Time to start planning and organizing for the new year! With November already here it's time to select a calendar (or two!) for the new year and start planning ahead. I'm not sure if you're into calendars like I am, I'm not keen on the chain store variety as I find them large, clunky, and way to glossy for my taste... but there are many options so if you want something more original this post is for you. I found loads of unique (some handmade) calendars in many independently owned online shops and in small retail stores and started purchasing calendars again after years of only using small desktop ones. After finding these beauties, I have never looked back. Here are some calendars you may like to make planning for the new year a lot more, well... pretty!

Love this contemporary calendar by Suzy Jack.

Birds & Blooms Calendar from PaPaYa is so cheery and bright!

I really like the combination of illustration and calligraphy against black. This is by an independently owned online shop called Hello Handmade that just opened its doors this week.

Here's a unique calendar from Kiki & Polly: A Portrait for each month where your family snapshots are hand drawn in ink and digitally colored and printed with each month mounted to a piece of balsa wood for sturdiness. Wow!

Are you into silhouettes and flowers? A pretty nature calendar from Story by Mia.

Love wildlife? Animal calendar, also from Story by Mia.

Looking to gift a friend? Here's a shopping incentive from Shalom's Cottage Home, Buy one calendar, get one free!

Hungry for more? If you'd like to see many more of my calendar picks for the new year, please visit the annual decor8 2009 calendar round up. Enjoy!

(images linked to their sources above)