I have the Leslie Alford Mims house illustration in the show.  I illustrated it back in 2008, as  a gift to the Town of Holly Springs, as a one year anniversary gift of Your Door & More to the Town.  My former business partner and I were able to present it to the Mayor of Holly Springs, Dick Sears.  We were able to get a photo opportunity in the Holly Springs Sun, a local paper.

This kick-off reception is the first of three receptions; the second March 26-April 23 at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex.  The last reception is April 16 7-9pm at the Cary Chamber of Commerce.

The actual tour is Saturday April 17 10-5pm and April 18 12-5pm at each individual artist home.  You are able to see the artist you like in their environment, and be able to talk to them one on one.

Please come and see the wonderful work that has been created by local artists right here in our own backyard!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

This is a major investment in my business and in me.  I did not want something set and standard.  I love contemporary and flexible pieces.  Looking around I found nothing local that fit my ideal or my budget.  I have always been a big fan of IKEA, but alas, they built one in Charlotte NC.  I had been down to Charlotte a number of months ago with the kids on a get-away weekend and thought, this is what I need!  We had my sister stay with the kids and the animals and headed down last weekend.  I wanted furniture that was easy to assemble, clean lines and flexible.  No cherry credenzas with brass for me, beech wood and stainless steel, please.

The store is nearly 5,000 square feet, has a restaurant and a warehouse attached!  It was wonderful.  My husband and I wandered through, just exploring all the cozy vignettes set up to demonstrate all the things they sell.  We went to our hotel for the night.  On Sunday we woke early to get a prime parking space and started shopping.  The first trip was for the miscellaneous things we needed, a new lamp for the living room, cable management system, some pot holders,  new kitchen rug and more.  We lugged those purchases out to the van and headed in for the second trip.  We focused on a bookcase for the dining room.  Our personal library has grown over the years and the old press board cheapo has seen its better day.  We chose the Billy with glass doors.  Those were put in the van too.  We ate lunch in the cafeteria, oooh the Swedish meatballs and lingonberry preserves with mashed potatoes, yummy!  The last trip, my dogs were barking, even in my Sketchers, was for the desking system.  I chose a corner tabletop with two extensions on the side.  I now fill the room.  A rolling file cabinet with pencil drawer and a file/storage unit on the other wall with a garage door storage and glass doors.

We stuffed all that into the van and drove home carefully, the weight was unbelievable.  Heavy stuff!  Jim has worked for 4 nights now assembling all the stuff.  This weekend, with our snowy forecast, I hope he will finish up the book case and the upper glass storage area.  I am now open for business!  My monitor sits atop the monitor stand, at the correct height for optimum viewing.  My elbows, legs and knees are at a 90-degree angle.

Bring on the work!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

I am thrilled beyond belief!  I will be donating my illustrations of the local historic buildings and homes in Apex.  The society will be using the illustrations as note cards, to be a constant source of income.  They currently only have the annual plant sale as an income source.  This will better allow them to further restore additional ailing structures in Apex.  The cards will be on sale, later in the year at The Rusty Bucket shop, on Salem Street and at the Maynard-Pearson House, the headquarters, during the annual Christmas Homes Tour.

My goal is to capture the unique stories and character of these beautiful, historic Apex homes.

Brenda Priest
Your Door and More

Carpal Tunnel runs in the family, Mom I had surgery and so did my Sister.  It scares me!  I will do my best to protect my wrists!

Wish me luck!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

I looked at the house on Google Maps and found an excellent shot from the Street View.  I printed out the image and worked from that. The Christmas surprise was a huge hit.   She never knew.

After looking at some other homes on Google Maps – Street View, there are some home images that are not viable as landscape items are in the way, the home may be set back too far from the street, the lighting may be poor or there is not a Street View available for the area (mainly in more rural areas).  Please ask me to investigate to see if there is an image of a home you are considering having illustrated, I may be able to be sneaky and use Google Maps!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

As a note, once an illustration is complete re-prints are easy to make and at half the retail price, its a great value for all.

Think of Your Door & More for all you gifting needs!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

Julie only had an image from her Brother’s website.  He is an Owner and Architect of Chesapeake Architects.  He renovated his own home as a project for the firm.  Julie is often pressed to find a Christmas gift for him, as he is a self-proclaimed perfectionist.  I was able to work from that .jpg image on his website to create a beautiful hand-illustrated home portrait of his personal love, his own home.

If you don’t have photographs, please let me know, there are all kinds of ways to get a photo!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

Whole House

Porch Only

Clients will change their minds, I can sometimes accommodate changes (with limitations).  Had a friend who had me illustrate the front porch of her home for Christmas.  I even included their traditional Santa statue, that lights-up and talks.  I emailed a proof to her and she did like the illustration, but it was not as she imagined.  She preferred to have the entire home illustrated.  This was at the peak of my busy time.  Unfortunately I was not able to add the rest of the house to what I had done already, it was a complete redraw.  She did have to wait another 2 weeks, as I had deadlines for other clients to accommodate.  She was very understanding…thank-goodness!

The end result was exactly as she had wanted, but without the Santa, as he would be too small to see in that scale.  She purchased 200 greeting cards to share with Family and Friends.

Proofs are a valuable tool so you can see what your illustration will be like before printing!

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

“I Can Move Mountains!”  That was good for my ego.

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More

Christmas on Lake Holiday is beautiful, as told by a client’s Daughter.  I was contacted by M. in October.  She was looking for a Gift Certificate for her Mother.  I was able to mail it in time.  Mother contacted me in December.  She opted for an 8″ x 10″, note cards and address labels.  It was a fun project.  This is the streetside of the home.

I love the ‘funky fir’ that was specially requested by the client (far right hand of the illustration), as part of her master landscape plan, its such a cool little tree.

The streetside is hung on the left side of her china hutch in the dining room.  She has designated the right side to be the lakeside of this newly constructed vacation home, which she plans to commission in 2010.

Think of Gift Certificates for your loved ones.  I can create a beautiful certificate I can mail and then later directly contact them to do the work.

Brenda Priest
Your Door & More