About — Southern Toile

About Southern Toile

Created by artist Jennifer Grehan, Southern Toile is a celebration of a sense of place. The patterns are inspired by New Orleans, Mobile, and the seaside communities along 30A in Florida. These places have special meaning to designer Jennifer Grehan and those who live and visit those communities.

The hand-drawn traditional toiles are elegant remembrances of the festiveness of Carnivals in Mobile and New Orleans, as well as these cities’ charming landmarks and the scenic views along 30A.

About Jennifer

Jennifer Grehan is a graphic designer and painter based in Mobile, Alabama. She credits her grandfather, Mac McHorris, for her love of art. After Mac retired, he had a stroke and part of the rehabilitation included making art, such as papier-mâché birds and Easter eggs, and Christmas cards using woodblock printing. He hand-painted note cards and worked on crewel embroidery and cross-stitch.

“I was very influenced by my grandfather’s love of art, and still have his collection of artist’s books,” says Jennifer. “His drawing, printmaking, painting, and handmade art definitely influenced me to pursue graphic design and painting.”

After graduating, she found herself working in London, New York, and New Orleans where she began her freelance design work for noted publications and in advertising. She continued to pursue her love of art by creating hand-painted work. After hurricane Katrina, she and her family left New Orleans, settling in Mobile.

Having lived in cities with rich histories such as New Orleans — and now Mobile — Jennifer has an appreciation of their unique and timeless elements. Inspired by Mobile’s historic architecture, waterfront views, history, and Carnival traditions, she designed her first toile, the Mobile Toile. Hince the inception of Southern Toile.

Since then, Jennifer has created a Carnival toile for New Orleans and Mobile, Toile 30A for Florida, and Christ Church Cathedral for her local church in Mobile. She has designed custom toiles for weddings or businesses and loves making unique personalized creations for those who love the classic tradition of toile patterns.