4.41

5

Nov 30, 2015

One of my real life friends went to the doctor. She gets kinda ragey sometimes and the doctor told her that one of the new ways to relax was the new "adult coloring books." She could channel some of her anxiety/rage/frustration with her husband into coloring. She has been posting pictures that she has colored on her facebook page and her husband is still alive. (the pages she has done are awesome)
I'm totally a lemming, so I've been looking at this book for awhile. I decided to go with the "jump One of my real life friends went to the doctor. She gets kinda ragey sometimes and the doctor told her that one of the new ways to relax was the new "adult coloring books." She could channel some of her anxiety/rage/frustration with her husband into coloring. She has been posting pictures that she has colored on her facebook page and her husband is still alive. (the pages she has done are awesome)
I'm totally a lemming, so I've been looking at this book for awhile. I decided to go with the "jump on the bandwagon" thing and request this one.

Get this. This sucker is beautiful. Look at the pages.










I'm totally going to color my little hateful heart out. Except for one thing, the boy child was with me when I opened this book. He thinks it is his! I may get ragey yet.
PS> This book got that full five stars because it made my book hating child fight me over a book. PURE WIN!

Booksource: I received a copy of this book in exchange for review from bloggingforbooks. They don't care how many stars I give their books either. I like them.



Stephanie's review here is pretty awesome for this book. So I highlighted it. I "liked" it too. ...more

5

Sep 21, 2015

Adult coloring books. One of my newest addictions. I am very happy to get to add this one to my collection.

The Time Garden by Daria Song is a little different than most other coloring books that are out there right now. It is not only just a coloring book, it is also a story. There are some words to the story, but the pictures that you get to color are what really tell the story. It is a beautiful journey to get to take.

In regards to the coloring pages themselves, they are on really nice paper. Adult coloring books. One of my newest addictions. I am very happy to get to add this one to my collection.

The Time Garden by Daria Song is a little different than most other coloring books that are out there right now. It is not only just a coloring book, it is also a story. There are some words to the story, but the pictures that you get to color are what really tell the story. It is a beautiful journey to get to take.

In regards to the coloring pages themselves, they are on really nice paper. They are, however, double sided. You may be able to color them with marker if you desire, but I am too hesitant to try this out myself. I do not want to accidentally ruin the other side of the page. This is also unfortunate in that you can't really pull out a page that you absolutely love to frame. Well you can, if you don't mind taking a page out of the story!

The pictures on the pages are actually quite detailed. Though they do range in the amount of detail they each contain. You are sure to find hours of coloring within this one coloring book alone, making it well worth the money you spend on this coloring book.

This review is based on a copy provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/ ...more

5

Nov 30, 2015

I'm not a newbie to the world of coloring. Infact, I never really stopped coloring since my first box of crayons and that big, fat color book my Pop and Granny gave to me when I was sick with chickenpox. I always loved to color and when I had children of my own I made sure they had plenty of coloring supplies. It was a fun activity we could all enjoy together. It was fun picking out a page to color, selecting just the right shades of green, and smiling when the children would ooh and ah over I'm not a newbie to the world of coloring. Infact, I never really stopped coloring since my first box of crayons and that big, fat color book my Pop and Granny gave to me when I was sick with chickenpox. I always loved to color and when I had children of my own I made sure they had plenty of coloring supplies. It was a fun activity we could all enjoy together. It was fun picking out a page to color, selecting just the right shades of green, and smiling when the children would ooh and ah over Mommy's beautiful, finished project. I've always used coloring as a stress reliever and as a healthy means of relaxation. Coloring is freakin fun!! I have stacks of color books, crayons, gel pens, and colored pencils that I keep in a small file cabinet. What I didn't have was a big girl coloring book. Now I do and it's a beauty! This is my very first adult coloring book and I can't wait to collect more. There are so many gorgeous books to choose from and I think each is well worth the price, especially when I need a cheap way to unwind. I won this color book through a giveaway at one of my favorite blogs to follow www.amandanicolebooks.wordpress.com. Amandanicolebooks has lots of great giveaways and awesome book reviews. I've gotten great book suggestions from Amanda and she's super sweet. Thanks for the great giveaway, Amanda!! LOVE my coloring book! :) ...more

5

Oct 07, 2015

Yep, I've jumped on the adult coloring book bandwagon. What a great, soothing thing to do after a long day. And it's perfect for listening to a good book while you color away.

I found this at Barnes and Noble and immediately fell in love with the whimsical images and simple, but sweet story. The pictures are steampunk-like which allows for lots of opportunity for creativity in the coloring.

Some of the pages are very intricate and present a challenge. There's a lot of variety though, so the book Yep, I've jumped on the adult coloring book bandwagon. What a great, soothing thing to do after a long day. And it's perfect for listening to a good book while you color away.

I found this at Barnes and Noble and immediately fell in love with the whimsical images and simple, but sweet story. The pictures are steampunk-like which allows for lots of opportunity for creativity in the coloring.

Some of the pages are very intricate and present a challenge. There's a lot of variety though, so the book is very doable. ...more

5

Jan 06, 2016

Absolutely Gorgeous and extremely special book. A gift from my daughter which was a surprise I never ever saw coming. The pages are filled with beautiful, adorable and fun pages to meditate with in coloring them. There's also a storyline to this. Of course mostly told in pictures, but this is and always will be treasured. I wish I could type all the reasons why this gift is extra cherished, but I'm leaving at, it's from my daughter, which says the world. She knows how to make her mom cry those Absolutely Gorgeous and extremely special book. A gift from my daughter which was a surprise I never ever saw coming. The pages are filled with beautiful, adorable and fun pages to meditate with in coloring them. There's also a storyline to this. Of course mostly told in pictures, but this is and always will be treasured. I wish I could type all the reasons why this gift is extra cherished, but I'm leaving at, it's from my daughter, which says the world. She knows how to make her mom cry those sentimental tears for sure. ...more

5

Sep 24, 2015

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” - Ashley Smith

Joy and beauty. Two things we miss most in this hurry-hurry world of ours. The sound of wind through the trees. The sight of a field of flowers. The scent, and taste, of chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven. Joy.

I felt a bit of that joy when I received Daria Song’s “The “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” - Ashley Smith

Joy and beauty. Two things we miss most in this hurry-hurry world of ours. The sound of wind through the trees. The sight of a field of flowers. The scent, and taste, of chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven. Joy.

I felt a bit of that joy when I received Daria Song’s “The Time Garden.” Printed in a large format on beautiful paper, the cover pictures an ancient tree, dropping copper and gold blooms through the sky. The shimmer immediately caught my eye and made me smile. Flipping through the pages, I immediately thought of the excesses of the Victorian times – pattern and design just this side of overwhelming, and yet balanced and flowing in line. And there is a rather sneaky SteamPunk Vibe as well – clocks, gears and engines scattered about like secret whispers in the wind.

Artful references to opera (Ouvre Ton Coeur by Georges Bizet), a trip to the Salle du rêve (the dream room). The wisdom of the owl, juxtaposed with the transience of the Sakura, the Japanese Cherry Blossom. The movement and pure merriment of the Ghirardelli Cable Car, the Pier 39 Carousel. And when is the last time you browsed an antiquarian book store? How I miss Borderlands Science Fiction Bookstore in San Francisco . . . how I miss San Francisco!
This ‘coloring book’ is so much more than that. As an adult, I love colour, and this gorgeous format, the story of a little girl and her miraculous journey, is so amazing. Drawn in meticulous detail, it is such a joy to flip through, searching for the tiny messages and beautiful storyline. I haven't started playing with it yet, but it is very high quality paper, and I think I will try it with coloured inks? The frontispiece will be the perfect place to try out colour before I begin, but for now just turning pages is relaxing.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” - Greg Anderson

I received this book from Penguin books and Bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own, though, and I really do find it to be amazing!
...more

4

Sep 26, 2015

Time Garden is an adult coloring book along the same vein as the super popular coloring book Enchanted Forest.

As a kid these were the sorts of coloring books that scared me, they look so detailed and hard, but now they call to me. I love the intricate designs and the way the color really pulls it all together into something gorgeous. Plus it’s stress relief that can’t be beat.

I LOVE the illustrations in this, daunting though they are. It really has a bit of everything from the super simple Time Garden is an adult coloring book along the same vein as the super popular coloring book Enchanted Forest.

As a kid these were the sorts of coloring books that scared me, they look so detailed and hard, but now they call to me. I love the intricate designs and the way the color really pulls it all together into something gorgeous. Plus it’s stress relief that can’t be beat.

I LOVE the illustrations in this, daunting though they are. It really has a bit of everything from the super simple pattern pages to architecture designs to flowers and animals. The pictures are done in a sort of storybook kind of way following the story of a little girl as she discovers a world inside of a clock her parents purchased. It’s a cute way to present the pictures and it really ties all the whimsical images together.


I prefer using colored pencils but the paper is thick enough to handle inks and unless you’re pressing down really hard it shouldn’t bleed through at all. A lot of the pictures take up two pages which is actually the only annoyance I had because I have a habit of stopping in the middle of an image and coming back later, but with a two page spread it tends to take a few days and by that time I’ve shuffled my stuff around and I lose the exact pencils I’ve used and then I end up with two different shades.


Overall I’m really happy with this and I can’t wait ot share it with my mom who also loves coloring. ...more

5

Oct 11, 2015

It's a beautiful adult coloring book that is disguised as a children's storybook about a young girl who follows a fairy into a magical clock that her father has brought home from Germany and enters a magical world inside the clock but will she be able to find her way home? You just got to read the story and color the pages to find out. Fans of adult coloring books will love this and is available to get at Barnes and Noble and wherever adult coloring books are sold. I used color pencils, crayons, It's a beautiful adult coloring book that is disguised as a children's storybook about a young girl who follows a fairy into a magical clock that her father has brought home from Germany and enters a magical world inside the clock but will she be able to find her way home? You just got to read the story and color the pages to find out. Fans of adult coloring books will love this and is available to get at Barnes and Noble and wherever adult coloring books are sold. I used color pencils, crayons, and a mix of mixed media on mine. the art is wonderfully done too. ...more

5

Nov 07, 2015

The Time Garden by Daria Song is another example of a great coloring book. The artwork is detailed and complex, allowing for hours of coloring entertainment and stress relief. The pages are double-sided, which again makes me hesitant to use markers on it. Colored pencils remain my preferred medium for these books. By the way, take a moment to look at the cover. Did you get a good look? It's also mostly blank for you to fill in, and as luck would have it, is also double-sided! The interior shows The Time Garden by Daria Song is another example of a great coloring book. The artwork is detailed and complex, allowing for hours of coloring entertainment and stress relief. The pages are double-sided, which again makes me hesitant to use markers on it. Colored pencils remain my preferred medium for these books. By the way, take a moment to look at the cover. Did you get a good look? It's also mostly blank for you to fill in, and as luck would have it, is also double-sided! The interior shows an expanded view of one of the pages inside the book.

Similar to The Time Chamber, this coloring book also includes a short story. This time, we follow a little girl who is magically transported into, and explores a cuckoo clock in her home thanks to the fairy that lives inside of it. Somehow the clock also allows her to travel to other places in the world, including the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory in San Francisco. Yes, I know that is a random thing to share. It felt like a random moment when I saw it. Motifs of stars, clockwork gears, and flowers add up to a dream coloring experience.

I know that this book is marketed primarily to adults, but with the inclusion of the story I would actually put it at a much younger age. That isn't to say that adults can't or won't enjoy coloring this, but that is how I felt about the story. Another way to look at it is that The Time Garden is something you can unwind with, make your own, then share with your kids.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants something beautiful to color, to anyone who is experiencing a creative block, and anyone who just needs something undemanding to focus on for a while. So basically, this book is great for everyone. I look forward to making my mark on it!

This review is based on a copy provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. ...more

4

Sep 26, 2015

This is my first adult coloring book and I’m enjoying the experience immensely. It’s been a rough time for me recently and I really felt I needed some help to relax. This book does help. When I’m coloring the tiny, tiny little sections of the page, I’m completely focused and absorbed and all my worries fly out of my head. I usually try to color a little before going to bed and have been sleeping a bit better.

The book is a beauty. The cover glistens with touches of gold. The pages are thick and This is my first adult coloring book and I’m enjoying the experience immensely. It’s been a rough time for me recently and I really felt I needed some help to relax. This book does help. When I’m coloring the tiny, tiny little sections of the page, I’m completely focused and absorbed and all my worries fly out of my head. I usually try to color a little before going to bed and have been sleeping a bit better.

The book is a beauty. The cover glistens with touches of gold. The pages are thick and supposedly markers would not bleed through though I’m using color pencils so can’t attest to that. I’ve read that some other coloring books have such thin pages that you can see the dark lines right through from the opposite page. That’s not the case with this book. It doesn't lie completely flat but that doesn't interfere with the coloring.

The drawings are lovely and are quite a coloring challenge. Since I’m only doing this for my own relaxation, I’m surprised at how seriously I’m taking each drawing. The thought I’m putting into which color to use is almost comical. But it’s such a lovely book, I want to do a good job!

I did read through the story before I started coloring and it’s a delightfully charming story about a little girl, a magical clock and a fairy. It’s going to take me a very, very long time to color this whole book. There are about 80 pages to color and most are quite intricate. I was surprised when I went to the store to buy the color pencils and the shelves were bare. More and more adults are jumping on this coloring bandwagon!

This book was given to me by Blogging for Books in return for an honest review.
...more

3

Dec 26, 2015

I’ve always loved to color. There, I said it. Crayons are my favorite tool by far, and markers my least. I’ve always found coloring with crayons in a coloring book comforting because the objective – finish coloring in the picture without making a mess of it – is achievable within 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how meticulous you are and what you leave uncolored. This is a time in the U.S. when people frequently cannot meet goals: we struggle to pay for school, so we cannot attend; we seek I’ve always loved to color. There, I said it. Crayons are my favorite tool by far, and markers my least. I’ve always found coloring with crayons in a coloring book comforting because the objective – finish coloring in the picture without making a mess of it – is achievable within 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how meticulous you are and what you leave uncolored. This is a time in the U.S. when people frequently cannot meet goals: we struggle to pay for school, so we cannot attend; we seek full-time jobs, but they don’t seem to exist; we want to lose weight, but the food industry is pretty twisted. Therefore, completing any goal feels like a miracle, and to me, that’s what coloring can do.

Adult coloring books, however, are far different from the kid versions. The images are tiny, complicated, and finishing one picture may take hours, days, or never be finished at all. This past Christmas, my husband surprised me by gifting me with this adult coloring book. At first, I couldn’t use it because there were no colored pencils in the stores. Since the grown-up coloring trend started, stores can’t seem to keep on their shelves the only tool that makes sense for such tiny details. I was skeptical, but once I got my colored pencils I gave it a go....

This review has a number of images, so please read it in its entirety at Grab the Lapels. xoxo ...more

5

Aug 23, 2015

The Time Garden by Daria Song is by far the best coloring book I've come across.
My mother and father were talented artists. Growing up, I always had access to the best art supplies. There were shoe boxes of markers, coloring pencils and crayons to choose from. Coloring books, poster boards, and just about anything one could imagine were always ready for someone to splash their imaginations across. However, my favorites were the coloring books.
I never outgrew my love of taking a black and The Time Garden by Daria Song is by far the best coloring book I've come across.
My mother and father were talented artists. Growing up, I always had access to the best art supplies. There were shoe boxes of markers, coloring pencils and crayons to choose from. Coloring books, poster boards, and just about anything one could imagine were always ready for someone to splash their imaginations across. However, my favorites were the coloring books.
I never outgrew my love of taking a black and white drawing and filling it in with a variety of colors. However, the children's coloring books did not fulfill me as they once did. One day, I discovered The Time Garden, and upon turning the first page I was drawn into the magical world Daria Song created.
Now, I may have a blister on my thumb from sharpening color pencils, and I suspect the bump on the side of my finger is due to hours of coloring a single page in this book. The drawings are intricate and detailed. The story that goes along with the drawings is imaginative. I LOVE THIS BOOK!

Hours of entertainment and heavenly relaxation is a promise. This book will be available September 1, 2015.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
...more

5

Aug 21, 2015

I’m a child at heart, and have always enjoyed coloring. When my children were little, I’d let them each pick out a coloring book to purchase, and I’d pick one out for myself. It’s a relaxing and enjoyable pastime, and I’m not embarrassed to say that even though I’m now an empty nester, I have a stack of coloring books and several boxes of treasured Crayola crayons.

With that said, I am now excited that I don’t have to color childlike princesses, animals, or Disney characters! I’ve recently I’m a child at heart, and have always enjoyed coloring. When my children were little, I’d let them each pick out a coloring book to purchase, and I’d pick one out for myself. It’s a relaxing and enjoyable pastime, and I’m not embarrassed to say that even though I’m now an empty nester, I have a stack of coloring books and several boxes of treasured Crayola crayons.

With that said, I am now excited that I don’t have to color childlike princesses, animals, or Disney characters! I’ve recently discovered there are coloring books for adults!

The Time Garden, by best-selling Korean pen and ink artist Daria Song, is filled with childlike wonder and make-believe, but the pages are so intricate that adults will find them both challenging and satisfying.

This magical journey and coloring book, as it’s labeled on the front cover, is so entertaining, enjoyable, and creative! And how cool is it that the book has a fun storyline to go with it? And how delightful to make the pages come alive with color. I plan to complete mine from cover to cover and use it as a coffee table/conversation book.

Storyline: A curious young girl takes a magical journey behind the doors of a mystifying cuckoo clock. Owls, stars, and fairies—oh my!

As she continued her journey, she saw a series of beautiful worlds one after the other, each full of mystery and allure. ~excerpt from The Time Garden storyline.

Craftsmanship: The softbound book has a beautiful, colorable slipcover with sparkling gold inlays that give it an elegant appearance. The pages are made from thick cardstock, which assures colors won't bleed or show through to the backside of the page.

Suggestions: Using crayons might be a little taxing, since it might be difficult to color within some of the tinier lines, so I suggest using coloring pencils instead.

This coloring book is beautiful, creative, and makes me giddy with childlike excitement. Sounds silly – but I don’t care. I love this book and the hours of entertainment it will provide. I’m thrilled to learn there is a sequel, The Time Chamber, and will most certainly be purchasing it as well.

If you are a creative soul and enjoy coloring and or pen and pencil crafts, I can’t think of a single reason you would not adore this art book. The to/from section on the first page makes it easy to present it as a unique and thoughtful gift.

5 Stars!

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
Pages: 80
Target ages: 10 and up
Release date: September 1, 2015

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy from Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. ...more

5

Nov 07, 2015

My favorite coloring book currently on the market!

Everything from the small, imaginative details to the overarching nostalgia of the narrative, you will enjoy every page of Song's TIME GARDEN.

5

Jan 28, 2017

I have fallen for this adult coloring book craze. One of my last book choices was Daria Song's second coloring masterpiece. This is her first.

What a beautiful book.

The exquisite drawing, the sweet storyline, the amazing creation of things that make you want to color them. Or not.

The beauty of Daria's drawings and charming storylines is that they are equally beautiful in black and white, as they would be filled in with the colors of my choice.

The beauty of this book charms me. And while the I have fallen for this adult coloring book craze. One of my last book choices was Daria Song's second coloring masterpiece. This is her first.

What a beautiful book.

The exquisite drawing, the sweet storyline, the amazing creation of things that make you want to color them. Or not.

The beauty of Daria's drawings and charming storylines is that they are equally beautiful in black and white, as they would be filled in with the colors of my choice.

The beauty of this book charms me. And while the storyline is sweet and equally charming, it isn't really necessary and falls a little short (where is the red-haired fairy that starts the whole fall-into-the-clock thing?). But, above all, the artistry supersedes everything else.

However, I am still slightly befuddled by one thing: in the back of Song's books there are visual indexes. I am not sure the purpose of these. I have looked on the publisher's website, the artist's website, and various other places - there doesn't seem to be an explanation. I like the idea - I'm just not sure what it is for. Visual reference? Maybe. Either way, it's a great way to enjoy more of the art that comes from the brilliant mind of Daria Song.

*This book was given to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

www.divine-by-nature.blogspot.com ...more

5

Nov 13, 2015

Coloring books? Why, YES! Prior to receiving these books, I had a friend who taught me the relaxing technique that coloring has on you when you do it. She was into coloring mandellas. (The spelling of this word has different ways, and the way I used it is the way the UK and we, here in the US, spell it.) I used to scour the internet looking for these, and lately (probably because they are so simple to pick up and just color some stress away!) I have not been able to find any. I wondered why, and Coloring books? Why, YES! Prior to receiving these books, I had a friend who taught me the relaxing technique that coloring has on you when you do it. She was into coloring mandellas. (The spelling of this word has different ways, and the way I used it is the way the UK and we, here in the US, spell it.) I used to scour the internet looking for these, and lately (probably because they are so simple to pick up and just color some stress away!) I have not been able to find any. I wondered why, and now I know! The artists who are make these must be keeping them as collections like this book, and putting these into coloring books like these!
I have a clip board that holds all my mandellas/clip art and other things I have found here and there. I used to color or even just collect because I added them onto scrapbook pages, or just to enhanced my photos with flowers, etc., I did all sorts of things like that! I loved it, and having always enjoyed this type of thing, and was really into it especially when I did it more. Making cards is still a favorite of mine, especially given the cost to purchase one! I used to use to hold all of these together, save them, use them, and color them and more, and I still do! So I really missed these when I couldn't find them anymore. Guess what? They're back, and SO BIG NOW, and it looks like they are in book form. Yeah!
This author/publisher sent me two of these coloring books, each different, and parts one and two of the Time series. These are both SO GORGEOUS!!! WOW! I am going to review The Time Garden first. The quality of paper these books are printed on is extremely heavy, making for a beautifully finished product no matter how you want to fill these in, and you can use whatever types of color you choose to use because this paper is that thick nothing is going to hold you back. I can see colored pencil, which is my favorite, I can also see adding a little water to turn that into some watercolors, and paints! Oh! You can have so much FUN with these! The books do come in completely black and white, of course, and that is because they are waiting for YOU to add color to the pages with whatever medium you choose to color these beautiful pages in with!
In the paperwork that came with this book, it has a paragraph that explains the story behind it. Yes, both books do have a story that goes along with them Here is what it the paperwork that came with them says:

"The adult coloring craze has been covered by the New York Times and NPR, and fans are clamoring for the next book as soon as they finish coloring their last page. Fans of grown-up coloring have come to the hobby from alongside their kids at the kitchen table, while on the porch of a beach vacation home, or as a way to cope with their jobs. Coloring clubs are springing up around the country, and books are flying off the shelves."

"Filled with gorgeous spreads featuring fantastical scenes of clock gears, rooftops, starry skies and giant magical flying owls, this book's beautiful little details are perfect for customizing with whatever colors one can dream up. Fans of Korean pop art and Academy-Award winning animated films like Spirited Away will be drawn into Ms. Song's wonderfully surreal manga-like artwork.

By clicking on the link to go to Amazon, you will be able to see EVERYTHING that is inside this book!

Down below is the link to Amazon, the rectangular box we all can see. Click on that, it will take you right to THIS BOOK, and you WANT and NEED to take a look at it! Next, click on “LOOK INSIDE”. This will give you a look at EVERY SINGLE PAGE INSIDE THIS COLORING BOOK! I was SHOCKED! I’ve NEVER seen enough pages out of ANY book in this section to be satisfied enough, and here is the ENTIRE BOOK! I was so shocked! I was happy because now YOU get to really see ALL the pages you'll get to color! Finally, whoever did this needs more than a pat on the back! (Thank the publisher if you get a chance!!) They have accomplished what I wish more books would do in this section!
Have you looked at it yet? Don't you just LOVE the pages to color! WOW! There are SO many!

I HIGHLY recommend getting this book, and enjoy EVERY second of it while you color how YOU want it to look, to become! This will be YOUR photo, YOUR thing to design, color, build, to make it look however YOU want it to look like!!! Have fun and enjoy it!

The story continues on October 13th, 2015, with The Time Chamber, and they DID send that book to me as well! I will be reviewing that book next!

#GIVEAWAY - I LOVE this/these coloring books for adults! I STILL love these books, and since I got TWO of these, I would like to share one of these with YOU during this Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop! This couldn't be a better fit than to share THIS BOOK HERE with one of you so you can see what I am talking about, and another nice Christmas present for YOU! The giveaway for this book is HERE! (Ends 12-31-15) so this is temporary and NOT part of this review, and this paragraph will be removed after the giveaway is over as it's ONLY purpose is to tell you I am giving one of my copies to you!
This Giveaway is at this link, but EXPIRES ON 12-31-15 AT 11:59pm. I 'might' forget to come back and remove this statement about the giveaway, so please know this giveaway IS OVER on the date in this previous sentence of 12-31-15 at 11:59pm. NO other giveaway will be considered after that date even if this paragraph is still here. Thanks!! ...more

4

Oct 27, 2015

Don’t laugh it off. The trend of the adult coloring book is both new and old. But it wasn’t until Johanna Basford came up with her version of a coloring book for grown-ups back in 2011 that wasn’t cartoonish and silly that this genre (is that the right word?) took off. What made her books so amazing was her ability to create stylish black and white designs that begged to be colored in. That book has since sold over two million copies. The ripple effect of that success has now spurred a push for Don’t laugh it off. The trend of the adult coloring book is both new and old. But it wasn’t until Johanna Basford came up with her version of a coloring book for grown-ups back in 2011 that wasn’t cartoonish and silly that this genre (is that the right word?) took off. What made her books so amazing was her ability to create stylish black and white designs that begged to be colored in. That book has since sold over two million copies. The ripple effect of that success has now spurred a push for more adult-oriented coloring books. A few years ago, you had only a few non-tacky options; now, we’re seeing a flood of books that not only have gorgeous spreads but developed storylines as well.

Daria Song’s The Time Garden is one of those books. The story isn’t complex or wordy, and it leans toward minimalism and subtext, but the writing does add to the air of whimsy and mystery conveyed by the images so at least there is a harmony between textual story and visual story. Of course, most readers picking this up will ignore the text. Luckily, the imagery in The Time Garden carries the story.

As with a lot of other coloring books, the visual style in The Time Garden is mostly based on line/ink work that features repeating, intricate patterns. This can either frustrate you as a colorist or delight. Compared to Basford’s work, I would say that Song’s style is less delicate and labyrinthine. In fact, The Time Garden has large swaths of blank spaces. Visually, as black and white standalone pieces, these page layouts are striking, but all that negative space provides less opportunity for coloring (unless your style is to color every part of the page, empty spaces/gaps be damned!). If you are a veteran colorist who loved Basford’s work, you might find The Time Garden above average but not spectacular in its pattern-work.

The Time Garden’s narrative, like so many of its ilk, hints at escapist mystery and dreamy joy. And that’s wonderful. Personally, I crave to see storylines set in contemporary settings, with darker, edgier themes. Or to see coloring books with more graphic novel storytelling sophistication in the panel work. I think that would be a great evolution of the form. Frankly, I’m ready to sharpen my pencils in the darker palette and put those pretty pastel colors and gardens/nature imagery to bed.

[Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for an honest and candid review.] ...more

5

Nov 08, 2015

“And a Magical Journey It Is (But It’s No Coloring Book)” – 4.5 stars

With The Time Garden, Song presents a story through pictures. I’m reminded of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A young girl falls asleep but, instead of falling through a rabbit hole, she travels through a cuckoo clock.

Song’s finely detailed illustrations give the impression of an interactive experience. You first see the cuckoo clock from a distance. Then you approach the doors and suddenly (turning the page) find yourself “And a Magical Journey It Is (But It’s No Coloring Book)” – 4.5 stars

With The Time Garden, Song presents a story through pictures. I’m reminded of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A young girl falls asleep but, instead of falling through a rabbit hole, she travels through a cuckoo clock.

Song’s finely detailed illustrations give the impression of an interactive experience. You first see the cuckoo clock from a distance. Then you approach the doors and suddenly (turning the page) find yourself inside, watching the little fairy wind the clock’s gears. Song weaves a surreal—yet coherent—story without words. (Except for a few paragraphs of text at the beginning and end.) She frequently employs a “zoom” technique to transport the reader from scene to scene: You see the little girl lying on a rooftop, then she is surrounded by stars, and then the stars appear as wallpaper in a room where she is sitting. These transitions occur seamlessly and that is part of what makes the journey so magical.

For the most part, Song’s illustrations are beautifully rendered on the page. Two of the drawings (“Wonderland Across the Bridge of Hope” and “Hide and Seek”), however, pale in comparison to the rest in the book. Though they convey the artist’s whimsical imagination, they appear cluttered and lack the attention to detail that makes her other illustrations so charming. That said, I would still give the book 5 stars for its content. Daria Song is amazing!

Where I find fault is with the book itself. The positive first: The cover is exquisite—an ink drawing from the story with a smattering of colored leaves. The back, featuring an image of the cuckoo clock, is also attractive. A Visual Index reproduces each illustration in chronological order, along with its title. What a nice touch!

However, the book’s subtitle (“A Magical Journey and Coloring Book”) is misleading. Is this really a coloring book? If I had purchased this book with the intention of coloring, I would find myself disappointed. The illustrations span two pages, so part of the image is obscured in the center. If the intention is to allow the reader to add color to the story, then the book should either lie flat (so that you can see/color the entire image) or the illustrations should be confined to a single page, with white space along the spine.

The Time Garden is an absolute treasure and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a beautiful book with a beautiful story to tell—but I would not recommend it as a coloring book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. ...more

4

Sep 04, 2015

I’m sure many of you have heard or read articles about the latest craze of adult coloring books. They are all over the book stores and libraries and nursing homes are starting up coloring clubs for color enthusiasts of all ages. My own library has started up a program and when I came across this title I had to give it a shot.

The book is simply beautiful, worthy of any gift giving occasion with the lovely foil stamping on the cover and spine. The pages have a nice feel to them and take a colored I’m sure many of you have heard or read articles about the latest craze of adult coloring books. They are all over the book stores and libraries and nursing homes are starting up coloring clubs for color enthusiasts of all ages. My own library has started up a program and when I came across this title I had to give it a shot.

The book is simply beautiful, worthy of any gift giving occasion with the lovely foil stamping on the cover and spine. The pages have a nice feel to them and take a colored pencil well. The designs are very intricate and perhaps even a bit intimidating for those returning to the world of coloring. What I liked most about this coloring book though it that isn’t simple a collection of pictures based upon a theme and bound together. This coloring book has a story to go along with the beautiful artwork inside. The images then proceed to take us along with the main character on a great adventure!

Like I said the pictures are very intricate and I would use very fine tipped markers or colored pencils with a sharpener on hand. This book would be great to keep someplace where you can spend a few minutes or longer working on a picture as you “watch” a movie with the spouse or visit on the phone or wait for an appointment. Actually this book would be perfect for those times you are stuck waiting on tech support to fix some issue because it might actually succeed in keeping you calm.

This is my first adult coloring book and I’m afraid it has probably set the standard pretty high for the next that I add to my home library. There is only two things I would have changed about this book. The first is I wish it was bound different, with pages to are able to lay completely flat. To get to the inside of the pages for coloring you are going to have to break the binding. Also I would have mixed in some less intricate pictures so that “artists” of all skill level could enjoy picking out a picture to spend an afternoon with. It is simply a charming book though and I look forward to seeing the companion book that tells the story from the fairy’s perspective. This book is the beginning of a colorful and creative new hobby for me! I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Blogging for Books for a honest review. ...more

5

Nov 05, 2015

Never in my wildest imagination a book could absolutely leave me speechless. Remember my review you are reading right now is all due to my mind and fingers pounding away on the keyboard, so yeah I was left speechless. This is a whimsical magical coloring book with a story to whisk you off to a delightful world of beautiful drawings. I knew by the book cover jacket this magnificent book will take my breath away and I was certainly correct. You have black and white illustration (drawings) of a Never in my wildest imagination a book could absolutely leave me speechless. Remember my review you are reading right now is all due to my mind and fingers pounding away on the keyboard, so yeah I was left speechless. This is a whimsical magical coloring book with a story to whisk you off to a delightful world of beautiful drawings. I knew by the book cover jacket this magnificent book will take my breath away and I was certainly correct. You have black and white illustration (drawings) of a little girl who had boundless imagination, and exploring was one of her favorite things to do as stated in the book. The magic started when her dad brought home a cuckoo clock from Germany. How does it work without batteries or electricity? Curiosity got the best of her, run after the fairy and a world of mystery appears, can she go back to reality? You will come upon pages and pages of coloring opportunities and watch the little girl's adventure unfold. Each page details her journey all black and white, here you will see Daddy's cuckoo clock, Girl and the Clock, Fairy inside the Clock, Clock Gears, Running Fairy, Catch a Star and many more. So detailed and beautiful and perfect for myself as an adult to color in all the vivid colors you choose to bring out the fascinating picture of the little girl's adventure. Okay I will share it with children ;-) I am in awe of this book and I know you will fall head over heels for it. I highly recommend this, magical journey and coloring book. I received a free book through "Blogging for Books. " Awesome website to get free books, all they ask is to review and post it. Thank you, Darlene Cruz ...more

4

Aug 20, 2015

Be swept away in a world of fancy with Daria Song's "The Time Garden". A beautiful storybook in a form of minimal words, and pages and pages of pen and ink illustrations taking you to a magical world.

"The Time Garden" is a storybook, and a coloring book for all ages. Personally, I love using my Staedtler triplus fineliner markers to color in all the details of the clock tower, the leaves on a beautiful tree, the lines on the roofs as you look across and fly away on a bunch of balloons. What Be swept away in a world of fancy with Daria Song's "The Time Garden". A beautiful storybook in a form of minimal words, and pages and pages of pen and ink illustrations taking you to a magical world.

"The Time Garden" is a storybook, and a coloring book for all ages. Personally, I love using my Staedtler triplus fineliner markers to color in all the details of the clock tower, the leaves on a beautiful tree, the lines on the roofs as you look across and fly away on a bunch of balloons. What imagination! What imagery! Color the way you want it to be, a yellow tree, an orange star, a green lantern...etc. This is a sophisticated version of a simple coloring book. A tween or a teen will appreciate your thoughts and sensitivity on their love of drawing or doodling. An adult will appreciate your sense of whimsy. As to the story, as I look through page by page, it reminds me of a recent illustrated children's book titled, "Journey" by Aaron Becker. It too gave readers of all ages (tailored towards younger kids) a sense of creating with imagination. And with that, I thought of the most classic story of imaginations - Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland". Let your inner child through with great stories and coloring books. Great for self use to just relax and imagine, and great as gifts as well.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Wason-Guptill, a division of Crown Publishing through Blogging for Books for an honest review.

Check out my blog for additional reviews and a monthly book giveaway. http://justcommonly.blogspot.com ...more

4

Sep 22, 2015

I love pattern. Designs delight me, and line drawings can make me swoon. So, it's quite understandable that The Time Garden pushes all the right buttons for me. I also am an pysanky artist, who has taken the symbols and designs of pysanky into 2D art (You can see some of my work at http://czukart.com.) I find inspiration in the world around me, and in the works of other artists. Sometimes you can look at what another artist has done, and it speaks to you. Sometimes, it helps you puzzle out a I love pattern. Designs delight me, and line drawings can make me swoon. So, it's quite understandable that The Time Garden pushes all the right buttons for me. I also am an pysanky artist, who has taken the symbols and designs of pysanky into 2D art (You can see some of my work at http://czukart.com.) I find inspiration in the world around me, and in the works of other artists. Sometimes you can look at what another artist has done, and it speaks to you. Sometimes, it helps you puzzle out a solution for something that has been stymieing you. Sometimes, it makes you say, "Oh wow!" and then rush to pick up a pen to try your own ideas. Daria Song's beautiful art speaks to me, inspires me, and encourages me. Plus, she added a little story to support the art, so that I can read it with my grandchild and we can talk about the story, what we see in the art, and how we'd embellish it. That's a win in a book for sure. For the record, I've steered clear of adult coloring books because I feared they might pull my own art one direction or another. Ms. Song has her own unique style, and in this book, is more reality based than my own. However, it is a style that is beautiful, and makes my artist soul happy to see.

Many thanks to Blogging for Books and to the publisher for sending me this book. And many thanks to Daria Song: you are well named for your art makes my soul sing. ...more

5

Dec 04, 2015

The Time Garden
A Magical Journey and Coloring Book
By Daria Song
ISBN-10: 1607749602
80 Pages
Recommended Ages: 10+
Retails for: $8.79

ABOUT:
The Time Garden is a magical story about an imaginative little girl who follows her curiosity at the stroke of midnight through the antique cuckoo clock her grandfather brings home from Germany, where she sees a red-haired fairy and discovers a fantasy world. The little girl couldn't understand the concept of electricity so she decides to explore this clock to The Time Garden
A Magical Journey and Coloring Book
By Daria Song
ISBN-10: 1607749602
80 Pages
Recommended Ages: 10+
Retails for: $8.79

ABOUT:
The Time Garden is a magical story about an imaginative little girl who follows her curiosity at the stroke of midnight through the antique cuckoo clock her grandfather brings home from Germany, where she sees a red-haired fairy and discovers a fantasy world. The little girl couldn't understand the concept of electricity so she decides to explore this clock to learn how it worked without batteries. Through her journey, she must find the door back to reality.

IMPRESSION:
The Time Garden is a grown-up inspired coloring book which is not like your typical coloring book that is meant only for children. Instead, this book reaches out to a more grown up audience. Perfect for grown ups to renew their love of coloring. This book has a story written on a couple of it's pages and each coloring page tells part of the story. I really liked the uniqueness of the whole concept of going off into dream world and then coming back to reality. The cover was beautiful. The pages were very good in size. The art to color was varied, but beautiful.
I expected this to be a book about gardens. I was pretty surprised though what lied on these pages instead. Am definitely considering repurchasing this and the follow-up books by this author for gifting. I would suggest thin markers or colored pencils for these pages. ...more

5

Oct 17, 2015

Source: Free copy from Blogging for Books, Watson-Guptill, and Crown Publishing.
Rating: 5 stars for excellent.
If you've visited Barnes and Nobles, Sam's Club, Walmart, or Target you've noticed "grown-up" inspired coloring books.
These new coloring books all have unique stand-out differences from the old style children's coloring books:

Thick pages.
Detailed drawings.
Complex and intricate drawings inside the main drawing on each page.
Theme inspired books.
A large assortment of choices, from nature Source: Free copy from Blogging for Books, Watson-Guptill, and Crown Publishing.
Rating: 5 stars for excellent.
If you've visited Barnes and Nobles, Sam's Club, Walmart, or Target you've noticed "grown-up" inspired coloring books.
These new coloring books all have unique stand-out differences from the old style children's coloring books:

Thick pages.
Detailed drawings.
Complex and intricate drawings inside the main drawing on each page.
Theme inspired books.
A large assortment of choices, from nature themes, to magical kingdoms, to human anatomy.
More pages per book.
A work-out for the brain, yet it feels like play and relaxation.

The Time Garden is the first coloring book I've reviewed. It's exciting to be apart of a growing and developing new field of art and books.
Things I love about The Time Garden:

The pages lay-open flat.
The pages are thick.
The inside cover jacket gives the ability to color.
A mini-story of the heroine is included.
The coloring book is filled with clocks and time-pieces.
A visual index is included, small, but with more opportunities to color.
Owls make several entrances to the pictures.

I recommend the following to use as tools to color:
Prismacolor pencils.
Derwent pencils. ...more

4

Sep 21, 2015

I have several adult coloring books and I am constantly searching for additional artist that offer variations on their work. Daria has incorporated a lively short story into her book as well as a large variety of images to color. I was excited to be offered Daria Song’s “The Time Garden” to review.
Her images are clear, delightful and unique. They can be colored by varying ages. If you like steampunk, fairies, flowers or anything in between then you will be happy with this purchase. She I have several adult coloring books and I am constantly searching for additional artist that offer variations on their work. Daria has incorporated a lively short story into her book as well as a large variety of images to color. I was excited to be offered Daria Song’s “The Time Garden” to review.
Her images are clear, delightful and unique. They can be colored by varying ages. If you like steampunk, fairies, flowers or anything in between then you will be happy with this purchase. She incorporates simplistic to intricate images which provides the colorist the opportunity to select images depending on mood or time available to color.
The Time Garden comes with a jacketed cover which is removable; it includes flaps for a page marker and is colorable. The pages are printed double-sided on thick quality paper. I would be hesitant using markers on these pages as most will typically bleed through any papers. The better qualities markers such as Stablio fineliners and Copic may do fine, as well as your pencils and pens.
Overall, the quality is fabulous and the image quality is very well done for the purchase price of the book.

FTC Disclaimer:

“I received this book for free from “Blogging For Books” for an honest review.” ...more