MMM + LLLLL + EEEEEEE,

Today, I present to you my collection of photos of the various colour combinations found on the buildings in Merida, Mexico, where I was a couple weeks ago. Walking around this city, it is impossible to ignore these colour palettes.  I actually became a bit obsessive about photographing them.  After about a week, I had to make myself stop, as I had too many photos.

Had a few chats about why it is that most other cities do not have as many colourful buildings. My aunt suggested that the light is just not right, as in these cities, it is just cold and dark and the colours don't look as bright and vivid as they do in the Merida sun. Maybe it's the building materials used - it seems the more stucco the more colour. Stockholm has more stucco, and hence more colour, for example. London has a lot of brick, which does not lend itself to colour.  Also, architectural style - London has a lot of Georgian and Victorian buildings which just look a bit crap in blues and pinks etc. Modern and less ornate buildings tend to work well with greens and purples, etc.

Looking forward to our meet soon!

S  xx

Hi Suzan!

So while we're on the topic of food (then again, aren't we always?), I thought I'd answer your ice-cream-planet post with some recent findings on weirdly coloured food. Blue and grey... it's so rare to find edible things in these colours, it almost feels wrong. So first we have a blue ramen soup which is being served at a place in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. The soup contains Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae which contains something called phycocyanin, that provides the colour as well as anti-aging benefits in the way of antioxidants. It's served cold and is intended to look as well as taste cooling and refreshing in the summertime. Does it work, who knows? But hey, it's blue soup, I'd try it! Then I've found for you a cake in greyscale. As I know you're not a big colour person, I thought you'd appreciate this especially. Who says dessert has to be all bright and pink and fruity looking, when you can have all that sugary goodness in lovely muted tones of grey? Although what I want to know is, what flavour is grey?

E xx

Hi Suzan! Came across this bit of weird science news and wanted to share it: a lake in Camargue (southern France) has recently turned a bright, shocking, blood red colour. Yeah, really! Apparently it's due to a natural phenomenon related to the high salt content of the lake. The strawberry colour of the water is caused by a salt-loving organism called "Dunaliella salina",  that produces a red pigment which absorbs sunlight to create more energy. In addition, there are icicle-like salt crystal formations that have appeared on the surface of the lake, attaching themselves to rocks and plants. These photos are by Russian photographer Sam Dobson, who just happened to be driving by in his car. Imagine just happening upon such a thing... would have felt like some kind of strange apocalypse. Just another example of how nature is so amazing and beautiful and bizarre...

E xx

 

Hey Suzan!

So I'm sure you're bored and tired of all the jubilee business that's been going on in London lately, but I couldn't resist this one: a limited edition Diamond Jubilee Color Wheel which maps 6 decades of the Queen's fashion – a collaboration between Pantone and Leo Burnett London. I mostly love how it's shaped in her rather square silhouette – that, and the fact that apparently she's been really into the pastel colours over the years, which might be why this caught my eye... I'm really into pastel palettes these days. Mixed with neon of course! Anyway, if you're lacking colour inspiration for your next scarf, I reckon the Queen here can give you some good ideas...

E. xx