Showing posts with label Colors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colors. Show all posts

FOL:14 - Week 40 - Color

Wow, week 40. October. Time flies, doesn't it?! 

This month our topic for the Focus on Life 2014 Weekly Photography Challenge from Sally was "COLOR" and for this first week in October our prompt is:  

Color Photography.  

Sally said, "Capture your most colorful moments to date!  This week its all about color photography!


This wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. Looking around, all the colors seemed the same,...even the pearls I was able to work with for a few minutes were all white. 
Not very colorful. 

Then, as we sat down to eat one night, my hubby and son's favorite show came on.  Yes, we're awful, we usually eat in front of the idiot-box. But we laugh, talk and have fun while doing it, so it makes for some great family time!  

Anyway, when this came up on the screen, I shouted out, "Pause it!" 



They looked at me like I was crazy. I explained to the son and hubs what our photo assignment was this week and how, even on my daily walks, I either saw nothing very colorful or I'd forgotten to take my phone when I did see something, so this was my only chance!

So, here's the color that was in my week. We laugh all the time at each other as we each try to be the first to complete the puzzle. It makes for some very colorful dinner conversations, let me tell you!

Let's see what other colorful moments everyone else captured this week!

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Color in Everything!
Cheers,
~Shel~

I'll leave you with these colorful signs,....


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~
 
 

Focus on Life - Week 8 - Monochromatic

 
Sally's prompt was: MONOCHROMATIC
 
 
"This week look deeper through the lens to the story your photo captures and then process it to one color! 
Or be daring and shoot in B&W (monochrome)."
 
I thought this would be a rather easy challenge but I was wrong.



I played around with my camera settings and some photo editing software programs and tried out new things.


 
 I really like other people's black and white photos and even many photos I see with Sepia and other tones, but not so much my own photos. 

Sepia's not too bad I guess,....
 
  I just really don't have the eye for it.

Not the way I want to, anyway.




That said, it really made me start viewing things in an entirely new way and noticing different colors.


The mountains of AZ. I truly love how the mountains
are every shade of blue!


I liked that!
 
  
So I challenged myself to capture Monochromatic (sort of!) pics in the world around me, with out processing to one color or doing major edits.  And it couldn't be shot in black and white (my own silly rules!).


Pretty much everything is this drab, dead color since we've had such a weird winter.

This was tough - the world is so multi-colored!

Thanks for bringing me out of my comfort zone this week Sally! 




It was definitely a fun perspective this week!






  
Make sure you check out all the other participant's photos!


Just for fun!!
 
 
Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Monochromatic Challenges!
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~


Happy Easter!


May you be surrounded with
beauty, peace and love today






Until Next Time,



Peace. Love.



~Shel~

I'm linking up with
I Heart Macro today, too.

Working on Color!

For those of you who know me personally you know that my closet probably has fewer than five articles of clothing with 'prints' (this includes scarves, too!) and that most of my colors are, shall we say,...neutral and rather drab.



Translation: browns, greys, black, navy blues and an occasional pop of dark red - gotta love RED!



Anyhoo, I was reading Tracy Statler's blog post today over on Make Bracelets and she's got these amazing colors going on with all the goodies she just got from a bead show that was just in her area.


Her post was quite timely since I've been trying to incorporate more color into my designs. 



You really gotta check out her blog and all her yummy finds - they're super gorgeous!



Tracy also gives you a head's up on some great blogs that have various color palettes and things related to colors.



One of the blogs she mentions is one of my favorite blog 'must' reads - Brandi Girl Blog.



Brandi's blog has really been helping me get out of my neutral-zone as I try to rev up my use of color.

I know,...some of the things I've been creating lately are just white pearls and silver - so typical me - but I'm mixing it up a little bit and adding a few other colors as well. 


(Slowly but surely - don't rush me!)

What I'm curious about now though is this:

Do you tend to 'play it safe' with the colors of your
clothes and your accessories?



Or, do you jump in with both feet at once
and dance with different colors regularly?



Let me know what colors you're drawn to right now and why?



Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Rainbows of Colors!
Cheers,
~Shel~

*All photos, jewelry and designs by Michelle Buettner

Color Is,....

Hi there gang!


We're really liking the latest blog post from JCK Online Blog - Jewels on Jewels - and her mention of color and how important it is!

Check it out here: Jewels on Jewels

So many beautiful colors are making their way into our lives this spring in jewelry, clothes, accessories, and all sorts of other items as well. Spring (and summer, too!) seems to be a time when people venture out and experiment with all sorts of new colors - colors they normally don't think about.



We've been hit with the 'color-bug' here in our studio too this spring and we're going to be sharing some of our latest creations throughout the spring and summer (if we can get them posted before they leave the studio in the hands of our customers!) - so stay tuned for some colorful beauties!



Until our next colorful time,
Peace, Love and Pearls!


~Shel~