Brandi Johnson-Harris Lotus Sewcial Club

By Terry L. Watson Photos Provided by Brandi Johnson-Harris

While Brandi Johnson-Harris of Richmond, VA can do a whole lot of things, sewing is something she finds the most enjoyment with.

She is a wife and Realtor, and was educated in both private schools and the Richmond Public Schools system, before graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2003. She is the owner of A Touch of Lotus & Lotus Sewcial Club, which incorporates both sewing and real estate under one umbrella.

In 2019, Brandi started her journey in real estate. She says, “It wasn’t something that I was looking to get into, but it just happened that a family member was selling a property and needed some additional assistance. I helped, and that was pretty much all she wrote. I fell in love with helping people and assisting them with one of their life’s largest and scariest purchases,” she says.

Her venture into sewing happened in 2020 during the initial COVID lockdown. “My intention was to make masks to support my community and keep my family safe. However, that turned into a love for this new craft, and I began soaking up everything sewing. That included collecting notions and taking classes virtually. We were in a lockdown COVID, and since the craft store was deemed essential, I was able to go down a rabbit hole of sewing patterns,” Brandi shared.

She later decided to venture into garment making due to “cheesy date” that she went on with her husband, James. “I had the amazing idea to create one-of-a-kind matching outfits for us. Initially, my garments weren’t the best, but he has been a true sport in wearing my garments with pride. I can say I’ve come a long way with garment construction.” Bag-making came into play when Brandi saw a really expensive purse and focused on its construction. “I knew that it was something I could make. So with that, I set out to gain the skills essential for bag making and made it. I have been making bags ever since.”

As a realtor, Brandi helps people buy and sell homes and educates them on the process. She works with buyers who want to purchase by going the traditional route but also those who are wondering if owning a home is something they truly want to do. She also offers a lease-to-own program.

What does she love most about real estate? Her response is, “I love being able to help people educate themselves at one of the most pivotal points in their lives, along with seeing the joy that comes with purchasing a home. Whether it’s your first home or your fifth, the excitement of the new adventure and memories always await them.”

Regarding sewing, Brandi says she loves the ability to get lost in the creative process, allowing herself to make her creations come to life. “I enjoy knowing that each piece is one of a kind. It gives me a sense of confidence knowing that I’m wearing something I created custom for me, and I didn’t have to go to a thousand stores looking for that perfect piece.”

Real Estate, Brandi says, is a learn-as-you-go career. She decided to commit to it and asked her broker and seasoned agent many questions. “If there was something I didn’t know, I found out the answer, that helped build my confidence in my ability to be this essential business partner for my clients.,” she explains. Some of the challenges she faced with sewing are connected to her belief that she is qualified to perform at the current level. “I overcome these things by taking a deep inner look and knowing that my work is of a professional quality that any consumer would expect. Even though it may be a short timeframe, I have taken steps to work on my craft, and my work shows that.”

If she could rewrite the way things have happened for her with real estate, Brandi says she would have started with a larger brokerage. “I initially began with a broker who had no other agents or systems to help me succeed. It took me a lot longer to get my business off the ground while trying to figure things out on my own. For sewing, she appreciates the way things have happened thus far.

To learn more about Brandi and her brands, please visit her website.