Brand Ambassador Intro- Stephanie Bertics

Our 9th Ambassador for 2020 is the incredibly talented Stephanie Bertics. Her quilts are stunning and we can't wait for you to see all the amazing projects she creates using Michael Miller fabrics!

Hello! I am Stephanie Bertics of Quilt’n Party. I live in the Metro Denver area where I have lived most of my life. I work full time as an Information Technology Business Analyst for a large Telecom company, my job is all about helping to improve business processes through automation; specifically, I document requirements to help the project team understand what the client is requesting to have built. It always strikes me how many technical people are also quilters. I think we like to play with the soft, cheery fabric to reduce the stress.

1. How long have you been sewing/quilting? My earliest memory of sewing is when I was about six. My grandmother taught me to do simple embroidery where the patterns are stamped on the fabric. Recently my mom found one of my first projects packed away in her basement. It is a baby-sized blanket with a deer on it. I turned it into a throw pillow so I can always see it. Mom and I were always doing something crafty over the years so creating has always been part of my life. There are no quilters in my family, but I was always fascinated by quilts, I started quilting around 1999 and I am self-taught. 

2. What other hobbies do you enjoy?  I really enjoy getting outside to take photos, and that typically involves hiking or walking. I’m lucky to live in a state with so much beauty and decent weather. I also love cooking and I enjoy hosting dinner parties for friends.

 

3. What was the biggest change in your life in 2019? 2019 was a year of change. After my dad passed away mom and I decided that it made sense for us to combine homes. It’s been a big change for both of us. The hardest part was figuring out where to store all my fabric. Before I moved in with her, I actually went through a bit of a fabric purge in order to reduce the size of my stash. After 6 months I think we have the fabric situation all figured out. 

4. What is your favorite food? I love Mexican food. I could eat it every day. I also love Hungarian food. My dad was Hungarian, and I learned to make all the wonderful Hungarian dishes from him.

5. Do you have any pets? No pets right now. But if you’re wondering, I prefer dogs. 

6. What is your favorite color? That’s so hard to answer plus it depends on the application. I love blue, like the color of the sky. But I wear a lot of black. I love to see red in a quilt, and green, I really like green.

I am so excited for the opportunity to be a Brand Ambassador for Michael Miller fabrics in 2020. I hope to come up with some great projects to showcase the fun, cheery fabrics.

Follow me!

Website: https://quiltnparty.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/quiltnparty/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quiltnparty

We're so excited to announce our 2020 Peek Into Batiks Monthly Quilt Along. Starting in January 2020, there will be 1 new block for all 12 months featuring our beautiful batiks. Stay tuned for more details. We can't wait to sew along with you! 

Friday Feature :: Paola Phillips of Sweet Julia!

Today's Friday Feature is all about Paola!

* Me, photographed by my 3 year old, she asked me to pose just the same I ask of her when I take her photos

A brief introduction:

PP: I’m a stay at home mom to two beautiful children ages 3 and 5. I am hyper by nature and love creating things, from candles, painting and bows all the way to sewing. I was born in Lima, Peru and moved here 15 years ago. I am married to an all Texan man (think love of steaks and the outdoors) who lets me dream and create without complaining much. The main reason I blog is because my husband is tired of hearing me talk about sewing, so I had to find a place to express myself.

* My children

Q: Do you have a favorite project that you've created?

PP: The Allie Oop dress I created for the great pattern hack. First, because I worked in a different way this time: I had the fabric first, so I created my project around the fabric instead of having a pattern in mind and then going to find the fabric. It was also the first time I changed a pattern other than by length. It changed the way I create!

* Allie Oop dress - hacked
(Featuring Swan Lake Collection)

-         Q:  What are you working on at the moment?

PP: Top secret! Lol! Actually, spring/summer dresses and bags.

* My sewing Space. I kicked my children out of the game room and took it over. They have toys all over the house, so I thought It'd only be fair I had my own sewing space. They will survive. 

Q: What are your goals for the future, both work wise and life?

PP: My main goal is to be able to make an income doing what I love most, which is creating/sewing so I have the flexibility I need to spend time with my family.

-         Q: What are you doing when you’re not creating or at work? What hobbies do you have?

PP: I love spending time with the kiddos! I have memberships to the zoo and museums so I love to take them out on little excursions.

-       Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you?

PP: That I wanted to be a lawyer! I actually went to law school back in my native Peru and dropped out after three semesters, now I am pursuing a degree in Art.

-        Q: Do you have any favorite blogs, magazines that you read?

PP: I love Hailey Crouse’s Welcome to the MouseHouse, actually her Norah dress was the first PDF pattern I ever bought and made. I also get magazines that my sister sends from Europe, I guess it never hurts to see what the rest of the world is sewing right?

-         Q: What else should we know about you and your work?

PP: Well, I am a perfectionist at heart, so anytime I make anything, I give it my best. Even when I make clothes for sale, I make them as if they were for my own daughter (and sometimes I make things I don’t have the heart to sell so we keep them.)

-        Q: Do you have any tips or inspiring words for others?

PP: Sure, I remember feeling like my work wasn’t good enough, or didn’t look professional enough, then one day I looked at one of my daughter’s store bought clothes and got a confidence boost: The stitching was not perfect, some seams were a little uneven, and I paid money for those clothes. After that, I was never as hard on myself.

-        Q: Do you admire any artists, photographers, and people?

PP: Of course! The list is too long but I sure am constantly inspired by all the women that are able to make an income creating. I am most inspired by my mother, who at the age of 55 decided to finally go to college and earned her degree at age 60.

-        Q: Favorite?

   Color: Red

   Animal: Dog

   Season: Fall

   Movie: Gone with the Wind

   Book: To Kill a Mockingbird

   Vacation Spot: Paris

   Food: Peruvian!

-        

      Q: Where else can we find you?

PP: I’m on my blog: Sweet Julia Boutique, on Instagram @sweetjuliaboutique and facebook as Sweet Julia Boutique

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Thanks for sharing, Paola! We're inspired by your creativity!

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