{Note to KR: this post is finished!}
Because it has whimsical & wise animals, a gentle "mission statement" for seekers and learners as well as gardeners ("pulling the weeds | planting good seeds"), and gorgeous, gorgeous letterpress texture, my pick for calendar and gift is the elegant:
Totem Animals at Play by Tara Hogan, INK+WIT:
On her blog post about this calendar, INK+WIT artist Tara Hogan, explains:
This year['s calendar] felt like it had to be more conceptual and also have a narrative feeling while staying refined and simple. Illustrating totem animals and their symbolic meaning fast became a passion of mine...
I wanted to give people something to get curious about, connect to, and investigate within themselves....
When these totem animals show up, especially during times of deep introspection, we can look at their grace, strength, adventure, and demeanour to perhaps find answers on our path.
The calendar is locally letterpress printed on a Vandercook by Boxcar Press using sustainable practices & 100% cotton paper made from tree-free fibres. Full size is 6″ × 11″ with 7 prints total to frame (5×7 or 6×6). It comes enclosed in an archival clear cello sleeve & packaged in a muslin bag with a fox gift tag.
Photo credits: All images from the INK+WIT online shop & blog. You can find ordering information & view more images here: