A Homemade Approach to a 2010 Calendar
Originally, I meant to score one of the very cheap calendars at Muji and add a bit of rick rack trim to give it more personality. But when I finally made it to the store of Japanese minimalism and thrift on the 11th of the new year, there were no more planners to be had. “We sold out very fast this year.” Yes, I see that. But you see, my life needs planning, and I’m nothing if not a jotter: I scribble down each dollar I spend, appointments I have, assignments to complete, exhibits on the horizon, movies to add to my Netflix queue, ideas that strike when I’m falling asleep. Without a planner to scrawl all this in, I’m like a cowboy without a horse — utterly lost and not all that effective.
Rather than going to another store and plunking down more cash than I had initially intended to spend, I bought a plain notebook of graph paper for $1. How hard can it be to make a planner out of blank paper? Turns out it’s not hard at all, though it does take patience and a straight-edge. The reason, in fact, that today’s post is appearing so late in the day is that I have been steadily drawing lines and stamping out dates, creating order and delineation out of blank pages. This also gave me the perfect opportunity to catch up on this week’s The Bachelor. Nothing quite like crafting to cheesy entertainment!
Sometimes life buzzes along with so much excitement and celebration that the idea of sitting down to the sort of slow, methodical work that requires little more than counting and a steady hand is a welcome respite. Today, this was just what I needed. And now finally, twelve days into this new year, I feel equipped to take on the days.
Rachel Cunliffe: You have a lot of patience, but I too found it oddly comforting copying in my Facebook status updates into a diary - here’s a picture of it…33 weeks ago
Yeah, after showing this to Sebastian I realized how labor-intensive it looked. But if you’re just going to be sitting around watching movies, it’s a perfect project.33 weeks ago
Evon T.: Sarah, you had to make lines and date each page! How long did it take you to do all this? It’s adoreable. I do wish that I would be more of the type to jot things down and carry my planner with me wherever I go in case that next Home Depot run idea hits me, but I don’t. In an edition of Marie Antoinette last year, they showcased the most beautiful hand-made journals, complete with tulle, toile, lace, and elaborate stamping. Perhaps making a journal/planner would be a great way for me to start off the new year. I think that jotting ideas down become a habit…kinda like making the bed everyday before you start your day. Don’t you? The fabric behind your lovely planner looks just like the two chairs I bought last night at Home Goods, ‘cept the blue is more of a sandy beige. I just love anything damask and anything that reminds me of it. XOXO.33 weeks ago
Nikki: I was considering making my calendar this year too but got flustered just thinking about it. Maybe this should be a 2010 resolution for 2011 for me?
Thanks for the inspiration.33 weeks ago
Fran: The dollar stores have a nice selection of planner and they are usually well stocked well into the new year.
Every year I make my own running log book, but for some reason by the 2nd week I find I’m on line ordering one.33 weeks ago
Lynette Cornell: I don’t understand how people can live without planners. How do they keep track of their to-do items? I wouldn’t even know what day it was without mine.
I have found the perfect planner for my needs and at a very tolerable price of about $7. It is made by Blue Sky and featured big open spaces for me to write all my deadlines and appointments.
But more importantly, it is a record of time spent with people. I can look back and see a record of times I’ve gone sledding with my boyfriend or days I’ve gone skiing with my sister. It serves as a reminder of all the wonderful moments in my life.
It also gives me a sense of accomplishment to have a written record of things I’ve planned to do and actually done. Seeing those little checks marks for different accomplished tasks makes me very happy.33 weeks ago
Anne: Love the last paragraph. I too and feeling slowly equipped to take on the new year — pre-made Mokeskin calendar in tow.33 weeks ago
Evon, Graph paper made the line-making go much faster, and I love using my little stamps. I got through June during an episode of the Bachelor.
I’m all for buying premade calendars if you can find one at a price-point that makes you happy (way to go Lynette). I too love the feeling of checking things off and crossing things out — a real sense of accomplishment just from the daily to-do’s!33 weeks ago
Poppy: I did this! I used a carpenter’s pencil as a straight edge and constructed mine on a tipsy busride home after happy hour. Who needs perfectly even lines!
I am so relieved to be able to put all my occasions someplace other than my work outlook calendar which I can’t take with me when I leave work. I got a notebook with more pages than needed so I can keep my notes-to-self in the same place.
Thank you for a simple solution to my calendar woes!33 weeks ago
Yay, Poppy, I’m so glad you gave this a whirl, and exactly the spirit with which this DIY project was intended!33 weeks ago
Nosheteria: That is so much cuter than the sorry Baby Animals one that I will be sporting throughout 2010. I waited a bit too long to purchase my calendar as well, and the only ones that I could find were Lighthouses and Baby Animals from the WWF.33 weeks ago