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Enjoy Autumn's Earth Tones Two things make me focus on the range of earth-tone colors -- autumn weather and articles or shows with an environmental focus. Both of these give me a strong desire to become a very spiritually-enlightened Earth Mother. When I see or read about the state of the environment, I tell myself I am going to become very environmentally-conscious, and wear only naturally-dyed earth tones and eat only organically-grown and free-range foods. This state of mind usually lasts about three or four days. My autumn earth-tone consciousness lasts quite a bit longer, stretching as long as the season. As a redhead, earth tones are some of the most flattering colors I can wear.
One reason the bright jewel tones seem clash-proof is because of our view of the outdoors. In fall forests or along tree-line avenues, we are likely to see the dark maroon leaves of one tree meshed with the bright yellow leaves of a neighboring tree, and the yellow-touched limbs crowding the crimson boughs of another neighboring tree. This presents great opportunities in bead design. Whether you are mixing brilliant autumn jewel tones or muted browns and greens, it is easy to create eye-pleasing designs.
Looking for inspiration? Grab your camera, sketch pad or beads and head outdoors. Fortunately, trees have found a spot in even the busiest of cities, so check your local park, or, if you are lucky enough to live near a forest, take this opportunity to enjoy this natural inspiration. Brilliant shades of yellow are some of the most common fall colors. The yellow hues come from the pigment xanthophyll. Shades from light yellow to gold can be found in hickory, ash, pecan, walnut, tulip poplar, elm and American beech trees.Purples and deep reds are often considered some of the most prized fall colors in both forests and home landscapes. Bradford pear trees, which provide white clouds of blooms in the spring, turn deep shades of red and purple in the fall. These red and purple shades come from pigments called anthocyanins. Blackgum, sweetgum, red maple, dogwoods and pin oaks also wear these vibrant shades in the fall. Orange coloring, from the pigment carotene, can be a little more difficult to find in some areas of the country. Carotene is the same pigment found in carrots. Some sugar maples and sassafras trees will display orange hues.
The yellow in many designs will be the gold of your accent beads -- the cool gleam of silver somehow seems out of place in autumn designs. Try combining gold glitter-core beads with vibrant orange and olive green for a design with an eye-catching radiance. Although most beaded items feature a repeating pattern, the glorious mix of fall colors will look wonderful when many different shapes and colors are combined into one bracelet. These one-of-a-kind pieces are likely to match anything in an autumn wardrobe. If you have a nice collection of earth-toned beads, you might consider offering bracelets, earrings and necklaces with designs and colors custom-made to match a certain skirt, blouse or jacket. |
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