I was introduced to the risks of shipping textile art very early.? In 2000 I lovingly packed up my second quilting project, and first-ever baby quilt, and sent it by courier to England. My pregnant friend did not receive it; at least not straight away. Upon investigation, the courier company could find no trace of the package. With a heavy heart, I resigned myself to the probability that it was lost. Several weeks later, there was a knock at my friend’s door and a courier driver thrust the package into her arms. I never did find out what had happened along the way. The important thing was that my gift had arrived and the nursery was complete:
I tend to be pretty sanguine about shipping and don’t panic quickly or fret too much. In the last 16 years, I have dispatched and received literally hundreds of quilts (not all mine). Sometimes they take longer en route than anticipated but I haven’t had one lost permanently or damaged yet. Entrusting artwork to the postal or shipping is always an act of faith. Now that faith is being tested.
On 8 February 2016, High Country Lupins #3 was lodged in a secured mailing tube at a post office in New Mexico for a 10 February delivery to the Wayne Art Center in Pennsylvania for Art Quilt Elements 2016. The package was scanned in that day but has since dropped off the USPS radar:
As of today, the package is two weeks overdue. My friend in the US is pursuing all avenues to try to locate it. Art Quilt Elements 2016 opens on 18 March and, deep breath, I remain hopeful that High Country Lupins #3 (80x143cm HxW) will be there too:
Judy Murdoch says
I do so hope it turns up Brenda, it’s such a beautiful quilt, it would dishearten me no end if I was in your position. Good Luck!