Our Take on Pantone Spring Colors 2014

Pantone has introduced a Spring 2014 palette that is all about stability and balance. The collection aims to marry adaptable pastels with captivating brights, creating a sense of naturalness, energy and equilibrium.

The first four colors on the left, together with Sand, form the basis for the natural pastels in the collection. Hemlock is a very different green then we've seen in recent years, although it still calls up the color of 2013, Emerald. This green is sedate and gentle. Like all of the pastels, it can be paired with any of the bolder colors for a beautiful, energetic combo.  Match Hemlock with Cayenne or Celosia Orange to take advantage of the power of contrasting colors. These will pair up wonderfully without being overwhelming.

The pastel Violet Tulip finds its bold counterpart in Radiant Orchid, and Placid Blue has a beautiful, deeply saturated Dazzling Blue on the opposite end of the palette. The Pantone Color Institute writes that both Radiant Orchid and Placid Blue "are perfect companions to pastels, and add confidence and vivacity when mixed with other bold colors."

What do you think of Pantone's choices for Spring 2014?  If you like these selections, will you incorporate them into your work or your wardrobe? You can vote for your favorites here.

Pantone Fall Colors 2013

Pantone's Fall Color Report is a versatile, exciting mix of natural colors and cool Emerald, Mykonos Blue and Acai. It could best be described as a moody palette, one that can be paired up and arranged in many ways.

The 2013 Color of the Year, Emerald, is still at home in the palette, but it's ready to be lightened by the influence of bright, natural Linden Green. Pantone recommends pairing both with Mykonos Blue for a classic fall look. 

Acai is a great addition to this collection. It will pair beautifully with Samba for a dramatic punch of color, or can be regal and dressed-up when combined with Emerald.

On the opposite end of the palette is Carafe, a deep brown that invites pairing with any of the brights, especially Vivacious, Samba and Koi. This deep, expressive brown serves as an alternative to black this season.

What fall colors do you like best? If you like these selections, do you plan to incorporate any of them into your wardrobe?

10 Cute Handmade Autumn Finds

Is it too early to declare that Fall is here? I don't see any leaves turning color yet.

I'm not sure that any small animals are storing up foods in their burrows. I haven't seen any fat, fluffy, winter-ready squirrels bumbling across the yard.

In fact, the tomatos haven't all ripened yet. The cucumbers are in the peak of their harvest. The grass is green as ever.

But I refuse to believe that it's too early to look at cute fall stuff! After all, in Maine, fall comes on quickly. (And if you like shopping online for perfect handmade items, now would be the perfect time to make your choices and put in an order.)

Here are 10 adorable, cozy, and autumnal finds!



 1. Foxy Bike Handwarmers

These Bike Fox Hand Warmers will make a perfect autumn/fall/winter accessory. They are soft and cozy and they are one of those items that you just don't want to ride a bike without.

The Etsy artisan, WarmYourself from Poland, makes them in kids' sizes too.











2. Beeswax candle collection shaped like antique jars and bottles.

This brilliant wax burns longer, brighter, and cleaner than any other wax on the planet, actually ionizing the atmosphere and pulling dust and allergens from your sweet home air as it burns.

Each collection is hand-poured to order.

These lovely candle sets come in various shapes and sizes, all based upon antique canning jars and bottles. Lovely.





3. Lemongrass Green Hand Knit Hat with Wood Button

This thick and chunky knit hat is the perfect little number for comfort, style, and warmth - jazz up your autumn/spring/winter wardrobe!

The yarn is a wool and acrylic blend, with zero itchiness! The button is genuine wood.

I love the big, big button! It's a great accent for a chunky knit. The color is awesome, too.

By UpNorthKnits.









4. Pumpkin Cheesecake Lip Balm

"Sweet scented Pumpkin Cheesecake Lip Balm! Such a fun flavor for adults and kids alike."

That sounds too good to pass up!










5. Fall Yarn and Felt Striped Wreath

Celebrate Fall and it's beautiful colors with this gorgeous wreath! Featuring striped yarn with coordinating handmade felt flowers in orange, warm yellow, tan and chocolate brown finished with cream pearls!

This wreath is unique and beautiful! Have the best wreath on the block!

One of a kind by Anita Rex Designs. Check it out!





6. Autumn Glass Acorn Decorations

Gorgeous faceted glass with real acorn bead caps. These beautiful little autumn gems come in a pack of six.

They would be perfect for accenting a fall centerpiece or keeping in a small, beautiful bowl. By WhysperFairy.











7. Artisan Collection Felted Soap

These lovely felted soaps are perfect for a hand soap in the bathroom or a personal soap and scrubbie in one.

The gorgeous green and gold variegated wool soap (middle) is a great fall color and is scented Pomegranate Pear. Made by TurtleWorksShop.

For silly autumn felted soaps, try Sapling Naturals' mini monsters, Halloween Owl in a Tree or the adorable Wise Owl by Englefelt.



 8. Crochet Knit Leg Warmers

These look so cozy! Perfect for early fall. By Designer Scarves World.

These soft leg warmers are a thin delicate light weight design, fitting just perfectly under boots. They show themselves off with hand detailed off white knit lace and off white faux buttons.

The Pointelle Openwork knit is on the height of fashion trends looking absolutely fabulous over skinny jeans, leggings or tights. Give your 'any-day look' the perfect bit of lacey flair!

And get ready for people to stop and ask you where you got them!




9. Mustard Yellow and Seafoam Green Leather Journal with Antique Skeleton Key

Wow! These journals by Binding Bee are very special. The journal is created from repurposed leather and handmade paper.

The leather is thick and heavy with a gorgeous oil-rubbed finish and a feel so soft that you will never want to put it down.

The journal closure uses a leather strap and antique skeleton key in a wonderful sea foam green color. The book is hand-bound using a 600 year old binding technique that is incredibly sturdy and long lasting and allows all of the pages to lay flat when the book is open.

Record some drawings and thoughts under falling leaves this fall. 





10. Autumn Tutu Dress

"This tutu dress features the warm colors of fall; scarlet, brown, gold, orange and yellow. Yards and yards of tulle is hand looped and tied around a brown crocheted bodice. Scarlet flowers and gold ribbon give the finishing touches."

Made by My Sugar Muffin. Aw! ❉

Inhuman Design: Strange and Beautiful Animal Homes

We love to decorate our homes and ourselves. As far as I know, we humans have been adorning ourselves ever since we became, well, human.

But if we thought we were the only animals to decorate, we would be mistaken. Creatures from insects to birds create beautiful homes, nests, and coverings for themselves.

Sometimes they do it by accident- the materials around them simply end up as part of their decor. Sometimes the beautiful design comes as part and parcel of building strong structures for living or storing food.

Other times, the decorative effect is painstakingly intentional, often directed at wooing a mate.

Here are some unusual, beautiful, or just unexpected animal homes.

These caddisfly larvae probably didn't set out to create beautiful jewelry, but their careful work arranging rocks and sticks can just as easily be put to work with precious metals and jewels. The provider of these precious stones is French artist Hubert Duprat, who calls himself a collaborator in the artworks. He has been working with caddisflies since the 1980s.



The bower bird, on the other hand, is an intentional decorator. The male creates elaborate nests, strewn with a beautiful array of found objects. The nestmaker on the left chose blue as a color scheme, but the color and design choices are up to the individual bird. White or blue collections are common, but multicolored designs are possible too.

Both natural and human artifacts find their way to these birds' nests. The female bower bird is extremely picky, so the style of the nest and the strength of the collection is extremely important. She may visit many nests before making her choice.

 Looking almost like a beast unto themselves, the nests of African social weaver birds are amazing to see. These are the largest bird nests in the world, and home to hundreds of birds-- entire extended families living together in complex structures.

The nests may endure for over a hundred years and generation upon generation. The structures retain heat, keeping the inner passageways warm throughout the night.

We often think of honeybees in human-created hives, pollinating gardens and crops. Sometimes the silo-like formation of their nests also becomes an unwanted presence in a shed or other human space. But in the wild, their nests are quite beautiful, with honeycombed lobes.

Harry the crab lives in the Discovery Area of the Atlantis Submarine Voyage exhibit at Legoland Windsor, Britain. Admittedly, he did not build his own shell (although that would be something of a feat, with pincers...) but he chose it above all others offered to him. I guess it might have been a bit embarrassing for Legoland if he hadn't. Perhaps there are a hundred other Harrys in a tank in the back, all of whom preferred regular shells and will live out their lives in obscurity.

A rare species of bee, Osmia avosetta,  make these delicate nests, constructed of mud and flower petals. The solitary bees use them to protect their offspring; once the eggs are laid and food stores provided for the little ones, the nest is sealed up. ❉

Elegance: Black Cuff Bracelets and Bangles

YIKES! Studio: Black bangles and black starfish cuff

Black is the color of elegance, considered to never go out of style, to go with everything. Fashion designers have always had a great deal to say about black. Italian designer Gianni Versace said, "Black is the quintessence of simplicity and elegance." Dior defined black as the essence of elegance, a quality which he said was a "combination of distinction, naturalness, care and simplicity."

Black has enjoyed multiple periods of being in style throughout history. Black was the favored color of nobility throughout the 14th through 16th centuries in Europe, with the trend beginning in Italy and spreading across countries to all the monarchs of Europe. Black fabric was long considered special because a truly deep black required the very best dyes.

Black may also have become popular because wealthy merchants favored it. After laws prohibited these merchants from wearing certain flashy and expensive clothes in bright colors because they were not royalty, the upper classes took to wearing black. Ironically, this may have served to popularize the color black as a color associated with the upper class-- and royalty. By the 16th century, black was what all the monarchs were wearing!

In 1926, Coco Chanel popularized the ubiquitous little black dress as the fashion article that all women needed, saying "A woman needs just three things; a black dress, a black sweater, and, on her arm, a man she loves." French designer Yves Saint Laurent said, "Black is the liaison which connects art and fashion."

Do you love black? Is it a fashion staple for you or does it only make an occasional appearance? Black accessories can be elegant, striking additions your wardobe. A black dress and matching bangles with a touch of sparkle can be the perfect, timeless combination for a wonderful night out on the town.

I will be at the Maine Crafts Guild Damariscotta Show this weekend,  Saturday, July 6, 2013 from 10 am to 5 pm  and Sunday, July 7, 2013 from 10 am to 4 pm, with my newest studded starfish cuffs and bangles in black. I hope you'll consider adding one to your collection.

Karl Lagerfeld, explaining why black was so popular, said: "Black is the color that goes with everything. If you're wearing black, you're on sure ground." Timeless and elegant, striking and simple, it's easy to see why black has been so popular and continues to be today. ❉

What's On My Workbench: Summery Stacking Bangles and Cuffs

Here are a few recent items from my workbench, where I've been exploring Swarovski-studded starfish cuff bracelets, summery stacking bangles, and lots of color. When creating I like to drift between the real and unreal – fantasies and reality.
















 Constructing the red and turquoise starfish cuff








 

















Red and turquoise studded starfish cuff: Ready for its final curing

 














Details, details!

Royal blue starfish cuff: the sculpting and molding portion of its creation. Here, I am adding the Swarovski crystal and the textural "nubbles" of the starfish.
 

A view of the inside pattern of the royal blue starfish cuff, and the cane used to create it.

 















New stacking bangles in royal blue, hyacinth and tangerine!



 

Starfish earrings and pendants ready for assembly. ❉

 

Etsy Spotlight: Fresh Summer Blues

Etsy is a great place to do some shopping to get ready for summer! We found a great selection of greens and blues to remind us of sparkling lakes, green grass and white clouds. Check out this all handmade and vintage outfit pulled together from Etsy sellers, with a stacking bangle bracelet and earrings by YIKES Studio!

Quick links:
YIKES! Studio Stacking Bangle in Blue
Dirty Birdies Vintage 80s Woven Leather Sandals
Minxouri Vintage Mod Minidress
Aimarro Crochet Triangle Bag
YIKES! Studio Robin's Egg Blue Earrings ❉

Pantone Color of the Year --- Emerald!

I love Pantone! Visiting their website and taking in the fashion illustrations alongside the color palettes for the seasons is a treat for the eyes and a great way to get inspired.

Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color, annually selects a color palette in concert with industry stylemakers. From that palette comes Pantone's Color of the Year.

Last year the color of the year was tangerine, which I continue to love. This year, its a gorgeous emerald green! Pantone describes their pick as "a luminous, magnificent hue, the color of beauty, new life and prosperity." Wow! So rich and so beautiful.

I'm loving the idea of pairing up that rich emerald hue with minty green. I'm planning YIKES! pieces around that particular pairing as well as other exciting combinations. I feel so fortunate that my jewelry work is all about color. I have the most fun and hope that translates to the pieces I create. I think it does!

"Lively. Radiant. Lush… "
Emerald is radiant and memorable; fresh and full of vitality, yet luxurious. If you love the new season's color, but need to stay on a budget, accessories are a perfect way to add some emerald to your life.

Here are a few Yikes!Studio picks in emerald this Spring. Will you be wearing more of this luxurious color?

Emerald Laboutins! I can dream, can't I?	Michael Kors	Silk Scarf by Scarf Arts

YIKES Boho Pendant and Earrings with emerald Swarovski crystal

Fashioniser writes that emerald flatters every complexion; this season's color is for everyone. Check out some of their fashion tips for wearing and combining emerald. The color's versatility makes it wonderfully creative. One suggestion is to play up an emerald green skirt or pair of pants and neutral top with a brilliant emerald necklace, cuff bracelet, and earrings. 

This deep, fresh shade of green also looks beautiful with fuchsia, fiery orange, minty green, grayed jade, and all sorts of blues.

Robin's egg blue spring blossom earrings by Yikes!Studio	Alice + Olivia Side Spelling Poplam Dress
Scarlett Johansson in emerald for a cover shoot for Glamour France	Yikes! Sea Gem Earrings

Robin's egg blue spring blossom earrings
by Yikes!Studio  

Alice + Olivia Side Spelling
Poplam Dress

Scarlett Johansson in emerald for a
cover shoot for Glamour France

Yikes! Sea Gem Earrings

Besides being the color of the year, emerald is also May's birthstone.



 Always ahead of her time: A few vintage Barbie dolls in glam emerald hues. 
 

New Year ~ New Color Combinations ~ Lots of Play

People are always asking me where do I get my colors from? By that I assume they mean my inspiration for my color combinations. I usually say its from nature, but that's the simple answer. It would take a bit of sluething to uncover all my muses! One place that I do like to refer to is fashion. I have always had a love affair with clothing and ornamentation of the human body. Not just couture but fashion as it appears everywhere. From magazines to people on the street who have their own sense of style.

Every season Pantone releases a color palette that the designers are using. I sometimes feel an intuitive pre knowing of the colors that are going to appear. Like this spring's emerald green.  Add dusk blue with some bits of lemon zest thrown in and I can see doing a big bead necklace in these colors!

I do, however, get a lot of my color inspiration from nature. How could I not living as I do in the Maine woods surrounded by huge boulders with fantastic lichen and mosses, on a gorgeous ever changing lake in the hills of Lucerne.

The strange and wonderful world of lichen...

transformed into polymer blossoms

This photograph's colors captivate me. Perhaps they will show
up in some new pieces.

Crazy for Tangerine! Pantone's Colors for Spring

So, tangerine is the color of the year.

Pantone says so.

I believe it because I was already having a love affair with this vibrant color. I don't know why. It must be something in the air...

This is what Pantone says about Tangerine Tango:

"...a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.
“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

How does Pantone determine its colors for the season? I researched it a bit and this is what I came up with: "Annually Pantone will declare a particular color 'Color of the Year.' The color is chosen to purportedly connect with the zeitgeist; for example the press release declaring Honeysuckle the color of 2011 said "In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues."

From Pantone's web site there is this description of all the colors of the  Spring 2012 Palette:

For spring 2012 designers are inspired by diverse influences, showcasing a range of
styles and lifestyles, from free and playful and light and breezy, to contemporary classics. Colors likewise reflect these differing moods, encapsulating vivid brights, soft muted tones and fun-loving pastels.

"Consumers look to spring for renewed energy, optimism and the promise of a brighter day," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute^®. "They
have learned how color can help them alter a mood and provide the vitality and enthusiasm that enables them to experiment with new looks and color combinations."

Provocative Tangerine Tango, an enticing juicy orange, is a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone's outlook this spring. Providing a jolt of energy, Solar Power radiates warmth and cheer.

Fanciful Bellflower, a distinct ornamental purple, exudes uniqueness and creativity. Scintillating and sexy, Cabaret is a sensual and intense rosy-red — an excellent
choice for summer clothing and cosmetics.

Sodalite Blue, a classic maritime hue, brings order and calmness to mind. Like an
anchor to a ship, this dependable shade works with every color in the palette.
Cockatoo, a tactile blue-green, is sure to make your spirits soar. This unusual hue
adds a whimsical touch to the palette and will surely make a statement this spring.

Margarita, a piquant yellow-green, lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow. Reminiscent of a blossoming garden on an early spring morning, fragrant Sweet Lilac evokes the fresh scents of summer. This delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance
to any wardrobe.

Natural versatile neutrals add practicality to this season's brights. Driftwood, an
adaptable blend of beige and gray with a slightly weathered feel, and Starfish, a
perfect warm summer neutral, complement all colors featured in this season's top 10.

For an ultra-bold vibrant look this spring, try mixing Bellflower with Tangerine Tango
and Cabaret. Combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Cockatoo for a subtle
alternative, or combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Driftwood for a more
practical variation. Solar Power is best juxtaposed with Sodalite Blue. For a safer
bet, add a natural neutral like Starfish to the mix.

For over 18 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers
of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season's most important
color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues for spring 2012.


For more info, visit Pantone's web site.

New Fun, Fall Pieces!

Unfortunately I haven't had the time to update my website recently, so I thought I would post some pictures of my most recent work here on the YIKES! blog.

Some of these have sold and some are still available.




Turquoise, red and yellow collection





The Buttercream collection



earthy and rich fall pieces






Wire neckpieces with adorable pendants set in sterling silver





ORDERS
Working away at getting commission pieces finished and out the door. If you are one of my customers who have been anxiously awaiting your pieces--thank you for your patience and your pieces are on their way.