"Gracie's flower garden"	Casey's Autumn leaf game

Artist: Nancianne Nowlen with Gracie Allen Airedale

Media: Machine appliqué with a bit of hand embroidery (Gracie's Flower Garden)
          Machine appliqué and lots of hand embroidery (Casey's Autumn Leaf Game)

Gracie's Flower Garden

As a one year old Gracie began her love of flowers and gardens. I had a lovely hanging planter of violas that fell. Gracie ate all of the flowers and that planter thrived! I had a new raised flower/vegetable bed and put in my roses. Gracie pulled them out as I planted them. So I fenced the roses, and she ate the blooms. My next year plan worked! I fenced the whole raised bed and put the roses at the back of the bed. Near the front of the fencing along all 24 feet; I planted edible nasturtiums. Gracie loved last summer when she could go and eat her flowers. She sticks her nose in the abundant plants and comes up with a flower, which she munches happily. I had gorgeous roses and outstanding nasturtiums. I will always plant Gracie's garden! Christie Williams enjoyed Gracie's antic and supplied the drawing and guidance for Gracie's Garden.

Casey's Autumn leaf game

Casey Airedale belongs to Chuck. Grace and I had him as a foster until he went to live with Chuck who lives near by. Gracie and Casey are great friends. Just as this year's quilt was in the planning stages I got a call from Chuck. Casey (A big Airedale) would go into a "down" laying very quietly as the neighbor children piled autumn leaves on him. At some unspecified time Casey would pop up out of the leaves leaving leaves and children laughing and scattering in the crisp aire. Casey did this numerous times until the children were worn out. Christie Williams planned and drew Casey's Autumn leaf game.

Artist's Bio

Three years ago, I relocated from beautiful Oregon to Wisconsin. With the adoption of Gracie Allen Airedale the list became a helpful community to me as I was missing my friends and family in Oregon and faced with the challenge of raising a typical headstrong Airedale puppy. Having been a quilter since childhood I gladly submitted blocks for the '99 and 2000 quilts.

In the fall of 2000 Grace and I met Paul on a morning dog walk near Lake Michigan where we live. Paul and I were married in June, 2001 and Gracie was the ring bearer, flower girl and bridesmaid. She had a collar and leash to match my suit with roses to match my bouquet. She waited in the aisle with my brother and Chuck (Casey's leaf game) until I called her to bring the rings. I removed the rings from her collar and received a lovely Gracie kiss. Then she had to go back to the boys. To keep Gracie occupied, they fed her the roses from her collar. Roses are also edible (the florist and I had discussed this). Nasturtiums from Gracie's Garden were not ready in June.

Paul is retired. I am a primary teacher here in Milwaukee, WI. I love to write Gracie stories for my students.

Nanci (Milwaukee, WI)
Gracie Allen ADT