Welcome back to the colour inspiration tour and I hope your creativity has been given a jolt by the vibrant colours of the outback.
Today we are heading a little further south to visit the "RAINFOREST"
1. Inspiration Photo - East Coast of Australia
Photo by Peter Jarver
Australian
rainforests are located from the far north of Queensland to the far south of
Tasmania. As the name suggests, rainforests grow in areas of high annual
rainfall. Rainforests are categorised
as tropical, subtropical or temperate, depending on their location and the
amount of rainfall they receive (See the map from day 1).
2. The colour board:
The colours represented by our rainforests are greens, greys and cool blues, and I will admit right up front that this is a colour palette that I love to work with.
3. The layouts:
This layout
came about easily because the photos were primarily made up of all the
wonderful shades of green that are found in the rainforest palette (just look at that lovely cool green water and let's try not to notice that my boys are jumping off very high rocks into the river and freaking out their mama!).
For my
second layout I went with a lighter green palette to complement my photos
from a scrap retreat, held in a vineyard. I pounced on the patterned paper when I saw the mix of green and teal but I deliberately chose non rainforestey (yes, I sort of made that a word) photos of the vineyard at the end of the season.
4. Cultural Lesson:
“Bellbirds” - a poem by Henry Kendall
By channels of coolness the echoes are calling, and down the dim gorges I hear the creek falling.
It lives in the mountain where moss and the
sedges, Touch with their beauty the banks and the ledges.
Through breaks of the cedar and sycamore bowers, Struggles the light that is love to the flowers;
And, softer than slumber, and sweeter than
singing, The notes of the bell-birds are running and ringing.
The silver-voiced bell birds, the darlings of
daytime! They sing in September their songs of the
May-time;
When shadows wax strong, and the thunder bolts
hurtle, They hide with their fear in the leaves of the
myrtle;
When rain and the sunbeams shine mingled
together, They start up like fairies that follow fair
weather;
And straightway the hues of their feathers
unfolden, Are the green and the purple, the blue and the
golden.
October, the maiden of bright yellow tresses, Loiters for love in these cool wildernesses;
Loiters, knee-deep, in the grasses, to listen, Where dripping rocks gleam and the leafy pools
glisten:
Then is the time when the water-moons splendid, Break with their gold, and are scattered or
blended
Over the creeks, till the woodlands have warning, Of songs of the bell-bird and wings of the
Morning.
Welcome as waters unkissed by the summers, Are the voices of bell-birds to the thirsty
far-comers.
When fiery December sets foot in the forest, And the need of the wayfarer presses the sorest,
Pent in the ridges for ever and ever, The bell-birds direct him to spring and to river,
With ring and with ripple, like runnels who
torrents, Are toned by the pebbles and the leaves in the
currents.
Often I sit, looking back to a childhood, Mixt with the sights and the sounds of the
wildwood,
Longing for power and the sweetness to fashion, Lyrics with beats like the heart-beats of
Passion;
Songs interwoven of lights and of laughters, Borrowed from bell-birds in far forest-rafters;
So I might keep in the city and alleys, valleys , The beauty and strength of the deep mountain
valleys:
Charming to slumber the pain of my losses, With glimpses of creeks and a vision of mosses.
I love this poem because my father, at 72, is
still able to recite it - in a fake lilting high pitched voice - that always
makes me laugh, because as a young boy he had a teacher that “insisted” his
class memorise it.
5. Australia 101:
OK, if you ever have the opportunity to try a Tim Tam then trust me...you want to take up the offer. Word on the street has it that there were open packs of Tim Tams at CHA and that maybe some WCS representatives could not help but be polite and accept this little chocolate treat. Ha!
So, to recap, we have moved from the earth colours of the outback to the cool colours of the rainforest. Tomorrow (Thursday) we will have a layover day for rest and recovery - OK, maybe because it's give away day - but that also gives you a little more time to play with everything "green" in your stash. And make sure you take a moment to follow the links people have posted of their colour inspired layouts, because there is some great work to enjoy.
And finally (yes, I promise I'm nearly done) after all the very nice comments about my scrap space, and in the spirit of full disclosure, I want you to know that it very often looks like this...
