I Need a Staff
It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a staff to be a working artist. I am fortunate to have the following staff members on my team:
- A photographer
- A scientist
- Someone to hang my work
- A shipping and handling department
- A draftsman
- A carpenter
- And so many people it is difficult to keep track of them all.
Would you believe they are all volunteers? It’s true! OK those are just some of the rolls my husband takes on to support my work as an artist. This week we teamed up to provide a tutorial on How to Pack a Quilt for Shipping. Yes, there is an art to it.
Help in the Studio
It is always an honor to be accepted into an exhibition. Acceptances come with commitments. I must be sure my work gets to the venue in excellent condition and meets all the requirements provided by the venue. A common requirement is when the quilt must arrive. Some venues are generous and simply state before a certain date. Other venues are more particular. The artwork must arrive during a particular window, not before or after. It is vital to read, reread and highlight all the venue requirements to be sure you are in compliance.
SAQA’s Benefit Auction
SAQA’s Benefit Auction starts today, Friday, September 9th at 2 pm. Check out the awesome artwork for sale. Every one of the 432 pieces is a gem. Lola on the Stairs is my contribution. Lola is also on my staff as the studio supervisor. Thanks to her quilts and fabric never fly away since she can be counted on to act as a paperweight on anything she is attracted to at the moment. Although I didn’t mention it in the packing instructions it is important to prepare the quilt for shipping. Step one is to go over the front and back of each artwork with a lint roller. Amazing how that roller latches onto fur that matches Lola’s coat.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
The Rainbow Scrap Challenge is an opportunity to take a break, return to my traditional quilting roots and knock out a few blocks.
I’m linking up to the following posts:
WOW! I am honored!
Well deserved.
Nice job on how to pack a quilt!
You gave me the jump started needed. Thank you.
Thank you for the great tutorial about shipping quilts. I can see that Lola (well, the quilt, not the actual cat!) has arrived safely.
Lovely dark blue block!
Thank you for sharing your tips and artwork, and linking up 😉
One more tip on shipping quilts, Frédérique, is to understand the requirements of your shipping company. For example, Fedex, in the USA charges extra for what they deem as oversized packages. “We” plan our shipping boxes to not obtain oversized status. Yes, Lola on the Stairs made it safely to auction headquarters. She amongst some very heady company. Thank you, for providing a linkup for me to join and taking the time share your comment.
Shipping quilts can be complicated. You have a great method down. Where do you get the tube-shaped boxes? Lola is adorable! And your indigo block is stunning!
Nancy, long squared tube shape boxes are available from multiple sources. Years ago, I would buy them in bulk from ULine. Now my husband makes my shipping boxes whenever possible. The Uline boxes are sturdy enough to withstand shipping a handful or more times. I particularly like their telescoping boxes (one box sits inside another and the inner box can extend or contract depending on your need. I know you can also get boxes from shipping companies, such as Fedex or at office supply stores. Uline tended to be as good or better quality for less per box.
We are partial to Lola. She’s been with us for 12 years. As for the indigo block, I enjoy the process of forcing myself to work only with scraps to come up with an effective block.
Congratulations on your wonderful quilts! Lola the quilt is amazing. (I’m sure Lola the cat is, too!) Thanks for the tutorial on shipping quilts.
Let’s just say I am partial to both versions of Lola. I hope you find the tutorial for shipping quilts useful. Your comment is much appreciated.