I have been wanting to jot down this for every week now, however I have been ready for a package deal to be delivered to the recipient earlier than posting about it…
In my final publish, I shared an image of the cat quilt that I made. Amanda, a long-time weblog reader who has at all times been so variety and supportive, stated that if I used to be to ever make a canine quilt, she would “be first in line to order one”. After I learn that, I began debating if I ought to provide to make one. I do not usually prefer to make issues to promote as a result of I am not tremendous assured in my talents and I’d really feel actually dangerous if the recipient did not prefer it. Additionally, I solely need to make issues that I really benefit from the strategy of working on–and if I am doing it to promote, it will really feel extra like work than enjoyable.
I discussed Amanda’s remark to Jerry, and he stated, “You need to make it for her as a present and provides it to her as a shock!” I completely LOVED that concept. There’s actually nothing that makes me as giddy with pleasure like giving somebody a present that I do know they are going to like and respect. (I’ve such a tough time protecting items a shock, too–I at all times need to give it to them instantly, or inform them what it’s, haha.)
I purchased the material and received to engaged on the quilt instantly. (Here’s a hyperlink to the sample, if anybody is .) I ended up getting COVID, which wasn’t enjoyable, however since I could not go wherever or be round different individuals, I had loads of time to work on the quilt. I labored on it each spare second and I like the way it turned out. I used totally different colour backgrounds for every block and I like the colour scheme greater than my cat one!
I actually just like the backing, and I did a significantly better job on the quilting half… my stitches have been (largely) even and it solely took me one strive (it took three for the cat one).
This canine was my favourite 🙂 |
Duck’s favourite half about serving to me quilt is once I lay it out on the ground to pin it and get it able to quilt…
I used to be tremendous excited to ship it to Amanda, however I used to be additionally very nervous as a result of I’d be crushed if it received broken or misplaced within the mail after working so arduous on it. I researched the very best delivery service for one thing like this and UPS was the winner (the very best popularity for getting issues to their vacation spot with out getting misplaced or broken). Additionally, I did not actually belief USPS as a result of once I made one million masks and shipped them in early COVID days, solely about half of them reached their locations.
I had some leftover material from the backing, so I even made a cute little bag for it…
I took it to the UPS Retailer every week in the past final Thursday, and I had them package deal it for me–again, I needed to verify it was completed proper! Usually, I would not speak about the price of issues on the subject of a present, however it’s sort of related right here. The delivery was $20-ish, and the field was $10.50(!), “packaging supplies” $2.00, and the “labor” of packaging $2.00. I used to be shocked at the price of the field and the particular person working there instructed me I might ship it in an envelope for cheaper, however I instructed her, “No, I do not care how a lot it costs–I simply need to be sure that it will get there undamaged.” She requested me what the worth of the contents was, and I joked, “Blood, sweat, and tears”. Anyway, she reassured me that it will get there safely and it will be delivered final Saturday.
I used to be SO EXCITED for it to get there. On Saturday, I appeared on the monitoring on-line and it stated: “Package deal broken, returned to sender”. I instantly burst into tears. I have been going by a whole lot of emotional stuff these days (I significantly really feel like I am reliving two years in the past) and I could not imagine this was taking place. They did not embody an image or inform me if the quilt itself was broken or something. And it wasn’t going to reach again right here till Tuesday. So I needed to simply sit and wait for 3 days, imagining the quilt I labored so arduous on arriving in shreds.
On Tuesday, it was delivered to the UPS Retailer, so I needed to go there to test it out. When she confirmed me the field, I used to be just a little relieved as a result of it appeared prefer it was simply the field that was broken. However then I noticed the “15x12x10” field I paid $10.50 for, and I used to be pissed. It was truly two small containers smushed collectively and taped. And there have been zero “packaging supplies” (I am assuming bubble wrap?). THEN, I used to be instructed that they could not give me a refund on delivery as a result of I must file a declare on-line. And if I needed to reship it, I must pay the $34-ish {dollars} once more!
That is the way it appeared once I picked it up. |
I stated no approach, and determined to take it to USPS and hope for the very best (if the quilt was intact). First, although, I introduced it out to the automobile and opened the “field”. I used to be SO relieved to see that the quilt was okay. The greeting card, nevertheless, was sliced in half–missing the envelope and the opposite half of the cardboard. I questioned how on earth they sliced the cardboard when it was within the field?! (I believed perhaps it began in a special field, which they minimize open with a field cutter, damaging the cardboard after which smushing it into the makeshift field? Dunno. Neither did the worker.)
However I finished and received a brand new card, then took the quilt to USPS. I purchased a field there (the identical measurement because the one I paid for at UPS) and the full for the field and 2-day delivery was solely $17. I gladly paid for it and simply prayed it will make it to Amanda. The estimated supply was on Thursday (yesterday).
After I received residence from the publish workplace, I went on-line to file a declare with UPS. I attempted for a very long time however it simply wasn’t permitting me to take action. I used to be lastly in a position to chat with somebody who instructed me that the declare needs to be filed by the one that printed the label–which can be the UPS Retailer that I shipped it from.
I used to be able to tear my hair out at that time, as a result of the shop had instructed me I needed to do it on-line. I known as the shop and spoke with the manager–she was tremendous useful and filed the declare for me. I have not heard something concerning the declare standing but, however at the least it is out of my arms now.
On Wednesday night, I received a message from USPS saying “Your package deal was unable to be delivered because of incomplete handle…” I virtually began crying (once more) when it hit me that I get that precise textual content every now and then and it is a spam textual content that desires you to click on on the hyperlink. That was a relief–of all of the instances for me to get that spam textual content, that was the worst.
So anyway, all day yesterday I used to be watching the monitoring and my e mail, simply hoping it will get to Amanda. And final evening, I used to be SO relieved to see that it did! Amanda was shocked and thrilled with the quilt and despatched me this pic together with her two canines…
It was tremendous enjoyable to work on, and like I stated, I like the background colours. I really feel like I aged fairly a bit within the final week whereas I fearful about it making its strategy to Amanda, haha–but it made my coronary heart very completely satisfied!