I have a compulsion to use green in almost all of my colorways, as illustrated in the pictured random sampling of my yarn colorways. A customer recently asked for a custom colorway "without any green," and then yesterday, another one asked me to modify one of my colors to play up the green. Color preferences fascinate me. Often we think of them as mere personal idiosyncrasies, but actually our preferences reveal more about us than we realize. We know from science that he brain processes color in ways that impact our emotions. Eastern cultures have long incorporated color properties and symbolism into healing and balancing arts, while modern western cultures have for decades applied color theory to marketing and to manipulating consumer behavior. Only more recently have we recognized the profound psychological repercussions of color in our designed environments, beyond simple matters of taste and trend.
Individuals gravitate to certain colors for reasons beyond visual pleasure. Color is a vital part of life, being a property of light. Light is wavelength and is a form of vibration, which means energy. Light penetrates all matter, every atom and molecule in the universe, including those within our bodies. Not only is color directed into our brains through our eyes, but it literally interacts with us physically as our body’s internal energy reacts with external energy that surrounds us constantly.
While we should all enjoy our own personal color preferences just for the simple pleasure it brings, whether we recognize it or not we are always absorbing and transmitting color’s energy. Consciously or not, we seek out colors that bring us joy and comfort. Those who are interested may consciously experiment with specific colors to promote a positive response or balance whatever is amiss on a given day, or through a time of transition or healing. In researching color meaning, ancient eastern theories abound, characterized by terminology such as chakra or Qi, as well as plenty of modern day studies into behavioral, psychological and marketing aspects of color. Regardless of the data source, some striking common threads emerge in all of these disciplines.
Some interesting theories about physiological responses to color can be found at this interesting website : biopulse.org
which are perfect for fisherman-style sweaters and yummy cabled scarves. 
My loom has no warp on it right now. I haven't been weaving on it lately, other than my thin wrist cuffs. This was a silk-blend shawl-scarf I wove late in 2007 and it sold pretty quickly in my Etsy store, priced at $62.00. It was dreamy light weight and tightly woven on a fine mixed warp with a fine silk weft. I later discovered I may have priced it too low.
I admit to a psycho-fetish for fiber quality and interesting colorplay in my textiles. There's a place for beige and simplicity, but it is easy to buy that anyplace, and I see no reason to make things by hand that are common, "consumery" and bland. And that brings me to oatmeal and a rant about color: I wish Americans would be more adventurous! We wear oatmeal, we furnish our homes in oatmeal, and when we feel bold, we throw in a dash of blue. Red is a wild statement for us. Women who wear turquoise and purple are suspected of being a tad nutty. When you go to France, as an example, you see COLOR. A green coat. Orchid boots. Chartreuse scarf. Here in America, we like to blend in with our black shoes, brown bag, beige coat. Muddy tweed scarf. Blegh.
Can't we all just have more fun?
This is one of my favorite creations from 2008 that nobody purchased, so I kept it and am glad now that it didn't sell. I won't make another one, not only because it bombed on Etsy, but because it took me forever to make and I doubt I'd have the patience to repeat this.
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