The Color Addiction

by jenndag on Jun 29, 2010

When I was little..and given the option to choose my own piece of clothing, adornment, shoe, ball or toy,of any type, I remember choosing the MOST vivid, lightning bolt crazy colors possible. I had no qualms about being seen from a 6 mile radius, or heads turning with curiosity as I accompanied my mother on her various errands. I had no fear of this soundless wonder that can be our best friend, or as I soon learned our worst enemy. It was 5th grade and of course I chose for my school picture day, hot goldenrod yellow skinny jeans paired lovingly with a red, green, yellow and and blue diamond patterned mock neck sweater with shoulder pads. As I proudly strolled through the doors of my classroom, some beast of a child informed me that I looked like “mustard and ketchup threw up”on me!  This prompted an intense day of brooding and obsessing over my outfit gone wrong, and as a fifth grade girl concerned mostly with social issues and my placement within them,  I vowed never again combine so many primary colors all at once, and try to avoid much of the thing at all. Needless to say I was scarred, and managed to ignore color for quite some time thanks to the fabulous shabby chic fad in the nineties (mostly white things and weathered wood), and then the “all beige” fad that soon followed.  I was unable to deny my lust for color much longer when I began art school and actually had to buy and use paint (which is usually colored). I also had to photograph things that inevitably contained bits of color and soon, after much resistance,  I was completely immersed again in my long lost addiction. Once again I was happy to apply color  and painting gave me a sense of freedom from my beige prison. After a lot of hard work and retail therapy in the area of jewel tones and chartreuse green, I feel mostly back to my true self, I am still working on long term color commitments, (those are tough..aka walls, house, etc.) All that aside, I am happy to bring you some photos of my colorful last weekend . Talk about immersion! I went to the Summer Solstice Parade in Seattle..now those are some colorful, HAPPY folks!  How great to see people totally letting go of themselves, unafraid to dress in a plastic bag dress, or cotton balls. Not to mention the zombies and belly dancers. And the umbrella ladies.  .

After the parade, we went to the most glorious place ever, Ray’s Boathouse.  Sablefish, Amazingly presented, and SO colorful.

What a beautiful place to eat.

Last but not least..my favorite thing ever, Vintage trailers.  I will have to describe in another post how dear these little tin treasures are to my heart.  I am a sucker for all things old, but pretty and shiny and old, with sweet banana seat bikes parked out front with scalloped canopies protecting the inhabitants from the harsh sun..(or in this case, torrential downpours..)  Thank you city of Roslyn for putting on such a wonderful exhibition- next year I hope all the trailers can make it, including my own little trailer who is getting her TLC right now.  Here is a feast for your Mid-Century love fest …and these are just the outsides. I will let you just imagine the insides. My camera could not do justice.  Enjoy!

I call this the Purple People Eater…:)

Have a colorful rest of your week…Cheers…:)

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So, Different begins.

by jenndag on Jun 17, 2010

I don’t really mean to be different..I don’t actually think I am. I have stories, funny, dramatic, silly, wierd, cute..etc.  just like everyone does.  I think the only difference is that I like to talk about them. I really am not too worried about how I might look to someone as I describe how I found a dead bird in my car after months of just thinking something smelled “off” haha.  I just like to tell people about my life, things I have experienced, how I relate, and where I am going next.  I am so flattered that Yakima Magazine asked me to contribute a blog to their site, I love to try new things, experience other cultures and try to discover what is new and different in Yakima and our surrounding state of Washington. We are so lucky to live so close to SO many diverse types of environments, rainforest, desert, city, rural, snow, water, ocean, lakes..they all draw so many different types of people and interests.  Yakima being the center, we sometimes are content to stay where we are, and not realize that so many people around us are doing some fantastic things..and they are not very far away! I want to find these people that are doing some original and innovative things, living creatively and immersing themselves in projects and ambition to live big in our valley and beyond and not afraid to be different, or against the grain.  I hope you will stay connected here, and use these blogs as jumping off points, find your own new thing, and tell us about it.  Yakima is opening up, we are learning about who we are, who is around us and what we really have to offer .  A great example was this past weekend’s artfest.  I participated with other local artists and was so excited by all the people that came out to support us and ask questions and hang out with us on one of our only warm days so far this year.  I would have taken more pictures, except I had just shot a wedding and my battery died..oops. Thanks to everyone who put out such great work and helped out. Even the people that just sat and kept the artists company for the day!  More to come on here next week, huge busy traveling weekend so hopefully I will have some colorful surprises from the Roslyn Vintage Trailer Rally, and the Fremont Solstice Parade in Seattle.  Have a wonderful weekend people, and please…bring back our sun;)

LeAnne Ries

Art Fest 2010

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Welcome

by jenndag on Jun 17, 2010

Coming Soon!

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