Bloom Into Summer

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received these books, free of charge,from Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it,  all opinions are my own. Since I shared the blooms I had received for Mother's Day earlier today, I thought it only appropriate to share these great 2 new books that are not only perfect for gift giving for artistic graduates, but for birthday gifts, and for giving to teens for Summer craft possibilities. They also make GREAT ideas for Summer travel boredom, as they can be shared by all your kids!  First up is more of a 'how-to' but it also has pages for you to practice what you have learned! Zendoodling, the popular process of relaxation through drawing, uses repeating shapes or patterns to create an image. Whether you're a first time Zendoodler or an experienced one, all you need is a pen, paper, and this guide. Step-by-step instructions show how to draw all four versions of the basic pattern model: surface, geometric, scatter, and band patterns. Then you're ready to take off to a creative and freer state of mind!  More than 100 new and versatile patterns are included, along with templates that you can easily trace or enlarge. This guide offers new animal, nature, and other motifs, plus suggestions on the many beautiful Zendoodles to create from everyday objects, color experiments to try, or how to incorporate special backgrounds. Exact step sequences ensure you'll get both relaxing moments of drawing and magical Zendoodles. Includes a handy pattern index. This is a really interesting book, as it gives you many ideas on patterns you can use for Zendoodling, or for really any type of crafting, where some new design is called for! As you can see from the samples above, there are of a varying degree of difficulty, but really, anyone, kids included, can learn to make them and to enjoy the calming that they give your mind! Just check out these samples from the book for ways you can use Zendoodling to really fancy up basics like notebook cover,s maps and even simple old book pages, to make really great gifts! Not only is it a fun reference, it's a great book to give to those interested in taking their creativity up a notch or two! The second book is a coloring book of flowers, perfect for using with the book above!

Bloom brings the work of designer Diane Kappa to a coloring book of 27 original floral patterns. Known for fusing the traditional and contemporary in her fabric, stationery, and home furnishing designs for national retailers such as Jo-Ann Fabric, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, Kappa's inspirations range from Bali's bold geometric batiks to the intricate folk patterns of Budapest's painted eggs. Whether you find your focus with colored pencils, watercolors, or pastels, these nature-inspired illustrations will bring tranquility to artists of all ages and interests. When you’ve finished coloring a page, simply remove it from the book, frame, and display.


As you can see, this book offers a wide array of different flowers to color, in any format you choose! As you can see, I chose to try my hand at the Zendoodling I learned in the previous book:

I really liked how I didn't have to fully color in the flowers, rather the Zendoodling allowed for the color to come out, and still create a great looking piece! The book would be a great idea to keep all the kids busy in the car, or to use for 'at home' Summer camp, and to have a session on Zendoodling! It also would be a great gift idea with a great set art set, to give to the graduate off to art school in the Fall!

Together both of these books offer a great way for you to punch up the Summer creativity, 

so give them both a look!

About the Publisher

Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. is a family-owned, independent publisher of high-quality books. Since 1974, Schiffer has published thousands of titles on the diverse subjects that fuel our readers' passions. From our traditional subjects of antiques and collectibles, arts and crafts, and military history, Schiffer has expanded its catalog to publish books on contemporary art and artists; architecture and design; food and entertaining; the metaphysical, paranormal and folklore; and pop and fringe culture, as well as books for children. Visit www.schifferbooks.com to explore our backlist of 5,500+ titles.