There is a sun, a light that for want of another word I can only call yellow, pale sulphur yellow, pale golden citron. How lovely yellow is!
– Vincent Van Gogh
Glowing Yellow!—November 4, 2021
The color yellow
Yellow makes me happy! I have loved this color since I was a kid. I remember during the warm summer days, spending hours riding my yellow bicycle, feeling the sunshine on my face, and dreaming of a bright and happy life.
I also loved wearing my yellow jumpsuit, feeling the breeze through my hair, while sitting in the back of my family's yellow buggy!
I remember when I went to Brazil. I was very young, a gymnast at the time. There was yellow everywhere! Sunshine, beautiful beaches with soft sand, people had a beautiful glow on their skin as if a golden yellow light was shining through them. The welcoming yellow I found in Brazil took over my heart.
And than there was Tweety Bird! The cute little yellow canary from the cartoons--I have been a fan since childhood. Even as a grownup, I still love this cartoon character! Roger gave me a watch with Tweety on it--it does not work anymore, but it still makes me smile when I look at it. 😉
When Roger and I got married I had to have yellow incorporated somehow! Money was tight, and we had to use paper napkins and plastic cups, which gave us a great opportunity to use our favorite colors; Roger's was blue and mine, of course, was yellow. My bouquet consisted of beautiful white daisies with sweet yellow "eyes."
When it was time to leave for our honeymoon, I wore a two-piece outfit, shorts and a blouse, made of a lovely golden yellow silk. I felt beautiful in my "magical" yellow outfit...
I could go on about how much I love the color yellow, but I think you get the idea! Yellow will always be part of my life in some way or another, because it makes me smile, brightens my life, and warms my heart... I hope after you read this blog post that you also feel the same I do, even if you have not been a fan of yellow--I hope you fall in love!
Let's talk about yellow
Yellow is a primary color. It is welcoming. It can be vibrant or soft and pale. Yellow has very strong and positive associations because it reminds us of the sun: it can be exciting, positive, stimulating, cheerful, and warm. Yellow can also stimulate the intellect and promote conversation. Yellow can be invigorating and energetic!
In some countries, yellow is the color of pain and grief, and in other countries it is associated with bravery. Yellow is also the most visible color, so it is perfect for traffic or caution signs.
The different shades and tints of yellow can be found in nature everywhere and in every season. Depending on the amount of natural light, yellow behaves like a chameleon--its tone changes by absorbing the colors reflected by the objects, textures, and finishes around it.
In Feng Shui, yellow is associated with the earth. It provides warmth, stability, and happiness. It is also a nurturing hue. Because of its connection to the earth's good energy, which helps plants, animals, water, mountains, and humans, live and breathe, it is said to bring good Ch'i into our homes.
A short history of yellow
The first word for yellow was "geolu" in Old English. The oldest yellow pigment found was yellow ochre. It was taken from the earth and was used for cave paintings and body decoration. A brighter metallic yellow was discovered by the Egyptians in a mineral called orpiment, and it was found in hot spring deposits.
Later on, lead tin yellow was manufactured in Europe. After that came the Indian yellow, as in turmeric, followed by Naples yellow. The chemists of the modern world then created other yellows, such as chrome, cadmium, lemon, and cobalt yellows.
Seeing yellow
Different yellow temperatures convey different feelings. To create a cozy and comfortable space, it is best to use warm yellows, and for a more vibrant and energized room, cool yellows are the perfect choice.
We can find yellow all around us--just take a look out your window and see the Autumn leaves! This is the perfect time of the year to observe what nature has to offer us, with the most beautiful, radiant, and glowing yellows, brightening our days.
I know yellow is not a favorite color for many, but why not try to add a little spark into our lives, by incorporating a bit of it? Even just a splash of this beautiful hue can make a space feel warmer and more inviting!
Take a look at some inspirational photos for the color yellow. Click on the photos to see larger versions, and then just use the side arrows to go forward or backward. See how yellow can be fascinating by itself, but also how this color complements other colors. I hope these photos can inspire you to fall in love with my favorite color, yellow!
Shop this week's color inspiration:
Glowing Yellow!—November 4, 2021
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Here is this week's mood board for the color yellow. I hope you love it as much as I do, and if so, shop it!
See my previous "My Weekly Finds" and "Shop The Look"
My book recommendation for this week:
"Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi"
Yotam Ottolenghi is an international food celebrity! He is a wonderful chef, a restaurant owner, a food writer for a British newspaper, and a New York Times best-selling cookbook author.
His other well-known cookbooks, to name a few: "Jerusalem: A Cookook," "Ottolenghi: The Cookbook," "Ottolenghi Simple: A Cookbook," "Ottolenghi Flavor: A Cookbook," and "Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London's Ottolenghi."
"Plenty," is a vegetarian cookbook. In this cookbook, Ottolenghi compiles recipes to be made at home by any cook, with the idea being to use only fresh and seasonal ingredients. Each recipe is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that make one want to eat them out of the book.
I love this book, and I have made many recipes from it. My favorite is his vegetarian paella--stay tuned for a blog about it 😉
To quote Christine Muhlke of Bon Appetit magazine: "The book that launched the cult. The recipes not only made vegetarian food sexy (note: Ottolenghi wants you to know he loves meat), they also made Western cooks crave Eastern Mediterranean flavors."
Give this cookbook a try--I am sure you will become a fan of Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbooks, just like I did! Happy Cooking!
Designing a Good Life:
I am so thankful that you follow my blog and for your support of my new journey! I wish you, your family, and friends a beautiful and peaceful weekend, and remember to create a Good Life! Much love, Mané
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