Last week Pantone revealed the 2012 Color of the Year – Tangerine Tango – an energetic reddish orange.
I posted this on my Facebook pages and range of responses was astonishing.
(my FB Friend page is about full, so I am asking new Friends to Like my Color and Design page)
The variety of comments (from "Ewww" to "my favorite color!") shows that color evokes deep emotions, and therefore it is important that we choose colors that nurture and support us, instead of colors that create angst, or worse!
The Color of the Year is not necessarily meant to be the color of your next sweater purchase. It is not meant to be necessarily a color that you can wear. As quilters, crafters and artists, we are drawn to colors that can be added to a palette to add drama. These are called accent colors. You may use this color in a small or a big way, but it should not be judged only as a "wearable" color.
This color has been bubbling up for awhile now, in the Bohemian Paisley palettes of the fashion and home dec industries. It has been mixed with a variety of jeweltones, including the 2011 Color of the Year which was a rich pink hue called Honeysuckle. I remember in the 70's I had a paisley rayon challis scarf with these colors, mixed with cobalt, teal, and amethyst. Do you remember those Seventies colors?
Today's versions of those color palettes are edgier and deeper, but still evoking the color combinations that come from Eastern Europe and India. As the economies of these countries (including Russia) continue to expand, we'll have more color trend influences emanating from those parts of the world.
Some of the most beautiful Christmas art and traditions come from Eastern Europe, and as this part of the world opens up more, we'll see more color and design influences coming from countries that were part of the former Soviet block. A year ago I was in Prague and Budapest, savoring the Christmas Markets and handicrafts from this part of the world. If you missed my blog a year ago, you can still see the photos I shared…some great ideas for holiday decorations and crafts!
For my fabric friends outside of the US – if you'd like to join my Ireland tour (and the Irish Quilt Festival!) there is a price now for the land package only, so you can book your flight separately. I'd love to have some friends from Down Under, Asia and South America join my Irish Adventure!
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