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

If you are interested in contacting them, please feel free.  You can tell them that I sent you!

Ladyslipper Landscape & Garden Design – Julie Tucker

Purple Phone PR & Marketing – Rachel Minihan

Thomas Babb Photography – Thomas Babb

Aim Group II Promotional Products – Ellen Sherrill

Home Video Studio – Sharon Galluzzo

“My husband grew up visiting his “Gram” on her family farm in OH. The memories he shares from that place envelop his childhood. Sadly, his Gram is getting older and one will pass on. And, who knows what will happen to the family farm at that point. I brought Brenda a photo of the farm – and pointed out a tree that my husband had given to his Gram at age 8, which now overshadows the yard. Brenda did a wonderful, very true-to-life drawing of the farmhouse, with the tree gracefully hanging in the background. When my husband opened the artwork on Christmas morning, it brought tears to his eyes (and that’s unusual, especially with his in-laws here looking on). Brenda’s work not only captures a location, but the moments in time that make up life. She was a pleasure to work with and deliver just exactly what I was hoping she would.”
Rachel ~ Holly Springs, North Carolina

“I could not be happier with the experience I had working with Brenda. She did a beautiful rendition of our home, made a little change without any trouble, and provided us with high quality cards. She is very easy to work with and really talented. I recommend her and her innovative business to you without reservation.”
Wendy

“Brenda is a joy to be around and to work with. Her work is impeccable. My cards mailed over the holidays but I enjoy every day the print that hangs in my living room. Light and profound. She has a great eye for detail and a brilliant laugh. It is my pleasure to work with Brenda and to be a member of

Apex leads group and Coffee & Contacts with her.”
Laura ~ Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

“Our son and daughter-in-law gave us a pen and ink of our Lake Home for Christmas this past year. Brenda was a delight to work with and we so enjoyed the front of the house that she did that we had her do a pen and ink of the lake side of the house. We have had many complements on her work and would highly recommend her.”
Barbara Hilder ~ Washington, DC

“Tirza’s Imports has commissioned Brenda on two separate occasions for Invitations for our 2009 Holiday Open House and for stationary used with store gift cards.|  Ms. Priest has done excellent work and given detail in filling our order. We have referred her services to some of our customers that needed a gift for someone that has everything and where looking for a unique item. In addition the pen illustrations are not limited to residential and can accommodate commercial requests.  Thank you Brenda for your special talent.”
Anne M. Acosta ~ Owner, Tirza’s Imports LLC, Apex North Carolina

I am an artist, not a business person.  That has never stopped me from doing anything that I have wanted to do in the past, but the joining of the Chamber seems really professional.  Artists can be professional too!  I don’t have an MBA,  but I am on a level playing field with lawyers, doctors, real estate agents, restaurants and businesses with a retail location.

One of those things I just need to get over!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

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