Pantone Color of the Year for 2012 - Tangerine Tango

Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year - Tangerine Tango

Pantone announced it's choice for Color of the Year - 2012.  Tangerine Tango 

For Interiors and More:
Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.
You can read the rest of the Pantone Press Release on their web site.

Here are a few of my favorite dinnerware sets from around the web that will help you add this pop of color to your table.

Iris Orange Round 20 Piece Dinnerware Set by Brilliant

Noritake "Elements Coral"

Morocco by CB2 (no longer available on the site but you might find it on ebay)

Round + Square by Rachel Ray

 Red/Orange Floral Melamine by Target

 

Red Orange Floral - Target

Dinnerware, Fiesta® Square 3-Pc. Place Setting

Fiesta Tangerine Collection

My favorite is the Orange Iris by Brilliant. Which one do you like?  Can you recommend another pattern?  

Halloween Dinnerware Shopping at HomeGoods

Skull Decor is a very strong trend right now and it's not just for Halloween!  Try a Google search and you'll find everything from Designer Clothing to Home Decor and even Wedding Cake Toppers.   While I was shopping recently I found this great set of dinnerware that's perfect for a Halloween Party.

Handpainted Dinnerware by MESA at HomeGoods

 This design actually covers a few trends including; Halloween Decor, Skulls, Glam and Black + White (even though the webs are silver they would still look great with a B+W theme)

Skull Decor crosses over into the Gothic, Steampunk and Vampire trends as well.

Love the rhinestones!

Of course, since I'm the Research Queen, I wanted to know more about who made this set.  When you shop at HomeGoods you need to buy it when you see it.  The things I usually fall in love with are in limited supply and not restocked.  The company, MESA Home Products, has a website.  No skull dinnerware there, but they do have some really great items for entertaining. I've bookmarked it for future shopping.

MESA Home Products label on Halloween Dinnerware

HomeGoods has been one of my favorite places to shop for tablescape decor. (I do still love those bargains at the resale store though!)  Now I'm headed back to pick up the pumpkin I saw covered in leaves..........I don't know why I talked myself out of it the first time!

Pumpkin covered in leaves - HomeGoods 2011

Eat, drink and be scary! Author Unknown

You can find me at: A Stroll Thru Life and the 166 Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch this week.

It's Pi Day! Or PIE Day in my house!

Today is Pi Day!  A celebration of the number 3.14 or the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Its value can be expressed as a mathematical series that produces an infinitely long number.

I figured this would be a good day to celebrate with a pie you can eat since Math is not really my "thing".

Key Lime Pie - Eagle Brand

Key Lime Pie is my all time favorite!  I've posted the recipe at the Art in Entertaining Recipes blog. Yum!

I also, like Strawberry or Mixed Berry and Lemon Cream Pie.

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Zesty Lemon Pie

And then there's French Silk Chocolate Pie, Apple, and pretty much any pie without coconut or custard. That being said; I probably have a piece of pie only a few times each year!  I think it's time to change that.

I've been watching food trends and there have been several indications that Pie will overtake the Cupcake in popularity.  Betty Crocker reported this trend in 2010. I haven't seen really strong evidence of that yet but I'm enjoying the research for sure!

What's your favorite flavor?

Come in a few days for a report on more Dessert Trends.

What's New? Products from the CHA Show, a Cricut Expression Giveaway and a New Blog Hop!

Introducing the Designer Crafts Connection and 365 Days of Crafts!

A group of Designers from the Creative Industry and a monthly Blog Party full of inspiration. 

One lucky Blog Hopper will win a fantastic prize (the info is at the bottom of the page) and you'll get a sneak peek into what goes on at the world's largest Craft & Hobby Trade Show. So appropriate for National Craft Month!

This week the Designers are sharing their reviews and photos from the Winter CHA Show and Conference. I wasn't able to attend but checked with a few of the companies that I've worked with in the past to see what new products they introduced at the show.  I paint and draw on a variety of surfaces for and these are the new products that I'll be using in my designs this year.

New Americana Acrylic Paint Colors for 2011

The Americana Acrylics work great as Acrylic Wash in Pen and Ink Designs and as base coats under colored pencil in my Multimedia Botanical drawings.

Transparent Gloss Enamels

I've been using the original Gloss Enamels and look forward to painting on dinnerware with the new Translucent Colors.

SoSoft Fabric Paints

The SoSoft Fabric Paints are really nice on Table Linens and Baby Clothes.  I really like them and wonder how the Fine glitter will work. 

Walnut Hollow Innkeeper Sign

Wood pieces for my "Front Door Decor" designs. 

Basswood Canvas

Walnut Hollow is also making a nice Basswood Canvas surface that looks similar to the size of stretched canvases.  I've always loved the quality of their wood products so I'm sure I'll like these.

Loew Cornell Sketching Set

I've used the Drawing Sets from Loew Cornell for my Drawing Classes in the past.  This one looks good too.

I was only able to share new products from the companies that I currently use in my designs after searching for "New Products" on their web sites and following the blog posts of my CHA Designer friends that did attend the show. (disclosure note: I did not get paid for this post)

For more information please continue through the entire Blog Hop.  There are 36 Designers participating.  You can go to the main page at 365 Days of Crafts Blog Hop

or on the Designer Crafts Blog Connection Logo below. Click forward to go to the next Designer's post.  Keep clicking until you get back here and you will have seen all the wonderful ideas this week.

Be sure to check Julie McGuffee's Blog Life in the Craft Lane  for an exciting
Cricut GIVEAWAY

and come back on March 13 when the Theme will be WEDDINGS with wide variety of projects suitable for weddings and anything connected with weddings.

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
-- Henry David Thoreau

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It's National Craft Month!

February is over - Yeah!  After a long winter I'm looking forward to Spring and the way it inspires me to get Creative.  I'll be attending several shows over the next few months and will be inspired by Spring Flowers, Pantone Color Trends and New Products for Home, Gourmet Foods and Entertaining.

I have several new projects coming up over the next few months and look forward to sharing them with you.  My focus is on Botanical, Seasonal and Faith based designs. Watch for announcements about my upcoming Web Site, Publications, and Teaching Schedule.

The first thing I want to share is that I've joined a fabulous group of Designers at  365 Days of Crafts.  We'll be sharing our ideas through a project called the Designer Crafts Connection.  It's a monthly Blog Hop with inspiration and trendy creative projects by leading edge Designers in the Creative Industry using a variety of mediums.    

A Year of  Celebrations will launch on March 3rd with reviews of new product and craft Trends and Techniques introduced at the CHA Winter Show last month in Los Angeles.  This event is the Annual Winter Conference and Trade Show for professionals in the Craft Industry.  The participating Designers will give you a peek at what you'll see in your stores this year.  Make sure to check back on Thursday to see what's new this month!

Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Show

©Cindy Rippe

For as the earth brings forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth ; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Isaiah 61:11

A Touch of Spring Inspiration

We ventured over to Sid's Greenhouse.  They were nice enough to let me take photos and since it wasn't busy we stayed for a while.  I gathered the warmth, the beauty and saw so many things for the garden that I could use for Tablescaping. 

Can you imagine how happy I was to see all of the stages of growth on the Amaryllis collection?  A Botanical Artist's dream come true!

 There were Gnomes everywhere!  At least three different displays. I'm sure the movie coming out has something to do with that. Do you see the famous Gnome in the center?  I didn't know he traveled to Palos, Illinois!

The Pantone Honeysuckle Pink pottery mixed in with red and white gathered for a cheerful display.

There were lots of fairies, another strong design trend, but one that has been a garden standard for years.  I took so many pictures.  I'll be using them for design inspiration.  Very soon I hope!

Trends on Tuesdays - Words

I'm working on new painted and stitched designs for kitchen, entertaining and holidays. My designs are inspired by words and inspirational quotes and I'm certainly not alone!  (see end of post for cookie info)

Another Designer friend is inspired by words to create her art and loves to research the meaning of the word, the feeling it conveys and additional words to get a message across.  KELLY HOERNIG, says; "I have to create and words are an important part of the inspiration. Discovering new "out of the box" ways to put the two together are always a challenge for me. I want to take you on an artistic journey so you can discover your own imagination by seeing things differently and through my eyes."   

 Peace Art - copyright Kelly Hoernig

While not a new trend, the use of words and inspirational quotes is incredibly popular in home decor, stationery and design right now.  Maybe it's the need for hope and happiness in our society, maybe it's the new year and a need for change, or just the desire to make your feelings known.  Whatever the reason; my Trend research this month allowed me to find several wonderful ways for you to get your own message across.

Upper Case Living - Vinyl Words - Cindy Wollenzien

Left to Right:  Studio 628 Hand Towels,  Dining Out Embroidered Pillow, BetsyGrace Manners Napkins

Left to Right:  Pottery Barn Comfort Food , DaySpring Life Collection , DaySpring Ever Grateful Collection 

Oh!  2 year old Isabella and I made the cookies at the top of this post using Sillycone molds.  Even though the cookie weren't perfect, (someone got a little zealous and overfilled the molds) we had a great time making them.  I like making ice cubes with the molds for parties to really personalize the decor.

I do have a few of the molds left in stock.  If you're interested in purchasing a set, email me for information at: CindyRippe@gmail.com or watch for them in my CHERISHED STUFF shop .  What words would YOU create with them?

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD...Psalm 19:14

Look for me on the FAVECRAFTS Blog Hop!  You'll find lots of inspiration there.

Trends on Tuesday - Honeysuckle Pink - Pantone

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20821&ca=4

Pantone has named Pantone 18-2120 Honeysuckle, a reddish pink, as the color of the year for 2011.  They've described Honeysuckle as “encouraging and uplifting” and that "It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it."
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”   Source: Pantone

Well, I know pink makes ME happy. As part of my trend research this month, I did a little web surfing to find ways that I could add a "pop" of pink when entertaining.  Enjoy!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63841060/sale-cloth-napkins-set-of-4-pretty-in

http://www.etsy.com/listing/46639470/grey-blue-linen-napkins-with-pink-cherry

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PleasantRidgeCandles?ref=seller_info

http://www.goldcanyon.com/Shop/Love-Struck--Tealights-and-Votives-Scented-Candle/p/674

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50308156/hot-pink-vintage-style-table-numbers

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/indoor-decorating/pink-christmas/

http://www.amazon.com/Ribbed-12-pc-Dinnerware-Set-Frutti/dp/B0030CX2ZA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1292301897&sr=8-2

Elegant Green

This tablescape, again from the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, shows how using one color with White can create a really dramatic effect.  The Apple Green (shown in Pantone's 2010 Color Trend Report) helps to create a contemporary look that works with the natural elements of the flowers and moss. The beaded chandeliers (another popular decoration trend) are unlit and hang from fine chains.

The designers effectively used lighting, texture and scale to create this fabulous look.

There are several DIY techniques in this display.  Gather and drape additional fabric layers on the table for texture, lay a single Spider Mum on the napkin, use green craft wire to separate the stems in the centerpiece and to wrap the tall stems.

Silk flowers glued onto a styrofoam ball and plastic garden spinners.  I wonder where they found these metallic green spinners?  I'm sure going to take a second look at the garden section of my local dollar store.

Purple and Turquoise

Another tablescape from the Chicago Flower and Garden Show.

Wow! This tablescape brings several trends together with a hip and kind of funky look.  They've included trend colors; Turquoise, Purple, Colbalt Blue and Fushia along with the currently trendy Peacock feathers.

I like the flower elements that decorate the chair covers and can probably be found in your local craft store.

Aren't these orchids amazing?  The bright turquoise looks almost fake but goes perfectly with the theme. I researched the flowers and it looks like they are dyed that color but how??  I wonder if they started with the orchids or found the orchids after they chose the colors.

The hyacinths add the perfect pop of fuchsia.  Do you see the craft wire running through the display?  This tablescape is a showpiece and it wouldn't be practical to actually replicate.  Can you imagine trying to eat at a table like this?  I do love it though.  It gives me lots of ideas to add a special touch to one of my own parties.