The smell of brand new sharpened pencils...ahhh.

Hi Friends,

Back to school time has always been one of my favorite times of year. There is an amazing energy in the air! Can you feel it?

While I was raising my own daughter we would anticipate the school year with both excitement and a nervous energy at the same time. There was fun school clothes shopping and getting all of the needed supplies on the list. I still adore the smell of a box brand new crayons and sharpened pencils!

There were also butterflies in our tummies at the thought of meeting new teachers, seeing old friends from the previous year and meeting brand new ones, too.

For me, as a mom who worked at home, it was also a time of feeling a burst of new creativity and energy on the cool autumn mornings. I couldn't wait to dive into new projects when I had a full day with no interruptions.

I created this print remembering all of those wonderful teachers who helped influence and mold my daughter and myself into what we are today. It makes a lovely gift for those special teachers in our lives.

For a limited time I am offering this print for 30% off by using the special code: TeacherThanks at checkout.



I want to wish you all a wonderful new school year and thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you!

Phyllis


♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

What a fantastic way to start summer vacation!

Hi Friends,

Many celebrate this upcoming Memorial Day holiday in the US by heading to the local pool or beach. Some go camping and enjoy family time. But I also don't want to forget the reason for the Memorial Day holiday. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. I am so grateful to the men and women who serve our country and sacrifice so much for our freedom.

To help celebrate Memorial Day I am offering 20% off everything in the shop! Starts now and runs through May 31, 2016. Be sure to enter the coupon code MEM2016 at checkout. Start shopping now!

Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you!

♥ Phyllis

♥ Gifts that give back ♥
Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital. 

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

Want to be the first to hear the news?

Hi Friends!

As a Phyllis Harris Designs newsletter subscriber, I often have an exclusive special offers  just for you! SO be sure to sign up here get 25% off your first purchase!  **We respect your privacy. Your email will never be shared.

I have added some BRAND NEW art in the shop too! Just click on each photo to see more information on each one.




Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you!

Phyllis




♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

How did the whole adult coloring books craze start, anyway?

Relax, Renew, Revisit Childhood

 by Bradley K. Harris

It started out as the British Invasion, spread across the Channel to become the French Revolution, and has experienced epidemic growth in the United States. Fortunately this does not refer to war, or the 60’s musical style of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. We are talking about coloring books here….coloring books for Adults. That’s right – Adults.
When Scottish artist Johanna Basford released her amazing coloring book for adults in 2011 “Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book” (Laurence King Publishing), who would have believed it would sell close to six million copies worldwide and become a global best-seller? And when French publisher Hachette Pratique released “Art-thérapie: 100 coloriages anti-stress” in 2012, could they have envisioned their adult coloring book would sell more than three and a half million copies worldwide?
With the help of Social Media, the Adult Coloring Book Craze has leaped across the ocean and onto Amazon’s Best-Seller list here in the United States. Fueling this phenomenon is the modern day adult’s need to Relax, Renew and Revisit Childhood. Baby boomers and adults of all ages find themselves today in the most fast-paced, constantly changing environment in the history of civilization. Is it any wonder that pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession in general have focused so greatly on stress and anxiety related illnesses over the past decade? And then comes along a stress reducer that is fun, low-cost and a remarkable therapy for children of all ages.
I once heard my 88 year old father, who still whips me on the tennis court say that his secret to great health and longevity is in not knowing how old he is. ‘I may grow older but I’ll never grow old’ has been his mantra for the past 30 years. He lives his mantra and in addition to solving cross-word puzzles, walking, tennis and wood-working, dad spends a lot of time drawing and coloring. A child at heart, a man that revisit’s childhood frequently and has remained forever young. Coloring isn’t just for the young in age anymore, but for those who seek to remain young in body, mind and spirit.
Phyllis Harris is the illustrator of over 35 children’s books and a lover of all things childhood. Throughout life, her place of peace and solitude was a return to childhood; a remembrance of simpler times. Joy filled days spent relaxing in a field of dandelions, riding a horse through sun-ripened fields of wild flowers and playing fetch with her best four-legged friend. Capturing the heart of childhood became her illustrative style in creating art for children’s books. Experiencing changes in children’s publishing 4 years ago, like many other artists and illustrators, Phyllis realized the need to reinvent herself and her business. Phyllis began focusing on creating wall art for Children’s Rooms and launched Phyllis Harris Designs in 2012. With a passion for illustration, and her love of childhood, Phyllis Harris Designs has experienced remarkable success. With her illustrations adorning thousands of children’s rooms across 6 continents, customers began asking Phyllis in early 2015 if she would consider publishing a collection of her illustrations into an adult coloring book. And that is how ‘the heART of Childhood’ was born.  Now heading into its 3^rd printing in 6 months, “the heART of Childhood: A coloring book featuring the timeless art of Phyllis Harris” has garnered international success and has exceeded any expectation the artist had early on. This is just one Midwest U.S. artist’s story; and the story of many successful artists and illustrators in the United States and Europe.
When and where will the adult coloring book craze end? The answer may just be, never. Because the need to Relax, Renew and Revisit childhood will never grow old. And like my father, millions of others have found that it’s better to grow older, but never grow old.

Have you seen my "Vintage Sketch Series" now available in the shop?

Have you seen my "Vintage Sketch Series" now available in the shop? I love how the handmade paper looks in the floating frame I got from Hobby Lobby. There are 3 different prints to choose from thus far. http://phyllisharrisdesigns.com/collections/vintage-sketch-series

 




Here is a bit more info about them...

After attending a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit, I was so inspired by the beautiful sepia sketches on aged paper so I set out to find the perfect "handmade" paper to print my raw sketches on. Every artist struggles with working and refining a piece until it's almost overdone. I love the movement and feeling of sketch studies because they are raw and full of emotion.

This beautiful handmade paper has deckled edges and seeds and fibers through it. It is perfectly "imperfect" so it may not be perfectly squared which adds to it's beauty. I have shown one framed in a vintage "floating" frame for reference only. Frame not included. Copyright will not appear on print.

- Art print created from a hand drawn original sketch
- Printed on 8.5 x 11" aged handmade seed paper
- Ships flat packaged in a bend resistant mailer and a cellophane sleeve
- Ships within 3-5 days of payment
- Printed locally in the USA

Vintage Sketch Series

Hi Friends!

I have added something new to the shop! I call it my vintage sketch series.

After attending a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit, I was so inspired by the beautiful sepia sketches on aged paper so I set out to find the perfect "handmade" paper to print my raw sketches on. Every artist struggles with working and refining a piece until it's almost overdone. I love the movement and feeling of sketch studies because they are raw and full of emotion.

This beautiful handmade paper has deckled edges and seeds and fibers through it. It is perfectly "imperfect" so it may not be perfectly squared which adds to it's beauty. I have shown one framed in a vintage "floating" frame for reference only. Frame not included. Copyright will not appear on print.

- Art print created from a hand drawn original sketch
- Printed on 8.5 x 11" aged handmade seed paper
- Ships flat packaged in a bend resistant mailer and a cellophane sleeve
- Ships within 3-5 days of payment
- Printed locally in the USA

I truly enjoyed creating these and I hope you enjoy them as well. Click on the photos to go to each print in my shop.



Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you!

Phyllis




♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

Be sure and follow my social media networks to keep up with all that is going on. Here are the links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

My wish for you...

Hi Friends,
 
I wanted to wish you all a very blessed and peaceful Christmas and a healthy and happy new year!

I created this video that shares the sweet words of the late great Margaret Wise Brown from her book ON CHRISTMAS DAY that I was so very blessed to illustrate. I still have a few first edition copies left and you can get a signed copy from the illustrator(me) in my shop here. The beautiful guitar in the background is my talented husband.

To see a preview of this sweet book click on the video below.



You my friends, are the reason for the joy and success of Phyllis Harris Designs and I cherish you and your support.  I so appreciate you sharing our website with your friends and family; and I wish you all a blessed Christmas season and a happy 2016!

I will talk to you next year!

Phyllis

Last day of the biggest sale of the year!

Hi Friends,

This is the last day for Phyllis Harris Designs biggest sale of the year! Sale expires at midnight on Monday, November 30, 2015 CST. 30% off($30 min.) using code: 3030SALE. Everything in the shop on sale! Jewelry, Books, Canvases and Prints! Discount available in either shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
OR
http://phyllisharrisdesigns.com



Be sure to take a peek at my newest 2 minute video, too! My talented husband provided the background music. It is his original song title, "Thanksgiving".



You my friends, are the reason for the joy and success of Phyllis Harris Designs and I cherish you and your support.  I so appreciate you sharing our website with your friends and family; and I wish you all a blessed Christmas season!

Phyllis




♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

Be sure and follow my social media networks to keep up with all that is going on. Here are the links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

Best sale of the year! Black Friday Sale at Phyllis Harris Designs!

Hi Friends,

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving( for those of you who celebrated in the US).

I know you are all busy, busy...so I will keep this short and sweet. :) This sale will be offered through Cyber Monday, November 30, 2015.

Here  we go! Let the Christmas shopping begin!




You my friends, are the reason for the joy and success of Phyllis Harris Designs and I cherish you and your support.  I so appreciate you sharing our website with your friends and family; and I wish you all a blessed Christmas season!

Phyllis




♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

Be sure and follow my social media networks to keep up with all that is going on. Here are the links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

Let the holiday prep begin! What!?

Dear Friends,

I cannot believe it is already November!! I've been very busy in the studio getting lots of things ready for the upcoming holiday shopping that is about to begin and for those early shoppers, I have a coupon code that can be used in either my shop or my Etsy shop. Be sure to enter THANKS15 at checkout and receive 15% off your order.

I have lots of wonderful items for all of the people on your list that are looking for something to help them re-visit their wonderful childhood memories in decorating their home with my wall art prints. Such as this dandelion girl wall art print that was featured in Romantic Homes magazine



or this little boy and the man in the moon art print, featured in Vanity Fair's Gift guide.



And for gifting those creative and crafty friends with my adult coloring books. What better way to help get through the sometimes stressful holiday preparations than sitting down with a coloring book to get that relaxing therapy that is so needed at the end of a long day. In fact, I recently read an article  that stated, "The health benefits go beyond relaxation, and include exercising fine motor skills and training the brain to focus.
Doctors have known about these benefits since the early 1900s. Psychiatrist Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, prescribed coloring to his patients to calm and center their minds. Doctors today continue to follow Jung’s lead and still recommend the activity to combat anxiety.
The fact that coloring is structured activates the logic part of the brain, and generates a creative mindset, said New York-based clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis.
“Because it’s a centering activity, the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that is involved with our fear response, actually gets a bit, a little bit of a rest,” Michaelis said, “and it ultimately has a really calming effect over time.”

Be sure you check out my new short 2 minute video showing the interiors and more information about one of my favorite coloring books, The Adventures of Brandy and Emma that I offer by clicking on the video below.


And for those of you who send out Christmas cards and want to get started early this year, I have a very limited supply of boxed Christmas Cards left in my Etsy shop. For more details follow the link by clicking on the photo.



In my family, we always read a favorite Christmas book as a family throughout the holiday season. Why not start a new tradition with ON CHRISTMAS DAY, written by Margaret Wise Brown, author of the wonderful GOODNIGHT MOON and illustrated by me. I have a limited supply of the first edition copies in my shop and will sign each one that is ordered from there.




As we enter into that time of year at Thanksgiving, I want to say just how thankful I am for ALL of you, my wonderful supporters and friends here, that make it possible for me to do what I love and have the opportunity to share it with the world. How could I ask for more?  I am so grateful for each and every one of you!
 

 

Phyllis


♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

Be sure and follow my social media networks to keep up with all that is going on. Here are the links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

Come take a peek inside my new book, The Adventures of Brandy and Emma: A 2 in 1 Coloring/Story book.

Come take a peek inside my new book, The Adventures of Brandy and Emma: A 2 in 1 Coloring/Story book. It makes a great and unique gift idea for those creatives in your life. Click on the video above for more information.
Also available at Amazon in Canada and Europe!

Lots of fun updates to share just in time for early holiday shopping.

Dear Friends,

I have lots of fun updates to share with you all! I've been very busy in the studio to get lots of things ready for the upcoming holiday shopping that is about to begin. Since you all are my lovely newsletter followers, I wanted to let you all know about some of them first, right here and now since one of them is very timely so be sure to read to the end of this newsletter!

Let's start with the Christmas Cards I have just added to my Etsy shop. This is a bit of an experiment as I don't usually carry cards in my shops. I have a very limited number of Christmas cards(boxed sets) that I just listed this afternoon here. If these sell out, I may try to reorder some more but I will have to wait and see. At the time I wrote this newsletter, there are only 1o boxes left since some of them were already spoken for so don't delay if you want one as they may sell out quickly! I just got them from the printer and they turned out beautiful! Very heavy card stock with matching white envelopes. Here is a peek at those cards. For more details follow the link by clicking on the photos.



Other news... A few years back, I had the great honor and privilege to illustrate the words of the late and amazing Margaret Wise Brown, the author of GOODNIGHT MOON. It is a sweet nativity story, titled ON CHRISTMAS DAY. I have decided to sell some of my first edition copies in my shop here. This is the first edition signed by the illustrator, me. This might be a fun one to add to to your family Christmas traditions.




And now on to the adult coloring books that I now have available! Fun and unique gift options for you or your crafty friends who love to color! There are now 3 to choose from! Click on the photos below to get more details of each.








Besides all of the new fun products I have been adding to the shop there are LOTS of art prints to choose from, too!

As always, thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you!
 

 

Phyllis


♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

Be sure and follow my social media networks to keep up with all that is going on. Here are the links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

It's here!!! WE DID IT!

Dear Friends,

It's here!!! Thanks to all of you who gave your input, WE DID IT, again!  Another Phyllis Harris coloring book is available today at this link.  It will also be available later in the week on Amazon as well. Keep an eye on my facebook page for updates!

Since I have been illustrating children's books since 1999 and I am the illustrator of over 35 children's books, I thought it was high time I created and published a children's book myself! I am SO excited!

Introducing my 2 in 1 coloring/story book. And my studio companion Cassie give her hardy approval!



It makes a wonderful keepsake!   Adults can enjoy the act of coloring AND enjoy reading with their little ones after the book is complete. This 32 page coloring book/story book featuring a lovable little girl, Emma and her golden retriever friend, Brandy. It includes the 14 timeless one-sided images created on nostalgic cream colored paper.



For those of you who are new to my blog, here is a little back story on Brandy and Emma...

In case you haven't noticed, I have lots of art featuring golden retrievers and a small blonde headed girls? Ever wonder why? Many of you on this list are already familiar with my Brandy and Emma characters because of the stamping/crafting community. But for those of you who don't know who Brandy and Emma are, let me explain.

Here is the original Brandy, the golden retriever and Emma.(aka Em or Emily, our daughter, the photo taken many years ago, as she is now a mama herself.)




Brandy was our very first beloved golden retriever who has been gone from our lives for many years now but never gone from our hearts. She was the dearest creature and I often thought she was an angel sent by God to our family.

There are still lots of my first coloring book, the heART of childhood,  going out to their new homes so be sure to get your copy soon as I am down to three last boxes and I would be so honored if you shared this link to my coloring book with your friends and family who might enjoy this new fun craze of adult coloring. It is so relaxing after a stressful day. Oh, and be sure to use the FREE U.S. SHIPPING coupon code USShipFree at checkout!




As always, thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you!

Phyllis


♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

Be sure and follow my social media networks to keep up with all that is going on. Here are the links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/

What's next?

Dear Friends,

Often times, as a solo-entrepreneur I run out of ideas. What I mean is, as I am trudging along going full speed ahead doing whatever is on the top of my priority list, i.e.- getting my new adult coloring books out to the public, and then I realize...what's next? As a small business owner, my job is never done. That's not a complaint, but a realization that I need to always be in the creative mode, at least a LOT of the time. That's not necessarily a problem since I LOVE what I do; create art! However, in putting my business woman cap on, I realize I need to keep the momentum going so.... I have been working behind the scenes on a BRAND NEW idea. A Brandy and Emma Coloring Book/Story Book, a 2 -in 1 book. 1, adults can enjoy the act of coloring and 2, enjoy reading with your little ones after the book is complete. It makes a wonderful keepsake for everyone to enjoy for years to come! Be watching for it's release any day.

You may ask...who is Brandy and Emma?! Have any of you noticed I have lots of art featuring golden retrievers and a small blonde headed girls? Ever wonder why? Many of you on this list are already familiar with my Brandy and Emma characters because of the stamping/crafting community. But for those of you who don't know who Brandy and Emma are, let me explain.

Here is the original Brandy, the golden retriever and Emma.(aka Em or Emily, our daughter, the photo taken many years ago, as she is now a mama herself.)





Brandy was our very first beloved golden retriever who has been gone from our lives for many years now but never gone from our hearts. She was the dearest creature and I often thought she was an angel sent by God to our family.

The character of Emma was based on our own precious daughter, Emily as a small girl. I am thinking it is finally time to create a book just for the two of them to go on their adventures! What would you all think of a coloring book of  The Adventures of Brandy and Emma?

To get a vision of what I am speaking of...Here are few of my best selling wall art prints that will be included in black and white sketch form in the coloring book.






There are still lots of my first coloring book, the heART of childhood,  going out to their new homes so be sure to get your copy soon as I only have 3 boxes left! And I would be so honored if you shared this link to my coloring book with your friends and family who might enjoy this new fun craze of adult coloring. It is so relaxing after a stressful day. Oh, and be sure to use the FREE U.S. SHIPPING coupon code USShipFree at checkout!




As always, thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you!
 

 

Phyllis


♥ Gifts that give back ♥

Phyllis Harris Designs & You – Giving the gift of love and healing

Every purchase of a heart-warming Phyllis Harris Designs illustration print donates 5 percent of every illustration print sold from our website to Children's Mercy Hospital.  

Be sure and follow my social media networks to keep up with all that is going on. Here are the links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisHarrisDesigns
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisHarris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/phyllisharrisdesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/phyllisha/