Since I started selling batik fabric, I have shipped quite a few orders internationally.
Here's what I would have done -
I would have emailed the option of a) shipping it for $xxx in one package, or b) shipping it for $xxx in 2 packages to save shipping costs.
Rather than leave en email open-ended, I would have said, "If I don't have a reply from you in ___days, I will ship in one package at $xxx dollars.
To me, this gives the purchaser the option BUT you have set a limit on how long you would wait for a reply. I, personally, would not cut a customer's fabric into 2 pieces unless I was told it was OK. This is just how I would have handled it, I'm not saying what you did was right or wrong. We all try to do our best, don't we!!!