It’s about time that all of you got the pleasure of meeting our furriest and cutest employee. If you ever come by the office you may get to meet him. Just be careful if you come around lunch time…you may encounter a white flash running down the hall with such force it blows your hair back! The white flash is Delphi, our office dog, racing down the hallway to have his lunch time apple!
Delphi and I had a chat awhile back, and this is what he had to tell me about his life as Clothworks office dog:
I was born in San Rafael CA at the Guidedogs for the Blind campus. I came to Seattle when I was 8 weeks old.
My mom, Angela was raising me to see if I could become a guidedog for a blind person. I was pretty good at most of the tasks, but as the months went by, I got more distracted and stressed by all of the sights, smells and sounds around me. On my first birthday it was decided that I wasn’t cut out to be a guide dog so my mom officially adopted me. Hooray! My life got much easier! Although if you ask me, my mom is still pretty strict…..(only 50% of the dogs being raised to be a guide actually graduate and work. Just like we all aren’t cut out to be doctors or lawyers, not all dogs can handle the stress of being a guide dog.)
My mom and I have gone to lots of obedience classes since then so that I could learn many commands and “work” my brain. I get to go to work with my mom every day and it is my second home. I am definitely a “people dog” and am very lonely when I am by myself. My friends at the office are very nice, and throw my toys for me sometimes too. I like to run up and down the hall first thing in the morning when there aren’t many people there. I mostly stay on my bed next to my mom’s desk, but even when I lay in the walkway, everyone just steps over me!
A highlight of my day is when mom and I go outside for a short break. I like to grab my leash and play tug with her.
I also LOVE lunchtime! ( I am a lab after all!) Even though I don’t get everything that I want, I get a couple of treats while everyone else is eating. Sometimes they even drop bites for me!
Here’s a picture of me and my mom.
Thanks for the chat, Delphi! I’ve got to say, nothing brightens the day more than a nice petting session with Mr. Delphi…
Have a great weekend, and Happy Quilting!
Many of us at Clothworks are sewers, creative-types, and yes–quilters!! Here is a fun Q & A I did with my friend and coworker, Joyce. She is our Design Coordinator at Clothworks and is quite the sewer!! She’s always coming up with all kinds of adorable bags and purses, so she has earned the name “Joyce the Bag Lady”.
Brandi: How did you get started out in sewing?
Joyce: Started when I was 11. Growing up, I mostly had hand-me-downs from my sister. So when the elementary school I attended had a sort of elective class offering, I signed up for the sewing class. They taught us basics, and we created a very simple project…I think it was a skirt. My mom taught me a few more basics and helped me get through several projects. And I did a lot of experimental sewing.
Brandi: What inspires you to create?
Joyce: Fabric inspires me, patterns inspire me, talking to people and their ideas inspires me, walking through boutique stores inspires me. There are so many things that inspire me. If I love it, ideas start to pop into my head.
Brandi: Are bags your favorite thing to sew, and why?
Joyce: Right now bags are my favorite things to sew. With quilting there is a lot of time spent finding all the right fabrics for the project, cutting and piecing together and then finally quilting. With clothing there is a lot of preparation in fitting the muslin, adjusting the pattern, etc. That all takes time. Lots of time. Bags are quick, mostly easy and they make great gifts. And a girl can never have too many!
Brandi: Tell us a little bit about your career path with Clothworks.
Joyce: Clothworks used to be Fabric Sales Co. and that is where I started, in the office. I was there 9 years and then left to work for another company but came back to Fabric Sales a year later as a sales rep. That was a challenge! Trying to stay awake while driving long distances. And then getting to my destination and having to lug huge bags (this was before suitcases w/wheels that actually worked) of fabrics and notions into the stores. That lasted less than a year. I took another hiatus from the company to do my own thing (open a fabric store and have children) but came back to help out at Quilt Market, or to help at the local fabric shows when needed. Once again, in 2004, I returned to Clothworks. I have been working on the design team and I love it!
Are you passionate about bags, quilts, or some other type of textile fun? Tell us about it!! Comment on this post and tell us about your passion, and get entered to win your choice of any of the bags photographed in this post! Winner will be announced November 11th.
Ted Hoffman, CEO of Clothworks
Check it out!! Listen to Jason Brooks interview our CEO, Ted Hoffman on KIRO AM radio in Seattle, WA here.
