Project: Sketch Calendar 2008
This holiday I just didn’t feel like shopping so decided to make gifts: one something that would work for everyone. I toyed with numerous ideas but settled on a calendar.
I started late and didn’t have time to produce the whole calendar myself so decided to have them printed online. There are many services that will make custom calendars for you (Shutterfly, Snapfish, etc.) but those calendars are full-sized: 8.5 x 11 inches, closed. I envisioned something smaller. Ultimately I found Zazzle who offer a 7 x 5.5 inch (closed) calendar for under $20 each.
I choose twelve sketches from my travel sketchbooks and set to work on the website. Unfortunately, the Zazzle facility for customizing calendars is sorely lacking: inadequate to the task and very buggy. My dogged determination did not serve me well: I should have given up and tried something else but instead slogged through, learning the bugs and carefully working around them. Photoshop helped too: the Zazzle tools for adding borders and lettering don’t work so I added those elements directly into my image.
Despite the ordeal the results are quite nice. There are a couple of small problems (the spine is too small for the depth of the hole punches and sloppy cutting left crop marks on most pages), but the paper quality and printing are both excellent.
The calendars were well received, and I am glad I decided to make my gifts. Sadly, I can not recommend Zazzle right now but hopefully by next year their tools will improve.
I do recommend using your sketches as calendar content though. Sketches don’t have to be fancy to make a charming calendar and it’s fun to plan out the project and see the results.
For those of you who are curious, I have scanned all of the calendar spreads and you can take a look:
Update: I have had several requests to purchase this calendar. In fact you can, directly from Zazzle:
http://www.zazzle.com/trumpetvine
Right now it seems to be $17.95 plus shipping. I am not seeking to make any money on this, nor will I, but you’re welcome to order one if you like.
Related Topics: Holidays, Projects, Travel Sketching
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January 24th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Utterly fantastic! Wonderful to see your sketches come to life!
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for sharing the (as usual) very useful information. We can accomplish everything (except the sketching itself!) at our computers these days!.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Love your calender. I have a birthday calender. Instead of the calendar there are lines for each day (to insert a birthday reminder)Each month has a different painting. I have used it for quite a few years. I have thought it would be a great shower gift for a new bride with the names already added on the dates of family birthdays.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Excellent, Martha, thoughtful and beautiful.
The happy recipients of such a lovely gift will no doubt be reluctant to write in it!
January 18th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Oh, geesh, I would have loved to have bought yours instead of the one I actually have. I just can’t bring myself to buy a 2nd one.
You should do this next year, and then I can get a 2009 Trumpetvine calendar 😀
January 18th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Thank you everyone!
Irene: As for your question about an economical fountain pen, many people seem to like the Lamy Safari with Extra Fine nib. I have not tried it myself, but it apparently tolerates permanent ink well and makes a fairly fine line. It is widely available in stationary stores, at least in the US. And by mail order, of course.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I can just imagine how beautiful and special this calender must be…what a great idea Martha!
Ronell
January 17th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
What a great idea! And what an incentive to make sure you have at least a dozen calendar worthy sketches for the calendar!
January 16th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
these look beautiful! 😀
January 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
What a wonderful idea and your sketches work so well. They all have such a cohesive feel, with that ethereal look that you have to your work. Thanks so much for sharing!
January 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Thank you, everyone!
A number of people have asked about getting a calendar. You should be able to order it directly from Zazzle if you like, here:
http://www.zazzle.com/trumpetvine
Right now it seems to be $17.95 plus shipping.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
What a creative calender. Love the idea.
Happy New Year!
January 14th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
You are a source of inspiration to me. Thank you for so openly sharing your many ideas. I have been struggling in vain to come up with an idea for a personal gift to each student in my class. Something along this order may be just the ticket. Thank you.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
You always inspire me! Thanks for sharing.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Happy New Year to you.
What a lovely gift! And your sketches are so nice. Very professional. Your personal work made such a nice gift.
January 14th, 2008 at 8:15 am
What a fun format! The size is perfect for your lovely on-site sketches.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with various online sites.
I took some photos (In December) at an historic site here in Minnesota and I want to do some pen and ink sketches to give them to use for advertisements or whatever. You have given me a great gift idea for this volunteer site! Thank you and happy sketching in 2008!
January 14th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Sketches you chose for your calendar are very “trumpetvine”. I love the idea of a monthly visual of an artist’s work. I think I will try producing a calendar of my greeting cards next year.
Your calendar is beautiful!
January 14th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Beautiful pages.
Irene – Have you tried the Lamy Safari and Noodler’s ink?
I use both and no leakage, nice extra fine nib and the Noodler’s ink is archive quality.
January 13th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
What a good idea, and the results look beautiful as usual. Thanks for the links, and for the details of your probleml with zazzle.
January 13th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
What a lovely gift – I will certainly aim for doing this with my own work next year. Thanks for sharing.
I have been working with your demo sketch to clarify some ideas on inking, and what to suggest and what to detail – most helpful.
Waterproof ink coupled with a fine nib that travels remains the problem still for me, since I am not ready to invest in a Sailor. Any interim suggestions would be lovely from you or anyone else. I am currently working with the inexpensive Pen & Ink sketching fountain pen which the company claims to work well with their proprietary ink, and the extra fine nibs are very nice but the pen leaks like a sieve and the ink is not quite really waterproof. I am putting super glue around the worst seams and that is helpful, but the pen does not get good marks as a portable sketching tool because of the mess.
January 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
These are beautiful. What a nice gift! I’ve also seen them available from several other online vendors, including Vistaprint. They sent me a sample kit and their stuff looks good. They seem to frequently offer freebies including calendars.
January 13th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
That’s a great gift and, as always, your sketches are beautiful. An artist friend of mine made us a set of placemats for Christmas from her watercolor paintings. Hand-made gifts are the best and the most cherished.
January 13th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
These look terrific. You were smart to persist. Your recipients must be very please with the gift you made for them.
Happy New Year to you!
Kate
January 13th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Martha! Your idea is fantastic, and the sketches are really delightful! A nice mix of subjects–all true to your unique style.
Would you consider selling one to me? I would love it for motivation!
Great idea!
January 13th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Wow! Your frustration with Zazzle is very understandable, but I am so glad you pushed through it. Once again, your example of trying new ideas is motivating to other sketchers.
January 13th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
The pages look beautiful
January 13th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Another great idea! I’ll bet your gift-ees loved them. Sorry it was such a hassle. Online printed products are still very much touch and go, I think. But this is lovely.