Carolyn Finlayson and Sharon DeBoer have collaborated on making this BEAUTIFUL, large lap or wall redwork quilt titled “Harmony in Red”. It is a triple Irish Chain pattern made from three shades of red fabric and a soft, creamy white accent fabric, featuring a variety of 7 embroidered Airedale squares in the white non-chain blocks enhanced with beautifully pieced blocks. The embroidered Airedale squares are outlined with a small border, maybe a quarter inch wide or so, of a red print fabric and it really makes the Airedales POP! It measures approximately 54 inches wide by 72 inches long. Sharon did the pieced blocks, and Carolyn did the redwork and embroidered Airedales, as well as the quilting, binding and finishing.

This quilt was won in 2013 by a non-Airedale person, who generously donated it back to The Bee so it could be offered again in 2014 to help raise money for National Airedale Rescue. It created quite a bit of buzz at Montgomery where it was displayed in the Hospitality Room one evening and again in the Quilt Display Tent at the Sunday show site. EVERYONE wanted to win it! Now you have a 2nd chance!!

The Mischief Makers was designed by Linda Hobbet and made by Marianne Perry. It measures 19 inches wide by 61 inches long. This wall hanging is based on three of the blocks from the main quilt that have been expanded – the Cat in the Hat, the Pirate and the Clown blocks. Because it was made by one person, Marianne was able to add wonderful embellishments to the blocks that ordinarily can’t be added to the main quilt blocks since they are made by many individuals and then sent to someone else to assemble and someone else to quilt.

This lovely wall hanging was made by Linda Bell and measures 24 inches by 29 inches. It depicts the Airedale in one of our favorite positions – the play bow. It was very interesting to look at this wall hanging and see the various colors and patterns of the fabrics she used for the Airedale’s body. There is lots of interesting contrast created by the fabrics used and showed me how to use fabric to create interest and dimension.

Saxon was a rescue Airedale who was adopted by Virginia & Stephen Slowik at the age of about a year old. You can find his story on the 2014 Quilt Blog at some point. Saxon died a couple of years ago at the age of 10, but he was a very well-rounded Airedale – Therapy Dog, Obedience and Rally participant, model, just to name a few of his accomplishments. He even wore a sandwich board promoting the 2012 Airedale Rescue Quilt at Montgomery one year. I wanted to make something to honor a beloved companion and friend so I used this wonderful photo that Virginia had taken of Saxon lying in their garden among the Black Eyed Susans. He, of course, thought he was invisible.

This is my second attempt at making a bonus wall hanging and I stretched myself this year because I created the pattern from the photograph using an enlarged photo and a light box. I also used a couple of different techniques including hand applique for the Airedale and raw edge applique, which was done by machine, for the leaves and flowers. Because it was a stand-alone piece done by one individual, I was able to use embellishments to add dimension and interest. This piece measures approximately 23 ¼ inches wide by 18 inches high.