The 2023 Calendars Superstars Revealed!
Ready to discover which of your furry ones will be gracing the calendar months of 2023 and entering The Little Dog Laughed Hall of Fame? Of course you are! But first, some project background explanations.
This year you might have noticed that I tackled the competition slightly differently by splitting the diaries and calendars into two separate projects. There were two reasons for this. Firstly to allow for the potential delays in production and delivery times of the diaries. We got caught out last year and our diaries didn’t arrive till late October. Secondly, with the significant increase in competition entries I wanted to increase the winners from 24 to a potential of 48. You send me such great images and stories and I really hate disappointing people, especially when you have gone to the effort to share your loved ones with me. As always, thank you one and all for doing this.
How did I do on these new aims?
Not brilliantly to be honest. I completed the diaries two months early, expecting to have them in stock for August. Unfortunately, due to the knock on effects of Covid measures, our manufacturers shut down production for six weeks and delivery has since been put back twice. Utterly frustrating when I think about the late nights and life juggling that occurred to complete the artworks early. We are desperately hoping they will be here by the middle of September and that we escape more delays. It’s currently in the Lap of the Docks. Pray for us and I promise to let you know the minute they arrive.
And with regards to the calendars, I didn’t manage a full 24 brand new muses. A combination of artistic block / inability, school holidays, having too many ” What is there to eat?” children and of course the unexpected time and mind snaffle curveballs life likes to throw at us. I also really loved some of the diary muses whose stories made them too good not to include.
So there you have it, all my excuses and waffle. Now for the bit you have been waiting for!
The 2023 Scruffy Mutts’ Calendar
Hector the Cocker Spaniel
Katie Green
Widget the Terrier
Melissa Isaac
Boris the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Chester and Barney the Cockapoos
Emma Ridout
Maisie the Wheaten Scottie
Elaine Hutchison
Grace the Staffie
Gina Smith
Monty the Jack Russell
Sheila Austin
Walter the Terrier
Tania T
Cooper the Italian Spinone
Linda Stanley
Monty the West Highland Terrier
Katie Gray
Gilly the Jack Russell Chihuahua X & Ralph the Poodle Lurcher X
Bethany Wylie
Dougal the Scottie
Patricia Wilkinson
And that’s your lot for the dogs! You may have noticed that there is a definite leaning towards Terriers, especially those with a Scottish heritage. Be assured this was not intentional but rather the happy coincidence of the paint flowing in my favour every time I attempted these little ones. With each project I always have a number of artworks that end up on the not quite right/damn awful heap and this year it was the Labrador and Whippets that foiled me. Despite always aiming to have a variety of dogs, sometimes my drawing ability completely deserts me. However, I promise I never give up, Monty the Westie, Mr October is testimony to that. Katie sent me his photo about 5 years ago and I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve spent trying to capture his likeness. I now know to walk away when the paint refuses to play ball. I also realised when I had completed this year’s projects that I have an unconscious bias for snoozers and could easily have created a calendar dedicated solely to the paw twitching, dream moments of our furry ones at sleep. I don’t know about you but I feel such contentment when I’m at work and glance across at my handsome beastie as he sleeps. Goodness, I am rattling on, sincere apologies, let’s get straight to the purring ones.
The 2023 Magnificent Moggies’ Calendar
Bella & Mitzy
Janet Parker
Eddie the Maine Coon
Pamela Teague
Mooki the Ninja Warrior
Fiona Anderson
Phoenix the Cat
Catherine Sawkins
Isabella the Adventurer
Julie Murphy
Merlin the Bengal Cat
Vicky Tyler
Jaffa The Ginger Tom
Ian & Julie c/o Liane Morris
Oliver the Tabby and White
Trish Roberts
Wolfie the Cat
Mary Cheong
Tiger Lily the Tabby
Jacky Neills
Lillie-cat the Maine Coon
Pamela Teague
Juno the Tortoiseshell Cat
Sue Voules
And there you have it. Our 2023 calendars are ready and waiting to hopefully be filled with lovely plans to meet friends, celebrate birthdays, go on holidays or simply keep track of administered flea and worming tablets! However you use your calendar, I hope either of these offerings manage to add some happy to yours or a friends day. To secure your copy or find out more, click here 2023 Calendars
To all the lovely muse owners, thank you for your patience, I’ll be sorting your prizes over the coming weeks, it always amazes me how long it takes to collate and pack each box so please bear with me and if you haven’t sent me your preferred postal address, send me an email when you get a moment.
And finally, as always, a genuine heartfelt thank you for sharing your loved ones with me. This project would be nothing without your help. There were so many worthy winners this year but time, talent and monthly slots were all against me. I plan to have a couple of weeks catching up on admin and will then return to my art board and muse inspiration file and attempt to capture the likeness of more of your furry ones. Watch this space!
All the very best
Anna Danielle
