Bookstores of New York

I don't think you have to be a librarian - just a book-lover will do - to love exploring bookstores large and small. There are many the world over that I would love to visit (for example) but I would love, someday to visit the many bookstores of New York. So of course I was instantly enamoured by this illustrated series by Bob Eckstein in the New Yorker, featuring many unique bookshops, and the stories that they had to tell. I admit, I am eagerly awaiting the second installment in this series. See the rest of his illustrations here.

NYFW Illustrated

I was so excited to see that one of my favourite Fashion Illustrators (and fellow Canadian!) Danielle Meder of Final Fashion was illustrating shows at New York Fashion Week for Fiftythree using their sketching app. I am proud to say I own a gorgeous piece of art by Danielle (which I love) - and I think her illustrated renditions of the fashion from the New York runways are equally inspiring. Case in point? Her stunning sketch of an Alexander Wang (second to last image) audience member. I would put that on my wall in a heartbeat. I always feel a sense of pride when I see Canadian names doing great things in fashion, so of course I had to share. Check out the rest of the illustrations from this project at WWD on Paper.

Illustrations by Danielle Meder, Photos via WWD on Paper

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Cat Tatts

Librarians love cats - I think this is a given. I am certainly no exception, and while I don't actually own a cat at the moment (trying not to fulfill the single cat-lady librarian stereotype), I do love them.  When I discovered these incredibly adorable tattoos by illustrator Harriet Gray I could not have been more excited to try them out.

They're just like the fake tattoos you used as a kid - slip off the transparent film, stick them where you want them to go, moisten (in my case with a wet facecloth) and you're done! So far I've had more than a few comments about them from folk I've seen on my travels around town today who thought they were real. I might be a cat-crazy lady (hopefully not a crazy cat lady!), but I'm not sure I'd permanently tattoo them to my wrists!

If you want your own cat tatts - or any other lovely illustrations of the non-tattoo variety, do check out Harriet's shop, or her official website! 

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It's All in a Book

I love these pretty prints from Sophie Blackall. I think I stumbled upon them through the Kate Spade tumblr, and am so glad I did! These particular ones are from a series on missed connections: "based on real, anonymous messages posted online by lovelorn strangers", but the librarian in me loves that books feature heavily in these particular paintings. Who knew that bookshops and libraries are such a fantastic spot for romance?

I am always drawn to things that tell a story, and I love that within each of these pictures is a story of two people, of fleeting glances and furtive smiles and wishes for what might have been, or what is yet to come.

This last one was my particular favourite, and I loved it so much that I snapped it up out of Sophie's etsy shop right away. I haven't decided yet whether it will hang on my wall at home or be put up in a frame here at my desk (appropriately, in a library).