Meet Missouri Star: Amanda, Carol & Dylan

Today we’re back in the shipping department to meet more of the crew working to get your orders out the door! This department set a new MSQC record recently and we want to pause the get-to-know-MSQC fun to share about it!

On Friday, May 16th, they 2303 packages out the door. AMAZING! We can’t say enough great things about the people in this photo. They LOVE our customers and are truly just as fun to work with as you can imagine. Way to go, shipping crew!!

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Ready to meet some more of them?

AmandaG

Amanda

As you can tell from her photo, Amanda is a shy and quiet employee who started working here this spring. Don’t worry, though. We’re working to help her come out of her shell. *wink* 

Do you sew? My Grandma taught me how to sew along with crochet many years ago. Kinda got away from it when she passed away 11 years ago. I still sew simple things and patch, but after starting at MSQC I have found the desire to start getting back into it! Now to just decide what project I want to start with!

Any favorite fabrics you see while working? I love the variety of so many fabrics to choose from. Seeing the new stuff come in is pretty awesome.

Favorite thing about working at MSQC? Working with a great bunch of people is very refreshing!

CarolH

Carol

Carol is the Training Manager and prior to that, she managed the shipping department. She made the transition from customer to employee three years ago and we couldn’t be happier! 

How’d you land the job? I was a customer at MSQC before I was an employee. I was so happy to learn that a quilt shop was coming to Hamilton. I had been wanting to learn how to quilt. I took the very first class that was offered back in November of 2008. It was the zigzag table runner class. Some time later, I happened to be shopping in the store one day when Sarah asked me if I knew of anyone who needed a job. I said, well, maybe me. The rest is history.

What types of projects do you like to make? I quilt and love it. I have a goal of making everyone in my family a quilt. I also make baby quilts and love to give home made gifts. They just offer that extra special touch to show the gift getter some special love.

Favorite fabrics? I love all of the fabric that Deb Strain creates!

Do you have a funny work story to share? We like to take a little extra time to give our customer a little special attention in shipping by writing a hand written note on each order. Several of us at various times have been writing a note and maybe doing a little talking at the same time. Some notes that we have had to white-0ut include, ‘Thanks for the weekend’ and ‘Thanks for the water.’ Ha!

Any parting words for blog readers? I have been married 31 years. We have one son, a daughter in law, a granddaughter who is four and grandson who is 19 mos old. We love to travel on our Ultra Classic Electra Glide Harley Davidson. Besides quilting, I also love to read and am active in church activities. I have lived in Hamilton almost all my life and am ecstatic that our little town is coming to life, and has hope and a future. It means so much to me that it is hard to put it into words. (Missouri Star note: Aw! The feeling is mutual, Carol! We love this town, too. And our employees? We can’t ask for better!)

What do you love most about your job? Our employers make sure to let us know how much we as people and the work we do is greatly appreciated. We are told and made to feel that way in many different ways. Not something that I have experienced in such a way at other places I have worked. 

DylanA

Dylan

Dylan has joined MSQC about seven months ago. He doesn’t sew, but fabrics with camouflage or outdoor imagery catch his eye when they come through shipping. Speaking of camo…. Dylan loves being outdoors, hunting and fishing. Another fun fact? He works with his mother, Anna!

And the best thing about your job? The work environment is great. Everyone that I work with keeps the mood of the work place all happy. I feel like I’m just part of a big family and always feel very welcome as if we are all just a big family.

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Aren’t they so great? We hope it’s fun for you to put some faces with those notes in your packages! We’ll cover more shipping crew members later. Next week, it’s off to customer service!

Meet Missouri Star: Sara, Adriana & Julie

In this, the third installment of “Meet Missouri Star”, we head to the shipping department to meet three of the fastest shippers this side of the Mississippi! Ready to meet Sara, Adriana and Julie?

SaraT

Sara

Sara has been with MSQC for exactly a year (can someone order a job birthday cake, please?). She’s mother to three wonderful children, likes to paint, be outdoors and go on occasional movie dates with her husband. 

How’d you land the job? My interview was in the nutty guy room with Sarah and Al. There were no chairs so we sat on the floor for the interview. They initially put me in customer service, but the force is strong with Al so he moved me to shipping.

Do you sew?  I can sew, but not very well. I plan on taking some of the classes at the retreat center to increase my skills. I want to learn how to do everything.

Favorite fabric? I’m starting to like all of it. I’m definitely catching the quilting bug.

The best thing about working at MSQC is the people I work with. MSQC is definitely the most fun place I have ever worked!

AdrianaD

Adriana

Adriana has been with MSQC for four months and, while she doesn’t sew (Yet, we say!), she would pick batiks as her favorite fabric. The atmosphere is what she loves most about working for Missouri Star.

JulieD

Julie

Want to know a fun fact about Julie? Her daughter also works or Missouri Star! In addition to her daughter, her family includes a son who is in The Marines and her husband of 21 years. Julie joined the MSQC work family two years ago.

Do you sew? I don’t sew much. I’ve made a pair of pajamas for my daughter probably ten yrs ago. However, since working for MSQC I’ve made two quilts. I have three more planned!

Any favorite fabrics? I’ve worked with charm packs & jelly rolls. Equally easy!

The best thing about working at Missouri Star? There are several reasons MSQC is a nice place to work. It’s family oriented and I think it’s awesome to work in our hometown. Even as we grow Sara, Al & Dave like to stay connected with all employees. Everyone works together.

 

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Aren’t they super? If you’ve ever been in town and done a tour, you’ve most likely seen them working like busy bees (and grooving to a great song on the radio!). This department is full of staff, so we’ll cover a few more of them next Monday, too!

Meet Missouri Star: Mari & Amber

In today’s edition “Meet Missouri Star”, we head to the longarm quilting building to meet Amber and Mari. Ready? Let’s go!

meet missouri star, Missouri Star Quilt Company, MSQC, daily deal

Mari

Mari has been with Missouri Star for two months, but certainly isn’t new to quilting. She has always enjoyed crafts and has put together a few quilts in the past and picks primitive fabrics as her favorite.

As for her sewing, Mari explains, “I have done a lot of sewing. I just like to do quilt projects mostly. I haven’t done any for a while, so seeing all of the pretty fabric and all of the quilts that come in gets the quilting fever going! I have a snowman quilt in the works now that I need to finish. Maybe before winter…..”

Tell us about your family: I have a son and daughter. Brandon is married to Katie and they have three sweet boys. Samantha is getting married in June to Jace. I couldn’t ask for better mates for my kids. Being a grandma is, well, just awesome!! I love them all bunches!

Funny MSQC story: One time I almost sewed my long sleeve in the quilt I was doing. That would have been interesting!

The best about working at MSQC is that we are all connected with each other. Most of us started in the fabric store and then got moved to another department where they needed us or where we needed to be. I personally was thankful for that. When I started, I was healing a sprained ankle and was not getting around as well at the fabric store. They were concerned and sensitive enough to move me to the quilting shop where I could get off of my ankle and let it heal….which it has!! I am again thankful for that. We all seem to be concerned about each other, so it is a “family”.

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meet missouri star, Missouri Star Quilt Company, MSQC, daily deal

Amber

Ten months ago, Amber began working at Missouri Star. During a walk down the street in front of the main quilt shop, she felt the need to ask for an application and the rest was history. Shortly after that she began working in the main shop, then moved to shipping. She now works in the longarm quilting department.

Any special experience in the past that helps with your role at MSQC? I have a lot of customer service experience. I have worked in management for three different companies. I attended Northwest Missouri State University where my major was art education. My grandparents owned a shop in Chillicothe where they sold and repaired sewing machines. I am very skilled at off-loom bead weaving and hand sewing.

Do you sew? I’ve made several Halloween costumes. I’ve made purses and wallets. I’m working on a wall hanging and a table runner right now and love batik fabrics.

Tell us about your family: I have two sons, my oldest is 8, youngest 2. My 8 year old has autism. I’m able to better take care of their needs because of my job at MSQC. I just love telling people I’m a Longarm quilter!

Any MSQC stories you can share? I was working in the shipping department during the 2013 holiday season. I am a single mom and I have been working very hard to provide for my two sons. I was working away when I was approached by someone from customer service. She handed me gift cards and told me they were from their department. They wanted me to have a merry Christmas. They had all pitched in. I was moved to tears. I was able to buy a Christmas tree for the first time since becoming a single mom. It was a wonderful Christmas. I felt very blessed.

Best thing about working for MSQC: The days at MSQC go very fast. We have so much fun it doesn’t feel like work. Everyone is so caring and hard working. We have great customers, too. It’s so thrilling to see how excited they are to get a tour of the company.

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Aren’t these two great? We’re so blessed to have them in the MSQC family. We’ll profile more of the longarm quilters soon. And join us next Monday as we visit some busy elves in the shipping department!

Meet Missouri Star: Marissa & Sarah Sue

Welcome to the first installment of “Meet Missouri Star” where we introduce you some pretty awesome people- our staff! In this series, we’ll cover all departments and profile each and every employee. Look for a new post each Monday!

Today we’re off to the new Penney’s Quilt Shop, home to all of the solids and basics fabrics here at Missouri Star. Here, we’ll meet two cheerful ladies who work in the shop, cutting and fulfilling orders for a rainbow of fabrics!

Marissa

Marissa

Marissa is a cashier in Penney’s Quilts and is also responsible for pulling bolts and cutting internet orders that include solids or basics. She covers a lot of ground in a day, locating all of those bolts for cutting!

Do you sew? If so, what sort of projects do you make?  My grandmother-in-law recently gave me a sewing machine so I can start learning. My first project is going to be a table runner.

Favorite type of fabric: Modern, baby and also the Stonehenge line of fabric from Northcott. (pictured below)

Missouri Star Quilt, quilting tutorials, meet missouri star, quilt shop, solid fabrics

Best thing about working for MSQC: The best thing about working for Missouri Star is I don’t dread getting up in the morning. Instead, I look forward to learning something new and meeting new people everyday. The work I do is definitely hard, but I really don’t mind because I’m surrounded by laughter and a love for art from people all over the country and the people I work with are amazing. It’s a fun, positive environment to work in. I’m glad to be a part of such a wonderful company.

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SarahSue

 

Sarah Sue

Sarah Sue picks and cuts fabrics for internet and shop orders and she is a machine quilt operator, too! Her time with MSQC started a year and a  half ago and she credits her family for the job training! She says, “Having a big family helped me become a sociable person and taught me how to work hard, both of these factors are key in working in MSQC.” Her favorite type of fabric is anything BRIGHT, but she’s especially drawn to Moda Bella Solids in any shade of blue

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For more detail, let’s hear from Sarah herself:

Do you sew? “I do sew and really got into it after I started working with fabric and seeing all the different things I could make. I began with a baby blanket from a charm pack and then moved on to making queen and king sized quilts for family members. My second favorite creation was a personalized two person quilt for my parents’ bed. On one side of the quilt is old cars and route 66 signs for my dad, and the other side is tulips for my mom (tulips are her favorite flower). But my ultimate favorite was a quilt my sisters and I made for my dad’s birthday. It is a replica of the American Flag. It’s queen size wide but longer to be as close to the actual flag as possible. We even took the time to appliqué 50 stars for each state. And then I quilted it with bald eagles, which for my family is an American symbol of freedom, and rising through adversity.”

Favorite work story? “After I quilted and bound my dad’s flag quilt it got to hang in the shop for a while, right behind me on the wall while I worked the quilting machine. Because I saw it basically all day, I would hum or whistle patriotic songs to myself while working. I had a veteran compliment me and tell me how grateful they were that I respected what our country stands for and that I wasn’t afraid of showing that in public 🙂 It still makes me smile that I was able to bring such joy to someone who in turn made me happy!”

Best thing about working for MSQC: “The people! My employers are AMAZING! I love them to death and I look forward to work every day! My co-workers are also AMAZING and–even after a 9 month long break for school–we crack jokes and have so much fun together like nothing has changed! Best of all, though, are the people I get to serve everyday. People whose online orders I fill, people who come into the store, people I never would have met or heard their stories if I didn’t work at MSQC and participate in the wonderful, wide, and versatile world of quilting!”

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Next Monday, we’ll head over to the long arm quilting building to profile a few of the wonderful quilters there!