Hi Shawn,
The only way I can figure to change the text colour is to embed escape sequences in the actual text.
To change some of the attributes of the graphics, you can try finding out what the parent class of the object is and seeing if there are attributes that you can use when you create the object. For instance, you could apply some of the attributes in GADGETCLASS.h
Hopefully you find this helpful! I'm not the GUI master and more the type that just wants the job done and wrapped in brown paper and sisal twine.
-Dook