Central & Gus
Clifford Taw Turkey Note Card
Clifford Taw Turkey Note Card
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Clifford Taw Turkey understood on a visceral level the overwhelming desire to connect at this time of year. The landscape softened from bold Autumnal colours into a mix of quiet greys and whites with only patches of brave, verdant green to break the beautifully melancholic panoramas. As the days drew colder and colder, and shorter and shorter still, there was a parallel longing to bring family and friends closer, too.
Clifford, certainly not exempt from this feeling, thought, “a wonderful thing always happens with this craving for closeness: it runs broadly. Strangers and acquaintances become friends and friends become family. It is like the universal yardstick changes. Distances are shorter. The distance between dawn and dusk; the distance the little red line of mercury travels up the thermometer; and the distance from me to you. It is like we have a fundamental need to offset the shortness and the coldness and the darkness and the corresponding quiet by adding light and warmth and merriment. With every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”.
Clifford’s equal and opposite reaction was decidedly decadent: an over-the-top potluck breakfast; perfect for celebrating a year of hard work, of faith, of community. He always waited to decorate his tree until guests began to arrive. Practically speaking, Clifford thought it most sensible to add ornaments and lights from the top of the tree and work downward, so not to knock those already hung. But philosophically speaking, he’d often say that the spirit of winter resides in those brave, verdant green conifers; providing comfort, protecting and reigning over all those tucked away, regenerating, growing, and preparing for when the days once again lengthen. How fitting then, to ‘crown’ his tree with a beautiful spire; a thank you for the sanctuary he provides. As they all gathered around, though, it became clear to Clifford that the tree, while beautiful and protective, was simply a symbol. He watched everyone welcome each other with a warm hug, share favourite family dishes - still hot from the oven - while catching up on all the neighbourhood news. He realized that they were the sanctuary, the protectors, and the comforters. The spirit of winter resides simply in the twinkling eyes and kind smiles that surrounded him not just on this special morning, but every day, everywhere.
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Note Card, A6 (4.5” x 6.25”) with envelope in protective cello.
On the reverse of each card is a whimsical tale of the animal featured. Entirely collectible, the stories intertwine, creating a much-loved community of characters.
We print on a luxurious 318 gsm, 100% cotton paper. Soft and durable, this paper showcases crisp detail and vibrant colour. We fell in love with our beautiful goldenrod shade, 90# envelope. According to the ‘World’s Favourite Colour’ study, people associate the feeling of joy with this colour. Also, this is the very shade that enrobes our trusty #2. As all of our images are hand drawn in pencil, we thought it appropriate to give a nod of appreciation.
We donate a portion of gross sales to animal welfare.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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They are — and that's one of the things that makes Central & Gus so unique. Every character lives in the same universe. They know each other, reference each other, cross paths at the switchboard, in the woods, at the patisserie, on the road. Collecting them is a little like reading a novel one chapter at a time — except each chapter fits on your wall or popped in the post for a stamp to someone you love.
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We spent a long time on this. Every Central & Gus illustration is hand-drawn in pencil — and so we are eternally inspired by the classic #2, enrobed in that particular shade of yellow. For that, we call it Ticonderoga Harvest. Studies on colour and emotion find that people associate this shade with joy — which felt exactly right. It also nods, quietly, to our farm roots, everything that grows out of the land, and also to a less tangible but just as important creative harvest. The envelope is not an afterthought. It is part of the story.
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They are extraordinary gifts — and we say that not as a boast but as something we hear constantly from our retail partners and customers. A Central & Gus card is not a card you send and forget. It is a card the recipient reads, re-reads, frames, or keeps in a drawer to return to. The story on the back transforms it from a greeting into a small, meaningful object. We have heard from one customer who had special date-day trips with his young daughter, each time choosing one special card for her coveted collection. The goldenrod envelope alone tends to stop people in their tracks. Another, a fiance purchased the entire set for his partner, a reminder of a day they spotted them in a shop and giggled while reading the stories aloud. These are not cards. They are moments, saved.
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Wholeheartedly yes — and the characters seem to know instinctively which age they are speaking to. Children are drawn to the illustrations, the names, the animals. Adults read the stories and find themselves unexpectedly moved. We regularly hear from customers who frame them in nurseries and living rooms alike, who give them to grandparents and grandchildren in the same gesture. The world of Central & Gus does not have an age. It has a sensibility — and that sensibility tends to recognise itself across generations.
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Yes — and we love that you asked. We offer curated collections and themed bundles. Our Open Water & Coastal set, our Woodland & Hedgerow set, our Wetland & Waterway, or our Start Your Collection bundle are all wonderful entry points. And for those that just wantall of themat once, The Whole Gang brings every character home together at a saving. Bundles make particularly wonderful gifts — there is something about receiving a community of characters at once that feels genuinely special.
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We do — and this is at the heart of everything we do. A portion of every gross sale goes directly to animal welfare. The characters you collect are not just whimsical illustrations — they are advocates. Every purchase is a small act of care for the natural world and the creatures in it. We are deeply grateful for every order that makes this possible.