Thursday 6 December 2018

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens {Books 4 Christmas}

Did you know that A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843? It is the book that changed the face of Christmas to what we know it today (read about it in the beautifully written history book - The Man Who Invented Chrismas: How Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits).   I always assumed that it would be a rather long book to read and was surprised when we finished it within a week!  It's a beautiful book to read aloud together as a family.  I have a few editions on my shelf and today would like to share this beautifully illustrated one with you.  It's a part of the Walker Illustrated Classics series.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

  • Format Paperback | 160 pages 
  • Dimensions 182 x 210 x 17mm | 521g 
  • Publication date 07 Sep 2009 
  • Publisher Walker Books Ltd 
  • Language English 
  • Illustrations note w. numerous col. ill. 
  • ISBN10 1406305790 
  • ISBN13 9781406305791 
  • Author - Charles Dickens
  • Illustrated - PJ Lynch
 Dickens's ghostly tale of Ebenezer Scrooge has become as much a part of Christmas as trees and stockings, plum pudding and mistletoe. First published in 1843, this lavish, unabridged new edition resonates with the true spirit of Christmas. It is superbly illustrated by Ireland's fourth Laureate na nOg, PJ Lynch, whose detailed, atmospheric artwork brings Dickensian London vividly alive.

Wednesday 5 December 2018

Journal: Bible Colouring Year Planner {Review}

A couple of years ago when the adult colouring trend began I had the privilege of reviewing Reflections - More Beautiful Bible Verses to Colour by Lorien Illustrations.

I recently discovered that she has a new product, a Bible Colouring Journal and Year Planner. Lorien shared a few teaser posts in the Facebook group Colouring In Truth and my curiosity was awakened.



"I have loved using art to reflect on Gods word for ages, and I really like how scripture colouring pages take all the anxiety out of producing something ‘beautiful’ from scratch – that terrifying blank page moment and frees up people’s brain space to actually meditate on the scripture. As people occupy their hands and engage their senses with the colours and the repetitive movement of colouring, they can find a small stillness that is quite hard to come by in everyday life. In this quiet space, they can listen more intently to God and hear what he has to say to them through the words of the Bible... " - Lorien Atwood

About the Journal

  • Cover of thicker card stock (300 gsm) with a gloss protective coating to enhance durability. This can be coloured in using a permanent Sharpie-style pen.
  • 258 pages printed on 100 gsm paper.
  • Dimensions 148 x 210 x 16mm  (A5)| 458g 
  • Binding Spiral.  The publisher chose a spiral binding to make it easier to fold back the pages for ease of colouring without ruining the book. 
  • Publication date 31 Oct 2018 
  • Publisher Cecily Paterson 
  • Language English 
  • Illustrations note 200+ Illustrations; 
  • Illustrations, black and white 
  • ISBN10 0994497598 
  • ISBN13 9780994497598
  • Illustrator Lorien Jane  
  • Scriptures are quoted from the English Standard Version by Crossway Bibles.
  • The journal has a 'Growth and Life' theme throughout.
  • Page 1 is a copy of the cover for you to colour and personalise.
  • Page 2 is for your personal information with a lovely first full page drawing on the facing page.
  • Page 4/5 contains a How to use this Journal informational page.
  • Page 6-9 is an index containing a lined/numbered two column listing which has page numbers listed for you to personalise what's on each of the pages numbered.  Pages containing scriptural illustrations are listed in their respective page number block by scripture reference.
Plan your month
Birthday / Appointment at a glance

The month in review Sample page

Page 14 to 85 contains
  • Three double spread pages for each month
    • Month Ahead - Plan your month - Left page has the month name, space to write the dates into a date by week calender with a box for you to write in your focus for the month.  The right hand page is a lined page with customisable areas for you to write notes in for your month ahead.
    • Dates/Tasks/Notes - The left page has a double column with dates in it for you to record birthdays / meetings  in order to see them at a glance.  The right hand page is blank
    • Looking Back - Review the month just gone by.  The left hand page has space for you to reflect and answer four questions: What I learnt, Significant Things That Happened and What I Could Do Better.  The right hand page is divided into two columns with two customisable spaces in each and the bottom of the page has an encouraging scripture.
  • Each of these pages have spaces, occasional headings, blank spaces for you to personalise your own headings according to your own personal need.
  • Pages 88 to 203 contain a double page week at a view diary.  
  • There are 52 weekly spreads with flexible and untitled spaces meaning you can start your diary and label it to suit your own purposes.
  • The top of the left hand page has space for you to write the month.  
  • There is a column on each side for extra note with blocked out areas for each day of the week.
  • Full page scripture art pages are interspersed throughout. 
  • There are a total of ten full page, illustrated scriptures to colour.
  • There are smaller 'Growth and Life' themed drawings on every page for you to colour and personalise your journal.
Adventure Pages
  •  206 - 253 Adventure page spreads.  These contain an encouraging scripture and more themed drawings for you to colour.  
  • These pages are there for you to choose how to use them to meet your need in the journal.
  • 256 - Copyright information.  You will also find information on how to access the extra's and printables for your journal from Firewheelpress.  The journal bonuses include: step by step instructions on how to use your journal, 450+ idea/prompts.
Purchasing Information
Lorien has designed postcards, books marks and published colouring books for purchase.
Connect with Lorien on Social Media

  • Follow Lorien on Facebook: Lorien Illustrations
  • To see more of Lorien's beautiful illustrations visit her blog.
  •  Lorien has some FREE pages for you to download and print in the File section of her group page.  Be sure to see who the author of each picture is as Lorien encourages us to draw our own pictures and share them with the group.
  • For colouring inspiration take a look at the Photo's of completed works on Facebook.
  • Join the Colouring In Truth group on Facebook.
  • Follow Lorien on Instagram @lorien_illustrations
  • Share your completed works using the hashtags:#colouringintruth and #lorienillustrations, plus #JournalBibleColouring  or  #meditations or #reflections depending on the book you are colouring from.

Isaiah 11:1 Sample page
Bible Colouring Journal and Year Planner is a beautiful journal.  I love the quality and have been using water colour pencils to colour the line drawings. Each scripture has been chose to bring encouragement and meditation upon the truth of His word.  This journal has been thoughtfully designed with a beautiful balance between design and space to allow for your creativity to be expressed.

I've been enjoying colouring the beautiful pictures in this journal.  I was originally going to use it for a diary for next year,  but the more I coloured in the more I wanted to keep it perpetually. A few years ago I read One Thousand Gifts : A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are and feel that I need to start counting my blessings. Starting in January I will be using my new Journal as a place to count my blessings and name them one by one.

Blessings
Chareen



Tuesday 4 December 2018

Ishtar's Odyssey : A Family Story for Advent {Books 4 Christmas}

The excitment of a new book never dulls, however the excitment over an unexpected addition to an already spectacular trilogy of books is indescribable.  We love every book we had read so far in the series and this book had some rather high expectations placed upon it.  It did not disappoint at all and is a worthy addition to the three that came before it.

 Ishtar's Odyssey : A Family Story for Advent

  • Format Paperback | 176 pages 
  • Dimensions 211 x 231 x 10mm | 408g 
  • Publication date 18 Dec 2015 
  • Publisher Kregel Publications,U.S. 
  • Language English Illustrations note Illustrations, unspecified 
  • ISBN10 0825443938 
  • ISBN13 9780825443930 
  • Author - Arnold Ytreeide
A new Advent family devotional from the author of Jotham's Journey! Fourth in a set of Advent adventure books for families, Ishtar's Odyssey follows the ten-year-old son of a Persian wise man as their caravan follows a star across the desert. Ishtar would just as soon stay in the comfort of the palace, but slowly he learns that there's much to see, do, and learn in this world that can't be experienced in school. He eventually meets Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha as he follows his father and uncles in their search for a newborn king.