Liz Stefan with some of her embroidered creations. - ContributedCAPE BROYLE, N.L. — Liz Stefan has been"sewing and weaving all my life," so it wasn't much of a stretch the Cape Broyle woman became an embroidery artist.
Stefan loves embroidering florals and old Romanian-inspired motifs. She also loves creating little sewn and embroidered birds “because they bring my love of nature together with my stitching. And the little owls are fun to assign personalities, too. People seem to really like owls and they are my most popular pieces.”From busy moms to youth ventures, these female East Coast entrepreneurs are using craft fair season to develop a side hustleStefan faced huge obstacles during the pandemic.
"I was spinning. That same day, the schools here closed. COVID became real. We locked down. No markets. No work. No money. And I have to tell my husband and kids that I am sick. I spent two hours in my empty house, sitting cross-legged on my floor, crying. Then I stood up and decided that I don't have time to be sad or sick. My kids will be home soon, and I have to work.”
"While people may think it was a heartless choice, it was the best choice. I made it. We needed income and he would be helpless at home," she says. “I'd play cards with my kids in bed and passively supervised them as they mostly cared for each other," she remembers.