When I was a kid, Santa always left a calendar in my stocking. In my younger years they took the form of page-a-days honoring whatever comic strip I was currently engrossed in (think Garfield or The Far Side). As I got older, cartoons gave way to themes like etymology and 'this day in history', but the charm of revealing a fresh sheet each morning remained the same.
Today, with smartphones to remind us of the date and apps to send us push notifications for horoscopes, trivia, and inspirational quotes, the calendar has the potential to become an irrelevant holdover of a bygone era. Thank goodness, then, for all the artists and designers out there making calendars worthy of display long after 2014 has passed!
Lately I'm drawn to calendars that use typography, calligraphy, or hand illustration to make the weeks and months ahead look even more full of promise. Favorites this year include Land of Nod's jute wall hanging (right now it's $7 down from $30!), and Heather Lins Homes' constellations embroidery kit. But make no mistake. I still have a soft spot for the classic page-a-day, and I've got the Downton Abbey calendar to prove it!
Shopping Guide: 1. Hand-Painted Patterns Calendar 2. Chalkboard Calligraphy Calendar 3. Daschund Wall Calendar 4. Metallic Moon Phases Calendar 5. Stitch the Stars Constellations Embroidery Calendar 6. Have a Nice Year Calendar 7. Jute Illustrated Wall Calendar Images: 1. Abstract Numbers Calendar 2. Danish Minimalist Calendar 3. Big Numbers Kraft Paper Calendar 4. Animal Constellations Calendar