Rose of Sharon Jewelry

I’ve got 64 ways to be creative today. A colorful box of Crayola® Crayons! Coloring isn’t only for kids – it’s also a great way to unwind.  Today I want you to color – inside or outside the lines!

The treasured 64-count box with the built-in sharpener is a beloved memory. Introduced in 1958, I was so happy to be “big enough” for my own box when I was in 2nd grade.

The Power of Memory on Play

I’m sure many of you have these same childhood memories so this playtime has extra special meaning.

Even if you have crayons in the house for kids or grandkids, I highly recommend going out and getting your very own box. You might even want to splurge on the new 120 count box. Perhaps those extra colors will inspire you! Besides Mom isn’t there to say, “But the teacher’s list says. . .”

Today’s Crayola brand crayons (Don’t waste your money on anything but the authentic Crayola.) have some color changes – no longer will you find Maize or Raw Umber, for example. If you were born after 1972, your color box would have included 8 new fluorescent ones like Hot Magenta. Crayola even has a color history chart.

What to Color

The crayons are the easy part of this process. Now what do you want to color?

Inside the Lines?

Are you an “inside the lines” person? Then you should buy a few coloring books to get you started. You’ll be surprised at how costly they are so to get started perhaps you’d rather download some color pages. To find a printable coloring page on any subject, simply use your search engine. There are literally thousands of possible choices.

• Crayola coloring pages
• Coloring pages for adults and artists
• Flower coloring pages
• Coloring fun for adults – lots of links here

Outside the Lines?

If you want to stretch your imagination and “color outside the lines” – simply start with some copy/printer paper. You can move up to better suited paper with a trip to any craft store. Select a matte fiber-based paper for best results.

Professional colorers (or colorists?) choose quality paper to transform prints into hand colored works of art. Why not explore the art of hand coloring?

Your Coloring Session

If you’re coloring for pure joy, color any where you want (with kids or without.) Coloring for relaxation and exploration is best achieved in a quiet area with appropriate natural light (daylight bulbs work, too). The proper lighting will show the “true” color without any lighting influence.

The key is to relax your shoulders and wrists. Crayons don’t   require the death-grip many of us use at work or while paying bills.

Coloring for Inspiration

1. Try different methods – like color around the outside lines then fill in the blanks or lightly color one direction then blend in from another angle.
2. Go outside your comfort zone – pick colors that aren’t your first choice. Combine colors which feel like they clash.
3. Try shading with a darker or lighter version.
4. Include white as a color to break things up visually.
5. Select colors from a favorite painting and use those to start your creation.
6. Have someone randomly select 4 colors then create something using them.

The most important rule is:

• Throw away all the rules.

I hope you’ll explore coloring soon. During some turbulent times in my life, I found serenity when I just sat silently and colored.

 

For some color related fun take the “What Color Crayon Are You?” Quiz.

 

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Color plays an important role in our daily lives and for handmade jewelry artists it is our foundation. If you've been making jewelry (or buying handmade jewelry), you are probably automatically drawn to certain colors and color combinations. Today I want to challenge you to explore colors outside of your comfort range.

As I look at my blooming garden, I can see literally thousands of ways Mother Nature paints with color. So grab your camera (or even your camera phone) and walk your neighborhood looking for color samples.

Print out your color inspiration pics and then sort out the ones you are immediately drawn to. These are probably colors within your normal comfort zone. Take these and set them aside for another day. Your challenge now is to work with the remaining picture's color schemes.

This week, sort through your beads (or take a trip to a local bead store) to find the colors in one or two of your challenge pictures. Seed beads come in thousands of colors so you could find exactly the right hue for under $2 a tube.

Working with color requires some thoughtful effort. I discovered a wonderful color resource for all artists at the papercrafting blog at Shimelle.com. June: A Month of Colour can help you explore color and your relationship with color. Learning about how you relate to colors can help you expand your color selections in new ways when creating or buying handmade jewelry.

Didn't know you have a color relationship? Everyone does  - but we don't usually think of it in those terms. Colors can make you feel happy, calm, sad or excited. I prefer clothing in gemstone colors. Why? Because they make me feel vibrant and alive.

Join the conversation on color! You can leave a comment by clicking the comment link in the left column. Tell us about your favorite color combination and how it makes you feel.

I'm a rabid NPR (National Public Radio) fan. Honest news (facts), great interviews and enlightenment all at once. On today's trip to the bank, an author was discussing the writing life. During the short trip, I realized that instead of complaining about all the photography, web work, blogging, social networking - basically anything that "robs" me of jewelry making time - is actually an important part of the creative process. All are creative and instead of fighting I need to open up to the possibilities.

That doesn't mean I don't need to prioritize my jewelry designing - it just means that without the "butt in the chair" time, I won't be rewarded with the results I want - for all of you to be able to own a handmade piece of jewelry that I made!

So starting today - less mumbling, more time looking for the possibility to paint the "boring" stuff with the creativity brush. A nice swatch of rich red  all over it would be nice.

Wouldn't it be great if actions were colors? What color would your favorite creative endeavor be? What color would your family time be? What color would you be while enjoying your life? Just leave a comment so we can appreciate your colors.

Here's what my Deepest Red creativity color looks like a beautiful red coral necklace! Thanks for the inspiration Mom.

 

Spent the afternoon getting a fresh new hair color - actually several colors blended together to give me a bright sun-kissed blonde look without laying around a pool.

My favorite aspect of jewelry making is getting to play with all the possible colors available. Pearls in rainbow hues, gemstones with vibrant sparkle, crystals in radiant tones all captivate me. But sometimes I get hung up on a few standard combinations and get in a color rut. I found a great book to help push my personal boundaries and explore fabulous new color mixtures.  <p>Margie Deeb's color bible - The Beader's Guide to Color - will educate and challenge your color habits. Much of the book is aimed at beadwork (weaving on or off-loom) but the concepts are applicable no matter what type of jewelry you create. (Click picture to read more and purchase from Amazon.) You might also stop by Margie's web site (www.margiedeeb.com) to learn more about seasonal color trends. Links to her entertaining podcast on color are available on her site and the iTunes store.

Jewelry lovers also get stuck in color ruts. Wearing the same blue necklace with every blue dress you own may be easy but it doesn't take advantage of the purpose of jewelry - to accentuate your clothing and bring attention to your best features.

Another great resource is Pantone, an international authority on color. Pantone info is used by printers, graphic artists, designers, artists - basically anyone who wants to understand how color affects people and their environments.