....."Honeysuckle!" It's a fabulous reddish-pink, a geranium pink, and unlike the Color of The Year for 2010, "Turquoise", which was hugely popular, people either really, really like, or really, really don't like this color.
I'm in the really, really like category as long as it's in small doses. Paired with chocolate brown, or honey yellow, or as an accent to champagne peach this would be lovely. It would also be stunning with olive, black, and hints of gold.
So far, I've used this color as an accent with two of my color report projects. First in a rivoli necklace of "Beeswax," a honey yellow, "Blue Curacao", a green tinged turquoise, and "Coral Rose", rich orange.
Another project is a retro beaded amulet bag in "Silver Peony", a lovely champagne peach, "Silver Cloud", a glowing gray, "Russet", orange based brown, "Coral Rose", and good ol' "Honeysuckle."
Sorry, no pics available, but I'll be starting my final Color Report project soon so I'll take pictures of that as it progresses.
In the meantime, click here to see "Honeysuckle" at work in the fashion world, read more about the Color of the Year on the Pantone web site, or click here to see how to not wear "Honeysuckle."
I'm not really going to be giving you a run down on what I've been doing for the past 6 months since my last post, but I will tell you why it's been such a long time.
I hadn't been feeling good for a long, long time and was finally diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue in early July. If you're curious about what that is click here to find out more. In a nutshell, I've been a walking zombie, but now, over the past few month, I've been starting to feel more like my usual self again.
I've been beading, dancing, crocheting, doing all the things that Mommyhood entails, and learning all about the newest addition to our household, Jenny Cat.
About the time I started feeling like I wanted a new kitten in my life I stopped by the pet food store for dog food on a Saturday when the Az. Humane Society was there. What a coincidence! I read the bios of all the cats and kittens, picked up some food and treats for the dogs, and ran a few more errands. But I couldn't stop thinking about this one cat.
Her shelter name was "Gemini" and she's the same age as my almost 3 year old daughter. Her owners were forced to give her up when they lost their house because of the lousy economy and had to move into an apartment that didn't allow pets. Her bio also said that while she was good with children her previous owners had no idea of her personality or even what sort of toys she liked because she spent most of her time hiding from their other cats and dogs. The shelter recommendation was that she be adopted by someone with a quiet house without any other pets.
There was just something about her. So I said to myself that I would go back on Sunday and if she was still there I would adopt her. And well, of course you know she was. My daughter didn't like the name "Gemini" and immediately renamed her Jenny.
She spent a few hours hiding behind the couch or behind the toilet, and I briefly had some second thoughts about my decision. But, when I was reading a bed time story to Indigo Lynne, Jenny came out from behind the couch and stretched herself across the back of it, which is now one of her favorite sleeping spots.
Jenny is sweet, loving, cuddly, and mischievous. She likes to bite my toes when I'm doing yoga, snuggle next to me when I'm beading or crocheting, and chew on my hair when I'm reading in bed at night; small, fluffy stuffed animals are her toy of choice; and she loves hanging out on the couch with my daughter.
At least that's what I'm calling this necklace until I can come up with a different and better name. I'm also open for suggestions.
I actually have an idea for a pink punk necklace. I came across some enameled steam punk style charms, beads, and findings in all sorts of candy bright colors, and that got me to thinking......
But, I digress.
This is an unfinished project that I came across while looking for something else in my bead closet. As to what my original idea was I am completely clueless. And I also have no idea as to what the finished necklace is going to look like. It's so rare that I ever plan a project out from beginning to end. I start with beads, needles, and a vague idea of what I will make and let the project evolve from there. I love improv beading!
The part that may not be so improvisational is the neck strap. I've been toying with the idea of either a tubular herringbone strap or a silk cord that I can carry some sort of embellishing up onto. Then again, I could always do the embellishing idea on the herringbone strap with some beaded bead end caps and a button toggle.
Then again....I could do a multiple strand of seed beads; or a single strand of glass & crystal; or this could be the focal piece of a multi-strand necklace.
See what I mean? This is why my work is rarely ever planned out. There are just so many wonderful options available.
Here's an almost, but not quite finished, photo of one of my color report projects. I debated back and forth as to whether this should be a pendant or a brooch until a FB friend mentioned wearing brooches with scarves and sweaters. Now that got me to thinking! If I make this into a brooch then I can crochet a scarf or shawl to go with it. It's the same as making a necklace then buying an outfit to go with it, or vice versa.
The brooch is finished, the shawl pattern has been found, now I just need to hunt up the yarn.....
My color report projects are at Margie's house waiting to be photographed and I'm moving on to my next beading project. Think fuchsia, chartreuse, gold, and black. Think Swarovski!
The Oyster Gray project is moving slowly along. At this point I can't decide if this is going to be a pendant, a brooch, or as a FaceBook friend suggested, a bracelet.
I definitely wear more pendants, but at this point I have about a bazillion necklaces. A brooch would be fun, interesting, and a bit different for me. Jan, another FB friend, mentioned that she wears brooches with shawls & sweaters in the winter. Now, that has me thinking! I started teaching myself to crochet back in October so maybe it's time I crochet a scarf or shawl for myself in teal, reddish purple brown, or maybe lipstick red!
I'm not actually turning stones over, but I could use some help in possibly identifying the stone doughnut that I'm using in my current color report project. It's a warm putty gray with a slate gray matrix.
Could it be an agate or some sort of jasper?
It's been a while. It's been a long, long, while. It's not that my life hasn't been busy or exciting, but quite the opposite, just about every second of every minute of every day is jammed packed. But, I've decided to take some time to revive this blog and tease you about my color report projects.
The picture above shows my 3 choices for the Fall/Winter 201o Pantone Color Report. When I'm making my choices for the report I like to pick 3 colors; one for fun, one because I know it will be an easy color for me to work with, and one for the challenge.
Lipstick Red: I love the color red, but rarely ever use it as the main color in my bead work, so I thought this would be a fun and sexy color to work with.
Oyster Gray: I'm not sure how this color is going to like on your monitors so I'll describe it as a warm putty gray with greenish-yellow undertones. I like cool grays with blue or green undertones so this has been the challenging color for me to work with. After 3 false starts I think I'm finally on track with a "sand & sea" theme, but we'll see......
Woodbine: Second to purple, I find greens to be the easiest colors to work with. To give it a bit of interest, I paired it with Endive: a very yellow green; Living Coral: bright, happy orange; Lagoon: a slightly dull teal; and Burnt Sienna: a deep earthy orange from the Fall/Winter 2009 report.
