BPR: This is Laura Kluvo from Blogging Project Runway and I'm on the phone with season 14 designer, Amanda Perna. Hi Amanda!
AP: Hi Laura! How are you?
BPR: I'm great. Amanda, are you glad you returned?
AP: Yes and no. I mean, it is bittersweet. I made some wonderful friends and got to compete in some really cool challenges. Getting hugs from Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn! The part that was hard was being away from home and my team and my clients. I mean I was in the game and wanting to win, but part of me was always home in Florida. I'm glad I went back because now I can say that I got to compete in the show instead of just being on for five seconds.
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
AP: Definitely the Hallmark challenge. I know I got beat up a little, but I want to say that my design was 100% cards and not all of the designs were 100% cards.... It was very inspiring to be able to go in and select two huge bags of beautifully designed cards. I mean - the signature collection - they are all works of art. I don't even have the words to describe how overwhelming it was to be able to work with these cards. I work mostly with silk fabric so this was very different for me.
BPR: I have a reader question from Amy - where is the new workroom located? How far away was it from Mood? Why do you think you only went to Mood once in the first five challenges?
AP: The new workroom is in a beautiful space in Queens. It was gorgeous, I wanted to move right in. It was pretty far from Mood, but they set up our own "Mini-Mood" so we always had plenty to choose from.
BPR: Did you watch last week's episode?
AP: Honestly I have not watched it yet. I still have to catch up. I am very busy creating my Spring/Summer collection. Obviously my friends and family have been watching so I think I have heard everything that happened.
BPR: Okay, I have a reader question from Patrick. We see Laurie telling Ashley that three of you have already decided to throw Ashley under the bus. Did this really happen? Had you agreed on this ahead of time?
AP: No. This is completely false. We each believed in our own designs. We are not "Mean Girls." Candice and I actually helped Ashley sew her vest, we helped her complete her look. I am not a bully, I will help anyone. It's hard to be asked who you would eliminate. In this case, three of us happened to think that Ashley's was the least successful design.
BPR: Who is your best friend from the cast?
AP: Gaby. She will be one of my best friends for life. This is one of the best things about being on the show. We are very much alike. We really bonded on the show and we plan to see one another again soon.
BPR: If you could go back, would you do anything differently?
AP: Yes. I would have been completely focused on what I was doing instead of being distracted by thinking about my team back home at my studio. so, I felt a little bit guilty about that. Besides that I wouldn't change a thing. I stand behind my work. I did my best. I had a really great time.
BPR: I have a reader question from Kristen: Amanda, we love your own personal style. (I especially liked the bright pink print dress.) Were you wearing your own designs?
AP: Thank you Kristen! Everything you saw me wearing on the show was my own design except for the pink dress which was a vintage piece that I purchased at a shop here in Delray Beach. I try to have fun with what I wear.
BPR: What are you working on now?
AP: I am working on my Spring/Summer 2016 collection for the House of Perna. I am also introducing a second collection called the House of Perna Studio. It's a little more casual, for girls who want to throw on something cute and fun. So I am very busy but it's very exciting!
BPR: Where can we find your designs?
AP: Of course you can check my website - TheHouseofPerna.com. We are also in many boutiques around the country
BPR: Amanda, we are almost out of time, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
AP: Yes, I want to thank all of my fans for their support. Pease keep up with me!
