Borntohandquilt

A few months ago I started to think about entering my quilts in US shows like Des Moines, Paducah etc. I collected information about shipping, custom matters and everything else I need to know.

I must admit I have given up my plans yesterday.

First, the shipping costs from overseas to US are too high for me, I can't afford them.
Furthermore I really had difficulties to find out what the US customs need for a temporary importation of a quilt. The public authorities here were really helpful but they can't help with the rules and the laws of the US customs.

But the important thing is I don't have the money for the shipping. That really makes me sad. <sigh>

jmabby

I think we all have a big shock when shipping items, cost of shipping has really gone up. Sorry to hear your dream is not possible at this time. Best wishies, and have fun quilting.

MTS

I'm sorry you can't enter quilts. I have a friend in Eastern Europe who has entered shows in the US (Paducah and Houston). The costs to send her quilts (and they were smaller wall hangings, not a queen size bed quilt) was almost $200.

Maybe if she did it again, she could/would send them to me regular (still trackable) and then I'd send them on to for registration. It's a risk but we haven't lost a package yet that way.

If you're thinking of entering a number of shows, and the timing between them works out well, perhaps you can send it once to a US friend with paperwork (or ask a travelling relative/friend to take it to the US and mail it here), but then it gets returned to the friend, who then forwards it on to the next show with paperwork you've supplied, until the end, and then it gets shipped back to you.

Your work is lovely and would be a pleasure to view in a show setting.

Will you be entereing any of your work in the big show in Ireland next year?

Borntohandquilt

No, I think not. All the exhibitions there seem to be under a specific theme and I found nothing that fits to my wholecloths...but I will check again.

gollytwo

Have you checked with the Mancuso show people?
Their exhibits have quilts from all over the world.
Maybe they make special arrangements - worth a try.

fabric_fancy

i have 2 friends that happen to quilt and live overseas.

they both bring me their quilts when they visit.

i return them either when i go overseas or when they visit me again which ever has better timing.

lindyline

In case you hadn't heard, there are new postage rates for shipping into the USA. Anything over 600 grams, costs an extra $9- minimum. I was told that this was to discourage unwanted items IE explosives etc being posted in.

Borntohandquilt

The Mancuso show (World Quilt Competition) is just great for us here in Europe! We have a German coordinator and she does all the arrangements regarding shipping and customs for the participants. The entry fee is not high and I have entered a quilt there 4 times yet.

ckcowl

also---you might go through all the trouble- and cost --
to have it sit in customs for months and miss the show!
every year i participate in an international round robin- last year we had a participant ship 2 from the UK in October- she did everything correct- with insurance- and tracking-
they sat in customs until March! 6 months-for those 2 quilts to get to the next recipients!!! and not a thing any of us could do about it...
international shipping seems quite (fickle) especially coming into the US...for us sending out of the US it does not seem to happen---but trying to get in....geesh!

sueisallaboutquilts

Andrea, your work is so wonderful that I'd be afraid to send it anywhere! (except to me hahaha)