I just read my latest Fons and Porter magazine and in the back it introduced its new season. It said that Marianne and her daughter were hosting this season, not Liz. I looked online but couldn't find out why. Does anyone know what happened to Liz?

Don't know anything about Liz or the magazine quote. I did see an episode with mother and daughter hosting...thought it was just a one time trip to a quilt shop in Chicago.

I've been wondering the same thing for the last few months. Liz has not hosted lectures, cruises, etc. if you check your older magazine ads. Hope everything is fine. She added so much to the program.

I saw that with this weekend broadcast too. Like you guys, I am wondering and really hate to see this show change. The daughter is just fine but the show has always been one of a more detailed program and she does not bring that to the cutting table. Everyone always welcomes beginning quilters but I hope this is just an extended vacation or something for Liz and this program change is limited to a few weeks.

I noticed she seemed to missing more and more. I hope all is well with her.

I heard that she wanted to spend more time with her family and is retiring for the moment. I don't know if this is true or not.

I don't know what is up with Liz but I did notice something else surprising. The show comes on here at 6:00a.m. on saturday morning so I don't always get to see it. On a recent show they introduced their new sponsor as "Baby Lock"? I was amazed or maybe I was seeing things. Anyone else see that episode?

I noticed the same thing. I enjoyed the both of them on the show. What has happened to the Bernina sponsorship?

I don't have regular tv, so I missed all these shows anyway. But I supscribe to the magazine and noticed there isn't an ad for Bernina in this last one. Hmmm.

It also states in the new magazine that the mom and daughter team really enjoyed learning the techniques on their new sponsor (Baby Lock) for the 1600 tv series. I agree that the daughter does not bring the appeal to the show that Liz did.
Wondering if Mary (daughter) is for the purpose of luring the younger generations into quilting.

So, does that mean Nancy Zieman will switch from Baby Lock to Bernina??? And what about the F&P ads for the APQS machines?

I have no idea ... hope she is not ill ... or they parted ways ??

I met them at Quilt Market in Houston about 10 yrs ago, they were so much fun to talk to, you felt like you'd known them forever
They've been doing this for about 20 yrs, maybe she just needs a break - I know I would !

They are hosting a quilting cruise together too. I heard about it from a Keepsake quilting email. Whoa, does it look expensive!

I hope this is all it is, I am an optimist and would rather have her leave to spend more time with her family rather than she and Marianne parting ways. I welcome the change to Babylock. I have a viking and babylock and always felt left out of the Bernina club. Can't afford a Bernina (but would love to have one!!!)

I was wondering the same thing. Not a huge fan of the daughter, but its probably because I got used to Maryann and Liz together.
As for the sponser ... nice to see someone other than Bernina. Baby Lock makes a good machine. A few of their shows were geared toward attachements that were Bernina attachments, and they failed to show alternate methods. If bernina wants a show ...call if the Bernina show .
Maybe the change could be a good thing. There was still good information but I sometimes found their methods to be lacking in newer techinique(s).

Do you know what station it comes on? Since I moved & have a different sattelite I can't ever find them.

Just found out they are on PBS Saturday mornings at 7 am here . Mom has DVR :wink: WOO HOO

Last year, there were a number of shows with only one of them hosting... I thought maybe it was so they could each have some more free time...
I hope it is just for one season and then Liz comes back.

I just saw Marianne & her daughter, Mary. She announced that the new season, and this is the first show of the series, (Series 1500) is with her daughter. That Liz has decided to leave television and retire and spend more time with her grandchildren. I don't care for the show with her daughter, either. Maybe we need to give Mary a chance. Just have watched Liz for so long . . .. I did notice very slight change in attitute in the last season. Wondered whether there was a problem with their relationship. Probably will never know.

ON the Fons and Porter show this past weekend it was just Marianne and her daughter. They announced that Liz was taking some time off to be with her grandchildren. They also introduced Babylock as their new sponsor for this 1600 series of shows.

[quote=Shiloh]I caught on to that too. Almost like one was 'talking over' the other or at times finishing their sentence for them.

Don't ya think if someone was 'retiring' there would be a big wop-de-do about it? Hmmmmm
:roll: You're right = we'll probably never know and probably shouldn't. I just hope everything is ok.

I also am wondering what happened to Liz. I've seen the first two shows of the new season with Marianne and Mary, and though I enjoyed them, I really miss Liz. She and Marianne had such rapport and they were so clever together. And it seemed they were such close friends. I hope Liz is well and enjoying her retirement, but sure will miss the old shows. It just isn't the same anymore. It makes me sad.

I had mentioned this to my husband this AM. I saw just the one show with the daughter and thought it was slow. However, we MUST give the daughter a chance. There is a lot of adjusting and learning to do on her part and I'm sure she was probably a tad scared, too. I see they are still scheduled at the same time today and that the subject here in Tennessee is using a serger for quilting.

I'm happy there is a show, daughter or next door neighbor doing it is fine with me! Eleanor Burns is retiring too so no new shows from her. With the young daughter learning the ropes, we have a chance of at least one show being around for much longer

I almost always fell asleep during the very few of their shows that I managed to remember to turn on the TV for.

I had the same question. Its not the same, still a good program but without Liz its not quite the same. I had not noticed that about Bernina & Babylock. thats an interesting change. Time will tell I guess.

I had heard that Liz had retired, but no whys. I trust all is well, and the new transition will get the kinks worked out. Hopefully there will be a bit more pizazz (or?) with Mary in due time. :)

I've noticed her missing as well. Although it's great for Marianne and her daughter, Mary to do this, it just isn't the same level of information. I hope they didn't have a falling out or something after all these years of being together. I miss her and inquiring minds want to know.

I suppose this could be the case. I did notice that on the last show, they were teaching the techniques of a quilt designed by Liz.

Liz Porter retired to spend more time with the Grandbabies according to the HGTV blog.

Is Eleanor retiring from TV or totally retiring.? I was at her show in Paducah this year & there was no hint of retirement, just an announcement about another grandchild on the way. You know she also was sponsored by Baby Lock.

WOW! I really enjoy the Fons & Porter show. I caught the episode with the daughter too. I didn't care for it too much either, but like everyone said....gotta give them a chance!

I also noticed the switch to a different sponsor. They were using my machine on the last episode and now they switched to Baby lock and I was like "Hey...." I'm kind of bummed they're not using my machine anymore as I enjoyed watching them use it. It seemed like she was having some problems using the Babylock machine on this recent episode. She's probably used to Bernina after all this time!

Can you watch old episodes of their show online somewhere?

The change of brands is who will pick up the tab for the show and pay the bigger endorsement fee. It's all business not brand loyalty. Sewing with Nancy use to be nothing but Pfaff, then over night it was BabyLoc. I don't care what brand any show host uses as long as it keeps the show being produced.

On a recent show, Marianne said Liz retired from the show and wants to spend more time with her family.

Liz Porter retired and moved to Texas. Mariane Fons daughter is on the newer shows with her mom.

You can watch older episodes of the show on fonsandporter.com. You have to join as a member of Quilters Club of America for $39.95 a year or just their website for $24.99 a year. The QCA membership is a better deal, I think because you get access to the QCA website where you can watch lots of quilting shows such as Quilt in a Day, Sewing With Nancy, Kaye Wood, etc. and also you get a subscription to Easy Quilts and a 10% discount card for Joann's. There are other perks too, but those are the most useful for me. You can sign up at fonsandporter.com, or at QuiltersClubofAmerica.com.

I heard that Eleanor Burns might retire also, that will be good for her but a sad loss for all who are her fans. She has been a staple to quilting for so long. Awsome for beginners & advanced alike. but the nothing ever stays the same does it? I will miss Liz Porter a great deal.

There was obvious tension between the two of them last season and several shows were done solo. I don't think Liz left in "retirement" or to spend more time with her grandchildren. If that were the case, she would have made the announcement and there would have been a show dedicated to her send off. They have been doing this too long for the abrupt off the cuff remark made by Marianne Fons by way of introducing her daughter.
Of course we all welcome new quilters. However, I am not interested in watching a show hosted by one. I want to watch experts and learn from them.
I am very upset that Eleanor Burns and Liz Porter are not going to be helping me along with my quilting. To tell you the truth, Marianne Fons never did.