Autumn in Franklin and A Christmas Card Design

Over the weekend of November 11th through the 13th, I took a getaway with my dear Mother to Franklin, Tennessee. I love this charming town just south of Nashville. The specialty shops are always a delight to visit but especially during the fall months. I find it so relaxing (and lots of fun, too) to search for antiques and other treasures before the hectic Christmas rush begins. Though plenty of Christmas decorations adorned the shops, there was still a trace of harvest time in the air with the falling pine cones, mild November temperatures, pansies in garden beds and ornamental cabbages in planters arranged on old porches. Unfortunately, I forgot my digital camera at home so I had to rely on my cell phone.

I managed to capture some favorite sights from this weekend’s trip and this morning, I took a stroll to my own garden and snapped a shot of English Ivy growing on the fence. This Ivy is the resource for my latest illustration, The Holly and the Ivy. I hope to remember to photograph it through the different stages before the work is finished.


( Holly tree at The Factory in Franklin, TN)


(Tucked away in the holly tree...)

( I love the beautiful colors found in ornamental cabbage. )

( Scarlett Scales is a lovely little shop on Margin Street. They have lots of botanical and natural history prints here. Check out this charming shop online.

( The floral designer at this shop is quite good. )

( Historic porch at Harmony Homes)

(The ever so sweet and beautiful shop Kitty at Harmony Homes...napping in a warm chair without a care in the world.)


( Here's my latest illustration in progress. I've just begun the toning process with Faber-Castell polychromos dark sepia.)

( English Ivy from my garden.)