She Comes in Colors Everywhere - Wonderful Handmade Wednesday on Indiemade

 

 

 

 

Roses are red and violets are blue and rainbows have seven colors.  Most people live in a colorful world.  As humans, our color vision influences everything from our art and poetry to the colors we paint our homes and the clothing we buy.  But why do we see (or not see) color?  Being of an inquiring mind (and remembering some of what I learned in science), here is the low down in an encapsulated form:

 

We perceive color thanks to specialized cells in our eyes called cones.  When light hits an object – say, a yellow ball – the ball absorbs some of the light and reflects the rest of it back.  Which wavelengths are reflected or absorbed depends on the properties of the object.  For a yellow ball, wavelengths of about 570 to 580 nanometers bounce back, the wavelengths of yellow light.  The light waves reflect off the ball’s surface and hit the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye. That's where cones come in.

 

 

 

 

"Artisan's Palette" Colorful Dichroic Fused Glass Jewelry Brooch Handmade by Jo of Umeboshi Handmade Jewelry

 

 

Cones are one type of photoreceptor, the tiny cells in the retina that respond to light. Most of us have 6 to 7 million cones, and almost all of them are concentrated on a 0.3 millimeter spot on the retina called the fovea centralis.  Not all of these cones are alike. About 64% of cones respond most strongly to red light, while about a third are set off by green light. Another 2% respond strongest to blue light.  When light from the ball hits the cones, it stimulates them to varying degrees. The resulting signal is zapped along the optic nerve to the visual cortex of the brain, which processes the information and returns with a color: yellow.

 

Most humans are trichromats, with three cone types.  Unfortunately, those people who are dichromats cannot see some colors and are often called “color blind.”  There are varying types of color blindness, where some colors can be seen depending on the cones that are activated.   People with monochromacy are relegated to seeing only shades of gray, a fairly rare condition affecting 1 : 30,000 - 1 : 50,000 people.  Intriguingly, there is a very small percentage of people who have a genetic mutation allowing four types of cones, called tetrachromacy.  

 

If you are interested in reading more about the various degrees of color blindness with a set of pseudoisochromatic plates used to test for color blindness, check out this very interesting blog post from MyEyeBB:  EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLOR BLINDNESS

 

 

 

"The Scoop" Ice Cream Cones Altered Journal - ON SALE - Handmade by Jacki of Christie Cottage

 

 

People who are dichromats have limited or, more rarely, no color perception.  People who are trichromats can see about 1 million colors.  But tetrachromats, who can register colors between red and green, can see a staggering 100 million colors, 100 times greater than most of us.  Interestingly, most identified trichromats are women. It's hard to imagine all the extra colors that can be perceived if a person is a trichromat!

 

The title of this blog post, She Comes in Colors Everywhere, is a line taken from a 1967 song by the Rolling Stones called She’s a Rainbow.  I heard the song today on the classic rock station I often listen to while driving back from lunch with friends.  It’s a perfect title, methinks, to fit all the colorful handmade items from artisan friends featured in this post.  If something catches your eye, please be sure to click on either the photo or the link below the photo for more information and photos.  And if you are interested in a fun, colorful video of the song, click on this link for the official lyric video by the Rolling Stones: SHE’S A RAINBOW.

 

Enjoy the colorful selections above and below.

 

 

Striped Krobo African Bead Necklace with Quartz, Lapis and Howlite Handmade by Pamela of Pebbles at My Feet  

 

 

 

Colorful Bohemian Hippie Tribal Tassel Earrings Handmade by Gloria of Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry

 

 

Hand Knit Ladies Ear Warmer with Bow, Your Choice of Colors, Handmade by Nancy of Nancy's Knots, Lace and More 

 

 

 

Sweet Watermelons on Black Summer Dog Bandana Handmade by Donna of SewAmazin

 

 

 

Colorful Handpainted Tribal Copper Drop , 1 Pair, Handmade by Kristi of Kristi Bowman Design

 

 

 

Orange And Turquoise Necklace With Lampwork, Enamel and Ceramic Beads Handmade by Linda of Linda Landig Jewelry

 

 

 

Sun Face Earrings, Amber Yellow Lampwork Red Orange Jewelry for Women Handmade by Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed each and every one of these colorful handmade creations!  If you would like to make my day and the day of the talented artists featured, please leave a comment.  And any promotion you can do will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

 

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLOR BLINDNESS

 

 

 

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SHADOW DOG DESIGNS

Beautifully Unique Handmade Jewelry

for the Discerning Woman