The Country Porch April 2005 Newsletter

COUNTRY PORCH
April 2005 Newsletter

Greetings from The Porch!

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
the flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
- Song of Solomon

April is the month of dazzling sunshine, spring green, All Fools Day, blue skies and no more MUD! Pretty yellow daffodils line our walk and nod at passersby. Here in our town primroses, pansies, violets and tulips erupt in color and our spirits soar.

For the price of a pot of paint and some new country style curtains, tiers, tiebacks or swags you can change the color of your world. Take a walk and inhale the scent of nature, then translate that into new table linens, dinnerware or shower curtains. Lay down pretty paper in your cabinets and stock up on new dishtowels (we have 94 patterns to choose from!)

Take a minute to browse and begin that creative process. You’ll find many new patterns; check out our NEW Favorites, Quilt of the Month, Candle Club, Decorating Ideas and Seasonal Recipes. Oh, and don’t forget to bookmark so you can find your way back home.

Ah! There’s nothing like staying home for real comfort.
- Jane Austen

NEW!

Hydrangea
In flower folklore, Hydrangea means “thank you for understanding.” Hydrangea lovers will adore this beautiful floral in hues of periwinkle with touches of sage and moss on an antique beige background. This collection from artist Annie LaPoint further emphasizes this feminine pattern with coordinating scalloped dishes and ruffled chair pads. May we suggest Dragonfly, Teapot or Rose Filigree pewter napkin rings to add that little bit of sparkle?

Delight your senses with more floral collections; see Bella Rosa, Provence, Tuscan Sun, Rose Lace, and Vintage Rose.

Ribbon Bouquet
Sweet nosegays of miniature roses in hues of mauve with sage leaves and tied prettily with flowing blue ribbon on an ecru background make up this charming pattern. Dishtowels, half aprons, table cloths, baskets, curtain panels, shower curtains, swags, valances and tiers are softly scalloped. Pretty!

Set a lovely table, add a little sparkle with Rose Filigree or Teapot napkin rings (antique brass or pewter) then tie on a pretty, scalloped half apron and invite your friends to tea!

For more NEW patterns; see Fruit Cocktail, Very Cherry, Heartfelt, Fruit Market, and Santa Fe.

Floral Garden
Meandering wild roses in hues of dark mauve and raspberry are nestled in sage leaves on a soft white background. Luxuriously quilted placemats and table runners are softly scalloped as are dishtowels, half aprons, table cloths, baskets, curtain panels, shower curtains, swags, valances and tiers.

Delight your senses with more spring patterns; see Delft, Bella Rosa, York Lights, Country Cupboard, and Arbor Stripe.

Cabbage Rose Cure for the Winter Blahs
4 parts Cabbage Rose napkins
4 parts Rose Filigree napkin rings (antique brass or pewter)
1 part country style curtains and 1 part Vintage Rose lamp

Mix gently and enjoy the sweet fragrance of romance! Old-fashioned English roses in hues of rose, mauve and pink are nestled in leaves of antique sage on an ecru background. Quilted placemats, table runners and baskets have the added detail of pretty scalloped edges, as do the dishtowels, half aprons, table cloths, baskets, curtain panels, shower curtains, swags, valances and tiers.

For more NEW patterns; see Fruit Cocktail, Rise ‘n Shine, Cajun, Dijon, Provence, and Tuscan Sun.

Vintage Rose
Roses are a language in and of themselves and they speak volumes in this quaint and romantic pattern with roses in hues of mauve, pink and burgundy with sage leaves on a rose-tan background. Read seed catalogs in the glow of a matching lamp shade or keep your seed packets in our matching country basket. Mix and match with Rose Lace for your kitchen, dining room, bedroom, bath or laundry.

Delight your senses with more floral collections; see Rose Lace, Ribbon Bouquet, Floral Garden and Hydrangea.

Veranda
Mother Nature gathered daffodils and tiny blue forget-me-nots and called it spring, we call it Veranda. This cheery collection of soft spring colors in hues of medium blue, butter yellow, soft white with a touch of sage are a sure cure for winter blues.

For more spring patterns check out Confetti, Sarah’s Quilt, Tutti Fruitti, York Lights and Country Cupboard.

NEW! Cookie Cutters for Every season and Every reason!

Little ones and big ones will love these charming cookie cutters, cookie mixes, Mommy and Grandma cook books, animal treats and Warren Kimble Collectibles. We are thrilled to offer these products and inspired to get in the kitchen and whip up some goodies!

April
Quilt of the Month

Chantelle Quilt
Pretty as a cottage rose garden! Imagine a border of blooms in multiple shades of mauve and rose with sage leaves on an ivory background. Chantelle quilt is a cotton filled, pre-washed quilt, and is featured with Sage Leaves bedding accessories.

Compliment your romantic rose garden with pillow shams, quilted pillows, hooked rugs, and quilted throws.

Recipes
Meanwhile back at The Porch, March is relenting and we continue to be busy. What a perfect gift these dip mixes make for a housewarming or a tummy warming!

Country Porch
Pork Chop Casserole
4 large pork chops
½ cup sour cream
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
½ cup apple juice
2 tablespoons Country Vegetable Dip Mix

Dust pork chops with flour and lightly brown. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over pork chops in a baking dish. Bake covered in a preheated 350 degree oven for one hour. Yum Yum!

Bon Appetite!

April
Candle Club
April is the month of fragrance and what could be more fragrant then the aroma of Sugar Cookies, Butter Cream Cake, Tart Cherry or Butter Rum cake candles. Put on your prettiest apron when you answer the door because your neighbors will all come ‘a runnin’! Our cake candles burn 92-94 hours.

NEW! Decorating Ideas from The Porch

Make this simple retro laundry bag using these darling Retro hand embroidered dishtowels! So easy and fun!

You’ll need:
Two Retro hand-embroidered dishtowels (Retro Stripe is cute too!) OR
One Retro hand-embroidered and one Retro Stripe dishtowel
Light cord or rag strip (approximately 2 yards or 72”)
Large safety pin
Matching thread
Iron fusing material (optional)

Directions:
Making sure your dishtowels are reasonably the same size, lay one dishtowel down right-side up then lay the other dishtowel on top wrong-side up. Be sure both dishtowels are lined up with right sides facing each other. Using straight pins, pin the two dishtowels together on ONE long side and stitch right sides (we stitched next to existing seam). No sewing machine? Then hand-sew with running stitches. The more uneven the stitches, the better!

Lay out flat with wrong sides of dishtowels up, turn hemmed top down 2” and stitch along the bottom edge to form a casing. Now with right sides together, stitch the other seam up to the casing. DO NOT stitch casing shut. Cut cord or rag strip approximately 75” long, fold in half and knot the two open ends. Attach a safety pin through the knot and push through casing holding the other end. When the cord is through, knot all the ends together forming a continuous circle. Whah la! Done!

It’s a great gift idea. Your friends will think you got it at an antique store!

HINT: Fill the laundry bag with a standard pillow form and you’ve got a darling cushion for your chaise!

It was so good to visit with you and we thank you for your business! Since one quarter of you are repeat customers, we’ve come to know you by name. Our creative energy is in overdrive and we’re all on a mission . . . to bring you the very BEST of everything that we and the shop have to offer.

New and exciting patterns are arriving daily, so visit often, anytime. We’re always OPEN on-line. Or call us at our toll free number @ 1-866-664-9182 and chat; we’d love to hear how you transformed your home with decorating themes from The Country Porch!

From our house to yours . . .

Sweet April showers
Do spring May flowers.
- Thomas Tusser, A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry, 1557

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