They cut....and cut...and cut....
You might wonder what this recipient of an MBA from Babson College in Boston with a wickedly dry sense of humor and a propensity for philosophical discussion
has in common with this woman whose master's thesis "Fleamarket Sellers as an Emergent Occupational Group" has actually been checked out from the library at Western Washington University - more than once!
While it is true that they are both avid quilters and both crave a regular infustion of the lemon bars at the Port Gamble General Store, the other thing that they both share, a few days a month, is the joint task of kit and block of the month preparation at Quilted Strait. (A job by the way that they are way overqualified for, but seem to enjoy nonetheless.) Gail and Barbara, over time have evolved into a perfect team. Both of them used to work the counter at the shop - for a variety of reasons, including the commute from Port Angeles, they are no longer available to work several days a week. However, they do come by on a project by project basis, so we are all glad that we still have a chance to see them once a month or so, and that they still continue to be connected to our Quilted Strait family!
After they catch up on politics and current events on their commute from Sequim together, (Barbara drives 20 minutes to Gail's house, then Gail drives them another 50 minutes to get to Port Gamble), they get down to work. Gail functions as the project manager and organizes the overall task at hand, whatever it might be, and Barbara is the "double-check". Barbara does most of the cutting- she is very precise and meticulous, Gail does most of the packaging under Barbara's eagle eye. So when you get a kit from the shop, or a Block of the Month package, chances are one or both of these two have had their hands on your pieces of fabric. By the way, if you haven't been to our shop, or noticed that we have a partial second floor, the two of them are working upstairs in our workroom/lunchroom/storage area. It is also the space where I have my longarm, and Jerry has his table for cutting mats and framing. It is a really big space! It was the hayloft when the building was a stable - and is wonderful space three seasons out of the year, but just too hot to work in on sunny days in the summer - so we try to get all of our major cutting projects done before May or June.
Barbara and I first met on the first day she went to work for the previous owner of Quilted Strait (that must be about 10 years ago now). She was standing behind the counter with an electric cash register that would not open, and although I have not actually ever heard her swear, I presume, despite raising four teenagers, she doesn't know how, I think she might have been *!?* close! Fortunately, my auto parts store training kicked in and I was able to reach under the register and find that little latch that was the manual release much to the relief of the growing line of customers! When I bought the shop, I was wise enough to beg her to stay on, flowers do speak louder than words, and am lucky to count her as a friend and fellow reader - always ready with a good list of recommended books!
Gail and I met over fabric of course, when she was a customer at the shop when Quilted Strait was located in Port Angeles, and I knew that she was just the right person when I needed another employee. If you are fortunate enough to know Gail, then you know that you are always in good hands! Gail has the wonderful gift of making sure that everyone around her is taken care of. Her two beloved dogs, her friends, her Steve, her fellow quilters, her fellow employees and her "girls" (her three nieces). I am fortunate that she has taken good care of me as well, evidenced by the fact that she was willing to commute to the shop in Port Gamble for almost a year after we moved, just so I would be sure to have help getting off to a good start! We all count on Gail for movie reviews, her sympathetic ear and understanding heart!
Most of the days at the shop are good days, but the days that Barbara and Gail come to work "upstairs" are always extra good days in my book - especially when Barbara brings cookies!
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