My grandmother, whom we lovingly called Gran Gran, lived in a house that meant everything to our family. It wasn’t just a home — it was a legacy. Built from the ground up by my grandfather, Fred, in the early 1960s, it was one of the first houses in an up-and-coming neighbourhood in the small town of Blakely, Georgia. My grandfather took immense pride in building that home for his wife and their growing family — my mom and uncle.
Although my grandfather passed away when I was just two years old, his presence lived on through that house.
Growing up, Gran Gran’s home was our family headquarters. It was where we gathered for Christmas holidays, summer breaks and countless family celebrations. My sister and I spent so much of our childhood there — it was a place filled with warmth, laughter and love. As we grew older, our parents still made it a priority to take us back whenever possible, because that home held our roots.
That home wasn’t just a property. It was her childhood. It was our family’s memories.
Later in life, Gran Gran was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. My mom made the selfless decision to move back to Georgia to care for her, dedicating four years of her life to being by her side. After Gran Gran passed away in 2016, my mom returned to Arizona — but she did everything she could to hold onto the house.
Gran Gran had been a pillar of her community, and keeping the house felt like a way to honour her life, her love and everything she represented. For years, my mom tried to maintain the home from afar — managing upkeep, repairs and two mortgages — simply to keep it in the family. Eventually, the financial weight became too heavy. With a heart full of emotion, she made the incredibly difficult decision to sell Gran Gran’s house.
Watching her go through that process was heartbreaking. She was devastated to let it go — but also grateful knowing another family would have the chance to create new memories within those same walls. It was a moment of loss and hope all at once.
I wanted to find a way to comfort my mom. To help her hold onto what truly mattered.
So, I created Home Sketchery™. I gifted her a framed portrait of Gran Gran’s house — an artistic keepsake that captured not just the structure, but the soul of the place. A way to keep the memories warm, present and close to her heart, even as the home itself passed into new hands.
That moment became the foundation of Home Sketchery™.
Today, I create custom home portraits for families, homeowners and realtors who understand that a home is never just a building — it’s a chapter of life. Whether celebrating a new beginning or honouring a cherished goodbye, Home Sketchery™ exists to preserve the stories that matter most.
Because homes may change hands — but memories deserve to last forever.
