PhotoshopDesign

Martin Scorsese's Favorite 'Light & Color' Films

2010-06-10T05:11:00.001-07:00

As Benefit of the Doubt was wrapping up his month of posts focused on color in film he brought to our attention this nice little list of "The Best Uses of Color in Film, Ever, Both Foreign and Domestic" put together by the great Martin Scorsese. The list includes 1o american and 10 foreign films that Scorsese believes demonstrate a masterful use of light and color.

"Films use light and color to tell a story in a special narrative way, which delivers a strong emotional and intellectual impact on the viewer," Scorsese said. "That made a very strong impression on me and has affected how I try to use color in all of my films."

The lists were the idea of Philips Electronics, which was looking for a way to promote its Ambilight FlatTV displays.

Here are the top ten English language films in alphabetical order with a little palette love:

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Duel in the Sun (1946)

Invaders From Mars (1953)

Leave Her to Heaven (1946)

Moby Dick (1956)

Phantom of the Opera (1943)

The Red Shoes (1948)

The Searchers (1956)

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Vertigo (1958)

Interior Design Trends: Yellow & Blue

2010-06-09T05:10:00.001-07:00

With blue and yellow I automatically think collegiate, most likely being that these are the colors of the University of Michigan. Even though I tend to correlate the two, it is easy to get the colors outside their scholastic association by using different variations of the hues. To prove this I have stumbled upon some charming accents as well as a couple of aesthetically pleasing interiors.

pillow | tea towel | plate | bottles | bath towel | post-its | pendant | vase

Interiors: 1, 2

Architecturally Inspired Shoes

2010-06-08T05:10:00.001-07:00

Often times, when fashion is described as "architectural," the word captures a general sense--geometric shapes, stacked layers, hardness and roundness and softness. But in the case of United Nude's shoes, "architectural" is the first--and most apropos--word to use to describe the labors of love from Dutch designer (and architect) Rem D Koolhaas.

Koolhaas has said multiple times--most prominently on United Nude's Web site itself--the line began with "a broken heart." Wanting to boil architecture down to "the smallest and most vulnerable scale, that of a woman's foot," Koolhass started United Nude with the MÃ¶bius, an openwork sandal formed from a single strip and inspired by Bauhaus architect Mies van der Rohe's famous Barcelona chair.

Koolhaas partnered with shoemaker Galahad Clark to bring the idea to life, and now the two have developed a full range of architecturally inspired, coolly colorful footwear. The Eamz is based on Ray and Charles Eames' famous office chair and footstool, the Stealth draws on the straight lines and style of a Stealth F117 fighter plane. Every shoe has a true architectural aspect--much like the artistic, just-opened New York flagship store.

For more, check out an interview with Koolhaas here, and below, take a look at a healthy handful of some of United Nude's offerings.

All photos from United Nude.

Interior Design Trends: Orange & Blue

2010-06-07T05:10:00.001-07:00

I have to say, when I hear or see orange and blue together the New York Knicks come to mind. Doesn't really seem appealing when it comes to to home decor, does it? Well, even though these two colors seem as if they would not fit properly as decor, they certainly can. A toned down, softer version of the color duo can be refreshing in small doses. Just look at these examples. How do you feel about orange and blue being used together in the home?

dishtowel | fish soaps |vases | glasses | pillow | bowls | chair s

Interior photos from thelennoxx.com

Interior Design Trends: Black & Gray

2010-06-06T05:10:00.001-07:00

Though my favorite colors have to be blue and green, I can appreciate many of the other colors that exist. The ones that I tend to always go back to,
other than the favorites, seem to be black and gray. I guess it is their neutral and chic qualities that appeals to me. There also seems to be an awful lot of gray floating around in the design world at the moment, so maybe it's subconscious thing as well.

Do you find yourself drawn to certain colors that are 'hot' at the moment? What do you think of gray and black?

lamp | planter | pillow | coral jar | nut cracker | mirror | decanter | throw | vases | chair

Interior: 1, 2

Daily Inspiration from 'A Collection a Day'

2010-06-05T05:10:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for some vintage color inspiration, or a little from the unusual category, check out the progress of Lisa Congdon and her project, A Collection a Day. Today is only day 155 so we still have plenty look forward from the 365 day project.

From her collection page:

This is a blog documenting a project that will span exactly one year, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. On each of those 365 days, I will photograph or draw (and occasionally paint) one collection. Most of the collections are real and exist in my home or studio; those I will photograph. Some are imagined; those I will draw or (occasionally) paint.

Since I was a young girl, I have been obsessed both with collecting and with arranging, organizing and displaying my collections. This is my attempt to document my collections, both the real and the imagined. Some of my collections are so large that I will need to photograph them separately over several days. I will likely not attempt to photograph collections in which the individual pieces are large in size or awkward in shape (i.e. my art collection or vintage enamel dishware collection). The only rule is that I must photograph or draw a whole or part of a collection each day for 365 days and post the result here on this blog.

The practice of collecting and documenting collections is as old as the hills. I want onlookers here to know that I do not profess to be doing anything new or unique or ingenious. I am embarking on this project because I love my collections, and I want to document them in a way that makes sense to me, and share them with whoever might be interested in looking at them.

This blog, unlike my other, is open for comments. I encourage you to share your thoughts about what memories the photographs and drawings of my collections spark for you and what, if any, sense of nostalgia or repulsion they make you feel.

Reception Tent DIY: Coffee Filter Pom-Pom How-To

2010-06-04T05:10:00.001-07:00

Pom-Pom's are a terrific way to add fun colour to your reception. If you're crafty (or not) and are willing to get your hands dirty, this one's for you. This is something you don't want to be doing the week of though.

As I have mentioned before, I am coordinating and helping with the design for my little brothers wedding coming up here in just 2 short weeks.

A few Weekends ago, my Mom, and partner in crime for the wedding decor, spent some time putting mock tables and accessory layouts together. As we were coming in from a walk after all our projects were done for the day, my mom says,"I have decided not to add another project to our already big list of things to do." Of course, not two hours later did we come across these wonderful pom-pom's (pictured right)! So what do two crazy girls do with an idea? The very next day we gathered supplies and started dying 1,400 mini coffee filters a variety of lavender hues. We started at 3pm and she left after midnight. So much for not adding another project! I'd like to add that my mom has dyed over 3,000 more coffee filters on top of the original 1,400. When we get a bug in our bonnets we're all about business.

On to the actual project and our experience. The original idea came from a small photo (again, pictured right) from the last months issue of the Martha Stewart Weddings. When we originally spied the photo we naturally assumed they were made from coffee filters. As we figured we could get the general idea ourselves, we tried looking up a how-to on the subject with not much luck. So we did what we do best and made it up.

Come to find out that the pom-pom's in the photo that we so fell in love with were not made up of coffee filters after all! They were made up of tissue paper. I honestly cannot imagine making 3-5,000 tissue paper versions of this so I'm still all for our method. Here is the Martha Stewart Tissue Paper Pom-Pom How-To though if you're interested.

The only helpful coffee filter pom-pom method we found was by Pam Garrison (see photo below) and even then she didn't really post a how-to either, but the close-up shots helped a little. It's not that complicated of a craft. We were mostly wanting to know the best route to dying, drying and how to best assemble them.

(pamgarrison.typepad.com)

We are making pom-pom's for two 20 x 40 foot tents so yes, we needed quite a few strings. Initially, we decide to dye them outdoors in a big canning pot on a sunny day (my mom in the photo below). Laying them out on sheets seemed the best route....until the sun died out and the wind picked up. Tired of the grunt work and the slow process, I decided to try throwing the half-dried batches in sets into the dryer (a bit nervous I'd end up with a purple dryer or set the house on fire) and it worked perfectly! WOW did this speed up the process. I would like to highlight here that the 'dryer method' actually made the post-scrunching method a TON easier down the line. So take note on that.

DYING.

We learned that our first attempt outdoors was going to take ages. My mom went home and started her own workable method.

Supplies: dye of choice (cloth dye), mini or full sized coffee filters (mini used here), washer or large pot, dryer or open space with drop cloths

Dye the coffee filters in the washing machine (you need HOT water for a good dye process). Don't worry, it won't kill your washing machine. Sounds scary at first.

Wring out the filters. They're tough so be rough on them, it's OK. Wring and toss them in a big pot. Un-wring them and lay them out in piles (see photo above) and put them in to the dryer in shifts (don't put too many at a time in) on the lowest heat setting possible. You can dry quite a few at a time, but they do fluff up so beware of too many. Try 5 minutes and test how dry they are to figure out your dryer time in line with the heat of your dryer. DO NOT dry them too long. They start crinkling up. You only want a slight crinkle.

After the dryer we found it best to stack them according to general shades (hues): dark, medium, light. My mom organized them into brown shopping bags (recycled). This was the easiest way to transport them.

Tips: To get darker hues you need extra dye, fresh [very] hot water and let them soak at least 10-15 minutes. Also, use rubber cleaning gloves (elbow gloves). They make it easier to separate the filters from the original pack into the dye vat as well as protect your hands from dye while handling them out of the dye vat.

As an additional note on dyes - we discovered you can use anything to dye the filters as they aren't going to be clothing worn and washed, etc. So things you can use are kool aid, cloth dye or vegetable dyes. We chose to use regular, hardy cloth dye assuming that kool aid would be too much of a hassle and take too much to get any dark colours anyhow. Just something to consider when choosing a dye.

STRINGING.

You must string the pom-pom's before scrunching them. Trust me.

Supplies: x-acto blade, cutting board (whatever protection you want under the x-acto cutting area), stapler (tip: use the old school-house style black stapler because the necks are longer), staples and a strong heavyweight string (see image of what we used - we bought ours at a hardware store, not a craft store).

If you can, get a lot of help for this project. My mom and I were basically the only two people doing this and it would have been nicer with a group. Turn on a movie and get some manual labor done. If you have the wo-man power, delegate accordingly...

One person should stack. For ours we found that 10 filters worked best. We also incorporated undyed white filters. We used two (750 count) packs of white along with the 3,000+ dyed filters, it cut down a bit of work. This is where your organized bags by hue work out nicely. We had dark, medium, light and white. Figure out a pattern, go with it.

One person staples. Two staples about 1/4" apart in the center-most spot. If you don't get some dead-center, don't stress it. They're going to be scrunched up.

One person cuts. Using the x-acto blade, cut a line about the length of the staples, right in-beween them, in the same direction. Cut, and make sure it's punctured clear through the stacks.

One person strings. We made lengths of about 6-feet with our string. Roughly measured from nose to arm four times. We didn't get technical with our 20 x 40 foot tent size and measure out exactly how many will work for that length. We just figured we will make a ton and make it work. If you want to pre-figure all that out, go for it. I would STILL only make your lengths 6-10 feet long as you can connect them while actually decorating and it's easier for untangling and transportation.

Stringing works like this: Start about 12-inches in and make a loop knot (if you are not familiar, see the section image above). Thread the flat pom-pom on, do another loop knot. Space them approximately 12-inches apart or whatever you decide works for your design.

If the person knotting is making large loop knots, maybe make your 6-foot lengths a little longer to accommodate that or don't worry about it. The loops WILL be covered up by the scrunching. We could fit 5-6 pom-pom's per string length.

This works ideally if you have people willing to help. We only had the two of us. We also found it best if you do all the above prep before scrunching. Then we could dole out piles of stuff to scrunch during TV or movie watching during the week or you could throw a big scrunching party.

SCRUNCHING.

No, you're not done yet, but you're in the final round.

Scrunching is easy and even fumbly hands can do this. We recruited my Dad, who is a mechanic to help! Just start with the center and scrunch it like you're making pie crust in a pinching method all the way around, only a little abstract and rougher. The filters are very durable if you can't tell by now. Then start with the next layer and so forth. You'll get the hang of it. After one ball of layers, kind of fluff and scrunch the entire ball as a whole to get it looking right. Don't try to simple scrunch the ball as a whole from the start, it won't work - DO EACH LAYER.

This is where the dryer method worked to our benefit. We found that the filters we had dried on the lawn, were smoother and more resistant to scrunching than the dryer ones that had got some extra crinkle from the dryer. Just trust me.

THAT'S IT! We stored ours in garbage bags. Be a little careful with how you pile them in as the strings are a headache to untangle if you're careless.

I will do an additional post after the wedding to show you our final product and my ingenious idea on how to smartly get all the tent decor up without a hassle and a lot of neck-craning. I will tell you that it involves using a hoola-hoop.

Additional Resources:

While looking for the pom-pom how-to with coffee filters, I came across this one using Tulle or Netting by MarthaStewartWeddings.com.

Or for a twist, do hanging paper flowers instead (also by MarthaStewartWeddings.com). These were made from paper bags! Although, as a reader commented on this post, you can use any type of paper to make these work. Hmm Printed paper anyone? They would be fun to make in an assortment of patterns and colours.

Here's one that appears to be more of a household decor idea, but you could do many things with it to develop it into a wedding decor project. Large hanging flowers out of recycled magazine by Creature Comforts.typepad.com

Artist-Inspired Palettes With Etsy

2010-06-03T05:10:00.001-07:00

Margot Harrington, a.k.a. CheekyMonkey82, is a freelance graphic designer, the editor of COLOURlovers' Print Channel, an art junkie, and all-around collaborator captivated by all forms of making and doing. She documents art and design on the Internet at Pitch Design Union and Mint Design Blog.

Photo by chrispiascik and COLOURlovers

Of all the glorious sundries available on Etsy, interestingly enough, it's not the first place I normally look when I'm in the mood for art and design, or prints and posters. Any artist I tend to find on Etsy is usually referred from another source, typically from one of the many design blogs I frequent when I'm on the hunt some inspiration for my own work and blog. That's not to say that there aren't fantastic gems to be had; there's everything from handmade zines, screenprints, bound books, prints, and letterpress goodies galore. I've picked out my newer favorite finds and a handful of loves that I've been eyeballing for some time. I also put together a few color palettes based off some of the work, feel free to wander over to COLOURlovers and use them in your own work!

Artwork by essimar

I've been a big fan of the dreamy vibe in essimar's work for a long time, and I just love the particular color palette she employs. Her work is mostly small prints and cards, either screenprinted, collaged or both. Also check out her blog for new work and Flickr for even more product and in-process photos.

Artwork by alyoisiusspyker

Lovely rainbow-hued screenprints are by alyoisisspyker, though I'm partial to these geometric ones and would love to have them in my house. There are still few left of each, snap those babies up!

Artwork by chrispiascik

All acid-pop fun, illustrator Chris Piascik's hand-lettering is incredibly clever and detailed. See more of his work at chrispiascik.com.

Artwork by slidesideways

Slide Sideways is made up of screenprinters Jaqui and Scott and they are no strangers to Etsy. Their work is adorable and irreverent, but not too cutesy. I especially like how they've managed to extend their printing talents to pouches, journal and pillows.

Artwork by leahduncan

Leah Duncan is the brains behind these brilliant illustrations, which have are a unique feel that's both modern and folksy. Super hot colors too! Loves.

Mok Duk is Anne Benjamin: illustrator, screenprinter, and letterpress maven. She does tons of amazing letterpress wedding invitations too. See more of her work at AnnBenjamin.com.

Artwork by rarrarpress

Typophiles rejoice with the sassy prints by Reba Rakstad of Rar Rar Press. Posters, buttons, small notebooks, cards, and T-shirts are all hand typeset and letterpressed. Reba also has a blog and helps run Chicago-based No Coast, which is a multi-use art space and studio focused on printmaking, and book art and fiber arts.

This is reposted from Etsy's blog, see the original post here.

Technicolor Fashion: Sex and the City

2010-06-02T05:10:00.001-07:00

Once a month, we'll be taking a look at fashion in film--characters, colors and costume design. Working together to create a believable persona, in the movies--or in TV--the clothes often quite literally make the man. In the case of today's characters, they make the group of four women who've made a mark on the fashion world during the last decade.

Samantha Jones (Kim Cattral), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) and Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) are the central characters in question--fans followed them through six seasons of TV, where from 1998 through 2004 they trawled New York in search of love, happiness and Manolos. The girls ventured onto the big screen in 2008 for the first Sex and the City film, and last week, they emerge again for that film's sequel, Sex and the City 2.

Along for the entire ride has been costume designer Patricia Field, largely responsible for SATC's fashion effect, though she's not always admitted to trying to start trends.

"From the beginning, I never really thought about anything being a trend," Field told New York Daily News in 2007. "It was never really part of the strategy. When things did become a trend, they did."

And plenty of trends were born during the show's run (over-sized flower pins, anyone?). Field won four Costume Designers Guild awards and an Emmy for her SATC work.

Some have said Sex and the City's clothes became a character of their own, and this writer tends to agree (a common conversation between my sister and I has us recalling not just story lines but clothing: "Remember that horse-head bag?" "Wait, what about the pink Oscar de la Renta dress?" etc.). The colors and the composition of the clothing were arguably the reason the fashion was such a standout--it was confident even if characters weren't, over-the-top when characters were, and always a comment on standing out in a crowd.

When asked by The Moment how accurately she thought the SATC series and films reflected the fashions of their respective times, Field said, "I think we initiated rather than reflected. Itâs not a documentary reflecting a reality, itâs a hyperreality with the intention of entertaining and pleasing peopleâs fantasy and imagination."

"What I think creates the fan is that sort of hyperreal, fantastical delivery of the visuals," Field went on to say. "The fans would be very disappointed if there wasnât an elevation or a step up. This is why 'Sex and the City' has succeeded in creating an exclusive club of a billion women around the world who all speak the same language. It liberates their fantasies and imagination."

The clothing of SATC was, though, more than eye-candy--it really did visually reflect each character. Carrie, the central character and narrator, is a freelance columnist whose column bears the series' name--she writes about the single woman's experience looking for love in New York. Accordingly, she's in and out of relationships almost as many times as she changes clothes in any given episode. She's experimental, you might say--or maybe an every-color-wearing kind of everywoman, albeit the on-screen kind--and so is her style, even when she's about to walk down the aisle in the first film.

Samantha, the most outspoken about her sexuality and the only one of the four women not interested in settling down, dresses boldly--big shoulders, big accessories, big patterns and colors. Charlotte, the most optimistic and most traditionally minded, yearns for a husband and family--her style is waspy and ladylike. And Miranda, a relatively no-nonsense lawyer, is more conservative--she's often in monochromatic dresses and trousers.

Throughout its life, SATC has striven to both highlight the importance of friendship over romantic relationships and empower women in talking about love, friendship, sexuality, and the work world. Of course, in its time, too, it's received criticism for emphasizing a consumer culture and being anti-feminist. Any of those things might be true. Uplift magazine's Holly Warren encourages viewers to shed labels--to mix and match.

"Play with fashion, dress exactly how you like, then go out and smash a few stereotypes by being being a feminist and proud," she said. "Be a wonderful pick ânâ mix of a person; a glorious patchwork; an interesting, multicoloured feminist."

It's something Field would likely agree with herself when it comes to fashion.

"The way you dress yourself is a form of self-expression, and a way of communicating to others who you are," she said. "But style is broader than just fashion--itâs not only the way you dress, but how you decorate your home, the books you read. It all runs together. The more ways you can express yourself the better, because then you are communicating at a higher level."

Community love:

Screen captures from screenmusings.org.

Memorial Day Remembrance

2010-06-01T05:10:00.001-07:00

As we here in the United States commemorate those killed in military operations, we wish for peace and continue to spread love by remembering the top palettes from the past year, and dedicating them to those soldiers who are no longer with us.

Eclectic Color Roundup: World Cup iPhone Cases, Palette Bookmarklet, Wallpaper Lovin' Bees & Body Sails

2010-05-31T05:10:00.001-07:00

iPhone

World Cup Collection From Uncommon

Uncommon Collections

The collection has all 32 qualifying team flags and four general soccer designs. Uncommon will be knocking teams out of the collection as they are knocked out of the tournament. So once your team is out, the flag case is gone.

API Love

Bookmarklet For Palette/Pattern Browser

Bookmarklet | Browser | CL Forum

ycc2106 made a great bookmarklet for the palette/pattern browser a little while back. If you select a username with your cursor and click the bookmarklet it'll take you to the browser with that user's stuff. If you don't have anything selected it opens a window to enter the username. Super handy.

With permission, cuttlefish is hosting it now. Just drag the links into your bookmarks bar to use it.

Thanks ycc2106!

- COLOURlovers Forum

Nature

Bees Use Flower Petals For Colorful Nest Wallpaper

Story @ NPR

When we think of bee nests, we often think of a giant hive, buzzing with social activity, worker bees and honey. But scientists recently discovered a rare, solitary type of bee that makes tiny nests by plastering together flower petals. - Continue Reading

Sport

Body Sails

Sporting Sails

Interior Design Trends: Orange & Green

2010-05-30T05:10:00.001-07:00

Summer is almost here and all I can think about is bright, cheerful color. This time around orange and green have been floating through my head. I guess they make me think of tropical islands, which is what I'm hoping the weather will feel like very, very soon. I found several fun items this time around, and they would be a pleasant jolt of color to compete with what nature is producing this time of year.

stools | clock | rug | lamp | bracket | glasses | pillows | hooks

1, 2

Color and Object Collages with Monochromatic Love

2010-05-29T05:10:00.001-07:00

A monochromatic color palette in a large scale piece of art or inside a home can be tricky to pull off without feeling oppressive or too blah. But lately I've been seeing more installations with interesting objects that are of a similar hue and I just cannot get enough of them. I think they work particularly well as a standalone collage or as a display focal point in a room. Here's some of my inspiring finds.

These tabletop installations are styled and photographed by Swedish graphic design student, Hilda Grahat. Her blog is top notch and full of more vintage goodies and gorgeous photography. You can buy postcards of all of these colorful installations here too.

Anthony Zinonos is a collage artist out of the UK whose been making the rounds on the design blogs recently. Known for minimal, irreverent and geometric collages, this particular color series is a bit of a departure from his usual style, but I find it stunning nonetheless.

This lovely flickr set, styled and shot to mimic a similar color-themed calendar from the 80s.

Maurizio Pellegrin's work uses fabric, geometric shapes, and found objects juxtaposed in an incredibly tight composition. There's a vaguely nostalgic feel to it that I really dig as well.

Interior Design Trends: Gray & Brown

2010-05-28T05:10:00.001-07:00

Gray and brown are two neutral tones that I love. Some may feel they are drab and can lend in bringing down ones mood but I find them to be rather edgy and cozy. If there is the need for some cheery colors then some can always be added as these two tones. To show that the two tones are not so gloomy, I have rounded up some nice looking items. What are your opinions of gray and brown?

bowls | pouf | pillow | cross | throw | vase | bench | lamp | cha irs

Interior: 1, 2

Interior Design Trends: Yellow, Black & White

2010-05-27T05:10:00.001-07:00

As the warm weather approaches I find myself mentally preparing for the upcoming season. Certain things, such as fashions and soirees, enter your mind and you begin to anticipate what is in store and what colors you might wish to see. Bold, bright, airy and cheery colors are usually what I envision. And yellow (bright and cheery), black (bold) and white (airy) are what are currently on my mind.

pillow | clock | throw | bowl | lamp | agate slice | table | art

Interior: 1, 2

Weaving Into New Trends

2010-05-26T05:10:00.001-07:00

Tradiontal crafts have come a long way to make themselves a home in the contemporary art world. And while things like baskets may have held a tightly woven association to the weave, many artists are reinventing these techniques and creating intricately woven sculptures that wouldn't quite fit into the category of traditional woven crafts or, say, The Longaberger Company building. Here is a look at one artist weaving his own path, a recent exhibition, some items found on Etsy, and a few recent patterns from the library, all that embrace the intricacies and textures of the weave.

Kazue Honmas

"Basket has many attractive aspects. Form, Material, Pattern, Function, Images,,,. What charmed me most was structure itself. When I concentrated the way of weaving, my baskets lost the practical side."

Excerpt from 'Where Fiber Art Meets Hot Fudge Sundae' by Benjamin Genocchio for The New York Times:

Until recently, the contemporary art world politely ignored the encroachment into artistsâ studios of techniques more commonly associated with traditional practical and domestic arts.

Sydney/Hue Map weaving by Thinker Tinker

âKnitted, Knotted, Nettedâ at the Hunterdon Art Mu- seum confronts this trend head on, presenting work by a dozen artists made us- ing the methods of the title. Each of these techniques is quite ancient, according to the exhibition catalog, probably dating to Paleolithic times, when humans first began to fashion clothing and hunting instru- ments from plant fibers and animal ma- terials. Each is characterized by looping of a thread or cord, in contrast to, say, weaving or braiding, in which the elements may interlace but not necessarily loop.

Silver Basket Weave Button Ring by Refined Rubish

Contemporary artists have pushed these old techniques in fascinating directions, as is evidenced by the beauty, variety and inventiveness of the works in this show, organized by Hildreth York, one of the museumâs curators. In addition to using natural materials, art- ists now work with all sorts of industrial and synthetic substances, enabling the creation of far more dynamic looped structures.

Basket Weave Earrings by Paper & Clay Studios

Wire Weaved Lampshade by Yoola

Color Lovin' Your Garage Door

2010-05-25T05:10:00.001-07:00

Some may think the garage is merely a place to ~~hide the fact that you drive an SUV~~ keep your vehicle & all the stuff you'll probably never use again safe from the elements. But remember all those other great things that have come out of garages? : bands, inventions, companies, etc. The garage is really a conveniently located creative space to explore your latest idea, so it's nice to see that some people are reflecting the creativity going on behind the door outwardly by giving their doors some color lovin'.

Garage Color Palettes from the Library

More color loved garage door galleries at Let's Colour Project & thetoyzone.

Eclectic Color Roundup: Comic Sans Destroyer, Paint Chip Video Breakdown, Create a Color Playlist, Art

2010-05-24T05:10:00.001-07:00

Please destroy comic sans from your computer

Comic Sans Destroyer

Happiness Brussels is looking for a graphic designer with taste. Before you send your candidature, please destroy comic sans from your computer immediately.

Video

Buck: Sherwin-Williams Breakdown

Buck.tv | Interview @ Motiongrapher

Behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Sherwin Williams commercial.

"If you take a look at our breakdown, youâll see that we started with a basic physical sun GI pass. Then using ridiculous amounts of mattes, we multiplied our color into it. We then added specularity, reflections, subsurface, card names, gradients, and custom lighting on top."

Web

Color Playlists!

xoki | Example playlist

"Hi there, I just launched a website (http://xoki.com) which performs a pretty simple task; showing a complete empty blank screen, with a background color of your choice. After selecting a few colors, it's possible to animate these colors in a never ending customizable loop. Go fullscreen with F11 (MS Windows only). Additionally, it's easy to share favorite colors or color playlists using twitter. Example playlist: http://bit.ly/9IIAUZ or see more playlists and colors on @xoki_com I thought it might be interesting for your audience."

Definitely!

Art

Irene Mamiye

P ortfolio

Brooklyn based, contemporary abstract artist Irene Mamiye's practice revolves around intense color and form.

Interior Design Trends: Brown, White & Green

2010-05-23T05:10:00.001-07:00

Brown, white and green make me think of the late 60's and early 70's, probably because I only think of avocado green for some reason (no other green). There are some decent looking interiors and accessories that pull off these colors well. What comes to mind when when you think of these colors, and do you like them?

pillow | curtain | vases | bird | pot | pendant | planter | dinnerware | fabric

Interiors: 1 & 2

Recent Colorful Wallpapers From Kitsune Noir

2010-05-22T05:10:00.001-07:00

You shall never lack for an interesting backdrop on your computer, thanks to Bobby Solomon of Kitsune Noir. I've long been a fan of Bobby's blog and his Desktop Wallpaper Project is no exception. It completely elevates the idea of a computer background into art, and every week features another awesome illustrator or designer. Bobby's been at this awhile so there is a decent archive of work to pick through as well. Seriously, dude brought in some big guns here. Here's a few of my favorites.

Post Family member Chad Kouri's collage wallpaper stands out particularly because it's a series of three different images on a timer so they fade in and out from each other. Plus, the friendly reminder to get off The Internets and get yourself to work is funny too. Download wallpaper here.

Mel Kadel is a top-notch illustrator/artist and I chose her wallpaper not only because I dig her style, but it is all hand-drawn, and was not mechanically mirrored on the computer. Take a look at full size and you'll see what I mean. This girl is dedicated, no?

Micah Lidberg, another crazy prolific illustrator with some unreal work. His particular style seems really unique to me and there's a really nice mix of both color and pattern. There's a great piece by him in the most recent issue of GOOD Magazine as well. Download Micah's wallpaper here.

Christopher Bettig is one of those dudes that manages to pull of great work across multiple media. Design, Illustration, clothing, fabric, collage, painting...Like there's really nothing he can't do! I like this collage wallpaper he did as well; it manages to to feel folksy and modern at the same time. Further, it's reminiscent of another inspiring dude I know, Cody Hudson.

Walking Away from old Traditions in those Snazzy Shoes

2010-05-21T05:10:00.001-07:00

For the last 5-years wedding traditions have been melting away. Planning for the big day has become a lot more fun and has almost turned into a competition on being the most unique. We've got to lend credit to the many wedding-related TV reality series which cover anything from stress-crazed Bridzillas to dancing outside the box with Rock the Reception to the many cake related reality shows showcasing both wedding and non-wedding (Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes and Amazing Wedding Cakes). It's not that incorporating unique elements into weddings is something new. It's that more people are becoming aware of their options and that it is OK to do so. Be it your entire theme or just using funky little accessories here and there to add pizzaz.

(daily.wedshare.com)

I'm going to narrow it down on shoes. Such a small thing that can get a lot of attention. Many girls are opting for something fun on their feet when they walk down the isle. Some pumps won't even show up under your wedding gown at your ceremony, but can be quite the feature at the reception. So have fun with it.

It also might be worth mentioning, if you are stuck in a very traditional wedding, doing something fun with your shoes might be that one small thing that you get to have fun with.

Style can vary between going with a solid bright shade, to patterns or even being a bit subtle with color on the underside.

(greenweddingshoes.com)

(coryparris.com)

(kellyoshiroevents.com)

(kellyoshiroevents.com) | (kellyoshiroevents.com)

(blog.weddingpaperdivas.com)

You might even end up needing a pair of goulashes!

(left to right: aishapevt.com | strictlyweddings.com | dhgate.com )

By the way, if you haven't noticed on a few of my photos here, KellyOShiroEvents.com showcases a "Shoesday" post each week - so if you're liking what she picks, check her blog out. I loved every single piece she digs up.

(kellyoshiroevents.com)

Show people your personality!

The World's Most Colorful Currencies, Part 2

2010-05-20T05:10:00.001-07:00

In a blog post long, long ago we scoured through what was then the 119 circulating currencies of the 192 UN member states to find some of the world's most colorful currencies. And we found a few, but the comment section was filled with bank notes that were not taken note of. So, with the suggestions of our members and a bit more scouring here are some more colorful bank notes in part two of The Color of Money From Around the World or The World's Most Colorful Currencies. And don't forget to check out part one, The Color of Money from Around the World, and the site Ron Wise's Banknoteworld who seems to have a complete collection of world cur rencies scans.

Faeroese krÃ³na

Palettes by isotope.151

TÃ¼rk lirasÄ±

Spanish pesetas

South African rand

Romanian leu

Polish zÅoty

New Zealand dollar

Mexican peso

Lithuanian litas

Jamaican dollar

Croatian kuna

Costa Rican colÃ³n

Canadian dollar

Bulgarian lev

Bahamian dollar

Azerbaijan manat

Australian dollar

Argentinean peso

100USD Bill Now In 3D!

The Series 2009 $100 bill design was unveiled on April 21, 2010 and will be issued to the public on February 10, 2011. The new Hundred has received design changes similar to the current $5, $10, $20 and $50 bills. The new bill features an enlarged portrait, color-changing ink, and a unique teal background color. A depiction of a quill has been added to the front along with faint phrases of the Declaration of Independence. New security features include a three-dimensional security ribbon and a color changing "Bell in the Inkwell". The security thread, portrait watermark, and microprinting security features were retained from the previous design. The reverse of the new bill depicts the rear of Independence Hall, as opposed to main front entrance which was shown on the reverse of the previous series. Also new to note is a uniquely colored, large, numerical inscription found on the right side of the reverse, of the note's amount oriented in a fashion that is perpendicular to the rest of the prominent writing. The 2009 redesign marks the first time the signatures of the Treasury department executives are placed on one side, and that the signature of the Treasury Secretary is above that of the United States Treasurer. - wiki

Inspired American: Spring Sportswear Trend

2010-05-19T05:10:00.001-07:00

This spring, it's been hard to avoid the jaunty, nautical stripes permeating the season's sartorial offerings. But while the Breton stripe is classically Parisian, its current application is decidedly American.

Today, separates make up the bulk of ready-to-wear, and they're directly drawn from sportswear, a refined-yet-relaxed fashion breed born in the U.S. and fostered from the 1930s through the 1970s. Fronted mainly by women designers, sportswear removed the strictures of European fashion from clothing to produce practical, easy pieces that were elegant without being confining. Streamlined shapes with few embellishments--breezy pants, and knitwear, simple suits, wrap dresses--reflected the kind of freedom and autonomy women of the day were claiming for themselves.

Now, sportswear is being celebrated in that most traditional sense, with an emphasis on the kind of cool, summery 1970s silhouettes designers such as Diane von Furstenberg and Halston made classic. What's more, today's sportswear trend makes use of a color palette inspired by its birthplace. Red, white and blue, whether used all together or a couple at a time, make for perfectly pretty warm-weather days.

Shopbop.com put together a lookbook of new American sportswear classics, and we take a look at it today alongside some local color.

Header photo by Beverly & Pack.

Color Spotlight: I've Got The Blues

2010-05-18T05:10:00.001-07:00

If you've ever picked up a shelter magazine, then you know that painting a room is the first step in any interior makeover. The Color Spotlight series will provide inspirational images, paint swatches, and palates to help anyone in a color conundrum select the perfect new hue for their space.

First up in the series: light blue. I'm willing to bet that nearly half of you spent the first years of your life in a baby blue bedroom. Not only is it a color that we associate with newborn boys, it's also very calming, evokes the ocean and the sky, and pairs nicely with nearly any accent color.

(House Beautiful, paint swatches via Mythic)

As you get to know me, you'll discover that there are many things that make me swoon; painted floors happen to be one of those things. By coating the floors with glossy paint, this tiny dining area is kept light and airy. It certainly helps that most everything else remains white-- if the table and chairs were a darker wood, or the ceiling was painted, you'd lose the fresh effect that the sky-colored floor has on the compact space. And while it's unexpected, I love the addition of the powder-blue upholstery on the dining chairs! The two blue hues aren't quite from the same family (the floor has a touch of yellow, while the chairs have more red and almost hint at a grey-purple), but they work! For all we know, this space could be nestled in an apartment building, but it feels like a charming seaside bungalow.

(Desire To Inspire, paint swatches via Mythic)

I dream of having a space like this! Somewhere tucked away where you can lounge around in your pajamas, sipping tea, and becoming endlessly drawn into interior design blogs. Again, the canvas of white-painted wood creates the perfect setting to introduce a more playful color. The blue is a bit bolder this time around, but it's not overwhelming, which is key to the casual mood. Well-worn planks on the wall give it that barn-loft vibe, while the Mongolian lamb floor pillows and the Moroccan tray table offer a worldly flavor. What would you do with a room like this?

(This Is Glamorous, paint swatches via Mythic)

This third room is more on the aqua side of the spectrum, but quite often when people refer to something as "light blue", what they've really seen is aqua. In my opinion, aqua is one of the great neutrals. It goes into the same category as white and grey, which are my two favorite hues to use on walls. In this photo, the chow-chow proves that even this delicate color can be paired with autumnal tones and that it looks fabulous with ebonized wood. I love pairing vaguely aqua walls with worn leather furniture, white linen curtains layered over bamboo blinds, and a burlap-y seagrass rug.

Are any of you using a shade of light blue in your home?

Eclectic Color Roundup: Color in Films, Colors in Cultures, The Power of Orange & a Contest

2010-05-17T05:11:00.001-07:00

Blogs

A Month of Color in Films @ Benefit of the Doubt

Benefit of the Doubt

Check out COLOURlovers member symbot's month of posts dedicated to use of color in films over at his blog Benefit of the Doubt. And see his inspired palettes below.

Prints

Colours in Cultures

Information is beautiful | Buy

Click to see full size

Films

The Power of Orange

Factory Design Labs

The folks behind The Sound of Color are up to more color loving, this time with the Denver based agency Factory Design Labs in a series all about 'The Power of Orange'. And check out an interview with one of directors at The Denver Egotist.

Contests

Redesign My Blog Header!

Contest Info

Help Kevin Sharkey design the header for 'Home Design with Kevin Sharkey' his blog on MarthaStewart.com, and you could win three Martha Stewart Collection, Whiteware Limited Edition 2010 Cake Stands.

Interior Design Trends: Green & Yellow

2010-05-16T05:10:00.001-07:00

One of the things that can help uplift your mood is a bit of certain colors. Rich, fun and bright tones seem to work well. Green and yellow is a nice marriage of tones and always makes me think of lemon and lime. They seem to be big in certain items throughout the Spring and Summer months, which makes perfect sense since they pair up nicely and give off a cheerful feel. Do these two give you are positive feeling?

pillow | lamp | napkins | web cam | map | vase | lanterns | glasses | < a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80155390" target="_blank">blanket

Interiors: 1 & 2

Banana Colors & The Int'l Banana Club's Lost Appeal

2010-05-15T05:10:00.001-07:00

The International Banana Club has been a fixture of California for 38 years, where it holds the largest collection dedicated to a single fruit, or in our case, a single color: banana yellow. And in honor of the closure-turned-relocation of this goofy icon we're spreading a little banana color love.

Banana Color Love

The International Banana Club

Inside you will find the world's largest collection of banana related items, maintained at the same site in Altadena, CA since 1976, and moved to Hesperia, CA in 2006 and currently moving to Hwy 11 just south of Palm Springs. (Look for our Grand Re-Opening in January 2011!) The majority of the 17,000 plus contributions have been donated and sent by the members of the club! The Banana Club Museum is now listed in the Guiness Book Of World Records as the the "WORLDS LARGEST COLLECTION devoted to any one fruit! In fact, the Golden Anniversary Book (out in 2004) features the collection and club. This really is a funny place. - International Banana Club

Excerpt from "In California, the Banana Museum Has Lost Its Appeal" from WSJ:

Over the past 38 years, Mr. Bannister has collected more than 17,000 banana-themed artifacts. He is the founder of the International Banana Club and Museum in Hesperia, Calif., in the High Desert northeast of Los Angeles.

On Jan. 8, he received a letter from the Hesperia Recreation & Parks District informing him the banana collection must go, because the district wants to bring in new blood to the city-owned space. It will be replaced by artifacts collected by the late John Swisher, a local historian.

"I guess it's time to split," he says

It all began in 1972, when Mr. Bannister worked as the president of a photo-equipment manufacturing company. As a joke, a secretary handed him 10,000 Chiquita banana stickers to distribute at a manufacturers conference. She received them from her husband, a stevedore, and they were an instant hit at the conference.

Friends started sending in banana merchandise, which quickly crammed Mr. Bannister's office. Soon thereafter, he opened his museum in Altadena, Calif., where it stayed until it moved 80 miles to its current Hesperia location in 2005. Most of the items are sent in from fans who hear about the collection. - WSJ

The Banana Man

Image credits: Header | Bananas

Making Giant Gummi Bears with 'Pimp That Snack'

2010-05-14T05:10:00.001-07:00

Have you ever starred longingly at your (insert favorite snack food) and thought to yourself "man, I wish this was like 5 million times bigger." Yeah, I know you have. Well, lucky for us there's a place where all those giant snack dreams can be realized, and they even give you the recipe to do it. Pimp That Snack is a site where users post their attempts to create classic snack foods of hilarious proportions.

If your still hungry for some inspiration check out these confectionary inspired groups: foodiefiles, Yummy Colours, Colour My Food, Confectioners Paradise, Candy Shop, CANDY MACHINE, Candylovers. And these other colorful food posts: How to Make a Rainbow Cake & Confectionery Colors Creating Art With Food

Giant Gummie Bears

While browsing Craftzine's blog I came across this colorful snack project where honey bears are used as molds to create enormous gummi bears. Here's an excerpt from the entertaining recipe:

Soon enough (about 10 minutes on low) the gummis were all melted, and the magma turned clear. It's all shiny and uniform in color, but still vaguely menacing, and I was expecting it to leap out of the pan and attach itself to my face. My spatula was well and truly stuck to the stovetop at this time, thanks to the crazy-glue consistency of the magma. A word of warning: as anyone who's worked with molten sugar knows, getting this stuff on bare skin is horrifically uncomfortable to say the least. It's really, really hot, and it clings to your skin, so tread carefully when pouring.

More Pimped Snacks!

Food Inspired Color

Movie Still Palette Inspiration

2010-05-13T05:10:00.001-07:00

It may not be a new idea, among our chromatically-inclined kind, to conjure up a film-inspired color palette or two. But I especially dig the totally awesome pairing of film still photography + their color palettes. It is the peanuts and the M&Ms (sorry chocolate purists).

This totally awesome website, i love hotdogs, is a boon for such stills. And also very handy for updating the netflix queue as well! Mostly cult or independent films from 1940s-1990s, there are lots of images from each of the movies. I picked some neat ones from the various eras and threw in a couple of my own. If you're looking for more inspiration or want to share some of your own fav's check out these movie related groups: Moving Pictures, Movie Themed Group, Movies, Stage and Screen, Cinema! & This is my favorite movie!!

The 5,000 Fingers of Doctor T (1953)

E.T. (1982)

Two for the Road (1967)

Less Than Zero (1987)

Cheech & Chong's Up In Smoke (1978)

And of course, I don't have to tell you what this last one is.

31 Ways of Looking at a White T-shirt

2010-05-12T05:10:00.001-07:00

In fashion, there are certain staples that never go out of style--a pair of straight-leg jeans, a navy blazer, black heels, a little black dress.

And, of course, there's the plain white T-shirt.

It's clean and classic and something a lot of us live in, whether we wear it alone or as a layer or on a Saturday or to sleep in. In everyday style, it's a blank canvas on which we can base an ensemble. Chances are, you've transformed one to fit your personal style.

The artists behind the Project White T-shirt have transformed 31 white T-shirts into pieces of art, together making a statement about how we can both be individuals and a connected society with the clothing we wear.

Curated by Triple-Major, Project White T-shirt is a traveling art exhibition featuring deconstructed, repurposed and reimagined white T-shirts from 31 international designers. Each of the pieces in the show are being auctioned at the project's Web site; all of the auction proceeds will go to Designers Against AIDS, a nonprofit group dedicated to raising AIDS awareness in international media and toward the general public via elements from pop culture.

It's also, according to project coordinators, "an evolution": "For decades, a T-shirt has been a functional article that covers the torso. But how will it evolve? What will the process of evolution create? Project White T-Shirt challenges dominant notions of fashion and draws the connection between different forms of art. Its goal is to expand possibilities and creativity through the most basic article of clothing: the white T-shirt."

Designers creations address the inherent artistry in fashion by allowing the clothing to "transcend the limits of clothing as form." Today, we're taking a look at five of the pieces in the exhibition, which will be on display in June at Wut Berlin in Tokyo. Accompanying the looks are palettes from COLOURlovers' own White group, whose members create color schemes with one of the most versatile colors.

[Anntian]

Anntian designers Anne Hilken and Christian Kurt, inspired by half-man-half-horse centaurs, turned the idea of human-style clothing for animals on its head by creating a T-shirt for a horse that could also be worn by humans.

[bruno Pieters]

bruno Pieters, the creative director for Hugo Boss' Hugo line, applied his trademark layered organza to a traditionally structured T-shirt to addnew texture.

[Complex Geometries]

Complex Geometries' Clayton Evans, no stranger to creating basic pieces that can be worn multiple ways, created two connected T-shirts to highlight the white T-shirt's ability to connect different cultures.

[Doktor Doktor]

Doktor Doktor's Unni HÃ¥kansson and Andreas Andersson combined their initial concepts--pyramid studs and the Michelin mascot--into a single marshmallow-covered piece. Too heavy to actually wear, the T-shirt is "a symbol of the price you pay for good taste."

[Slow and Steady Wins the Race]

New York's Slow and Steady Wins the Race offered a set of three T-shirt pillows, each showcasing the shirts' collars, sleeves and material. Both the T-shirts and the pillow forms offer support and comfort, inspired by the project's support of Designers Against AIDS.

[Triple-Major]

Curator Triple-Major's T-shirt, with traditional Chinese sleeves, has various snaps and zippers, allowing the shirt to be worn a number of different ways--and allowing it to live up to its name, the "Confu-shirt," or "A Confusing Shirt for Confucius."

What would you do with a white T-shirt? Would you add color? Would you use only shades of white? Find more inspiration in palettes from members at large, and leave your ideas in the comments below.

Header by Pelican Avenue for Project White T-Shirt.

Inspiration Source: Product Packaging

2010-05-11T05:11:00.001-07:00

Like any kind of art, interior design can draw inspiration from anything and everythingâ"fashion, film, music, your environment, even...a can of beans? Yep, you can absolutely design an entire room based on a can of beans.

Millions of dollars and hours are spent on packaging design and with good reason! I'm quite sure I'm not alone when I admit that I often buy products at the market simply because I want to look at them each time I open my cupboard. The Heinz can is a perfect example...I love the bold teal background, simple black and white logo, and gold detail. To me, that description sounds like the perfect recipe for a chic kitchen! So just for fun, let's pair it with the iconic orange of Hermes and see what happens, shall we?

(Heinz, Hermes, Elle Decor)

I love this kitchen! It's so fresh and bright...Both orange and turquoise are pretty trendy right now, but this space feels like an instant classic. I can imagine living with this kitchen as a single girl putting together a cheese tray for girls night, as a new mom processing homemade baby food, as a fabulous 40-something making margaritas for my husband and our friends, and as a grandmother baking shortbread before the family comes for a visit...

It's the marble that keeps it fairly timeless and I am hellbent on one day having a kitchen that is pretty heavy in the marble department (no pun intended). I'm not generally a fan of stainless, but here it compliments the veins of the backsplash and counter...Gorgeous!

Let's pair up a few more product designs to create some gorgeous rooms...

(Kodak, Coca Cola, Lonny)

Here, Kodak's canary yellow covers a modern chesterfield...The bold yellow sofa really works because the rest of the space is kept focused. By keeping the cluster of framed artwork limited to black and white graphics, the eye isn't overwhelmed by colors that might compete with the dominant sunny hue. The charming occasional table offers the perfect "pop" (pun intended this time), as well as a place to rest a cocktail or a cup of tea...

(Warhol Campbell's Soup Can @ Art.com, Chanel, Domino)

The crisp black and white palate of Chanel's packaging is echoed in this room where the zebra-print wallpaper looks more aristocratic than art school. The honey hardwood of the floor is also picked up in the mats of the botanical prints, while the neutral sofa provides the ideal home for a pair of soup can-red silk pillows.

What iconic brands come to mind when you look around your space?

Colors For All The Mothers

2010-05-10T05:10:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom

Mother

Header palette: 'Mommy' by leslie

Eric Tabuchi's 'Alphabet Truck'

2010-05-09T05:10:00.001-07:00

Here's a little color love for Eric Tabuchi's 'Alphabet Truck' a project that gives us a look at the design and typography found on trucks, one of our most widely seen forms of distribution. The photos were taken over a period of four years while traveling several thousands of kilometers.

"The missing link between 'The backs of trucks passed while driving from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara' by john Baldessari and 'Auchen, the letters of Claude Closky', Eric Tabuchi pushes the burlesque or compulsive logic of his piece in an almost derisory search for what could constitute its Danish and Japanese origins. Through language (Alphabet) and displacement (Trucks), Alphabet Truck therefore questions, beyond its formal aspects and references, the notions of membership, identity and coeducation."

STATUS QUO

Truck Inspired Palettes from the Library

Design Color Trends: Flaming Orange-Pink

2010-05-08T05:10:00.001-07:00

Jude Stewart is author of Colorswatch a twice-monthly blog about color for Print Magazine. She has written on design and culture for Slate, The Believer, I.D., Metropolis, and GOOD, as well as a column on color for STEP Inside Design. Read on at www.judestewart.com or check out her tweets about color at twitter.com/joodstew. Read the original post here.

Every once in a while, an unbelievably specific color gains momentum in current graphic design trends. Even more rarely, that color reveals itself to be incredibly versatile. Case in point: the new hot color, a flaming orange-pink.

Because my husband and I are clearly insane, we painted our dining room walls five different times in different custom-mixed shades in order to get the tricky balance between a saturated orange and bold pink that has been used eloquently by several of Printâs New Visual Artists this year:

Anniversary issue of Tuli & Savu, a Finnish poetry publication. Art direction, illustration, and layout by Lotta Nieminen.

Promotional piece for Neutraface Slab by Print New Visual Artist BondÃ© Prang. Fonts designed by Kai Bernau and Susana Carvalho.

It's a color that would warm the cockles of Josef Albersâ heart. It has a jaw-dropping capacity for change as you swap different colors into its proximity: Black or darker backgrounds give it a vibrant, surprisingly elegant restraint, which is particularly useful when printing with a limited number of colors. On the web, Armin Vit of UnderConsideration.com uses flame as a distinctive color-signature to carve out the Quipsologies sub-brand.

Surprisingly enough, a color this close to emergency-orange doesnât scream urgency unless injudiciously paired with lighter shades, particularly white. For School of Visual Artsâ summer program !mpact: Design for Social Change, a flame-imbued background subtly underlines the urgency of the mission with a coolness and balance surprising for such a hot shade.

!mpact Design for Social Change workshop at School of Visual Arts, summer 2010, via GOOD

Even more unpredictably, the flame loses some critical increment of tension when surrounded by too much white without any other colors. In the identity for the AsiaNow conference, flame seems leached of its vitality when it gets progressively lighter:

Asia Now: Exploring Design Culture conference, curated by DesignBoom.

Not that you canât pair flame with colors other than black. Another twist in this uncannily versatile hue is how well it jives with a miscellany of colors, all with a slightly yellowish cast on a white background. New Yorkâs School of Visual Artâs home page shows how flame can anchor an otherwise chatty, friendly array of colors. Here flame promises passion tempered by reason, a unity-in-diversity that lends authenticity to the whole brand. (It also resonates well with some of the other âitâ colors of late, like plum, burnt-yellow and mint green â" a daisy-chain of accents.)

The flame is spreading. In an uncanny echo of SVA, its cross-borough rival school, Parsonsâ web design also features flame, as does the website for the 2010 Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the globally acclaimed furniture-design fair now humming in Milan.

Parsonâs New School for Design website.

Website for 2010 Salone Internazionale del Mobile.

Color trends move like flash-fires among graphic designers. Unlike designers of physical products, thereâs no need to agonize over fabric supplies or consumer taste-forecasting months (or years) in advance of sinking an investment in one color or another. Graphic designers can catch the fever of any color, any time, and put it into wider circulation almost immediately â" and more hot designs will fan the flames still further. Consider designer Nick Hardemanâs infographic of motion [viavisualcomplexity.com] in Notorious B.I.Gâs video for âMo Money Mo Problems,â kicking it back to 1997 and a flame-colored jumpsuit B.I.G wears in the video:

Mo Money Mo Problems infographic by Nick Hardeman

Even with such versatility, a color that burns this bright is bound to get fatiguing. Although it can neighbor many colors successfully, if the surrounding colors get too hectic, it dials up the eyeâs competition needlessly:

Un/Stageâs promotional poster for 40 Inspiring Examples of Club Posters, via Design You Trust.

But mostly, flame-love among designers is high now â" and for good reason. More than most shades, this color brings an assertive warmth that also steadies the eye. Itâs also just plain gorgeous-in-a-bottle. Paint manufacturer Duluxâs Letâs Colour project [via weheart.co.uk] is currently touring the world, painting neglected public spaces in a riot of juicy colors. Flameâs full-tilt forward movement out of recessionary grays still feels grounded but exuberant, the right balance for a chance.

From Duluxâs Letâs Colour public painting project, Rio, Brazil, via WeHeart.co.uk

Header images: AsiaNow & House Industries

Eclectic Color Roundup: Poodle All Colors, Retro Pens, Feelings Are Facts & Purple Snow.

2010-05-07T05:11:00.001-07:00

Prints

'Poodle All Colors' by Tina Roth Eisenberg

Beautifully Banal Poster Series | Swiss Miss

The Type Directors Club in conjunction with Cardon Copy has asked designers to find a classified/personal newspaper ad from their local community to âhijackâ typographically. When redesigned, the once banal and disposable classified ads will be reinterpreted by the designer into a one-of-a-kind collectible poster. Each poster will be auctioned on Tuesday evening, May 11th (starting at 6:00 pm), with proceeds to benefit the TDC Scholarship Fund.

Products

Retro Pens

KIKKERLAND

Via happycavalier

Exhibitions

Feelings Are Facts

UCCA | Abitare.it | More Photos

Feelings are facts will showcase the first collaboration between world-renowned Danish-Icelandic artist, Olafur Eliasson, and leading Chinese architect, Ma Yansong. Eliasson and Ma will create for UCCA a unique experience through architecture and light. Eliasson often plays with light, shadow, color and fog to create a specific environment for the viewer to enjoy the pure act of seeing, and to discover their surroundings through mechanically induced phenomena. Maâs architecture stands at the forefront of new experimentation in building structures, refashioning form in bold pursuits of perfection. Their collaboration is specifically designed for UCCAâs big hall inviting the Chinese audience to enter an endless space of fog, with color emanating from fluorescent tubes of red, green and blue. By moving about in the locations where the colors blend, viewers will endlessly creates their own color spectrums.

Exhibit Images from Abitare.it

Nature

Purple Snow

People in Southern Russia could not believe their eyes when they found purple snow piled on city streets.

Scientists confirmed a multi-coloured snowfall â" ranging from light purple to brown â" had landed in Russia's Stavropol Region.

Having analysed the samples, climatologists ruled that the snow is perfectly safe. However, eating purple snow is still not recommended as scientists say it is full of dust from Africa... continue reading.

Coloring in the World with the 'Let's Colour Project'

2010-05-06T05:11:00.001-07:00

Four cities across the world recently got a lotta color lovin' from a new worldwide community initiative that is set on coloring in the world, the Let's Colour Project. Created to "inspire people to reclaim their surroundings and regenerate them with a splash of colour," the Let's Colour Project began in Rio De Janeiro and traveled to Paris, London then to Jodhpur, India.

The project is truely inspiring, and the groups wonderful documentation of it all has left us with not only the ideas to keep passing the color love forward, but on account of the stunning photographical documentation, some good ol' fashion color inspiration as well. While the project has wrapped up I encourage you all to take a look back through their blog (still active as of the publishing of this post), keep in touch @lets_colour and get absorbed into their colorful flickr stream.

Inspiration from the Let's Colour Project

Jodhpur

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Pantone's Fall 2010 Fashion Color Report

2010-05-05T05:10:00.001-07:00

Considering many places have just emerged from the last of winter's snow, it's tough thinking about fall already--unless, of course, you're talking fashion. Autumn/Winter 2010 ready-to-wear collections debuted last month. And right at the top of the four major fashion weeks, the color experts at Pantone Color Institute released the Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2010, an interactive online report combining Pantone's top 10 colors for the season with illustrative designer sketches.

The good news for the stylishly minded is the 10 colors for the coming season are a close offshoot of those presented in Pantone's Spring 2010 report.

"Mindful of consumers' need for practicality, plus their desire for newness, designers offer many options for women to extend and embellish their wardrobes this fall," said Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone executive director. "Building on the color palette from spring, this season's offerings include innovative takes on fundamental basics, as well as transporting, lively colors that conjure images of travel and adventure, whether real or aspirational."

Pantone's report presents three designer sketches for each of the 10 colors; today, we're taking a look at one of each, along with the inspirational takes on each of the colors members right here at COLOURlovers have conjured.

[Rachel Roy]

[Elie Tahari]

[Erin Fetherston]

[Nanette Lepore]

[Yigal AzrouÃ«l]

[Ella Moss]

[Lacoste]

[Betsey Johnson]

[Ports 1961]

[Cynthia Steffe]

Header sketch by Lela Rose for Pantone.

Minimal Art Inspires Subdued Hues

2010-05-04T05:10:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but I find an empty, sparse palette to be hugely inspiring. Imagine my delight when I discovered this sexy new hyper-minimal tumblr, Erasing.

Bonneville I, archival pigment print by Charles A. Hartman

Tokuro Sakamoto

Agnes Martin

Assiniboine, 16x20", oil on linen by Stephanie Aitken

Invisible by Jenny Penny

Brian Schellinger

Vintage Wallpaper from 5qm.de

2010-05-03T05:10:00.001-07:00

Inspiring palettes from these original wallpapers from the fifties, sixties and seventies. You can see the complete collection and purchase the wallpaper over at 5qm.ed.

The Fruits Books

2010-05-02T05:10:00.001-07:00

If you have any eye for the radically strange side of fashion, you've surely already heard of the brightly colored trends from Tokyo's Harajuku district (not to mention, we've posted about them in the past!). Of course, it was inevitable that someone would document such a memorable phenomenon, and while several books have come out on the topic, one in particular is a true standout.

Called Fruits, this series of books by Shoichi Aoki has captured the look of the kids that frequent Harajuku, but it's also gone a step further to find out a bit more about them in the form of easily readable stats on the bottom of each page. For this reader, it's even more interesting to find out tidbits of information about the kids that spend three hours dying their hair turquoise and making their own costumes than it is to see what they're wearing. What kind of music do they listen to? Who are their fashion idols?

[tobze]

The key to Fruits-inspired fashion is color, and a lot of it. The young men and women who embody the true spirit of the fashion movement purposely mismatch prints and colors and wear many layers of clothing. The inspiration of the look gave musicia Gwen Stefani the idea to create her own fashion line, Harajuku Lovers, which promotes a more wearable version of the look with thin tees, oversized tops and bright knits.

Check out a few more of the vivid styles of Harajuku's proud residents below. You can also buy the books here.

[Takadanobaba Kurazawa]

[Rosino]

[Stefan]

[Header photo Via colodio]

What Hue Are You? : A Wedding Flower Guide

2010-05-01T05:10:00.001-07:00

When it comes to choosing your wedding flowers, you will want to first consider and be realistic about the time of year you will be getting married. If you are set on having a certain flower, make sure it will also correspond to your wedding season. After you have the season nailed, it's time to discover what is available to you for that time of year in the area that you will be having your wedding ceremony and reception.

If you're having it local, call or visit your local florist for a hands on and a visual approach. If you are meeting with a florist, you will want to have some idea of what you want. Make an organized list of your questions and ideas. If you have a wedding date, check out Brides.com Flower Finder to see what's good for your season. After that find particular flowers you are interested in using, look through wedding and gardening magazines to find photos to help you describe the things you like about the flowers or flower arrangements of other bouquets. Think of it like you are going in for a hair cut with a certain style, you wouldn't want to just describe the cut, you bring a picture. This will make communication easier.

(SevenWeddings.Wordpress.com)

One of the biggest things to consider, in regards to cost is deciding on who and what is getting flowers. Are you suiting out the entire bridal party? This includes ourself, your soon-to-be spouse, groomsmen, bridesmaids, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, flower girls (hair garland or petals), ring bearer and even ushers and readers are distinguished with a corsage or boutonniere. Seems like a large and overwhelming list right? That's just the people. Are you decorating an entire chapel and reception hall? You can decide what you want. Remember that. Traditionally, that's the list, but bear in mind that many people are learning to break tradition and do what they want or what works more for their budget.

(SevenWeddings.Wordpress.com)

Personally, I would call a few different florists and see if you can set an actual sit-down appointment. If they tell you to just stop in whenever, ask when they are least busy so that you can get full attention. Gather notes on what they have available, bring your photo diary with notes about each clipping, ask if the florist has wedding package deals (hopefully a take-home printout) and if you're wanting organic flowers, find out your cost differences. Make sure you also talk about the types of flowers you present. They may be able to provide you with any type of flower by special order which can get more expensive, so make sure you know what they can provide locally, in season and what they would have to special order. If you are special ordering a certain type of flower, ask about it's lifespan during the time of year at your location. For instance, if you are ordering a summer flower for a winter wedding (green house grown) - how will those flowers last for the durati on of the wedding and reception?

(SevenWeddings.Wordpress.com)

A knowledgeable and flexible florist should be able to help you slim down who needs flowers and help you combine a smart flower selection for your season. If the florist is leaving it up to you to make all the decisions with minimal input on helping you make the best decision, I would consider shopping around more. Lastly, remember that the style, location and formality of your wedding can also determine what is really necessary too, so have fun with it and be unique if you want to be, you aren't the only one doing so.

(SevenWeddings.Wordpress.com)

Another resource for flowers may be your local farms. If you're looking for a bouquet that's organically grown or want something with herbs in it, you might find that your local farmers have selections just for you. You may also find that it's a good way to cut costs by bypassing the florist. Keep in mind that a florist may cost more for good reason. Florists can make the arrangements properly and deal with the technicals of the boutonnieres and corsages along with making sure your flowers don't wilt within the hour, so unless you know how to do this or the farm has a florist on staff, keep those points in mind. Your local florist may also carry or be able to order from your local farms as well. I found this article valid to share regarding cut flowers buyer beware. Consider your resource for your flowers be it a farm, stand or florist. The cheap deal at the roadside stand may not really be your best money option as your flowers may not last past the hour.

(CreditCrunchBride.Wordpress.com)

Here is a great resource list for the different varieties of foliage you can compliment your bouquets or arrangements with: www.flower-arrangment-advisor.com and they actually have a decent amount of advice on seasonal wedding flowers. If you're really into the symbolic meaning of flowers, REAL SIMPLE has a basic list here.

Visiting your Florist Re-Cap:

Gather a variety of flower types you want to use that correspond with the season of your wedding from research online or via magazines or wedding/gardening/flower books.

Gather cutouts and snippets with notes (tape into a notebook and write in the margins) to show the florist. This includes anything from bouquet arrangements to just photos of the flowers (you picked in step 1) in the sizes and colours you are thinking. Keep in mind some varieties can also come in miniature sizes, which may be useful for boutonnieres and corsages. A good question for your florist - "Does this variety come in a smaller size to use on smaller pieces?"

Who gets flowers? Ask about wedding packages. If you're on a tight budget, but you think you would like the entire wedding crew filled out with flowers, it might add up to be more expensive than you think. Possibly write a few variations you might suggest to the florist as cost-cutting options. Using Alternatives: Make sure Mom's and Grandma's won't be offended if they don't get a corsage. Remember, you may be O.K. with breaking tradition, but they may not. Think of an alternative to a corsage to make them special. For instance, if you're using Lilies, you could give them a stand alone flower with a ribbon-tag on it with a special handwritten note of how special they are to you (daughter to mom, son to mom and grandma's, etc.).

Printout a Q & A page for each florist visit. Write or Type out your questions with spaces for notes. This will help you stay organized and review your notes later. Staple or envelope with florist name on it together, price sheets and any information the florists provides you with the Q&A page.

Mix & Match Resources. You might consider using farms for flower arrangements at the reception and a florist for the wedding ceremony (separate locations). It could be cheaper. Do remember to ask about cut flowers life spans. You might also consider contacting local flower farms for flower petals or lavender supplies in bulk for flower girls to use on the isle. There are also many online resources for eco-friendly petals and flowers to toss. There are many resources for freeze dried petals/flowers as well as bio-degradable manufactured varieties. Here are some fun stamped out petals which are actually plantable by Daisy-Days.com. Very cute. Some locations may not appreciate having wildflowers pop up everywhere, but it's better than trash by far.

*note: Not using eco-friendly flowers to toss, such as silk flowers or petals is really an awful option for the environment and a hassle in the days following. For example, a wedding in my neighborhood (we have a small amphitheater with large lawn and amenities for events) took place last summer and they used non-disposable silk petals. For weeks following the wedding, there were silk petals ALL OVER the neighborhood. In everyone's landscaping and yards. It looked like little white trash everywhere - impossible to clean up. Neighbors were pretty annoyed by it. Think of how many animals and birds may have digested them too. Just a note to consider.

Here is a pretty decent and even more in-depth list on How to Pick a Florist by www.FrugalBride.com.

(SevenWeddings.Wordpress.com)

Working with flower hues throughout the Year.

Let's take a look through the year and see what flowers will work for the different seasons. Keep in mind that some seasons are backwards for some people and some may be getting married in the tropics during the winter - in that case, make sure you contact the location's florists to gather seasonal flower picks.

What I notice about picking flowers for a wedding is that the seasons tend to pair up for the most part. For example, Winter and Spring combinations go together and Summer and Fall go together. Then you get the in-betweens such as late fall, but not yet Christmas, pine cones and leafless trees, but no snow. Then there's late Spring, early Summer. Not exactly dealing with the heat of the day and possibly still worried if it will rain on that outdoor wedding.

(left flowers - LivingFresh.ca | sunflower bouquets - idoinspiration.blogspot.com | pinecone/sunflowers - jenadevents.blogspot.com | )

Let's start with Summer since everyone's itching for sun and the heat is just around the corner. Summer for flowers is considered mid-July through mid-October. Everything involves heat. Most people are working with a fiery flower palette. Here's a great list from Better Homes and Gardens magazine online for flowers that keep their cool in the midst of Summer heat and also some tips on preserving your bouquet.

(SevenWeddings.Wordpress.com)

Combinations can include large Dahlia's & Zinna's which are a chunkier set of flowers so be mindful of bruising. Zinnia's are also available in smaller varieties and easy to come by so can be used in other pieces for boutonnieres or corsages. A funky little green flower you can use is a Green Kermit Mum which can used in boutonnieres alone and mixed also with the corsages as well as adding subtle greens in the main bouquet. Other late summer options include hefty sunflowers, Gladiolus, Hydrangeas, Iris's, Asters, Cosmos, Delphiniums, Lilies, Phlox and Poppies.

(WeddingBee.com)

Early Summer picks can include a more formal bouquet made up of Delphinium, Hydrangea, Cymbidium Orchids, Roses and Hosta Foliage for a mix example.

(SevenWedding.Wordpress.com)

There are actually quite a few selections for winter flowers. But Winter can be tricky. Depending on the time of the season, you might want to coordinate. For example, if you are getting married in December you might go Christmasy (or not. Most people do) using Reds and Whites in strong contrasts. You don't have to use Santa Red, you can use any shade. January is less thematic for colours and February is red again with Valentines Day. In March, April and May you get more variety with Spring on the loose.

(CreditCrunchBride.Wordpress.com)

Flowers for winter include: Amaryllis, Anemone, Calla Lily, Daffodil, Gerbera Daisy, Heather, Hyacinth, Ornithogalum, Ranunculus, Sweet Pea, Tulips or Viburnum.

(SevenWeddings.Wordpress.com)

Flowers for any time of year include Orchids, Roses, Lisianthus and Stephanotis.

(FloralVerde.com)

Extras:

Ranting. Here is a funny rant about finding your florist. I don't particularly agree with all her disagreements, but it's one brides perspective to another and maybe a warning as to what you're going to get yourself into. I say, keep your expectations open, people do have businesses to run and their time is as valuable as your time.

iphone. Do you have an iPhone? I do and I live and breath iPhone. Here's a nice list of possibly helpful Wedding Related iPhone Apps. I haven't personally test driven any, but will check them out as soon as possible. Anyone using any currently?

I've got a lot of other resources so if you have any questions in particular, please leave them in the comments and I'll do my best to respond. I hope you enjoyed the post, although very lengthy.

link disclaimer: none of the out-links to vendor, magazines or web providers are for advertisement purposes. I simply liked the information they provided as good resources. I hope you find them useful.

25 Awe-inspiring New Seamless Patterns

2010-04-30T05:11:00.001-07:00

It has only been 2 months since we launched Seamless Studio and already we're overwhelmed by all the great new patterns that have been created by all of you. Here we're highlighting 25 new patterns where you can see the original pattern followed by a few colored by other members. Keep creating and spreading the color love!

Have you noticed or created a new pattern that you think is the tops? Recommend it to the rest of us by posting an example in the comments.

Feeling inspired and want to get coloring? Click on any of these patterns then "Create Pattern" to get started. You can also select from all of the patterns or browse the pattern library for more inspiration.

If you're looking for a little help working with Seamless Studio check out the forum post: Design Tips - Seamless Patterns.

Pattern Design by madda

Pattern Design by Colorpie Patterns

Pattern Design by thisgirldesigns

Pattern Design by ambu1959

Pattern Design by ycc2106

Pattern Design by Prima Ballerina

Pattern Design by ambu1959

Pattern Design by clemlou

Pattern Design by ABACCUS

Pattern Design by Colorpie Patterns

Pattern Design by Countscapula

Pattern Design by Colorpie Patterns

Pattern Design by Highwireart

Pattern Design by thisgirldesigns

Pattern Design by oppouline

Pattern Design by ycc2106

Pattern Design by karnoug

Pattern Design by Liebling

P Pattern Design by Sunny21327

Pattern Design by Clemlou

Pattern Design by Colorpie Patterns

Pattern Design by rocksnikki

Pattern Design by Colorpie Patterns

Pattern Design by ambu1959

Surprising Web Design, Sans Flash...Sort of*

2010-04-29T05:10:00.001-07:00

Isn't it funny to reminisce about the infancy of the internet? Sure you could say we're still in toddler-hood, but way back when in aught-2, Flash dominated the web and your junk mail consisted of AOL coasters startup CDs...Man, those were the days.

2002-2003 was right about the time when I started job hunting which meant clicking through one graphic design firm's website after another, twiddling my thumbs watching delicately crafted pre-loaders process while the bulky Flash site loaded behind them. And finally once "inside" the site, having to process and absorb yet another almost completely obtuse navigation. I even taught myself the program and churned out a couple entirely-Flash sites early in my career which, needless to say, were practically outdated before they launched.

Even as Flash is going the way of the Dodo, there are the occasional websites that demonstrate a modern take on all those bells and whistles that were more prevalent in the heydays of the big F. I like to call them "storybook sites" because there's a certain flow or narrative that takes you through the content without feeling intrusive or letting you get lost. ~~And even more impressively, these storybook sites use no Flash whatsoever but instead rely on a Javascript genius who has the ability to write that functionality from scratch.~~ * Which is pretty bad*ss if you ask me.

Here's a handful of examples.

Dawn
There is a lot to take in on this site for a branding firm from the Netherlands.. Colors fade in the background, collapsing navigation in the header and footer, left/right sliding imagery, and images on the home page shuffle around and change in scale. Yet the whole thing feels cohesive and still corporate without being stuffy. I also like that the main navigation cues remain static so orienting yourself is simple.

Also Design
Also is Matt Lamothe, Julia Rothman and Jenny Volvovski and they are a force, having won a slew of awards for their illustration & animation/web design. Their site is certainly nothing to sneeze at either, with a playful road/map theme that scrolls vertically through your browser. Nice use of sound as well, oftentimes all use of background music is more annoying than anything, but this fits within the context of the illustrations so it feels more natural.

Dontclick.it
Dontclick.it is a conceptual site that is trying to sell the idea of a button-free web experience. You literally aren't allowed to click in this site; all navigation happens by mousing and hovering over an area. It's a little unnatural at first, but the sheer wow factor is worth a visit alone. The way the information scales as you hover over it forces you to read it, but it happens so smoothly and effortlessly that it's actually really fun. Though, watch out, if you DO click by accident there is another surprise awaiting you.

Wonderwall
This Japanese interior design firm has beautiful work and a colorful grid of photos that scales and warps dramatically like nothing I've ever seen on the web before. Very slick! Minus a few points for some use of Flash, also the popping noises get a little repetitious for me. Still, the unique presentation of work makes this a memorable site indeed.

Legwork
Irreverent is a word I'd use to describe these wacky dudes, they're definitely are not your average-joe designers, no siree bob. Their About section is worth particular notice, it sounds like something Journey & Napoleon Dynamite might make. I think it is a pretty funny approach for telling the story behind a company.

Anyone else have any suggestions for cool sites they've seen lately?

*Edited: Okay, okay so maybe I got a wee bit too excited about the non-Flash aspect of the sites. I did look at the source code as I was doing my research, not sure how exactly I managed to miss it in there, but it happened. Sorry! Thanks for the head's up guys, I really appreciate your suggested sites too! Very very cool.

PhotoshopDesign

Martin Scorsese's Favorite 'Light & Color' Films

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Duel in the Sun (1946)

Invaders From Mars (1953)

Leave Her to Heaven (1946)

Moby Dick (1956)

Phantom of the Opera (1943)

The Red Shoes (1948)

The Searchers (1956)

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Vertigo (1958)

Interior Design Trends: Yellow & Blue

pillow | tea towel | plate | bottles | bath towel | post-its | pendant | vase

Architecturally Inspired Shoes

Interior Design Trends: Orange & Blue

dishtowel | fish soaps |vases | glasses | pillow | bowls | chair s

Interior Design Trends: Black & Gray

lamp | planter | pillow | coral jar | nut cracker | mirror | decanter | throw | vases | chair

Daily Inspiration from 'A Collection a Day'

Reception Tent DIY: Coffee Filter Pom-Pom How-To

DYING.

STRINGING.

SCRUNCHING.

Artist-Inspired Palettes With Etsy

Technicolor Fashion: Sex and the City

Community love:

Memorial Day Remembrance

Eclectic Color Roundup: World Cup iPhone Cases, Palette Bookmarklet, Wallpaper Lovin' Bees & Body Sails

iPhone

World Cup Collection From Uncommon

API Love

Bookmarklet For Palette/Pattern Browser

Nature

Bees Use Flower Petals For Colorful Nest Wallpaper

Sport

Body Sails

Interior Design Trends: Orange & Green

stools | clock | rug | lamp | bracket | glasses | pillows | hooks

Color and Object Collages with Monochromatic Love

Interior Design Trends: Gray & Brown

bowls | pouf | pillow | cross | throw | vase | bench | lamp | cha irs

Interior Design Trends: Yellow, Black & White

pillow | clock | throw | bowl | lamp | agate slice | table | art

Weaving Into New Trends

Kazue Honmas

Color Lovin' Your Garage Door

Garage Color Palettes from the Library

Eclectic Color Roundup: Comic Sans Destroyer, Paint Chip Video Breakdown, Create a Color Playlist, Art

Please destroy comic sans from your computer

Video

Buck: Sherwin-Williams Breakdown

Web

Color Playlists!

Art

Irene Mamiye

Interior Design Trends: Brown, White & Green

pillow | curtain | vases | bird | pot | pendant | planter | dinnerware | fabric

Recent Colorful Wallpapers From Kitsune Noir

Walking Away from old Traditions in those Snazzy Shoes

The World's Most Colorful Currencies, Part 2

Faeroese krÃ³na

TÃ¼rk lirasÄ±

Spanish pesetas

South African rand

Romanian leu

Polish zÅoty

New Zealand dollar

Mexican peso

Lithuanian litas

Jamaican dollar

Croatian kuna

Costa Rican colÃ³n

Canadian dollar

Bulgarian lev

Bahamian dollar

Azerbaijan manat

Australian dollar

Argentinean peso

100USD Bill Now In 3D!

Polish zÅoty

Parsonâs New School for Design website.

Un/Stageâs promotional poster for 40 Inspiring Examples of Club Posters, via Design You Trust.

From Duluxâs Letâs Colour public painting project, Rio, Brazil, via WeHeart.co.uk