Color me colorful

Color makes my world go 'round. I call Wisconsin home, so we're blessed with the shifting shades of all four seasons — but for some reason the grey, wintry doldrums outweigh the rest. Perhaps it's just because we're slowly making our way from snowshoes to sundresses, but subzero listlessness still hovers ominously — despite today's 63 degrees. With our luck, it will snow by Saturday.

To keep my chin up and my sandals ready, I immerse myself in color — doldrums or not. I work for a how-to beading magazine that prides itself on being stylish year-round. The jewelry we create and showcase must be fashion-forward and in-season: golden reds, oranges, and coppers for fall — pastel pinks and fresh greens for spring. In my quest to string jewelry that is as fun to make as it is in vogue, I find that color (no matter the color) is never out of style. You really can make any palette work in a given season — though perhaps you'll have to take it from cool (i.e. mint green) to warm (i.e. lime green) tones, or vice-versa.











Cool tones tend toward a blue tint (better-suited for springtime), while warm tones have a hint of yellow (perfect for autumn). But in my opinion? Mix and match; have fun! A warm, peachy coral looks perfectly lovely next to a cool, minty green. A soft, pale pink very nicely accents a bright shade of lime. Even put all four of these warm and cools together for a palette with lots of dimension — an eclectic color scheme (be it for stringing jewelry, throwing a party, or dressing your bridesmaids) allows for more movement and delightful imperfections. Trying to match every shade perfectly? Talk about a headache! Go all out color in all seasons — warm or cool.