In the latest installment of our Meet Spoonflower series,
we’re pleased to introduce Mary Howell in her own words:
Today is my first day back working on the third shift, so I was printing before I decided to take a short break to write this. I am still trying to get my sleep schedule adjusted so right now I have probably had about four cups of coffee. Fortunately we have a great selection of coffee at all times. At the moment I am listening to experimental music — Black Moth Super Rainbow and Tobacco. I feel like music can really set the tone for everything and there is music for almost every mood and situation.
When I was a kid I did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Most of the women in my family decided at an early age that they wanted to be teachers, but that was not for me. Luckily my family was very accepting. A year ago I graduated from art school with two concentrations, one in textiles and the other in photography. Working at Spoonflower gives me the best of both worlds. I feel really lucky to have found a job where I can use both of my degrees. I knew I did not want to be a teacher. Plus I am not a very good morning person.
I heard about Spoonflower through some of my friends at East Carolina University’s textile program. They had just toured the Spoonflower facility and the person giving the tour said the company was hiring. At the time I was working for an art supply store part time and was on the look out for a full-time job. Spoonflower was the first full-time job I had applied to out of college and was fortunate enough to have been hired. My favorite activity at Spoonflower is getting to eat with everyone at staff meetings. It is rare that I actually get to see everyone, from being on third shift, so it is really nice to see their bright and shining faces.
I feel like I really ‘got’ Spoonflower from the very first day I started working here. Everyone I work with has such a passion for what we do and what we stand for. It’s really refreshing to work in such a close-knit environment where everyone is appreciated for individual talents. I love the work of Tingish. I had some nebulas printed on cotton silk for a dress I am currently making for myself. I also love theunicornandthewasp’s T.A.R.D.I.S. print. I am a huge Doctor Who fan and thought this was a fresh take on the TARDIS. It is beautiful and simple.
In my free time I do quite a bit of reading and watching movies with friends. The last books I finished were The Hunger Games novels, which I loved and would recommend to everyone. I can’t wait to see the movie coming out in March. I also love foreign films. French and Korean films seem to be my favorites right now. I love the director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. He directed Amélie, A Very Long Engagement and Delicatessen which all have beautiful and heart-warming stories. I also love cheese straws, which my grandmother makes and saves for me to take home from family get togethers.
If I could retire anywhere it would have to be in the highlands of Scotland. I visited there a few years ago with a study abroad trip through ECU. The landscape was breathtaking and all of the people there were so sweet. Also who wouldn’t love a hairy cow named Hamish? I would probably live in a small cottage style house in the middle of those beautiful mountains.