Try a Coloring Book

Coloring books are popular now, especially those for adults.  You can find them everywhere.  I even see them in the magazine rack at my grocery store.  I have bought a couple, mostly for the images inside.  They give me ideas for embroidery and appliqué. But I had never colored in them.

Until about a week ago when I was feeling restless but didn’t want to sew or embroider.  So I pulled out a book and my colored pencils and started to color.

I immediately felt my body relax.  It was a calming sensation to move the pencil along the paper. It also brought back some wonderful memories of coloring as a child.  I really enjoyed coloring.

Looking back on the activity now, I also realized some other things.  When deciding what picture to color, I found myself attracted to the ones in the book having to do with teacups (the coloring book had a theme of houses and homes).  I found this interesting.  I don’t drink tea, don’t own any flowery teacups, and probably would never go to a tea party.  But I was wanting to color teacups.  (I settled on a picture that said Give Love and had all kinds of hearts surrounding the words.  As I have said before, what do you expect when one has a shop and a blog entitled Heartfully Cheryl).

I also noticed that I am attracted to landscapes particularly beach scenes.  I think these pictures are providing me with a little bit of an escape.  I can’t go to the beach so why not color one.

And while coloring  I was able to play with color.  I did one heart in one color scheme and then tried another heart in a totally different color.  I mixed together colors I never would have done on fabric or with thread.  But after doing it on paper, I might try playing with those colors combinations in my quilting and embroidery. 

It was a nice activity to do.  It was relaxing and playful and brought back memories I had forgotten.  If some people think that coloring for adults is childish, then let them.  I am going to do it again (maybe this time a teacup and maybe with crayons.) 

Want to try something new (or if you colored as a child, something old)?   Get a coloring book and some pencils and color.   You just might have some fun.

©2018 – Cheryl Fillion