The Closet Core Patterns & Core Fabrics Team: Meet the Class of 2021-2022!

Hey all! Since our little gang has grown a lot in the last few months with the addition of Core Fabrics to the roster (and some key changes to the home team), we thought maybe you'd like to meet all of us! While most of us work for either Core Fabrics or Closet Core Patterns, we're all in the same studio, and eat our lunches together so it feels like one big, happy family. As you can probably tell from this blog post, we are VERY serious, have no fun and get so much work done. Especially Harry. We will be sad when we graduate because "Seniors rule the school", but until that day comes, we are gonna tease Freshmen, be BFFs...F and occasionally write a term paper. Oh, and learn. That part's true. Get ready for the Class of 2021-2022, this group's a doozy!

Heather

(Founder / Class President)

Funniest thing that has happened to you since you started working here? I am topless or in my underwear a shocking amount of time since I'm always trying on pattern samples. They are doing construction across the street, and I inadvertently fully flashed a floor full of construction workers last week. You're welcome boys!

What was the worst haircut you had in school? I desperately wanted to be Dolores O'Riordan from the Cranberries in 8th grade (it was the 90s, we all wanted to be Dolores). I went to my tiny, small town hairdresser and asked for a bleach blonde pixie cut but panicked half way through and asked her not to cut it too short but it was too late to fix it. With my flat skull and cowlicks, I looked like someone had smashed me in the back of the head with a shovel and then weed wacked what was left. It was a rough year growing that one out.

What three things could you not live without? My dog Harry, tea, and something to do with my hands, whether that's sewing, cooking, cooking or petting Harry.

Tereska

(Core Fabrics Founder / Head of the Outdoors Club)

Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tactic: Head into the Canadian wilderness. I know how to build a shelter, grow food and make clothes. Hopefully that will be enough!

What is the meaning of life? 42

What do you collect and how long have you been collecting? When I was 19, I heard a piece on the radio about cork trees being at risk. Since then I have been collecting corks. I now have a lot of corks. Cork trees seem to be doing just fine though.

Emmanuelle

(Core Fabrics Marketing Coordinator / Visual Arts Major)

Favourite Quote:"Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (Alan Sillitoe by way of Alex Turner 😉

What three things could you not live without? Coffee, my seam ripper & "Station To Station".

The wisest thing anyone ever told me was…I can't remember if it was my mum or the banker (or maybe both): "If you're too afraid to check your bank account balance, you absolutely need to check it."

Amy

(Closet Core Marketing Manager / Yearbook Club President)

What trend or fad are you most embarrassed about being a part of? Bleached hair in the 90s. Don't do it yourself, kids!

Do you have a special place where you go to be alone? My sewing room is my special place where my kids aren't allowed in, I can lock the door and lose some hours. Crucial.

Best kept secret: Peanut Butter and dill pickles on toast.

Véronik

(Closet Core Production Manager / Head of the Metalshop)

What is your weirdest quirk? Eating lemons raw.

Would you rather go to outer space or the bottom of the ocean? Outer space.

Do you have a special childhood toy that refuse to give up? A toy clown from my mother. She passed away when I was little and our house was looted, so I have few things left.

Céline

(Closet Core Designer + Patternmaker / Home Economics Major)

What is your greatest fear and have you ever tried to face it? Spiders! I moved to Australia for two years, so I faced those a whole lot. I even gained a few funny stories to show off my incomparable bravery. Still terrified though!

Favorite quote: "I only know how to approach a place by walking. For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heart of the known awaits just around the corner"- Alex Webb

Finish this sentence: In 20 years... I'll be writing a novel, while sipping my coffee, on my beautiful terrasse, in Ostuni, the white city in the Italian heel. Yes, of course I will, you'll see!!

Monserratt

(Closet Core Production Assistant / Head of the Compassion Club)

What is your favourite smell? Citrus blossom

The wisest thing anyone told me was: “What I think of myself is more important than what other people think of me.” -Stephanie Dodier

What is the most important quality in a friendship? Forgiveness - Friendship can be sustained over the years only with someone who has repeatedly forgiven us for our trespasses as we must find it in ourselves to forgive them in turn. - David Whyte

Gretchen

(Closet Core Customer Support / Communications Major)

3 words that best describe me are: Sassy, tenacious, and delightfullyeccentric - that's one word right?

What is the meaning of life? Love.

Have you ever started a trend? Gluten-free peanut butter cookies topped with coarse grey salt.

Ama

(Community Manager / AV Club President)

What do you collect and how long have you been collecting? What don’t I collect haha. My newest thing is collecting nail polish. There are so many finishes and colours out there that I gotta have them all.

Favourite smell: Toasted Marshmallow

What’s usually the first thought in your head when you wake up in the morning? OMG is that a spider?! 10/10 it’s just my eyelashes.

Most likely to: Not pick up the phone from an unknown number.

Blare

(Core Fabrics Shipping / HAM radio club)

Favourite Quote: “Fix your hearts, or die.” -David Lynch

Would you rather go to outer space or bottom of the ocean? Outer Space. Less scary and also fewer things that want to eat you involved. Also, have you like, seen an anglerfish?

Weird nervous habits: Sweating, nail biting, compulsive doodling, leg wiggling, the whole nine yards. I’ve done them forever because I am a mess! (but I’m cute so it’s ok!)

Rika

(Closet Core Studio Manager / Class Clown)

Funniest thing that has happened to you since you started working here? During the Christmas season last year, I was alone in the studio and there was a doorbell. I thought it was one of the parcel pick-ups so I opened the door. It was a sister from nearby church with a big bag. She talked me something in French, I nodded as if I speak French fully but I got no idea what she was saying to me, When she finished talking, there was sort of weird pause because I didn't know what to say to her. But because I got a smart brain, I realized that this sister was here to collect money for Charity. I only had $1.50 in coins in my bag, so I handed them to her then she gave me a fantastic Jesus calendar for 2021! As a Japanese person with no religious background, I didn't know what to do with the calendar so I put it aside with a pile of packing supplies, then brought it to Provigo's donation box.

I'll never forget the time... I lived in Thailand

Finish this sentence: "In 20 years, I am going to be..." living in Costa Rica! Rika en Costa Rica, oh yay!

Anna

(Core Fabrics Shipping + Admin / Computer Lab Monitor)

A bad habit I refuse to let go of: Not using an umbrella no matter how hard it's raining. I always regret it, but I just irrationally dislike umbrellas.

If I was invisible for 24 hours: I would go splash around in as many public fountains as possible.

If I could go back in time and change one thing: I'd kidnap (mammoth-nap?) a herd of wooly mammoths so they'd still exist in modern times.

Courtney

(Core Fabrics Photographer / Head of the Prop Shop)

I could not live without? Music and art. (Or wine and cheese boards, that’s a close second)

What is your biggest achievement? My biggest achievement so far has been starting my own photography business!

If you could have tea with anyone in the world (from any time) who would it be? I would chose David Bowie. I collect records, hundreds and hundreds of them. All genres. Some specifically because they are fantastically weird or awful.

Best advice about life? My video teacher Lulu Keating at NSCAD said: “Pace yourself girl, it’s a marathon, not a race!”

Yukari

(Closet Core Kit Assembly / Bake Sale Committee)

Dream travel destination: London UK because there is a patisserie I want to visit (I love baking.)

Most likely to say: my sleepy boys' names every single morning (minimum 30 times). I have total 4 boys in my house (3 boys and 1 husband).

Do you have any bad habits? I tell myself every day not to watch Japanese TV shows but I cannot help it (Rika says it’s not a bad habit at all!) Hurray for internet! Hurray for VPNs!!