Christie Williams Indiana, USA
	Erin, Christie and Argus.

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.

Annette Hall, a volunteer with Airedale Terrier Rescue and Adoption sensed that we would be the prefect match for the "wild child", Erin. She was 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 "Edith/Erin". 

Right before Erin came to live with us in 1999, I joined the fledgling adtquilt Internet group. We have been making quilts to benefit Airedale Rescue for 5 years now. It is wonderful to be able to share my two passions, quilting and Airedales, with other women who feel the same.  

My biggest function in this group is sort of as “Artistic Director”, ha ha.  I’m the one who teaches people to sew over the internet.  I write and enforce the guidelines for making the blocks.  I purchase and distribute fabrics that must appear in several different blocks.  I consult with people to help them design their own blocks and I draw blocks for those who feel they want help.  I make quilt block patterns and mail them to the members of the group.  I drew the framework drawing of the house and yard.  I made patterns of the empty rooms and the outdoor spaces.  I drew the scenes in 9 of the blocks, helped people draw another 2 and had numerous e-mails advising the remaining people.  So essentially, except for parts of 6 blocks, I drew the patterns for the quilt.  I also photographed the blocks.  This will be the first year that I have not made a block for one of our quilts!  I kind of miss that!  I’ve been involved with helping to run the group since the beginning, in 1998. See Christie's Story of the Design for "Annette's House".

In real life, I am a Professor of Entomology (creepy crawly bugs) and USDA Scientist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.  My lab does research on wheat genes that defend the plant against attack by the Hessian fly.  In addition to hugging Airedales and quilting, my hobbies include training for and competing in dog agility and obedience, teaching puppy and agility classes, playing hammer dulcimer, hiking in the woods and canoe camping with Erin, Argus and my husband Greg.