Here it is, friends!
This time, just one week ago, Betsy and I sat in our little cottage retreat inspired by the previous day. We had spent our Sunday together ambling through my little stack of Mary Oliver's books, in search of the perfect lines for our project. We read to each other our favorites, made lists of them, went for a stroll, talked about the beauty of Oliver's words - how she so gracefully captures all that lives in a swelling heart when it walks through the world. It was a perfect day.
By Sunday's end we had our four excerpts. Four excerpts that beautifully explain how we feel about each season. Our remaining days together were equally magic. I'm so grateful for the time we shared. It's happens so rarely, two friends together for a concentrated stretch of time, uninterrupted. Such a gift. We hope we've passed a little of that on to you with our calendar. We hope it reminds you to breathe deep and head out doors, see everything, and be glad for it.
Because we wanted to create something extra special this year, each one is an original. Betsy has penned each and every season with jet black gouache, no two will be exactly the same. We've laid out the seasons so, when the bottom two inches are trimmed away, an original 5x7 remains. We love the thought of these quiet, and thoughtful celebrations being kept long after the year has past. We can't wait to hang ours!
Each calendar is enclosed in a gorgeous kraft envelope and sealed with black wax. Betsy has written out "two thousand eleven" on each and every one. Below Betsy's hand-penned year sits a little description:
A year of notes on nature's splendor.
celebrated by Hello Handmade Paperie
with the words of Mary Oliver
To find more details and to purchase our calendar, you can visit our shop! I am biased, of course, but I must say these calendars are stunning. Be sure to click the images to view them larger for a more detailed shot. I hope you'll love this special little calendar, too.
Love, S