2016 Holiday Gift Guide: Vera Bradley Coloring Books Add Beautiful Patterns to the Adult Coloring Book Craze

New Licensing Agreement Combines Iconic Vera Bradley Designs With Fox Chapel Publishing’s Coloring Book Expertise

Women who love the beautiful colors and playful patterns of Vera Bradley handbags will soon have a new way to enjoy their favorite designs. Adult coloring books featuring Vera Bradley’s iconic style will be available for the first time this holiday shopping season, produced under a new licensing agreement with Fox Chapel Publishing.

Vera Bradley is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and travel items, fashion and home accessories and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand’s innovative designs, iconic patterns and brilliant colors continue to inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace.

“Vera Bradley’s distinctive patterns naturally lend themselves to coloring books,” according to Kati Erney, Editor at craft magazine DO magazine. “Their simple beauty just inspires you to get creative with gorgeous color,” said Erney.

The Vera Bradley Coloring Collection will offer four coloring books in an attractive boxed set.

Six coloring books will be released in the first stage of the new agreement. The Vera Bradley Coloring Collection will offer four coloring books in an attractive boxed set. Printed on heavy cardstock with satin ribbon bookmarks and foil-embellished covers, each book in the collection costs $10.00 and provides 20 coloring cards that detach easily to share with friends.

The Vera Bradley Coloring Collection will offer four coloring books in an attractive boxed set.

In addition to the boxed set, two full-size adult coloring books will also enable consumers to bring authentic Vera Bradley designs to life. Focused on floral and paisley patterns, these titles are priced at $15.00 each and include full-color instruction in coloring techniques, innovative craft ideas, selected color swatches, and detachable ready-to-color gift tags.

Vera Bradley Floral Patterns Coloring Book

Vera Bradley Paisley Patterns Coloring Book

“Coloring book consumers are seeking quality, and Vera Bradley’s exciting lifestyle brand will strongly influence their buying decisions,” noted Ray Wolf, Sales Director at Fox Chapel Publishing. “And we know that Vera Bradley’s target demographic closely matches the typical female coloring book consumer.”

The new Vera Bradley coloring books and gift sets will be available on a limited basis for holiday 2016 at Vera Bradley and Michaels stores, with a full rollout coming nationwide in Spring 2017. Select Hallmark Gold Crown stores will also have the Vera Bradley coloring products.

For more information about the new coloring books, visit www.verabradley.com and www.foxchapelpublishing.com.

Travel & Tourism: Disney Cruise Line Introduces First-Ever Marvel Day at Sea on Select Disney Magic Sailings from New York in Fall 2017

In 2017, Disney Cruise Line guests will unite and celebrate the epic adventures of the legendary Super Heroes and Super Villains from the Marvel Universe during a brand-new, day-long celebration: Marvel Day at Sea. The seven special voyages on the Disney Magic will depart from New York City in the fall of 2017.

Marvel Day at Sea combines the thrills of renowned Marvel comics, films and animated series, with the excitement of a Disney Cruise to summon everyone’s inner Super Hero for the adventures that lie ahead during this unforgettable day at sea.

Disney Cruise Line Introduces First-Ever Marvel Day at Sea on Select Disney Magic Sailings from New York in Fall 2017

Occurring on one action-packed day during each of the seven Disney Magic sailings, guests are transported to a new realm of possibilities when the Marvel Universe assembles on the ship. The event features all-day entertainment including exclusive interactions with some of the mightiest Marvel Super Heroes and the menacing foes that oppose them, an extraordinary deck party, Marvel-themed youth activities, special merchandise and unique food and beverage offerings. Highlights include:

• Unleash Your Inner Super Hero during the Ultimate Day at Sea
• Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor and other Marvel Universe Super Heroes are onboard for scheduled meet-and-greets and photos.
• A brand-new spectacular party fills the upper deck with music, dancing and games.
• The deck party culminates in a stunning display of themed pyrotechnics, lighting, sound effects and the largest collection of Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains ever assembled on a cruise ship.
• Kids and families summon their Marvel knowledge and enjoy friendly competition during trivia games, covering courageous heroes and fun facts from the Marvel Universe.
• For young heroes-in-training, Marvel-themed games, activities and arts and crafts will be offered throughout the day in the Marvel’s Avengers Academy in the Oceaneer Club.

Also featured are exclusive at-sea screenings of fan-favorite films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe including the newest theatrical releases, as well as viewings of the Disney XD shows: Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Marvel Day at Sea will be on seven- and eight-night Disney Magic Bahamian cruises departing from New York on Oct. 6, 14, 28; Nov. 4, 11 and 18, 2017. All will include a stop at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral, Fla., with a day at the Walt Disney World Resort. Marvel Day at Sea will be on one seven-night Canadian Coast cruise departing from New York on Oct. 21, 2017, with stops at Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit http://www.disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact their travel agent.

Diana Krall’s Classic 2005 Holiday Album “Christmas Songs” Is Released Back On Vinyl via Verve Records/UMe

#1 Jazz and Holiday Album Reissued As Double LP

Diana Krall‘s beloved holiday album, Christmas Songs, is now available back on vinyl via Verve/UMe. Originally released to wide spread critical acclaim in 2005, the album featuring the GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist/singer backed by the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was the #1 Jazz and #1 Holiday record in the U.S. upon release, and #17 in the Top 200. The album, which is being made available as a double LP just in time for the holidays, can be ordered and streamed here: https://UMe.lnk.to/DKChristmasSongs

Diana Krall Christmas Songs LP Cover Art

Christmas Songs follows the vinyl release of eight essential Krall albums this past summer as part of Verve’s ongoing 60^th anniversary celebration. On July 15, Krall’s acclaimed records – All For You, Love Scenes, When I Look In Your Eyes, The Look Of Love, Live In Paris, The Girl In The Other Room, From This Moment On and Quiet Nights – were released as 180-gram double LPs.

Christmas Songs was co-produced by longtime friend and fellow GRAMMY® Award-winner Tommy LiPuma, and features the talents of renowned bassist/arranger John Clayton (Count Basie, Duke Ellington), guitarist Anthony Wilson (Chris Botti, Michael Bublé), drummer Jeff Hamilton (Rosemary Clooney, Natalie Cole) and bassist Bob Hurst (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Saturday Night Live).

The Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra accompanies Krall for season standards including “Let It Snow,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” and “Jingle Bells,” while legendary composer Johnny Mandel contributes a string arrangement to “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.” Rounding out the album are perennial favorites “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Christmas Time Is Here” with a band that includes guitarist Russell Malone.

Brand Collaborates with Acclaimed Tattoo Artist to Launch New mike’s HARDER Tennessee Barrel Lemonade

mike’s HARDER Goes Even Harder With Lalo Yunda to Design Limited-Edition Ink-Inspired Collectible Cans

To celebrate the launch of the all new mike’s HARDER Tennessee Barrel Lemonade, mike’s HARDER is collaborating with acclaimed tattoo artist Lalo Yunda to create one-of-a-kind tattoo designs to appear on the new seasonal flavor limited-edition collectible cans. The all new mike’s HARDER Tennessee Barrel Lemonade combines the sweet tartness of lemonade with the smooth, smoky taste of barrel-aged whiskey.

Yunda – who appeared on season two of Spike TV’s “Ink Master” and recently opened his own studio, House of Monkey Tattoo, in Brooklyn – is entirely self-taught and is continuing to make a name for himself as one of the top artists in the country.

As tattoos continue to grow in popularity and evolve into mainstream culture, inked skin is seen as a creative form of self-expression for millennials, with nearly four-in-ten (38 percent) having at least one tattoo and about half of those having more than one.

mike’s HARDER Goes Even Harder With Lalo Yunda to Design Limited-Edition Ink-Inspired Collectible Cans

“Tattoo culture embraces the fact that the riskiest artwork is both painful and permanent, and HARDER has an incredible respect for that mentality,” said Sanjiv Gajiwala, vice president of marketing, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co. “By collaborating with artists like Lalo Yunda, we’re asking HARDER fans to push conventional boundaries by going even harder – not only with bold, intricate tattoo designs but as they live their truth out loud every day.“

The collection of HARDER-inspired tattoos – including bold designs such as a skull, snake and dragon horse – were crafted in Yunda’s self-described signature style of “magical realism,” which combines the inclusion of mythical elements within otherwise realistic, true-to-life images.

“Many years ago, tattoo designs were incredibly basic and a one-shot, simple design. With the evolution of both technology and the craftsmanship of this art form, tattoo designs have become much more complex and sophisticated,” says Yunda. “Tattooing is one of the biggest art revolutions in history, and over the course of the next few years, collecting tattoos will be of the same caliber as collecting fine artwork.

For more from mike’s HARDER, visit facebook.com/harderlemonade, twitter.com/HARDER or www.mikesharder.com.