So let's talk about yellow and orange...

As it's been noted on many blogs, yellow and orange tend to be underutilized. I must confess, that yellow and orange aren't my first choice for my beadwork or my knitting. I do like the combinations of pink and orange (made a pretty necklace using those colors) and yellow looks very nice when accenting lavendar (my wedding colors). Overall though, it took my husband buying me burnt orange yarn to actually get the color into my knitting. As for yellow... well yellow has only been featured in variegated yarns of the stash. Now let's pause for a moment to reflect on the cultural implications of these colors. Let's start with yellow. Yellow is a nice bright color. It's the color of the sun. It's a color in flames. It's a color featured in many flowers, the daffodil for instance. However, it's also featured in the phrase, "What's a matter with you? Are you yellow?" The implication that yellow is a cowardly color. As an Asian, yellow has also been the word used to describe our skin color. Technically, this characterization is not true, as my skin is more olive than yellow. Yellow skin would mean jaundice. But I digress. Yellow is a complex color, no doubt about it. Let's now look at orange. Orange is the color of, well, oranges. Yummy! You can also find orange in flames, tabby cats, the California Poppy, Orange Chicken, I could go on. Orange is also the color that many fake 'n bakes will turn a person, plus nothing rhymes with orange. Truly annoying for the poet. Overall, I think of orange and yellow as being bright, in your face, cheerful colors. Orange and yellow aren't for the brooding, the quiet, or the shy. They scream, I'm here and I'm happy. It's one of the reasons I always seem to pick out orange shirts for my daughter. Orange just seems fitting for the child that runs into her big brother's preschool yelling, "HI!" One of the reasons why I'm challenged and yet having fun with the Project Spectrum's colors this month, is that by appreciating the yellow and orange in nature and in our lives, I'm finding that my mood has improved some. I just can't be all that sad or depressed when working with yellow or orange. I like it. I also think that I'll be thanking my lucky stars when we get to May and turn to green. The peppiness of this month is exhausting... So from my home to yours, Spongebob and Nemo say, "Go Giants! and eat lots of Reese's pieces!" P.S. Check out my completed Peeps sock! I love it! I've got to hurry up and finish it's mate so I can wear them on Easter.