One of my childhood friends always treated books in an oddly strict way. She would click her tongue and say, “You shouldn’t do that,” when she would see me dog ear pages, scribble notes in the margins, or even use a highlighter on a textbook. Actually, she still does. I think even someone as protective of books as her would admit that Emilie Ely’s floral sketches are a thing of beauty. @helloimemilie’s instagram is a romantic’s dream. Her gentle, intricate doodles find their way onto a myriad of objects, such as tables and leaves, covering them with the artist’s antique charm. My favorite are her old books, whose aged and worn pages flourish anew with elaborate blossoms. With elegant softness, her pen gives life and beauty to something old and tarnished.
