Page 5 - Inspirations

Designed to Inspire…

W hat better way to bless someone who is going through a difficult time than with an uplifting

message of hope and inspiration that you have personally hand-illuminated? Let’s not just call
it “adult coloring,” folks! When you add your colors and sparkle to one of these frames, you
are literally “illuminating” it—just like the monks in their scriptoriums, hundreds of years ago.

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Illuminated manuscripts have captured the imagination since the 6 century. Today, the blazing colors
and glittering gold leaf of medieval illuminations still captivate us. Such images have provided centuries

of inspiration through Bibles, prayer books, missals, books of hours and more.
It’s hard to imagine a process more meditative or “mindful” than the painstaking task of illuminating
scriptures, prayers, and other religious works. One can’t help but think of those medieval artists as the first

true “adult colorists”. Their goal was to illuminate and inspire—and that’s the goal of this collection as
well.

This collection includes 25 unique illuminated frames or borders. Each is presented twice, once with
a Bible verse that can also be “illuminated” with your choice of colors, and once without, giving you a
lovely, elegant frame for a picture or your own choice of message.

While several of the images in this collection are Victorian reproductions of medieval illuminations,
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the majority are actually works of the 19 century. Illumination techniques experienced a huge revival in
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the late 19 century, particularly in France, where artists were once again being commissioned to create
illuminated religious texts, books of hours and other works. Books and articles of the era also offered tips
for the everyday reader on how to create illuminated artwork at home.
Finally, let me hasten to point out that the scriptures included herein are of my own selection, and not

the texts that were part of the original images (most of which were in French!).
I hope that you will find inspiration and encouragement as you add your personal creative touch to

these timeless images—and that, again, you will find these pages a means to bless others!

—Moira Allen

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