"It happens every time, they all become blueberries!"
07/20/2007 04:23 PM by Gretchen Schauffler

This is one of my favorite quotes by the great candy philosopher, “Willie Wonka” What can I say, I believe in Wonka Vision. Will Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is the first movie I remember going to, where I was getting dressed for a special movie occasion and knew cute boys were going to be there. My anticipation and excitement for the premier were over the top. It ended up being one of several movie premiers I will never forget, including Grease, The Exorcist, Empire Strikes Back, and this last Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix. Heck, I even remember what I was wearing: Plaid mini with a large safety-pin, crinkled white leather go-go boots, with my hair parted in the middle, just like young girls wear today.

This Wonka movie gives me continuous pleasure. Like the time my two year-old daughter saw Violet Beauregarde turn into a blueberry, and in sheer terror, pointed to the TV and said, “Mommy, Mommy, bobobbooooobery, bobobbooooobery, heeeeeelp!”

This time of year blueberries are abound. Blue food is rare. Only the blueberry is blue, through and through (besides a rare potato, that is not THAT blue or blue M&M’s for those who consider candy a food). Blueberries are hailed as the strongest anti-oxidant in the world. Although we don’t find blue a particularly appetizing color (imagine eating blue steak, mashed potatoes, or tomatoes). However, like your favorites on your computer, nature has book-marked blue for humans; human eyes respond to blue faster and easier than any other color. As such, it’s also the favorite amongst young children, regardless of sex. So why is it the most appetizing color to look at and the least appetizing color to eat? Such color mysteries best be left alone.

A color most often used as wall color in a bedroom and least often in a dining room, your response to blue is personal. This blue can say… “It-is-the-baby-blue-that-my-mom-loves-and-therefore—I-love-to-hate”... or… “It-is-the-sky-blue-that-makes-my-cares-go-away-regardless-of-how-dreppessed-it-makes-you-feel”!

One thing I know for certain, through the years of color consulting, people either love or hate blue. Since it is book-marked, you cannot avoid having an opinion about it. There is no middle ground. So what makes a color that every one starts out in book-marked love with, so polemical? A fighting cause, as it were? My theory—the wrong blue! There is a blue out there that everyone loves, and a blue out there everyone hates. It is the wrong shade of blue that drives everyone crazy. Regardless whether it’s your favorite or not, there is a shade you are willing to live with. My question is, which one.

My husband came up with a fantastic cocktail called a Blueberry Basil Quench. It is beautiful to look at and booked-marked as my favorite summer cocktail. I love many shades of blue, and this one is irresistibly tasty!

Makes 2 drinks: 2 parts vodka, 1 part orange liquer, 1/2 lime juice, 10 blueberries and handful of hand-ripped basil leaves.

In the words of Willie Wonka

“So shines a good deed in a weary world”

Gretchen Schauffler
Artist and Founder of Devine Color®

Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
Nominated for 1972 Oscar
Best Music, Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score – Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley, Walter Scharf
Lost to Fiddler on the Roof – John Williams
Nominated for 1972 Golden Globe
Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical/Comedy – Gene Wilder
Lost to Fiddler on the Roof – Topol

  Textile Help

Book: Great Ideas
Time is on your side

Back to Devine Blog