Another challenge of travelling exhibitions is the travelling part. Entrusting quilts and textile works to postal and courier systems always seems an act of faith but, fortunately, I have never had a piece go permanently astray.
Nearly three years ago, I packed up my Twelve by Twelve Theme Series collection in an Aboriginal print travelling case for the ultimate walkabout:
- Australia to Diane in California – personal delivery 🙂
- Diane to Lark Books, Asheville, USA for photography for our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge
- USA->Australia to start its international exhibition tour
- April 2010 Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, Australia
- May 2010 Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW Australia
- June 2010 Textile Art Festival, Brisbane, Queensland
- September 2010 Craft & Quilt Fair, Hamilton, New Zealand
- September 2010 Craft & Quilt Fair, Christchurch, New Zealand
- April 2011 Midsomer Quilting, Chilcompton, UK
- August 2011 Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK
- November 2011 International Quilt Festival, Houston, USA
- April 2012 International Quilt Festival, Cincinnati, USA
- July 2012 International Quilt Festival, Long Beach, USA
- September 2012 North West Quilting Expo, Portland, Oregon, USA
And today my Theme Series arrived home:
They weren’t alone. My quilts travelled in a big box with the Twelve by Twelve Colourplay Series:
You might think that a box this big would be obvious in a tiny post office agency but, no, it had a two day sojourn at Copacabana Post Office before it was discovered today. The box was battered and had a hole but all was safe and sound inside:
Now they are all packed up again, ready to continue their exhibition tour downunder in 2013:
- Craft & Quilt Fair, Palmerston North, New Zealand 14-17 February 2013;
- Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, Australia, 18-21 April 2013; and
- Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville, Australia, 29 April – 31 May 2013.
(Sorry Diane, the pink suitcase is already taken.)
My international shipping tips include:
- shop around – I have been well served by express international mail services offered by the Post Office;
- use a service that provides tracking
- pack watertight and securely with address details inside and out;
- DON’T INSURE unless you are willing to pay customs based on the insurance value;
- complete the customs declaration “wall hangings for exhibition & return.NOT FOR SALE. Nil commercial value“;
- allow a time buffer for shipping and customs delays;
- have a vigilant sender and recipient with clear lines of communication; and
- pray.
Do you have a shipping story?
