I was comissioned by one neighbor to illustrate another neighbor’s home for a milestone birthday.  Since it was for a birthday, I had to be covert.  Made sure Beth & Bob were not home and did a drive by shooting.

Funny, you can look at a house for years and years and really never see the details.  I don’t think I knew that they had a lamp post in the yard.  Most new homes don’t have lamp posts, I don’t!  I want a lamp post now!  Driving through the neighborhood, I only counted 3 out of 200 homes, that is low!  It adds warmth and charm at night and draws the bugs away from the front door.  To get one, I would have to have a tunnel underneath the side walk and that sounds way-way too complicated, an electrician is required and a switch put somewhere.  Forget it!

Well, the upside is Beth loved the illustration and Chris & Lisa gave an original, unique gift!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

Her office is on the corner of Highway 50 and Highway 42, in Southern Raleigh.  She is in a strip mall and when I offered to do an illustration, I don’t she was too sure what it would look like.  Her ribbon cutting was July 29.  My co-organizer and I attended the event for moral support and I also wanted to present her with the matted and framed illustration.  She was visibly moved!  Toni showed the drawing to each person in attendance.  I was honored she thought so much of it.

Toni was fascinated that I took the trouble to put her name on the door in the illustration, she told me yesterday she took a magnifying glass to see and she said, “my name was actually on the door!”  Those small details I don’t forget.

Good luck Toni!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

I was emailed pictures, as traveling to Massachusetts was out of the question.  She sent pictures from various angles and an interesting thing she pointed out to me, she has an outdoor clock.  I have never seen one before but it is an important part of the home.  She instructed me to be sure to illustrate it.  How cool is that?  An outdoor clock at your home.  It was a first for me!

Marsha loved it and her sister did too!

If you have someone you would love to give an illustration to, consider a gift certificate!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

Joanne & Al’s home is a true Victorian, with dental molding, a turret and fish-scale siding.  I have not  toured the home but from the outside, its an illustrator’s dream!

It’s been a pleasure!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

As two working professional, both with jobs and houses, they did not need a cake server or a serving platter.  What came to my mind was an illustration of their home.  Lisa moved into Sam’s home.  A great established home off Yates Mill Pond Road.

The wedding was stupendous, simple and elegant.  Outdoors in Wilmington on a horse farm.

May the years be kind to you!

Love your Sister,
Brenda

I am an Inside919 member.  A virtual for networking location.  There is a Holly Springs Group that meets monthly.  We all share the common interest in networking where we live.  I attended the event at Southern Roast Coffee in Holly Springs.  There were 20 or so people there, some I knew from other networking venues others I have seen their profiles on Inside919, others were new faces.  In situations like this you push yourself to meet some new faces, exchange business cards and find a common interest.

On the first meeting of the Holly Springs Group, I met John Carmenate of Realty World on Salem Street in Apex, North Carolina.  Our interaction was casual, we exchanged business cards and commented that we both live in the same Subdivision in Holly Springs.  We moved on to other people.  The event ended and I made some notes on the back of his business card.  It helps me remember when and where we met.  The card was filed in my business card book I keep at my desk for reference.

I was at my desk one afternoon and John called.  At first I did not recognize him, but he explained we had met at Inside919.  It rang a bell in my head.  He had sold a home to a family and wanted to give them a thanks you gift, as he was the buying agent.  We decided on a framed and matted 5″ x 7″ home portrait.  The new homeowners will forever have a memento of this purchase.

You just never know when and where you will meet your client.  Glad I took the time to make an impression on him.  I had my 10-second pitch ready of what Your Door & More can do for him as a Real Estate Agent.   Do you have your 10-second pitch ready?

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

While researching Fuquay-Varina, found out that William Fuquay’s great-grandson found a natural spring that was touted to be mineral water with healing properties.  Word spread and many came from road and rail to “take the waters’ and its healing qualities.  Local businesses catered to these tourists in the newly named Fuquay Springs.  During the Civil War, many local southern ladies wrote to troops, to boost morale, one of these was Virginia Avery or ‘Varina’ She fell in love with the local school master JD Ballentine.  The nearby business district was named Varina.  Road improvements and automobile travel to the coast started the decline on the springs. In 1963 Fuquay Springs and Varina combined to create the present-day Fuquay-Varina.  The strange name is often mispronounced,  Fuquay-Varina (pronounced /ˈfjuːkweɪ vəˈriːnə/).

I was delighted when my good friend Julie moved into a renovated home. As a housewarming gift, I illustrated note cards for her. On the day I stopped in to help unpack the kitchen, I gave her an IOU for cards. I did a ‘drive-by photography session’ and snapped the pix.  Delivered the finished cards , she is so excited!

When you need a housewarming gift, think of Your Door & More to fill the bill; note cards, greeting cards or a framed illustration of the home can be perfect!  The history lesson is free.

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

I presented Principal Proulx with the image on the day of the Ribbon Cutting, July 1.  There were Wake County Public School System officals there, town and local goverment representivies and many other exicted parents and future students.  An exciting time for all.  He hung the matted and framed image in the administrative lobby.

I received a Thank you card from Principal Proulx – low and behold, there was my illustration!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

I had a chance to meet and talk to her Husband, Ed for a half-hour or so on the front porch of their home.  We talked about where we have been, what we have seen and where we want to go to in life.  That relaxed type of conversation was so nice.  I love getting to know people.   I am definitely a people person.  That fellowship is so important in my life.  I want to thank Ed and Joanne for making such a big impact in my life!

Let me help you give such a wonderful & personal gift to friends or family.  Its a gift that they will cherish!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

‘Join us for the “February Follies” Car Raffle & Auction. Hundreds of items to bid on during our silent auction, followed by the car raffle beginning at 7. Don’t miss out on one of our biggest nights of the year!’

I offered an illustration to be raffled off.  The lucky winner contacted me and I drew this beautiful illustration of their home in Fuquay-Varina.

I attended the event, and what an event it was!  Hosted by Prestonwood Country Club, there was table hors d’oeuvre, beer, wine and dessert.  I bid on quite a few things.  I won a Cookie Lee gift certificate, a 2 night stay at a hotel, and solar string lights.  Great night had by all!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More