INTRODUCING THE 2014 AIREDALE RESCUE QUILT - "HATtitude"

For those who read to the end of this post, there was a special one-day drawing.  There were 6 people who commented on the blog today and their names were put in a "hat" and the winner of the special drawing is Marcia Hogsed.  Marcia actually won last year's quilt, Airedales Around Town.  Tonight Marcia won 1 main quilt ticket donated by Lydia Ross.  Congratulations, Marcia!  See it pays to read to the very end.  You never know what you might miss out on.

This year’s quilt is titled “HATtitude” and the theme, as denoted by the name, is “Hats” - Airedales wearing all sorts of hats just as they fill all sorts of roles in our lives and hearts.

Back of Quilt

Quilt Label

The quilt design layout was done by Patty Eisenbraun. This year’s quilt is different in that the background is a pieced background consisting of several neutral patterned fabrics pieced by Sharon DeBoer to form a pleasing backdrop to the colorful Airedale blocks. The ARTISTS this year for the blocks are Mary Blood, Patty Eisenbraun, Linda Hobbet, Rose Knowles, and Jane Miller. The individual blocks were appliqued by individual block makers using brightly colored fabrics, and the quilt top was assembled by Karen Brown. Karin Rainier, an award winning quilter, quilted the 2014 Airedale Rescue quilt and Lydia Ross finished the quilt. The label was made by Rebecca Eash.

This year’s blocks include:
· CLOWN and JESTER because Airedales always make us laugh with their antics
· NURSE because Airedales like to comfort us when we are sick or sad and many make wonderful therapy dogs
· KING because Airedales are the King of the Terriers
· MOTORCYCLE MAMA and PIRATE because Airedales can be rebellious, a challenge and life is never dull with an Airedale around
· RED HAT LADY because Airedales are a very sociable breed
· PURPLE HAT LADY to honor the Senior Airedales, who are so loving and sweet
· CARMEN MIRANDA and KENTUCKY DERBY DAME because Airedales can be the life of the party
· ELF because Airedales are mischievous
· WIZARD because Airedales are a magical breed
· CHEF mainly because Airedales are so often food motivated and when they finish their dinner, they come to us and want to have a bite or two of what we are having
· ARTIST because some Airedales have been known to redecorate the house and all Airedales paint our lives with joy
· CAT IN THE HAT just because Airedales can be quirky
· HUNTER because Airedales have a strong prey drive and make excellent hunters
· TENNIS PLAYER because Airedales like a great chase - be it a tennis ball, or anything else that goes fast
· TOP HAT GENT because when an Airedale is groomed to the max, it looks very elegant
· And the CENTERPIECE block is a wonderful drawing of a delightful trio of Airedale puppies playing and having fun with someone’s lovely HAT.

The quilt blog will showcase each block and each of the four Bonus Quilts/Wall Hangings:
· “Harmony in Red”, a quilt measuring 52 inches x 72 inches made by Carolyn Finlayson and Sharon DeBoer
· “The Mischief Makers”, a 3-block wall hanging made by Marianne Perry and designed by Linda Hobbet with embellished versions of three of the main quilt blocks – Cat in the Hat, Pirate and Clown
· “Come Play With Me”, a wall hanging made by Linda Bell from a design by Sharon Meleca
· “Saxon Among the Black Eyed Susans”, a wall hanging made by Candy Kramlich and adapted from a photograph taken by Virginia Slowik.

Thank you for reading this far!  If you post a comment on the blog today about the HATtitude quilt you will be entered into a special one day drawing.  It's a secret prize...so, don't forget to leave your comment.  Be sure to check back every day - you never know when a special rescue story or special incentive prize or event will appear.

The donation structure is set up as follows: for each $5 donation, you will receive one entry for the main quilt ; for each $25 donation increment, you will receive 5 entries for the main quilt and 1 bonus quilt entry. For example, if you donate $50, you receive 10 main quilt entries and 2 bonus entries and so on.

The drawing for the quilt and the bonus quilts/wall hangings will take place in the Airedale ring at the Montgomery Kennel Club show on Sunday, Oct. 5th, 2014. You have an opportunity to win the main quilt and/or one of the bonus quilts/wall hangings.

We hope everyone enjoys this year’s quilt as much as we have enjoyed making it! Make sure to tune in to the blog each day to see something new.

Once again, I have the honor of doing this year's Quilt Blog and like last year, my sweet Pinky, will be my assistant. She turns 9 years young on August 8th this year.