This is a post I've been putting off for a very long time. I thought that it would work it's way out by now, but it hasn't. This is going to be one of those put your trust in me and everything will be o.k. kind of posts. Let me just get right to the heart of it.
I sent two of my quilts out to be quilted by a lady friend of mine. She has been quilting my quilts for about four years now and I just love her work. She does some of the best work I have found here in Kansas City and does not charge me an arm and a leg for it. I just love her to pieces. Well, I used to. The last quilts I give her to finish for me were over seven months ago. It took her longer to do my quilts because she would always work me in where she could. That is how I got my deal. I was o.k. with that. The most I've ever had to wait was three months. I've talked with her a few times and she had an electrical fire and a death in the family that she's had to deal with. I understand all that and really feel for her, but you reach a point where enough is enough. I've been trying to reach her for the last two month by e-mail and phone, but they go unanswered. I just want my quilts back at this point. I almost want to sit down and cry about this, but where is that going to get me?
One of the quilts I really don't care about, but it's still my quilt. The other one is an original and it's been so long since I've seen the quilt I'm not even sure I can remember everything I did to it... That's the one I really want to get back. I have to gift it to a friends Mom and she keeps asking where's that quilt you said I was going to get? It seems that the quilters home phone is no longer in service. I think they might have moved, but I'm not sure of that. I've never been to her house as she has always met me somewhere so I could drop off the quilts.
My question for you is what is my next step? Do I send her a registered letter? Do I just call the quilt lost and hope one day she will contact me and say hey I have your quilt done where can I meet you? Like I said I just really want the one quilt back, but you know I'm not going to be able to give it away once it returns home because of what the quilt has gone through. Guess I'd better get busy making her another one.
I'm really at a loss and need your help.
P.S. I'm almost to the point of who can I trust anymore? I've been quilting my own quilts because this way I know where they are. Quilts become a part of people. We send so much time and effort making a quilt just so someone can take it away from us. It's almost like ripping your heart out. People keep talking about all the good quilters do for one another, but it seems that I am the one that has been shit on more than once by quilters. I'm losing my faith. It's a dog eat dog world and you had better believe I'm looking out only for myself from here on out. I say to hell with everyone else.
Don't get me wrong I am just upset and really don't hate anyone of my blog family. I've made a lot of friends and I love you all, but this just kind of hurts.
Peace out.
Oh, how sad. I would definitely send a registered letter. Have you driven by the quilter's home to see if she's there? That might be the first thing I'd do -- and then if she is not there, see if you can track down where she has moved to.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find her and your quilts sooner rather than later.
Charlie,
ReplyDelete(((HUGS))). Wow, I'm so sorry! I've never actually trusted anyone else to do anything with my quilts, so kudos to you for that initial trust! I would definitely send a registered letter. Have you tried doing reverse phone number searches online, etc. Perhaps, you can get an address of some sort, even if it is a previous address. Don't let this go though. Do whatever it takes to get those quilts back. It will haunt you otherwise. And put the word out in the community...perhaps other customers that she might have would know how to reach her. In this day and age, it is a lot harder for people to fall off the earth. It'll be worth the effort in the long run when you get those quilts back.
How far away is she?
ReplyDeleteI would drive to her house and knock on the door and just take the quilts back
if its too far
I would start calling everyday and sending emails everyday and yes a REGISTERED letter
she will get the message you just want the quilts back
Kathie
The above suggestions are good. ALSO......I was kind of hoping you would mention her name on your blog. Maybe there is someone who lives near her or knows her well and can get some results for you if they are aware of what is going on here. I sure hope you can get it resolved soon. I'd be totally sick, myself, if this happened to me. (I have only used someone who is very near to me and whose house I can easily reach to check on things, if necessary.)
ReplyDeleteKeep your chin up, Charlie. There's bad apples in every barrel, even the barrel of quilters. Clearly she's lost her passion for some part of the process and unfortunately, that means you suffer and probably everyone else she was working for does too. This will come back to bite her in the end. I hope you're able to get your work back, but for now, you should start working on the replacement and pour your feelings into it. Do everything you can to try to track her down, but if you can't, you can't. Good luck. Lane
ReplyDeleteHow heartbreaking. I would definitely send a registered letter and see if that shakes something loose. I can't even imagine how sick you must feel, not getting a response from her. Yes, it's very much a leap of faith to put your hard work into the hands of someone else to quilt for you. I had a horrible experience with my first quilter, the second one I liked very much but she flaked out on too many deadlines, but now I've found someone I trust completely. Don't give up - quilters ARE nice people, for the most part.
ReplyDeleteHow sad...
ReplyDeleteDo you know anyone else that uses her? Can you get the police involved? Since she has your property they might be able to help you in some way. I would definitely send a registered letter to her last place of residence and also put "forward please" on it so it can be sent on. Can you start calling local area's information and ask for her new number?
I certainly would not give up.
Charlie, yes send that registered letter, keep looking and searching to get your quilts back. But I think Lane is right, start on that replacement, although it will not be the original, it will be unique in its own special way, and all the more special for the person to recieve it. Do you need anything in particular to achieve this? I'm happy to send you something to get you started :o) Much love and hugs - Trudi
ReplyDeletethat just stinks.
ReplyDeleteOh Charlie, bless you, my heart goes out to you, I 'lost' a quilt, fully finished once, I loaned it to someone who wanted to 'copy' it. It took me a while but I got it back. Then I found I hated the thing, I washed it and gave it away a.s.a.p. I would never send one of my quilts for anyone else to Quilt, never been able to understand why anyone would do such a thing myself, DO DO DO send a reg letter, as they say if you are near enough go there, knock on the door and face her down. Ask the neighbours what has happened to her.
ReplyDeleteGIVE US HER NAME. AND EMAIL. Maybe Blogland can work its magic for you.
Try to move on if you get no response Charlie. You are so gifted, it is a shame to be dwelling on this, it is stopping you create.
Smash some cups or something to get the rage out of you.
Bless your heart
Do you have a register in America of where people live, we do here, we can nearly always trace someone to where they live.
When you do get in touch with her, DO NOT let her give you some sob story. She is being MEAN and she is BREAKING THE LAW. I believe it to be theft!!!!!!
Hey everyone, we could make Charlie a friendship block to cheer him up, address Charlie please, see you have folk who love you. Jan across the pond.
That woman is NOT a true Quilter - Quilters are caring people; and honest.
I agree with kcamou - you might have to do some investigating online to find out her current location. Check with local guilds maybe where she might have other customers who know her. I know how disappointing this must be, but I hate to castigate the person without knowing the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to vent, though...we're here for you and we feel your pain.
oh charlie, i'm so sorry. this would just devastate me. i think i'd use whatever means possible...wishing you luck in getting your quilts returned.
ReplyDeleteHi Charlie, I just found your blog, and was so sad to read this post. I can't imagine the frustration you're experiencing at the moment. I don't think I can offer any other sort of advice, except everything that has already been said. I wouldn't let it go though, I'd be hunting her down. What a total Toad she is.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. What a bummer...but for every one of "these" people, there are 1000 good, kind and trustworthy people who would love to do your quilts. I would send a registered letter, threaten legal action...if you can get a hold of her!
ReplyDelete