are readers out there... last night, the blog reached 2400 views in all time! Thank you!) I would like to start a dialog about this topic and find out what people think. Is this an obstacle for you in taking on a creative project or turning your hobby into a business? I know there are many people who have no formal training in design/fine arts and are doing a myriad of creative things... some VERY successfully!

My opinion and the experiences that I have and am having that I can credit to a formal education will be revealed in a future post. Maybe not the next one, but, once a dialog is started (by some brave soul out there or who is willing to take the time) I will share with you all... I do look forward to hearing different perspectives on this and the information is valuable to something that I am considering creating...so let me know, what do you think? What is your experience?

I look forward to further diving into these books, as I have been looking at them for some time and perusing the information. They seem packed with information that will be very helpful in this next life phase.

This is the year that I am opening myself up to new ways of thinking. I am interested in what you have to say...

And Now for Something Completely Different!!!!

My Favorite Things- Fashion Designers!

I think my favorite fashion of all time was the 1930's. But, I love to see the evolution of a designer's style as it emerges and how she brands herself becoming synonymous with an era. Coco Chanel was a master at branding... Who doesn't recognize the interlocking c's of her logo... a photo of her early labels is very difficult to find.. I haven't found one yet... I did find a fabulous quote and one that I abide by in my own designs... 

 Another favorite is Elsa Schiaperelli, her bold use of color and avant garde way of detailing her fashion, without detracting from the beautiful line of the female body. Her designs are feminine and shocking.. I also love her for her use of Shocking Pink! A true inspiration to me.... 

My most inspiring designer is Madeleine Vionnet! 

Madeleine making magic!

She, with her innovative use of the fabric, was able to define a style for many decades. And that style evolved over a great many decades and is still as classic today as it was in the days that she designed them. 

 These dresses evoke the image of whipped vanilla, as the bias fabric drapes in soft folds around the feminine figure.

 Shimmering pools of liquid silk (not sure if the wedding gown is silk... my guess is yesss.. very little drapes like a silk!) These are silhouettes from the 30's. Very simple, elegant and somewhat minimalist. The style accentuates the textile and the form...

I use this principle often in my design of a window dressing. In fact, this photo inspired a cornice board that I had made for a trade show several years ago.. unfortunately, I have no idea where the photo of the finished window is. The fabric was iridescent gold/orange duppioni silk with the inside of the 'collar' in a deep orange red silk.  If I can track down a photo of it I will post it later... here is the inspiration photo....

The neckline was adapted and featured on the face of a plain and simple cornice board and draped over the edge, with glass bead  trim in amber.

A few years ago, I was flipping around on Amazon and found a review of a fabulous book of Vionnet. The price tag was $245.00 I was saddened, it looked like such a lovely book. I wished for it. Then I remembered that while in Paris, I had gone to my favorite bookstore and purchases a book about Vionnet. So, I ran to the book shelf and quickly began to peruse its contents... My heart raced as I realized it was the same book I had only moments earlier been coveting.

The coveted Vionnet book-already in my possession!

The book not only shares history of Vionnet, her philosophies and photos of her beautiful creations, but  templates to recreate them yourself.   I have yet to do this... Maybe a good February project... It could happen!

I also have this vintage pattern, which reminds me of the above Vionnet dress... 

Beautiful 'fish scales' that must shimmer with movement as she glides through a dimly lit room.

It has been great fun sharing these images that I found to be most beautiful and significant for the impact that fashion and great fashion designers have had on my career and my work... I must find a photo of that cornice... at least recreate a sketch of it for your viewing pleasure... 

The Journey in the Wilderness Continues

Just a quick afternoon post. It is funny how this 40 days keeps showing up in odd places. I definitely am on my journey in the wilderness. Yes, I have shelter and places to stay, but my personal belongings have been stripped from me, well, at least inaccessible to me for the next 38 days ( I am counting them down)

Even though I am most likely moving into the new place mid August, it will take me until September 1 to be at full momentum again.

I write this in gratitude to the universe for not literally sending me out into the wilderness (as in some really long camping trip) and that my material belongings that I am apparently learning my attachment to have been rendered inaccessible. Does that mean that my creativity has simply been a distraction from my Self? No, is the response from inside. It is removed from my current reality to remove anything that is in my way of fully accessing my creative expression. The tools and supplies that I have collected will sort themselves out.

As the next 38 days unfold, I will become more clear about what I want to spend my time creating. There may be the emergence of an Etsy shop as I relinquish some of my stash (ooh, that is hard to believe I am even open to that!) There are other creative tools and materials that I may part with. I want to be sure they go to a good home. I have loved them, protected them and possessed them for many years, so it is difficult to just send them out to the curb. (I did send some things out to the curb when I moved out of the other place) That was difficult, however, seeing the joy in the faces of others as they picked through and figured out how to transport their new found treasures made it much easier.

This may not actually be the stuff on Etsy, but it is a sampling of what I have to go through.  There are three  containers of trims alone... 

I may be posting again and again and again... this writing is cathartic and my voice is screaming declarations out into the world.. Thank you for listening world...