Sonu Blog

Falling for Nature's Parade of Color

Did you know that temperature, light, and water supply can influence the colors we see during this season?  The authority on the topic is Weather.com.  They say, "Low temperatures above freezing will favor anthocyanin formation, producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color. Rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors. The best time to enjoy the autumn color would be on a clear, dry and cool (not freezing) day."  So check the weather report before you go in search of the perfect fall colors!  If you 're wondering where to go, like me, check out this article about the Fall Foliage Smackdown: East Reds vs. West Golds.

I'm looking for the best fall foliage by color because it's one of my favorite seasons.  It's gorgeous with all the brilliant reds, pungent yellows, and vibrant oranges falling from trees like confetti at mother nature's parade.  Fall also means the reveal of great textures and combinations of color.  Knit wool, soft silk, textured leathers, and plush chenille work in both fashion and the home.

I'm so inspired to get moving on the holidays because it's our first fall in our new home.  As always, it's the details that excite me.  I'm daydreaming of jumping into mini-mountains of fallen leaves, editing my home to add in some seasonal color, and getting friends and family together.  I'm keeping an eye out for the leaves piled up and family will come over whether I invite them or not, but adding color to the house takes conscious effort.  There are a couple of approaches that can work to bring in the rich colors of fall to a home.  They both begin with a touch of paint that can create instant impact in the rooms you use most for the season.  For me, that's my den and dining room.

The more traditional way is to use the true colors of fall.  You can look outside for your regional colors or look to books at your local library, magazines, or online for the place you want to recreate through color. 

To recreate that quintessential color palette, introduce a color that really conjures fall for you.  Some colors that work for me are:

 

The other way to go involves  the unexpected combinations of color found in the Fall.  Have you noticed the rich violets in the sky and clear blues in the water this season?  They're striking against fuchsia and citrine hues that are popular in home accessories.  So, I like to use rooted colors like French Press (AF-170) on a wall with vibrant accents that tango with tradition.  Colors like Buxton Blue (HC-149) create the feeling of a a billowy blue sky and a forever spring green like Perennial (405) offers an unexpected color combination in context with the warm colors outside.  

 

I've got a great built-in entertainment center/bookcase that I painted in Superwhite when we moved in.  I'm planning to paint the back wall of the bookcase in multiple colors. 

Are you planning to bring color inside this fall? 

Toy Mompreneur Has it All in the Bag

What is a mompreneur?  By definition it's a woman who uses her super powers to create a business while raising children, addressing her need to fulfill others lives as well as her own.  Tina Hill, inventor of Kidzsack is a true momprenuer.  Her background in fashion design lead Tina to create this clever idea that's got it all in the bag and helps keep her four kids busy and creative at the same time.  The concept is simple & simple is key when you're on the go with kids.  Tina puts it perfectly.  "Kids color, mom/dad washes, and kids recolor." 

 

Tina has the right idea.  She uses 100% recycled fabric for Kidzsack (it's made from recycled cotton and soda bottles), the screen print designs are Tina's original artwork, and the back sack comes with 8 washable markers so kids can add the color!  I'm not the only one who loves this idea.  This year, Kidzsack won Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Product Award and the Creative Child Magazine Best Product Award in the Arts/Crafts/Travel category. 

I just heard today that Kidzsack is also a part of a fantastic project for the upcoming holidays.  3000 underprivileged kids in Arizona are about to discover the joy of color through Kidzsack.  The Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona's annual "A Visit from St. Nicholas" will bring St. Nicholas to 14 public schools on December 4 this year.  Tina's Kidzsack was selected to be the gift bag that will hold all their holiday treasures and will live on as a reusable coloring book and back sack. 

Tina's thrilled that "Kidzsack is a part of this great tradition of philanthropy.  For many children, this may be their only gift this holiday season."  What a great way for Mompreneur Tina Hill to inject color, design, and lesson on being green to philanthropy!

Check out your local community and it's volunteer opportunities to spread some holiday cheer and style in your neighborhood, too!  If you're interested in donating for this project, contact the Volunteer center of Southern Arizona at 520-881-3300 or visit them at www.volunteersoaz.org. 

John Besh's My New Orleans Gets to the Heart of the Meal

If you're anything like me, you savor every detail of a recipe.  You consume every angle of a dish and it's sumptuous colors and textures.  Your pulse races at the idea of creating a beautiful, delicious meal for friends and family.  I've come across a book that's as passionate about it's subject of food.  Chef John Besh's My New Orleans is a true cooking bible that has been lauded as "an act of soul" by musician Wynton Marsalis and complimented by Chef Mario Batali as having "captured the true, sweet, and honest voice" of New Orleans.  

Three hundred and seventy four pages with 200 authentic recipes, captivating stories, and gorgeous photos that will steal your heart and make you want to visit New Orleans, too!  Dorothy Kalins, founding editor of both Saveur and Metropolitan Home Magazine (wow), worked with John on this labor of love and was kind enough to share her perspective with me here. 

I am so inspired by this book because, like good design, it defines a time and place.  It brings you to John's hometown and paints a real story of what it's like to be from such a culturally diverse city.  My thoughts go immediately to the inspiration of color from such a rooted place.  Though we often only consider the colors of Mardis Gras when we think of New Orleans, there are layers of colors that really define this city.  Could the inspiration for decor have come from the local food?

 

I'm feasting my eyes on the colors in the book and getting colorful ideas for decor. What colors say New Orleans? 

  
 If you'd like to see photos by Nick Harris from our video shoot, see Nick's Gallery on Flickr

 

The palette could include the soft fluid colors of the air and water there or the ink-like figs and blackberries?  Perhaps the pearlescent oysters and steely blue crabs or the saturated palette of Mardi Gras?  The brilliant color of natural spices must be mixed in there somewhere!  In the end, maybe it's the harmonious balance of all  these colors as they're woven together by natives of New Orleans with confidence and style. 

 

The best part is that John's book is donating part of proceeds to Cafe Reconcile, a New Orleans-based non-profit that focuses on at-risk youth and teaching them skills needed to work in hospitality and restaurant industries. 

 

Kudos to John and Dorothy for capturing all this in full color with My New Orleans-- Bon appetite, y'all!

Bring Color To Life on The Day of The Dead

My weekend was filled with treats and a few little tricks, too.  Today's the last day to leave a comment here for a chance to win a custom designed sugar skull like the ones here.  Michele at Sugar Skull Gallery in San Francisco painstakingly creates each one by hand with love.  They're a part of a great traditional Mexican festival, El Dia De Los Muertos, Nov 1st and 2nd, when families celebrate the lives of their dearest friends and relatives who've passed on.  It's a beautiful and rich event that offers a refreshing take on all things that were formerly spooky and scary. 

  
Visit the Sugar Skull Gallery for original and colorful gifts like this an the one at the end of this post
  
Sugar skulls are made with meringue powder and other ingredients.  They can be covered with icing, sequins, buttons, foil, or whatever you have to work with!  They're meant to be tiny works of art that cover altars and graves.  There's even a fan page for sugar skulls on Facebook!  

What did you do to celebrate over the weekend?  Costume party?  Playing tricks on people?  Pumpkin carving?  Face painting?  Eating colorful candy? 

If you'd like the chance to win one of 3 new sugar skulls that Michele and I are collaborating on.  leave a comment as your entry to win by 12am EST, Wednesday, November 4, 2009.  Three winners will be selected randomly and announced next week.  

A little more about El Dia De Los Muertos

Across the world, there are several festivals throughout the year that celebrate what would seem macabre at any other time of year.  The Obon Festival  in Japan, the Ghost Festival in China, El Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico, and All Saint's Day celebrate spirits and ancestors across the globe.  The beauty of all these festivals is the fact that they are about honoring those who have passed on in glorious, colorful ways. 

I was really curious about El Dia De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.  It's just after Halloween running from November 1-2.  Rooted in pre-colonial Mexican heritage, it's a festival in joyous remembrance of loved ones who have moved to to the next phase in their life's journey.  The Day of the Dead has become an important cultural and spiritual tradition throughout many countries with strong Mexican communities and involves elaborate altar designs, ornate cemetery decor, specially prepared foods like pan de los muertos (bread of the dead), and individually crafted sugar skulls. 

Color is a big part of El Dia De Los Muertos, too.  According to The Official Mexican and Mexican-American Fine Arts Museum of Texas, color adds symbolism to the celebratory altars or ofrendas. 

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White-- Purity and hope

Purple-- Pain, mourning and suffering

Pink-- Celebration

Red-- The blood of life

Orange-- The Sun 

Yellow-- The petals of Marigolds called "cempazuchitle" that symbolize death are used to make a trail for spirits to see their path to the altars

 

Here are some traditional and contemporary expressions of El Dia De La Muertas that boast color and design in a rich way

 

The top altar was found by two travelers in Mexico.  Students at SCAD created the one below as part of a project.  Altars can pop up anywhere-- indoors or outdoors and usually boast a photo of the deceased, some favorite foods and symbolic offerings like water and salt.  No matter the details, they're always full of color!

 
 
 You can buy this "Moo Muerte" at CarmelaJay's Etsy Shop.  A more modern take on an altar, this piece still keeps the cultural and colorful nature of the celebration alive (pun intended).

 
Decorated cemeteries remind us that The Day of the Dead is bright and uplifting.  Visit this gallery on Flickr for Rainy City's complete album of amazing shots. 

Cultural symbolism can be very influential in life and a great source of inspiration for design and decor, too. 

Tell me how you are using culture, tradition, and color for your festivities this weekend for a chance to win a sugar skull!  

So now I have plans for the weekend-- Between tricks and treats, Michele of the Sugar Skull Gallery in San Francisco and I are working to create 3 colorfully custom designed sugar skulls for you to win! 

Leave a comment as your entry to win by 12am EST, Wednesday, November 4, 2009.  Three winners will be selected randomly and announced next week.  

  

Photographing Fall-- Color at it's Best

 

All you Flickr addicts, listen up!  The Weather Channel can make you famous.  Well, at least, it can make you a winner.  They're sponsoring a $2500 Fall Photography contestthat has brought out some serious talent.  Here are a few of my favorites.  Click away and vote or be a part of the contest by entering your masterpiece.  The deadline is December 15, 2009, so start snapping soon!

 

James Sullivan's view of Lake Tahoe

 
 
Eloise Bolt's take on Colorado

 
This is called "Ultimate Destination", but no photographer is listed.

If you decide to enter, I want to know about it!  Hopefully you'll win and remember the little people who helped you along the way.  Either way, I'd love to know: where have you seen the most memorable fall colors?