ON a visit to my local library earlier this month, a leaflet on the counter caught my attention.
With the bright colouring pencils on the bottom of the page and the line 'not for kids' across the middle, I was intrigued.
``Release your inner child and explore the world of adult colouring with intricate colouring patterns and designs,'' it said.
The leaflet provided information about a local 'mindful colouring' group in my area that allows adults to explore the child that remains within.
A quick look on Amazon later that night and I was surprised to see that several of the top ten best sellers on the retail giant's website were adult colouring books.
It is a phenomenon that has inspired loads of people to relive their youth. Grown-ups are turning in their droves to the soothing art of colouring in.
Although adult colouring books first became commercially available in 2012, the trend became increasingly popular last year, with titles such as the Harry Potter Colouring Book and Johanna Basford's Enchanted Forest among the bestsellers.
Basford's intricate pen drawings especially, inspired by the flora and fauna from the area where she grew up, made for captivating images and immediately drew a following.
Quite simple, colouring books for adults have well and truly caught hold.
And it appears it is no passing fad either with around £20m worth of colouring books sold to adults last year.
Today, the activity of colouring is being considered an alternative to meditation.
Bookshops have been stocking their shelves as the trend gathers pace and such publications storm the bestseller lists.
But what makes these books so popular?
It seems that in the busy world we live in, when we are constantly sitting in front of a screen, this is simply a welcome distraction to life.
Once considered a novelty activity, stress experts are now praising colouring as a fantastic way of practising mindfulness.
It's being marketed as a stress therapy treatment, with some books created specifically to help de-stress and focus the mind.
But does this craze for adult colouring books actually just show how we have all become childish?
It has provoked much amusement for many, combined with a global pencil shortage and a recent surprise argument between the book industry and the Treasury over its tax treatment.
But maybe we should embrace the art of colouring in.
Bringing to life a pencil sketch using poster colours or sorting out our crayons and oil pastels used to be a favourite childhood pastime for many of us.
As a young girl, I used to love colouring in, neatly adding colour to a picture and creating a piece of art that would hopefully be good enough to be pinned to our family kitchen notice board.
With adulthood though, this pastime was forgotten and other activities took over.
But now we can tap into our past once again and remember those days of enjoyment at school.
Colouring brings us back to a simpler time, an activity that can invoke the easier and happier times of childhood.
Part of the attraction in adult colouring in books is the nostalgia element, reminding us of our childhood, allowing us to recreate that part of it that we once loved.
While I'm not going to carry crayons round in my handbag or replace my kids' artwork hanging on the fridge door with my own creations, I can see why people can enjoy the colouring in craze.
Colouring books also let us tap into our desire to be creative, without actually requiring any drawing skills.
And most of all, isn't it wonderful that people are actually not plugged into a screen for a change?
Since the activity doesn't require any special skills and all we really have to do is fill in colour in patterns or pictures, why not use it to de-stress?
Think of the beneficial purposes to adult colouring books, they can be therapeutic, relaxing and allow us to be creative.
Colouring books are no longer just for the kids, so let's grab those felt tips and crayons and get started.
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Competition
A psychological thriller, The Truth About Julia, has been receiving rave reviews since it was published.
The debut novel by Anna Schaffer, it tells the story of Julia White - a beautiful and intelligent young woman - who blows up a coffee shop in central London, killing 24 people before turning herself in to the police.
Apart from publishing a potentially ironic manifesto, she refuses to explain the reasons for her actions.
Clare Hardenberg, an investigative journalist, has been commissioned to write a biography of Julia but at the start of the novel she is on her way to prison herself. What has brought her to this point?
It has been described as a "stunning debut novel" and "one of the best thrillers".
I have three copies of The Truth About Julia to give away. To be in with a chance to win, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with the answer to the question below - to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday June 28 at noon.
(Q) Name the author of the The Truth About Julia?
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
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What's Hot!
Memories - The Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel in Enniskillen is celebrating its 40th year and is marking the occasion by asking people to send photos and details of special memories linked to the hotel. The nostalgic memorabilia will go towards helping create a 'Memory Wall' in the hotel reception area of photos of weddings, birthday parties and other unforgettable gatherings.
Fashion - CastleCourt in Belfast is preparing to inspire audiences with an event celebrating style at any size. Former New York plus-size model Charlotte Coyle will bring her beauty and hair tips to the centre tomorrow as models in sizes 12, 14, 16 and 18 fashion the latest style from across the stores.
What's Not!
Recluse - Zayn Malik has admitted he's something of a recluse in Hollywood, preferring to stay in "his own bubble". The former One Direction singer recently cancelled his first live UK performance over anxiety and said avoiding the celebrity lifestyle kept him sane.
Mourning - Star Trek fans are mourning the death of actor Anton Yelchin, who was killed when he was struck by his own car. The American star was hit by the vehicle as it rolled backwards down his drive in California.
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Competition winners
The winners of last week's Andrew Strong ticket competition are Mary Palmer from Kircubbin, Mairead Magorrian from Ballykinlar and Roisin Hall from Dunmurry.
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Easy Peasy Recipe
This week's Easy Peasy Recipe is homemade crunchy mustard, courtesy of Claire Kelly, owner of Passion Preserved who will be participating in the Hillsborough Farmers' Market on July 2.
You will need:
60g /2 oz black mustard seeds
60g/2 oz yellow mustard seeds
140ml/1/4 pt white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons clear honey
1-teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
A little extra vinegar, if necessary
To make:
Put mustard seeds and vinegar in a bowl, cover and leave for 1 and a half days.
Mix in the honey, salt and cinnamon and process in a blender till mixture is thick but not too smooth.
Add more vinegar if needed.
Pot in a clean sterile jar and label - ensure airtight or will dry out.
Try stirring this mustard into some mayonnaise and mixing with cooked potatoes as a potato salad.
Or add some cooked chopped chicken as a salad filler.
Experiment by adding chopped herbs, a little wine, whisky or grated horseradish.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Suzanne McGonagle,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
s.mcgonagle@irishnews.com
