On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me…

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a-swimming
Six Geese a-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Swans are beautiful but they are non-edible and likely to go mad if you don’t have a lake for them to swim in (and even if you do have that). Now you have seven of them. Good luck. It’s also New Year’s Eve, after a horrible year. Here’s some seven swans to cheer you up.

1. Ameluria

Here geese sunbathing were rather fun, but her swans are really something beautiful.

2. Hester Durkan

Yes, I love her work. Her swans are a family of seven and they’re taking the safe approach. Smart swans indeed.

3. Justin Rowe

If you thought his six geese sculpture was beautiful, wait and see his seven swans. Probably my favorite.

4. Smallstuffink

Barry is the ironic artist behind the Small Stuff Ink shop, in which you’ll be able to find this seven swans card that calls them by name: wisdom, counsel, courage, understanding, knowledge, reverence and wonder. All stuff we need to face the new year.

5. Amanda Kelly

Amanda Kelly did beautiful minimalistic cards for the days of Christmas and they’re all absolutely wonderful. Here’s her swans, all swimming around in the stamp.

I’ve decided to continue showing you beautiful stuff (or at least stuff I think it’s beautiful) even after Christmas, but instead of having monographic articles featuring single illustrators I’ll be grouping them with themes. As a theme I’m picking the Twelve Days of Christmas, a British carol I adore. If you never heard it (you’re clearly not Britsh) I suggest you take a look at this incredible performance.