The sadness of a stolen quilt
It’s a sad day to report a loss of a quilt. Not a loss through mishandling, inattention, or USPS schadenfreude. (That is the emotional experience of pleasure in response to another’s misfortune…which is the only thing driving the insane poor experience at the USPS these days I think!)
This Glam Clam quilt is a recent finish of mine from late 2024. It features floral Anna Marie Horner fabric, Art Gallery solids and a lot of custom floral quilting.
It is roughly 70″ square, and does have a “Made by Bethanne” label sewn into the binding on the back…which unfortunately could be pretty easily removed. A mistake I will not be making again.
I took this quilt with me in my teaching suitcase to teach at the Minnesota Quilt Show at the end of June this year. I was teaching a 6 hour class on floral quilting, but ended up not taking it out of the case during class, as I decided the material was too advanced for how far class was progressing. However, a student did see and remark on the backing (purple marbleized Tula Pink fabric).
I had a total of 52 students over 4 days, each day of teaching was 6 hours. My suitcase of samples remained in the room all week, with doors getting locked at lunch and at night. Event staff unlocked the doors before my arrival and I had early birds in class each day and after lunch where I was not in the classroom myself.
Convention center staff as well as custodial staff would also have had access.
At the end of the show, I merely zipped up my last day quilting samples and locked my suitcase to head to the airport. I did not realize the quilt was missing until after I was home unpacking. I have, of course contacted the Minnesota Quilters organization, the convention center, and hotel.
The really hard part for me, is that while there are possible other exposure points…the thief very likely is a student. Theft is a Huge problem actually. Many of my fellow teachers and vendors report 5-10% losses at every guild and show event. Many teachers have samples stolen. The people stealing from me and folks like me are your friends. You know these people. I have about 5% loss of books and rulers from Every guild I sell products at. More and more, I bring only one of each thing, and anyone wanting my products must order them with free shipping.
If you want to be helpful, please consider offering to be an extra set of eyes at your guild meetings or be a “teacher pet” at shows. Anytime lots of curious folks cluster around product tables, and the attention of a teacher is divided, shoplifting happens.
This kind of behavior encourages me Not to bring my best work when I travel.
Since posting a video on Instagram and Facebook on this subject I have received lots of empathy and outrage, of course. Many good, but hard to afford suggestions of putting an apple air tag inside every one of my 30+ demonstration quilts. Or perhaps adding a loop to the binding, and physically daisy-chain my quilts together with a locking cord. It’s sad it is coming to this.
The comments I have found the Most Hurtful however, are ones that fall under some kind of victim gaslighting, like “maybe they stole it because they know someone who has cancer and they would love it so much”. Also, “there are two sides to every story, they probably loved your work so much, they could never make one like this, they just had to have it, and you can make another one, where they could never.”
Taking my quilt, or stealing from anyone is inexcusable and theft. The end.
If you somehow come across my quilt, please take it away from the thief, and reach out to me to send it home. Don’t ask or expect them “to do the right thing”, they have clearly demonstrated a lack of a moral compass already.
Thanks, Bethanne
Here are a few detail images
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