Monday, August 17, 2009

I is for......

Today for something different!  I is for 'is it or isn't it?'.  The thing about writing for this blog is that every now and then you have complete control over the content!  So let's use this post to enter into some controversy....

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet

The seven colours of the rainbow are well known, however, did you know that many people do not regard Indogo as a colour?

Dyeing with indigo is thought to have originated in India.  In fact, the Greek word for dye (indikon) comes from this root, and so too does the Roman term (indicum) which is the root of the English word Indigo.  Isaac Newton included it in his classification of the rainbow, but modern experts in colour now regard it as being somewhere between blue and violet.  So, is it or isn't it?  What do you think?  You can read more about it on Wikipedia

Whether it qualifies or not, I have to say that there are some lovely indigo items to be found from the Bbest team.  .These are the ones I found today.

 

 
How about this lovely dark vintage bag from bytheway?
 
 Or this beautiful silk scarf from expert silk painter ColoursandTextures?
 
What about this lovely bag made by FantasyCreation?

And lastly, but by no means least, these Indigo earrings from jemsbyjbandcompany.

As an aside, however, it is important and interesting to note that indigo plant is not in fact a dye but a pigment.  The pigment does not actually enter into the fibres of the item being coloured but adheres to the outside.  This is why indigo coloured jeans lose their colour - by friction rather than through washing.

12 comments:

Nuvofelt said...

Phew, that was hard! Not many indigo items in Bbest!

Yankeegirl said...

I love Indigo watercolor paints!! Lovely indigo creations!

gloria said...

One of my favorite colours! Great blogpost!

Zuda Gay Pease said...

Hummm, indigo isn't a color name I use very often...although I do come up with it when I am mixing colors. What lovely examples of indigo. Thank you Myfanwy for an interesting post!

Judy Nolan said...

Interesting post! I didn't know that blue jeans fade with washing because indigo is a pigment and rests on the surface, instead of being imbedded in the fibers. Hmmm...

Anonymous said...

Very interesting and love the items to go with
the post. Thanks Myfanway.

Kary said...

OOO - that was very interesting! Who knew?? Thanks for sharing the info! Great post!

Jill said...

Great post. I'll have to remember to tag with indigo sometimes!!!

On a Whimsey said...

This team is so inspirational and educational! Every day, in every way....... I have learnt another factoid, thank you. AND, what lovely examples of indigo!

joon said...

So pretty. I love indigo. Thank you, M!

Jaci said...

I always wonder about indigo stuck there between blue and violet - thanks for the info! I was quite surprised to find my purse as I was reading this, thank you :)
Jaci
ByTheWay

Pam said...

I love learning about new things. Thank you for the information on indigo, and I didn't know that was one of the rainbow colors! The pieces you chose to represent indigo are beautiful. Great post.