"World War One Red Cross Airedale"

Artist:   Christine Husak Zane

Media:   Embroidered Appliqué

Artist's comments:

Being the proud rescue Airedale Mom that I am, I decided this block would be my project when I noticed it was up for grabs. The Airedale in the picture resembles one of my 2 ADT’s, Madison, which also helped in my decision to tackle this block. The background fabrics are hand-dyed cottons with the grass and post fused and heavily stitched to finish their edges. The technique used for the Airedale is an "embroidered appliqué" method. First the dog is embroidered free motion style filled with thread. It is then cut out, positioned, and sewn on to the block. Barbed wire was then stitched on with a heavy decorative thread.

I would like to thank Ellen Ann Eddy for sharing her techniques with me that were used in this block. A special thank you to American and Efird Thread, Inc. , who supplied the Mettler embroidery and Signature cotton thread for this block. I would also like to give credit to Bernina of America for providing the machine used in this piece.

The quilt block is based on a photograph from the cover of the November 23, 1918 issue of The Saturday Evening Post .

Materials used: hand dyed cottons, cotton cheesecloth, various embroidery threads

Chris Zane
& The Kids (dales)
Ben Zane
Madison Zane

Artist's Bio:

The oldest of five children, I have always had a dog growing up. The only time I remember not having a dog in my life was in my single apartment living years. When I married in 1986, my husband surprised me with an Airedale puppy for my wedding gift. The puppy was purchased from a hair client (I've been a licensed hairdresser since 1975) that was a veterinarian. She is still my vet and has become one of my best friends. My veterinarian adopted a rescue dale herself last December. The rest of my Airedales have come from rescue for a total of 5.

In my sewing career, I lecture and teach machine quilting skills to guilds and in quilt shops. I have quilted for several well known quilt authors for their books and magazine ads. I also do free lance work for American and Efird, Inc., a supplier of Mettler and producer of Signature threads for distributors.

The rest of the time is spent in obedience with my 2 current rescue dales Madison (4) and Ben (1). Madison was a severe problem child for ATRA with huge dog aggression problems. We've worked with a behavior specialist to teach her some manners around here own kind and that has allowed me to have Ben.

Ben, Madison, and I live on 11 acres in a farmhouse in Michigan with my husband who has been a telephone worker for 32 years. We built our home 8 years ago. He is currently taking flying lessons from ATRA volunteer pilot and newsletter editor Lynn O'Shaughnessy.