Seeing Red

I bought this bunch of roses last week to brighten up the corner of the living room. Normally I wouldn't have chosen red, it's not one of those colours that I am naturally drawn to. Or so I thought. All week my eye has been drawn to this vase of flowers, the beauty of these flowers and their rich, romantic, dramatic redness, contrasting so vividly with the white vase.


I don't wear a lot of red, It is my colour of choice for my lipstick and toenails but I don't own many red clothes. I have just bought a red cardigan that I'm looking forward to wearing. I feel happier wearing red in the darker, greyer months, hidden under a coat I don't feel I stand out too much. Perhaps my tastes are changing. Certainly nothing beats a splash of red somewhere to lift and brighten your spirits. And then I noticed just how much red I had lying around the place that I'd never really noticed. I must be drawn to red without realising it.



Judging by the ever increasing of tea towels and linens I have in my kitchen it seems that red has a place in my heart.



I particularly like the combination of red and white, in ginghams, polka dots, old linens, toile de jouy and plain old fashioned rose prints. Simple patterns and designs seem to work so well in red and white or cream.



I've noticed too that I've started to include red a lot more in my ragging, I like the way it lifts some colours and also jars with others. I made this collage at the beginning of the year and was a bit miffed that we had only red papers left in the paper box, but I'm pleased with it. I like the way it lifts the colour of the wooden clock on the mantelpiece.


It's funny how we would never include certain colours in our favourites list but then notice how much they play a part in our chosen surroundings and, how, subconsciously we include them in our wardrobe .

Well there's been no working of my subconscious as far as these are concerned - I have wanted these boots for weeks. I waited for the shop delivery and ever since I have been like a child outside a sweet shop, face pressed up to the window, gazing in longingly! Well this morning on the way back from school, the greyness was all getting a bit too much and a weekend of "shall I/shan't I" resulted in a quick detour on the way home. The boots are mine! And I take it back about not wearing much red, I just remembered a bright red raincoat upstairs in the wardrobe that I bought at a car boot a few weeks ago, obviously just waiting for a pair of matching boots! Or maybe not ... I must remember I like being able to hide!