When I heard about the brand new Hey Rooster General Store that just opened in East Nashville, I put it on my mental to-do list of places I needed to check out. By coincidence, I was driving along Gallatin yesterday and a gorgeous mint green narrow building with a “General Store” sign hanging above a bright yellow door surrounded by flowers caught my eye. It was Hey Rooster and I happened to have my camera with me, so I pulled a quick left turn and parked my car so I could check out their new digs.

Courtney was perched behind the counter and greeted me with a warm hello upon entering and information on all the handmade products sold in her store. She’s originally from Nashville, but has spent time in Louisiana and New York working in architecture and with Etsy, so it’s no wonder why the store is decked out with stunning treasures made by her friends (my favorite are the Brooklyn Grooming mustache waxes + peanut almond butter!) and family memorabilia like her lake house refrigerator and mother’s sewing machine, among carefully selected flea market finds. She has phenomenal taste.

She’s open until 5PM today, so take a little Sunday trip to her store and say hello! I promise you’ll find a one-of-a-kind treasure to gift a friend or yourself.

I spent some time at Churchill Downs over the weekend photographing all the fabulous fashion for ELLE.com at the Kentucky Derby. This has always been one of my favorite events to photograph because I grew up riding horses and competing on a world level. I hope to get back into riding one day, but until then, my yearly trip to the Derby will have to do!

Above are a few of my favorite shots, but you can check out the entire spread on ELLE here.

I first caught wind of Rebekka Seale and her work when I was perusing Frankie, and saw that Nashville was lit up on the Australian publication’s website. Through Rebekka’s feature, I was introduced to her work and naturally became a fan. Aside from Rebekka’s gorgeous house portraits and illustrations, her blog is also a well-curated look into her life and has become a site that I check regularly. Above is a glimpse of her charming studio nestled in her home that’s dripping with the most stunning interior design. She’s a girl of many talents!

Your paintings and illustrations are absolutely beautiful and meticulously done. When did it click that you wanted to pursue art full-time and your unique signature style evolve?

I studied art in college, but was afraid that I couldn’t make a living as an artist, so I went a different route and became a pastry chef. I spent a few years working in bakeries and owning a small cake business, but ultimately realized that it wasn’t really authentic for me. My sweet husband encouraged me to drop everything and pursue art and illustration full-time, so I did exactly that about three years ago.

When did you get your first big break as an artist?

Within the first year of quitting my “day job”, I was fortunate enough to have some pretty steady illustration work with a couple of different companies. But about a year and a half ago, Design Sponge featured my house portraits on their website, and all craziness broke loose! Since then, I have been having a hard time keeping my head above water, but it’s been super exciting and fun.

What are some of your go to sources for inspiration?

I get so much inspiration from books and travel. I re-read my favorite books over and over again (lots of Carson McCullers and Madeleine L’Engle), which always fill my head with the richest imagery. And whenever I can, I visit my favorite cities: New Orleans, Brooklyn and Fairhope. Sometimes, just the act of setting aside my daily routine is all I need to smash a creative block!

You’re from the Alabama Gulf coast area, but now reside in Nashville. Are there any hidden gems, or must see places and cities in Alabama that you would recommend scoping out?

My hometown of Fairhope, Alabama is about as gemmy as they come! It’s a tiny city that was founded in the late 1800′s as a utopian, single-tax artists’ community, and it’s one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see. It slopes along the Eastern shore of Mobile Bay, and the whole city is covered in flowers and a tattered curtain of Spanish moss. Lots of  artists and writers make their homes there, in the “fruit and nut” district, which is named after the trees that populate the area. But, it also appeals to the eccentric residents too!

If money wasn’t an option, and you had an entire Saturday to indulge and wander around Nashville, what would you do?

I would spend the entirety of the day navigating Nashville’s amazing antique store/flea market scene and buy everything. Then I would eat pizzas and drink wine on the porch at City House.

Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?

Yes! Set aside an entire year of your life and put every last bit of expendable energy into your business!!! I know it sounds intense, but developing a coherent portfolio and marketing your work on the Internet is a full-time job. It takes a lot of work and patience, but it will pay off.

I woke up at precisely 6AM yesterday and instantly knew I wanted to hit the road and occupy my restless mind with a new challenge and place. I did a mental scan of places by Nashville, and decided that Louisville was the city to set sights on for the day.

After a quick shower and coffee, I was out the door and on 65-N for the next three hours until I drove into the Highlands area, which is centered along a three mile stretch of Bardstown Road that’s filled with eclectic shops, restaurants and galleries. Leatherhead was the first place I visited, and boy was it a feast for the eyes with gorgeous hides and leather accessories draped and positioned in clever ways tempting you to drop some major cash. After forcing myself out the door, I wandered into unassuming book stores and record shops tucked away on quiet side streets lined with the most funky houses.

Later on in the afternoon, I sat down for a quick bite to eat at Uptown Cafe and then set off to the 21c Museum Hotel that’s located in downtown Louisville. Immediately upon entering, it was a sensory overload with the sweetest scent of spring and assortment of soft indie rock tunes lulling in the background, which seemed to perfectly match their cool interior and gorgeous artwork speckled all around. You see, this hotel is extra special because it doubles as a contemporary art museum that showcases work from emerging to renowned artists.

After I was done perusing and mulling over all the art, I returned to my car as the meter was clocking down from it’s last minute, and knew it was time to head back home after a very satisfying trip to Louisville.

A few weeks ago, I swung by Fort Houston for a studio visit with Jon Dalman of Dalman Supply Co. who creates custom bike locks. As of late, he’s been gaining momentum in the community (and beyond) with his one-of-a-kind pieces. I love how his company evolved out of a simple need, and has now turned into a full-time business with other opportunities in the works (stay tuned on that). Feel free to browse or purchase your very own bike lock here.

Hello dear readers. As promised, here is my New England photo diary. I booked off a bit more time for this trip to New Hampshire (where I’m from) for Easter, so I could document this area that’s close to my heart and bring you all a little taste of what the northeast has to offer through places in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.

On Monday, I spent time photographing the historical houses of Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH and driving along the seacoast around the Fuller Gardens area in Rye, looking at all the picturesque oceanfront mansions. This area also intertwines with peaceful side roads that lead to places like Union Chapel, which holds non-denominational Sunday services in the summer.

Portland, ME was full of quaint neighborhoods and artistic undertones flowing throughout the city thanks to hip local clothing lines like Seawall, and independent restaurants such as Eventide Oyster Co. in the Old Port. Bakeries selling fresh baked goods and coffee seemed to be on every corner, along with unique thrift stores and bars like LFK (decked out with old typewriters and books) in Portland’s Arts District where you can grab a craft beer and burger before heading off to class at Maine College of Art down the street.

While in Boston, I first visited the historic Beacon Hill area that’s filled with unique houses and architecture that will simply lace you with intrigue. I then took the Green Line to the Allston-Brighton area, which was a whirlwind of hurried college students dressed in lively colors blended with a hint of hip hop meets punk. I ended my day at The Liberty Hotel (which used to be the Charles Street Jail built in 1851), and sat back in their plush tiered-level seating with a cocktail and dessert as I let my mind wander on a tangent about what all these New England areas have to offer.

Hello everyone! I just got back to Nashville from a whirlwind trip to Austin, TX for SXSW. I’m a big fan of Austin, and even though I’ve already visited the city a few times, each returning trip I find something new that piques my interest and ultimately makes me fall that much more in love with it.

There’s just something about Texas that fascinates me. I would love to explore the state in more depth as there’s so much rich content that has me twiddling my thumbs in anticipation of an exploration. Next week I’m flying north and plan to photograph some cool spots and cities in New England.

Be on the lookout for more city photo diaries coming your way soon!