Black and White! And All Those Other Colors,.....

When I returned from Rome last September I mentioned all the fabulous Black and White fashion I saw in the shop windows over there and how excited I was to see it!

(You can see my post about it here)

 

    

 

I even created these Black and White bracelets as a sort of "Tribute" (if you will) to the Trending Fashion scenes I drooled over while in Italy.

 

 

 

Well, it's still a happenin' combo - Black and White - especially this spring!

 

 

 

I'm not sure why I love Black and White (and Clear - love Clear Crystals and Stones!!) so much.

Maybe it's the endless possibilities that go along with this color scheme. Or the way it's so bold, yet unoffensive (Sorry, but yes, some colors, arranged boldly in strange combos can be almost offensive to look at!)

Recently I created more of the Black and White style combo that I like, only this design has more of a Romantic, Bohemian look and feel. Not so bold or "Art Deco" looking, but rather soft, casual and fun.

 

 

Black, white, grey/gray, clear - yes, these are my 'go to' colors. And blue. Every shade of blue.  I mean, what's not to love about blue, right?! Oh, and browns,.....(Geeze, I'm boring!)

I tend to pick colors that are safe. Safe for me. Meaning, no matter what I create using them, they're bound to look some what appealing. It's kind of like my favorite blanket or sweater I wrap around myself,...they're comfortable, safe and predictable.

 

Even with multiples,...I'm still being 'safe' with my use of color

 

I'm working on being conscious of adding more colors to my designs this year and trying colors that are different and new for me.  It's a bit more difficult than I thought it would be, especially considering that I LOVE bright colors - specifically in flowers, nature and certain types of art work.

 

 

 

 

 

Do you find yourself drawn to certain colors more than others? Do you wear certain colors more or design with certain colors over and over? 

 

Ah yes, these have all my 'go to' colors in them!
 

 

Do you follow the Pantone Colors each season and use them as a guide or do you just let your heart tell you what to choose?

My heart loves deep, dark red and bright pink.  Okay, so I have designed with those colors before,...because they do go fabulously with my 'safe' colors.

Brandi Hussey's starting a new blog called "Oh The Color". I credit Brandi as one of the folks who've helped me branch out a bit and not be so afraid to design with more colors. She's also one of the reasons my photos are getting better. 

 

 

 

You can see why, here.

You should really go over and check out her new blog.  I believe it goes live on Monday, but until then, she's got some awesome (as always!) photos and equally as awesome colors up to drool over!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Dreaming in Color!

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

 

Learning From Others: Blog Spotlight

Today I'd like to give a shout out to a blogger I follow regularly and look to for awesome color inspiration, business knowledge and tons of other fun stuff, too.

Brandi Girl Blog written by Brandi Hussey hasn't been on my radar nearly long enough, possibly a year or so, but in the short time that I've followed Brandi and gotten to know her a bit, she's become an invaluable resource that I turn to again and again.

And she's a real sweetie, too!

There are so many things Brandi does well and she's so generous with everything she shares that it's hard to know where to start. 

She's one of these rare people who have the ability to make you think about some pretty deep things all the while inspiring you to push yourself to try new things or to see the world a bit differently that you did when you woke up this morning.

 She has these amazing color palettes she shares with her readers which help trigger your creative side. At least they do mine.

Here's one of my favorites from Brandi.

Thunderstorm Color Palette #104 by Brandi Hussey

I was amazed at how few colors I actually saw in a picture until I started looking over the color palettes she would post with her photos. Then, when I followed her tutorial and did a couple of my own - wow - I had no idea all those colors were in the pictures I was snapping!

Color Paletter #98 - January Color by Brandi Hussey

She also offers up some great e-Books. She has one on pricing your designs. You should see the jewelry she used to create - luscious doesn't even begin to describe it!  Her eBook really helps those of use who sell our jewelry creations over some tough hurdles in regards to this topic.

Brandi's eBook - It's Free - Check It Out!

She also just came out with her fabulous Editing with Elements course to help people who are new to, or a bit techno-challenged (as in my case), with editing photos and working in Photoshop Elements.

I'm diving into this one right now and

will let you all know how I do!

Brandi's Editing With Elements Course

One of the things Brandi is outstanding at, in my opinion any way, is her teaching ability. In her video tutorials, she has a calm way of teaching and she speaks to you in a way that is upbeat and easily understood. And I think she has a great 'voice', too - that's hard to do sometimes on camera and Brandi just does it naturally.

I was really honored several weeks back when Brandi emailed me and asked if she could do a spotlight on me one day this month over on her blog. "Me?"  "Seriously?"  "Wow!" You can check out her post here.  And thanks so much for doing this Brandi - it's really special!

So, if you're in need of some inspiration, whether it be for your business or just some personal inspiration to lift your spirits or get you thinking about new things, Brandi Girl Blog is definitely worth checking out - you will not be disappointed. Honestly.   I think you'll come away with a whole new favorite!

Color Palette #89 - Quiet Moments by Brandi Hussey

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Gratitude!

Cheers,

~Shel~