Happy Thanksgiving

A sign of the times. Thanksgiving is now over and moving on to Christmas. These lovies belong to our neighbors. We can see them out our living room window and we get to enjoy them too.

We put the tree up on Thanksgiving afternoon (post feast). I love this time of year. The kids get so excited and us adults get a little extra gleam in our eyes, too. Did anyone score any good deals on the Black Friday sales? We got a TomTom nagivation system, $59! Score! Merry Christmas to me.

This is Tink's best friend, "Grizzlie". He had a tiny plate all to himself at the dinner table on Thanksgiving. He said he was really full after dinner.

Rhonda:)

Kickin Off Christmas!

Been a while, where have all you guys been? Just kidding. I am the one who has been absent. Our camera broke and it is not much fun to blog without pictures. My friend, Tami, gave me a camera and we are back in action.
Pumpkin (left side) kickin' off Christmas season with the tree lighting ceremony in town. Lots of caroling, dancing and hot chocolate on hand.

Quilting is going well. Russ, we miss you and will be glad when you are back with us full time. We are very busy for Christmas season and looking forward to some turkey next week!


Rhonda:)

Cats And Water Don't Mix!

This week's giveaway. I know this isn't a great picture. Pumpkin had to take a picture for me with the webcam---it seems our camera is on the fritz. This is three blocks from a block of the month. Does anyone like to do Redwork? This will get you started. You know the routine.
"Sew It All Up" won this week's giveaway for the black and batik blocks. Sorry I never got the picture posted for that (I am such a slacker!). "Sew It All Up" just needs to email me with an address and I will mail your package right out.

This is our cat Lily. Isn't she beautiful? She doesn't look very happy, does she? I have been telling her for some time now that bad things happen when you walk around the edge of the bathtub, which she does early every morning when Tink takes her bath for school. Well, this morning, she took an unexpected dip. Don't worry Lily, you will dry soon.

Rhonda :)

And The Winner Is!

Greetings to all. I have been out of the loop for a few days. Trying to get settled in to a new space and playing catch up. It is starting to come together. Love the new space and love having it away from the house. My house cleaning is much easier to keep up with now without all the dust.

A quick apology to those winners who have not received their prizes yet. I am a little behind on my mailing. I promise to catch that up by early next week. Crystal Hendrix..if you are reading, can you please send me your mailing address again. I think I accidentally deleted it. Oops!

Now on to picking a winner for this week. Random.org says that this week's winner is Dana of
The Old Red Barn Company. Yeah Dana! You now are the proud owner of 100 batting squares. Aren't you dying to make a rag quilt?

For this week's giveaway...I think it is going to be 6 kits to make beautiful black and batik blocks! Very nice! Give you a sneak peek of them tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Rhonda :)

Batting Squares and a Move

This week's post is a few days late. We have been very busy at the Back Porch Quilters this week. We moved our shop away from the house into a lovely space just down the street from us. It is just the perfect size for the long arm machine and we are settling in nicely.

This is the first post I have had that didn't include photos. Just haven't had time, but I promise not to disappoint next week.

In case you hadn't noticed---you got a couple of days to post a comment to win the watercolor quilt books. I just didn't have time until now. So, let's get on with it and pick a winner for the week. The lucky winner this week is Crystal Hendrix. So, Crystal, if you are reading this, email me with your address and I will send out your books.

Since things have been so crazy this week and I haven't had time to do much, let's go with batting squares one more time. Post a comment for 100 five inch blocks of Warm and Natural batting. Thanks for being supportive.



Rhonda :)

I have so much to be THANKFUL for!!!!

These last few fleeting moments of summer. Short sleeves, bare feet, green grass and all the wonderful things that go with this season.

And don't forget those flip flops and stunts on the trampoline. We have to remember to cherish these moments as the seasons come and go. They turn into months and then years and before you know it, they are grown up and thinking about other things. But hopefully, they will always think about summertime with each other.

Latest giveaway! You know what to do,

Rhonda :)

Winner of the Kit

Sarah G was the winner this week.

Still have not heard from Debbie (Dear Mom without you).
Need to hear from you by Sept 9th.
One of the winners of Candy Bar Road.

Email me at russ@thebackporchquilters.com

Garden Friends Kit Give Away

FYI to all who care to know! This latest edition of McCall's Quick Quilts features a table runner that has been quilted by none other than our own Super Quilting Man. Check it out!

Latest giveaway to the next lucky winner. "What do I have to do to win this lovely gift?", you ask. Just post a comment on our blog this week. Winner to be announced on Monday, (Russ' birthday). The big 40 this year!

Rhonda:)

This weeks winners and Happy Birthday to my wife Rhonda

First I want to wish my wife a happy happy birthday tomorrow!!!

The winners are
John
Sarah
Debbie

I have sent emails to everyone except Debbie (Dear Mom: Life without you).... So Debbie email me at russ@thebackporchquilters.com

Since tomorrow is my wife birthday I will giveaway something big

How about a Quilt Kit!!! and we will tell the winner on my birthday on Labor Day

Russ

SuzGuz Design Give Away

Well, it's finally here. The first day of school. They are so clean and polished in their new duds!

I can't believe that Tink is already in the fourth grade. She asked to walk in by herself this morning when we dropped her off. So, we did (tear, tear, sad face). I am so glad they were excited to be going back. It makes life much easier.

Pumpkin and her friend goofing off. Way too much free time on their hands.

And the most exciting thing of all, at least for Russ. He talked Pumpkin into taking tap again this year. Ms. Shelley will be so happy to hear this news.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. This week's giveaway is the pattern for Candy Bar Road from Susan Guzman at SuzGuz Designs. This pattern was designed for Dana at the Old Red Barn Co. for a previous giveaway and was inspired by Russ. And here is the best part of all. This week we will be choosing not just one but three lucky winners!

Have a wonderful day!

Rhonda:)

Winner of the Fat Quarters is ????

You are the winner Susan !!!! You were comment number 65

Stay tune for the next give away in a few minutes

Russ

Drum Roll, Please

We have a winner! Nancy, if you are reading, you are the winner of the Warm and Natural batting squares. Contact us so we can get your mailing info. Congratulations! This week's giveaway is these lovely fat quarters. I know three of them don't match, but we wanted to give away 10. The first seven are Marcus Brothers, Metro Blue, and the others are just from our stash. I am sure you would take them off our hands, won't you? How do I win, you ask? Just make a comment on our blog this week, and we will pick a winner next Monday, August 24th.

This is the last of the puppies to reunite with. Click on the video and watch them play together. I think Ginger recognized her. Her name is Bella, but I have been told that her new family has nicknamed her "El Diablo." You can tell from the video that she is a real firecracker!

What do you think of our new sign? We have it at the end of our street.

Rhonda:)

GIVE AWAY

Does anyone like to make rag quilts? We are going to start hosting a giveaway every week from now until Christmas. Just make a comment on this post and you could be the lucky winner of 100-5" Warm and Natural batting squares. A generous start on a rag quilt. So, keep watching every week to see what we are giving away next! Winner to be announced next Monday, August 17th!

Isn't this adorable? Our buddy Bonnie from Alabama made this cutie. She made one for her granddaughter and she liked it so much that she has made another for her great niece. Keep up the good work Bonnie!

Look at our little construction worker. He wants to be just like his Daddy.

I know, I know what you are thinking--another dance video. But, I just can't help myself, she is just getting so darn good. This was at the Kid's fair in a neighboring county. It's hard to see on this video. Pumpkin is the second from the right.

Don't forget to comment. Happy posting!

Family Reunion

You can tell it's almost time to go back to school. The girls are starting to get bored. This picture--Tink and Ginger playing beauty parlor. You should see what Ginger did to Tink's hair.



Russ took a moment out to do one of our own quilts--a rare occurence. A nice scrappy looking quilt with some of his favorite Tula Pink fabric.

I wonder who will end up with this quilt? Maybe we will get to keep this one.

Ginger and the girls had a family reunion this weekend. We had a chance to visit with Dino. Ginger just can't believe how her little boy has grown.

And Pumpkin is being lavished with hugs and kisses by Harpo and Scout.

Tink was so happy to see them all doing so well in their new homes. We are so glad we were able to give these special dogs to our special friends.

Pumpkin went to the UFO class last week to finish her Maypole quilt. She is planning to enter it in the local quilt show in the fall. All we lack now is the quilting and the binding. The smile on her face is a look of relief that she has finally finished this project. Didn't she do an awesome job?

Rhonda :)

Field Trip #2

Russ and I took a break yesterday to mix a little business with pleasure. We have been talking for quite some time now about going to the Warm Company to purchase batting. So, we made a couple of phone calls, dropped off the kids with Grandma and climbed in the truck and took off. We drove to Hendersonville, about 3 hours from home, and pulled up to the dock and the nicest people in the world loaded the back of the truck and sent us on our way.

We took a little extra time to visit a couple of our favorite quilt shops along the way and had a nice lunch together.

Here are a few pictures of the warehouse, which by the way, just sits in the middle of a neighborhood.

I think next time we are going to ask for a tour of the plant.

:) Rhonda

Babies, Blocks, and Boo Hoos

Ginger is certainly basking in her "child free" livin' again. Back to her old self, she has spring in her step and has taken her rightful place at the dinner table once again. I don't know if you can see it in the photo or not, but she is sporting a bib in keeping with proper table manners.

Check out this beauty. This quilt was on the frame today. We have made a regular practice of making quilts and giving them to Pumpkin and Tink's friends. This quilt is going to Pumpkin's friend, Vandana. Russ and I made a pact that we would no longer wait so long before completing our projects. It's kinda like having children, if you wait until you can afford it or have time, you will never have any. Thus, if we wait until we are caught up to quilt some of our own projects, then we will never quilt anything for ourselves. Busy, busy is a good problem to have and we are eternally grateful to all the people who send us their lovely quilts.

Okay, I promised you a "boo-hoo", so here goes. The above photo is the magazine,Quilter's Home. Russ did a quilt that was featured in this issue. Unfortunately, we did not get a mention as we were promised. Boo to them because they did not mention any of the long arm quilters in the magazine. I was reluctant to mention it, but we were very disappointed when the magazine came out and we were not given credit. Oh well, not the end of the world.

On to what is really important in life. These are the moments that are cherished. This is our new niece, Danielle Paige, aka, "Dannie". She is very beautiful and we are so proud of her and look forward to many fun times with her and her sister Gwyneth, who by the way, was insistent on naming her Sweet Butterfly. Maybe she was on to something, she is very sweet and is as pretty as a butterfly. Out of the mouths of babes!




This is our friend, Susan and her beautiful Candy Bar Road quilt. This is the pattern that our other long distance friend, Susan Guzman wrote the pattern for. A very popular pattern that is very easy to make. You can visit Susan's website to find out how to purchase the pattern. It's definitely a keeper.

Same quilt, just a different color. Getting an early start on some Christmas gifts.

Connie proudly displaying her hard work.

These ladies are part of the Eleanor Burn's Victory Quilts club. They come together once a month and make one of the blocks from the book. Russ teaches this class.

Look how proud she is!

Sue is just so proud that her points matched!

So there you have it. Everything I promised--babies, blocks, and a boo hoo! These are the things that make life all worth it!

Rhonda:)

Afternoon Getaway

We made a quick trip to the mall yesterday to get some early school shopping done. Everything was on sale! Score! The girls were like, well...kids, only not in a candy store but in Aeropostale. Big sale going on right now. If you have one near you and that is your taste--hit the 70 percent off rack. We got some great deals and got away from home and work for a few hours.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that we went to the Little Debbie Thrift Store?

For those of you who have squash running out your ears, here is a great Squash Casserole recipe that we have been making for years in my family.

Steamed Squash with onions

8 oz. sour cream

2 cans cream of celery soup

grated raw carrots (maybe 1 or according to taste)

2 tbls. butter, melted

1or 2 sleeves of Ritz crackers

After you have steamed your squash and onions and drained it very well, add the sour cream, soup and grated carrot. Mix well and place in a casserole dish. Add crushed crackers to the melted butter and use as a topping for the casserole. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbling through.

This recipe makes a 9x13 casserole, if you need it smaller, just cut the recipe in half.

Bake and enjoy! Delicious. This is one of my favorite late night snacks lately!

Rhonda:)

Quilts and Then Some

We asked our new friend Sarah Pead to do some graphic design work for us to snazz up our website and look what a fabulous job she did! Some people are so talented. We are so happy to have her among our list of new friends. Thanks Sarah!

Check out this gorgeous quilt from Jilliene Isaacs. This was just one of the many quilts we are getting from the quilt along that has been going on for a few weeks now at the Old Red Barn Co. Jilliene was so gracious to mention us on her blog. There are so many good people with so much talent out there!

Look at this beauty! This came to us from Chase Wu. An original that features her daughter's foot prints and hand prints. How absolutely original and scumptious! It was a delight to quilt this one!

Finally, something edible! I think we will make some refrigerator pickles. They taste so much better when you know that you grew them yourself.

Check out Tink. She finally got her front hand spring and can land it on her feet.

Totally awesome!

Can't wait to see who wins the Janome 6600! Maybe it will be me! If not me, I hope the most deserving person out there! Good luck everyone!

Rhonda:)