So have I had issues with both sets of customs officials, although have had problems/attitude more with Canadian than U.S. as it happens ... it's some kind of job security issue, I suppose, combined with power corruption. The smaller/less travelled crossing, the better the treatment, I've found. In the west, coming through Customs at Vancouver airport and crossing at Blaine are both horrible.
I would not have defaced my quilts and would have waited to suffer the consequences, I think.