The Erudite Airedale
or
what happens to 'dales who learn their alphabet
Joyce
Miller
Texas,
USA
Until two years ago, I confidently said "I am not a quilter," but
that I had the privilege of helping the talented Ladies of the Bee
publicize the fabulous quilts they make to support Airedale Rescue.
Then, in May 2008, I found that I had hit send on an
offer to do a square for the 2009 quilt.
What was I thinking? I got cold feet. Then Gena Boohers drew a
perfect pattern for the Little Match Dale and my good friend, Becky
Preston, taught me how to make the square.  
Airedales have been a significant part of my life for the past 43
years, starting with Octan
in 1967. Today, my husband, Gene Wolfe, and I share our home with
three Airedales, Hannah (14), Neisha (7), and Kate (4). Neisha and
Kate help me do my work with children, teaching children how to be
safe around dogs, helping them understand what it means to be a
responsible owner, and helping Girl Scouts earn their Pet Care
badge.
I love to learn new things and tell others about them, and this is
exactly what I do for the Bee and other Airedale organizations until
2009, the year when I learned that quilting is fun! – from that
beginning, I have not stopped making appliqués for wall-hangings,
aprons, tote bags, t-shirts, and sweatshirts, including a
wall-hanging to benefit Texas Airedale Rescue, a piece using a
painting by Airynaa Tannberg, an artist in Australia. A
picture of Neisha with her very own bag for the work she does shows
the appliqué I have made from Airynaa’s painting.
And this
year, I designed a pattern I called the Erudite Airedale for the
Bonus Bonus Quilt, and once again, my good friend, Becky Preston,
helped me, this time with the stitching because my vision was giving
me problems – not to worry: that is fixed now, and that is a good
thing because I have found a crazy quilt top, made by my mother in
the 1950s, and I need to add batting and a backing so I can give it
to my daughter
I am looking forward to more work with the Bee on future quilts, and I
have several items in the works for Texas
Airedale Rescue.
Erudite means educated and the beginning of the word is pronounced "aire".
The design is all about how learned Airedales are, especially those
who have learned their A B Cs (basic training and interaction with
their people).
"The Erudite
Airedale"
is 24" X 26" and has a sleeve for a rod to hang it with.
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