I've got the blues this week, and the greens, and the blue greens ......

It's funny how our attention wanders, isn't it, and where it sometimes ends up.  I was sitting at my desk earlier this week, meant to be doing some 'proper' work and I started noticing the colours on the table next to me.
You see, I'm a self-confessed pattern and colour addict - give me a plain surface, such as the brown Ikea table in question, and I'll cover it with something.  In this case, wrapping paper of the stunning Sandersons Dandelion Clocks in the Chaffinch colourway (and if you love the shapes and textures of the 50s as much as I do, check out Hayward in the new 50s Fabrics collection while you're there).  This may have been done to death a bit and yes, it has been made into a teapot and a wash bag, but I am just besotted with the colours (and if you've a keen eye, you'll notice this design in my header).  I love blue when it mixes with yellow, then green when it mixes with more yellow, so here's the trail of thoughts and ideas from that moment when my attention wandered ....

It's amazing what you find lying around ... I bought these gorgeous 1950s buttons on eBay ages ago. 
Not sure what to do with them but love them nonetheless!

This got me thinking about how the colours are made, (and here's one for you Kerry) ...

This will be familiar to all you ISCD foundation course students out there.
Canson chips, painstakingly painted from blue to yellow - harder than it might look!

Later in the week, as I rewarded myself with the treat of buying my favourite UK magazines, Livingetc and Elle Decoration (though they are both April issues, I'm sad to say), I came across these absolutely stunning shots styled by Finola Inger and photographed by Damian Russell ...

Elle Decoration April 2011, Finola Inger (stylist) and Damian Russell (photographer)

Check out Damian's website - this is one of many incredibly beautiful shots, for this Elle Decoration feature and many others.  Ok, just one more ...

Elle Decoration April 2011, Finola Inger (stylist) and Damian Russell (photographer)

So finally to my last shot.  There's something about this picture - it just fills me with joy.  It always comes to mind when I think of this part of the colour wheel, so I used it in my course work to encapsulate the beauty of the journey from blue to green to yellow.  Enjoy ...

Photograph by Martyn Thompson for Home is where the heart is? by Ilse Crawford

And a final footnote for all you colour trend spotters out there.  Here's what Elle Decoration (UK) had to say in their April issue. Of course it's the UK, it's a few months ago and our seasons are at opposite ends of the year, but it's a small design world these days - if these beautiful colours keep drifting to the top of our colour consciousness here in Australia, I'm all for it ...

"Blue, greens and greys ... this is the colour spectrum we feel most keenly represents the mood of the moment ... We've added in a touch of sober grey to the gently optimistic blues and green, to suggest longevity.  And the way in which we use these hues is changing.  No more flat colour blocking; it's all about textured shades used in a loose, painterly fashion."
Elle Decoration, April 2011

Funny what you notice ...  Until next time, Nx