Christie Williams

West Lafayette Indiana

The "Home at Last" block:

I have a real soft spot in my heart for Rescue Airedales. Our girl Erin entered Rescue because she was a very wild, pushy and uncontrollable puppy who ran her household. We wanted an Airedale with lots of spunk and drive who would enjoy hiking and canoe camping with my husband and me and who I could train in agility. 

Airedale Terrier Rescue and Adoption sensed that we would be the prefect match for the "wild child", Erin. They were right, and our fur girl has brought immense joy to our lives. Erin's story, half written by her first owners and half written by me, can be found at:

http://www.airedaleterriers.org/articles/edith_erin.html

Right before Erin came to live with us, I joined the fledgling adtquilt Internet group. We have been making quilts to benefit Airedale Rescue for 4 years now. It is wonderful to be able to share my two passions, quilting and Airedales, with other women who feel the same.

Two years ago I was asked to provide a small drawing to be used on the Raffle Ticket for the Airedale Rescue Quilt. That same drawing has been used in framed pictures and t-shirts. And it inspired another artist to make a sculpture to benefit Rescue. I was very honored when my friends on the adtquilt list asked me to adapt the drawing for the center of the big group quilt for 2002.

My block, titled "Home at Last", depicts an Airedale puppy who had a rough time during his first six months of life. Like my girl Erin, many Airedales who enter Rescue do so before their first birthday. This is because the cute little fur-balls surprise unprepared owners by quickly becoming large and sassy, and out of control. Often these sweet puppies find themselves abandoned or abused because their owners don't understand the Airedale spirit that is appreciated by true Airedale lovers. But the puppy in my block is one of the lucky ones. He was rescued from his terrible situation, fostered by loving supporters of Airedale Rescue and was matched with his perfect "forever home". I show him sleeping soundly, after a rowdy walk in the woods. Like many of us, his loving new owners provide only the best, and have allowed him to sleep on a treasured quilt while chasing squirrels in his dreams. To me, this scene really captures the essence of our adtquilt group whose purpose is to use our talents to provide loving homes for Airedales in need.

Many of us in the adtquilt group have adopted Airedales from Rescue and support Rescue in other ways too. Please join us in helping Airedale Rescue groups with your monetary contribution to the Quilt Raffle. The average cost of spay/neuter plus fostering each rescued Airedale exceeds $150. Proceeds from last year's Airedale Rescue Quilt Raffle were able to help about 60 Airedales. This year, can we make it to 100?