HUNTSVILLE, AL., Nov. 21, 2022 – A dream comes true today for Alabama student Lacee Culpepper, who will travel to Barb’s Sewing Center in Huntsville to collect over $10,000 in prizes as a part of the BERNINA $100k+ Dream Studio Sweepstakes.
For the 24-year-old Rainsville resident and aspiring Civil Engineer, this is a dream that has been years in the making.
“When I was 12 my neighbor was a seamstress and quilter. I wanted a sewing machine, so I built a lemonade stand to raise enough money to buy one,” said Culpepper. “Unfortunately, I never got around to learning. But I held on to that dream and just recently, I picked up sewing again and started taking it more seriously.”
“My friend Brenda Jones has been teaching me, she sews on a BERNINA 790 and before I even entered, we had booked to attend a quilting class at Barb’s Sewing Center in Huntsville, so it feels like it’s meant to be!”
“Currently, I sew crafty items, but my goal is to sew garments and quilts,” said Culpepper. “This prize from BERNINA is giving me the opportunity to do things I would have never been able to afford otherwise and I’m super thankful for it. Thank you, BERNINA and Barb’s Sewing Center.”
Barb Martin, owner of Barb’s Sewing Center is delighted to be the one to officially welcome Lacee to the BERNINA family. She’s been serving the sewing community since 2001 and has been recognized as a BERNINA Excellence Dealer for over 20 years.
“We’re all excited for her. Our community of experienced sewists have been writing all our best advice for young sewists in a little book for her. We’re hoping it will help Lacee bloom and grow in her sewing journey”.
Brianna Martin, Store Manager, is Barb’s granddaughter and has been sewing since she was 5. Now 21 is proud to be carrying the tradition of sewing and wants to see more young people do the same.
“I love to see new, young sewists join our community,” said Martin. “New sewists bring fresh ideas and help take the traditional techniques and make them modern; we all learn from each other and help each other.”
Lacee will take home amazing prizes including a BERNINA Q 16 Long-Arm Quilting machine in a foldable table, a Fat Quarter box from Benartex, and gift cards from OESD, Amanda Murphy and Sookie Sews.
“The Q 16 is a great machine, especially for a compact space,” said Martin. “Retailing at $9,999 with the foldable table, it’s spacious enough for your biggest projects, sturdy, packed with performance features and discreetly tucks away when not in use.”
The competition is open to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.), 18 years of age and older. To enter, discover the Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure go to www.BERNINA.com.
