On this International Women’s Day we thought we would highlight a few women that were freakin’ awesome! Women that paved the way so that we could enjoy freedoms and opportunities. I read to my daughter constantly and I always try to add in non-fiction picture books of women that were innovators, that were courageous and that followed their heart. To celebrate women everywhere today we will be listing some women that rocked, maybe you heard of them, maybe you haven’t, either or we think you will enjoy our round up. Some of these stories are hard to believe that in a not so distant past women did not have many liberties/opportunities and how these women were able to overcome and were able to work around what seemed like insurmountable obstacles.

Caroline Herschel | Scientist

Okay, not just any scientist, one of the greatest astronomers of all time, the first official woman scientist, first paid woman scientist (hired y the king of England no less) along with her brother built the greatest telescope of her time.

Nelly Bly | Journalist

Elizabeth Cochran Seaman (May 5, 1864 – January 27, 1922), known by her pen name Nellie Bly, was an American journalist. She was also a writer, industrialist, inventor, and a charity worker who was widely known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, in emulation of Jules Verne’s fictional character Phileas Fogg, and an exposé in which she faked insanity to study a mental institution from within. She was a pioneer in her field, and launched a new kind of investigative journalism.

Carmen Herrera | Artist

A contemporary of  Jean Paule Satre , Jean Genet and Simone de Beauvior she worked along side many greats. Unfortunately, her career didn’t take the same trajectory of her peers and success alluded her. She sold her first painting at the age of 89 and was “discovered” by the art cognoscenti, which she says is good thing because,”getting old is expensive”.

Beatrix Potter | Conservationist

Many people know of Beatrix Potter as the beloved author and illustrator of  The Peter Rabbit series, but she was so much more. She was a self taught natural scientist and even though she was rejected from the prestigious school of Botany because of her gender her works on mycology (fungi) are still studied today. A conservationist she bequeathed the National Trust with the largest legacy donation in their history.

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Caroline Herschel Picture Book

Nelly Bly Podcast

Carmen Herrera documentary |Whitney article

Beatrix Potter

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Shirley Chislom

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Tristan B. is the co-creator of the world’s best + easiest product photography editing tool-Foto Rx | Shopkeeper’s Helper and one of the writer’s of this delightful blog.

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I have said this many times before, but it is so true, I am the worse blogger ever, I never want to share my discoveries, it takes me years sometimes to work up to it. I have gotten better but not by much. I am basically an inspiration hoarder, I guess I fear that I’ll start seeing a rash of derivative work? I don’t know, I have no really explanation. I do know I am tired of seeing other people share my discoveries before I do and with this whole blogging thing going the way of the Dodo I figure I have a year or less to get it all out, my clock is ticking, so we are going to make a concerted effort around these parts to share more and more of what is inspiring us at the moment. For me a good injection of inspiration makes me want to get up and do something, anything. Like right now, I am totally having a Garance Dore obsession a decade later than everyone else, I guess that cats out of the bag, but what if I shared her when I first found her? People would have marveled and lauded me and maybe I would get free things to blog about, maybe.

So, let me get on with the inspiration today, we started this year wanting to make some magic and designer/illustrator Milou Neelen is certainly creating magic with her Hotel Magique project, limited edition prints, greeting cards and playing cards. Her work has so many elements I admire–original/unique lettering (but of course), a muted color palette, texture, humor and the ‘piece de resistance’ magic!  There is definitely a fashion vibe going as well, she is just wildly talented with incredible range, even her more intricate drawings still have her stamp on them. I will link below to her site and some of my faves from her portfolio.

Here’s to turning over a new leaf and sharing more, because sharing is caring…

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Hotel Magique

Milou Neelen

Instagram

Portfolio faves I. II. III. IIII.