Martha's Newsletter - May 5, 2008

Priscilla, April 1925

PLEASE SEND SEWING TIPS AND PROJECTS WITH PICTURES, ESPECIALLY PICTURES WHICH INCLUDE MARTHA PULLEN CD’S, IEC DESIGNS, GIFT OF THE MONTH DESIGNS, PATTERNS, PATTERNS FROM SEW BEAUTIFUL - OUR READERS LOVE TO SEE HOW YOU HAVE USED OUR PRODUCTS!! AND SO DO WE!! PLEASE SEND TO martha.pullen@yahoo.com.

EMBROIDERY CARD ORGANIZATION TIP FROM ROSEMARIE “THE VEIL LADY” WOODWARD
I now have so many embroidery cards, cd’s, etc that I cannot remember all of them. Not to mention the IEC embroideries. I had to find a way to “organize” them so I could use all of them. They are all different sizes and shapes.

I made a notebook with all of my embroideries. I take the cd’s cover and back page (which shows all the embroideries) and blow them up on my copier to an 8 1/2 x 11 page, in color. I put all these pages into sheet protectors. I also include the pages from Martha’s Sew Beautiful Catalog showing the embroideries that I have. When it’s new the picture is a full page. I go through my Sew Beautiful magazines and copy the pages advertising the new IEC offerings and copy them also, enlarging when necessary. From my 4D software, I printed sheets showing the various fonts that are available on my computer. I even added copies of the built-in stitches on my Pfaff, from the manual, to this notebook. This has saved me countless hours when researching embroideries for a new project or class. I can take it to the doctor and work while waiting for my appointment.

I make wedding veils and christening gowns. When a new customer comes in for a consultation, I can bring out my notebook of various embroideries and suggest different motifs for her wedding dress, veil, purse, etc. Right now I am designing an embroidered velvet tote bag with gold metallic threads. My client liked flowers from the Martha’s Vintage Collections I-III, Bonnets and Booties, Heirloom Tea Dress, Bullion Roses, Hope Yoder’s lace shaping, and some Jenny Haskins’ Roses for Mary. It was easy to flip through the pages all neatly presented in sheet protectors and compare the isolated motifs.

I also have loaded all my embroideries onto my laptop computer. This way I can design in the hoop while viewing these motifs in my software, downloading them to the hoop, combining and sending to the machine to sew out. I had my laptop at the tote consultation and was able to download several of the flowers and rotate them in the Grand Hoop and show my client how they could look together. She was very impressed. This has helped me to be more flexible and portable.

Thank you Martha for all the fabulous help you and your staff provide, the wonderful products and the fun you share so graciously!

PLASTIC BAGGIE ORGANIZATION TIP FROM LINDA HAUSMANN
I save the zippered plastic bags from new sheets, blankets, and comforters to use for storing my sewing projects as I'm working on them. Since they’re transparent, I can quickly spot the one I need. These are also great for other crafts and projects, especially knitting and crochet. Although I haven’t yet used them for storage of fat quarters and other fabrics in my stash, I think they'd work well for them, too.

MILK CARTON THREAD CATCHER IDEA FROM SHERRI MOSELY
After reading the two examples of thread catchers, I thought I would share mine. I sew clothes for my granddaughter and I’m learning to make quilts. I make a mini trash collector for each project by cutting the opening out of the top of an empty gallon milk carton. I leave the handle so its easy to move from cutting table to ironing board or sewing table. I put fabric scraps and cut threads into the containers. After I finish the entire project, then I can toss the snippets.

ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC TIP FROM ROSE WHITE
When inserting elastic in waist bands for little ones, I leave an extra 2 inches in case the outfit needs to be adjusted as the child grows. I place a dot on one corner end and another dot for the correct size on the other end. Be sure the elastic is not twisted and the dots are aligned before inserting it. Insert using your favorite technique and join at the dots.

Martha's Letter

Dear Sewing Family,

    The Whitesburg Christian Academy Mandisa Mother Daughter conference was beyond incredible. Suzanne’s dynamite message was on recording the family stories-IN WRITING-so your children will know a family history in story telling. She pointed out that Jesus spoke in parables or stories. It was life changing for me since I have not recorded-IN WRITING-our family stories. This will be a priority from now on-to write down the special memories to recall later. Mandisa not only had a FABULOUS singing program, but her message about beauty coming from within was also spectacular and especially for teens to hear (as well as mothers and grandmothers of course.) I truly enjoyed doing my presentation and pray that it had lots of inspiration and encouragement. Debbie Roberts and a group of ladies and their daughters came from Luverne, Alabama where Suzanne conducted a women’s conference recently. I call them “Suzanne’s Fan Club.” This group of women and their daughters said the Whitesburg Academy Mother-Daughter event will be their mother-daughter Christian retreat each year. They mentioned that they go as an adult group to Beth Moore conferences and others; however, this time they were able to bring their daughters.

    OK, are you ready come to the ultimate Mother/Daughter/Granddaughter event? Our School of Art Fashion will be memory making like no other. How can I know this? This is our 10th year (I think) to offer the children’s school during the summer. I wish you would take the time to download the class schedule for the July School. The four day classes are fabulous and the pre-days are fabulous also. It is NOW time to register for the July School of Art Fashion (July 21-27, 2008) and bring your kids to what I believe is the largest kid’s sewing school in the country. We are thrilled by your UNBELIEVABLE EARLY REGISTRATIONS for the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion in July! PLEASE CALL TODAY IF YOU PLAN TO COME. I DON’T WANT YOU TO BE DISAPPOINTED WITH A CLASS BEING FULL! It is my 65th birthday party celebration-AND I AM NOT RETIRING. No birthday presents please, just your presence is desired. Call 1-800-547-4176 ext. 105 or 106. I am so sorry we cannot accept e-mail registrations-only phone or fax. We check the fax machines often.

    Other family news is that Anna and Travis’ baby girl, Abigail Christine, will be dedicated on Mother’s Day in Elizabethton, Tennessee. I think most of you know that Anna is my sister Mary’s daughter. Patty Smith made her dress which is the curved godet puffing dress from Grandmother’s Hope Chest. Patty added another row of puffing and the gorgeous ribbon/flower cross in the center is from our Crosses CD. Joe and I had planned to go to Tennessee for the dedication but Chase is back in the hospital with a bad reaction to the IV antibiotics and I need to help Joanna. He is still in the hospital so please keep him in your prayers. He still has another 5 or more weeks of IV antibiotics but they have had to be changed. This is his third hospital stay in the last few weeks. He has an infection in his bone caused by stepping on a tiny piece of glass. Please try to get your children and grandchildren to wear shoes as much as possible. Never did I realize that a little thing like this could get so serious.

Abigail's Dedication Gown Photos!

Click thumbnails to view more!

So many of you ask about Anna’s little brother, David Nixon, who is autistic. David graduates from Columbia High School next Thursday. There is a ceremony for the special needs graduates and I am deeply appreciative to Mrs. Campbell who has been a gift from God in teaching David at Columbia.

Our granddaughter, Sarah Joy (15), had her coronation for GA’s at the church this week. Many years ago when Joanna was in elementary school I was a GA teacher. This is a beautiful Bible study/missionary study program in the Baptist church. John is the missions pastor at Whitesburg and he opened the ceremony and presented each girl with her recognition award. This is such a special night with all of the girls wearing an evening dress. It was incredible to hear about their Bible studies they had completed as well as their service projects.

GA Coronation Photos!

Click thumbnails to view more!

You absolutely have to click here to see a preview of our latest issue of Sew Beautiful which is totally dynamite. I might add that I am “totaling” up the actual value if purchased separately the different “patterns, techniques, smocking design plates, embroidery designs, etc. etc.” of a year (6 issues) of SB magazines to just tell you WHAT A VALUE YOU ARE GETTING, VIA THIS NEWSLETTER, FOR ONLY $18. I have not finished 6 magazines yet (a total year) but have totaled three issues from last year and my HONEST APPRAISAL ON THE INDIVIDUAL PURCHASE OF THE ITEMS IN ONLY THREE MAGAZINES IS OVER $250. That’s right, OVER $250 of “stuff” in just 3 magazines.

    My guestimate is when I have finished calculating the 6 issues of last year it will be around $500 of value of individual designs, etc. in one year of SB magazine plus the pull out sheets. Some issues have three 16 page pullouts of patterns and instructions. Some magazines have just one 16 page extra value-with lots packed on one to three pages. AND YOU GET THE WHOLE YEAR-THAT’S 6 MAGAZINES-at my value of around $500 if purchased separately for only $18. Can you afford not to subscribe? Please go ahead and subscribe now to see what you are missing. For those of you who “don’t do hand embroidery” you can take the fabulous hand embroidery designs and digitize them! We also have ideas and machine embroidery in every issue in addition to hand embroidery. Click here to subscribe at only $3 per issue! And it comes right to your front door!

    Please go ahead and put June 19-21, 2008 ON YOUR CALENDAR! These are our ARLINGTON, Texas dates! Martha’s Sewing Market, at the Arlington Convention Center, will be celebrating 11 wonderful years. THE ARLINGTON COMPLETE BROCHURE IS UP ON THE WEBSITE! You can go ahead and call to register for your pre-day SIT AND SEW classes (June 18, 2008) and to register for your admission tickets which will be mailed. To register for your sit and sew classes please call 1-800-547-4176 ext. 4 or 114. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND REGISTER TODAY FOR TICKETS AS WELL AS FOR THE PRE DAY CLASSES. READY TO START SEWING TO WIN FABULOUS PRIZES IN ARLINGTON??? All details of the Arlington Martha’s Sewing Market are ready to download! Please click here.

    I pray for our men and women serving in harm’s way and for their families. Always know you are my precious ones-truly a part of my family. When Debbie Roberts, one of my sewing friends, came to the workshop and brought so many friends, it was simply incredible that they had come so far. I ask you to keep Chase (our grandson) in your prayers and I know you will. I have you and your family in my prayers and I know some of you are struggling with great difficulties at this time. Let’s all remember 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” I know that in ALL situations-mine and yours-that God is sovereign, He is perfect and He does not make mistakes. Kathy McMakin taught me these three things many, many years ago and I hang on to them all of the time-during the ankle biter times of life, the mid range difficulties of life and the very difficult times of life. I deeply appreciate your letting me come to your home each week. I deeply appreciate your prayers for us. I deeply appreciate your business. God gets the credit for Martha Pullen Company’s approaching the 27 year mark in business; Joe gets the second credit and YOU come right after Joe. Your loyalty is more than appreciated. I love you.

May God Bless You,
Martha

News and Sales
May 5th - 12th, 2008

Retail: $90.00
Sale: $63.00

Click to order

30% OFF
Crosses Machine Embroidery CD

While Supplies Last

You don't want to miss...

2008 Internet Embroidery Club

With your membership you receive:

2 or more embroidery designs each month

3 large (5 x 7) bonus designs during the year

Plus. . .
Martha Pullen and Sew Beautiful Embroidery CDs
released in 2008 at special IEC pricing

Reg. $90	–	IEC Special $54
Reg. $75	–	IEC Special $45
Reg. $40	–	IEC Special $30

And.....Special discounts each month specifically for IEC members only.

Click here to view all the designs, so far, for 2008!
Don't miss out, click here to signup today.

MAY 2008 DESIGNS!

Spring Bluebirds (3.54 x 2.40 in.)
Spring Bluebirds Redwork (3.50 x 2.39 in.)

Members, click here to download your designs.

MARTHA PULLEN LICENSED TEACHER WEEKS

The licensing dates are scheduled as listed below:

Martha Pullen/Teaching Beginners Licensing - July 11-17. 2008
Martha Pullen/Serger Licensing - September 12-19, 2008
Martha Pullen/Husqvarna/Viking III Licensing - October 1-8, 2008
Martha Pullen/Pfaff Licensing - October 10-17, 2008

For more info, call 800-547-4176 ext. 107, 131 or 108. Or visit our licensing info page: Licensing Link

TO CONTACT US BY PHONE: 800-547-4176 ext. 2 or 256-533-9586

TO e-mail ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, choose from this list:
catalog@marthapullen.com (send your postal address to request a color catalog)
orders@marthapullen.com (for order questions)
wholesale@marthapullen.com (for wholesale questions)
SWBcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com (for Sew Beautiful subscriptions)
schools@marthapullen.com (for School of Art Fashion)
licensing@marthapullen.com (for teacher licensing questions)
embroidery@marthapullen.com (for Internet Embroidery Club)
markets@marthapullen.com (for our sewing markets)
martha.pullen@yahoo.com – MARTHA'S PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK

Ephesians 5:18
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

God says all through the Bible that we can pray for anything we need. Paul said to pray with all kinds of prayers and requests. He also said, “always keep on praying for all the saints” which means for other believers. I have prayed so hard for Chase to be well this week. Some of you might not know that Chase was called into the ministry when he was four years old and now says that he will be a missionary doctor. Even though he is only seven years old it is exciting to see his love for the Lord. He knows that God is in control.

I have prayed thanking God for the medical care in Huntsville. I especially prayed thanking God that He alone is the great physician and that it is ultimately He who will heal Chase. How well I remember praying to get Suzanne home safely when she was in early labor in Africa thinking she was going to lose Ben. How I rejoiced that God got her safely home to American medical care and that Ben was born safely. I have been in special prayer for the children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that God will heal them and that God will let the researchers there find cures for childhood diseases which are currently not curable with modern medicine. God be with all sick children and all those reading this e-mail who are sick.

(PS If any of you would like to send him a note of encouragement-or better still have your children draw him a picture or write a note-please send to Martha Pullen Company, Attention: Chase, 149 Old Big Cove Road, Brownsboro, AL 35741 He might be on 22 hour a day IV’s for many weeks. They tried to keep him on the twice a day antibiotic; however, that is the one he had the severe reaction to. This is tough for a first grader. He has been very brave. He has received several cards from my sewing friends and he has been thrilled to receive mail from “far away places.”)

RECIPE FOR THE WEEK from the editors of Taste of the South, a magazine about the food and rich food heritage of the South. Each issue of Taste of the South features more than 60 easy recipes, which we know you will adore. It’s published by Hoffman Media of which Martha Pullen Company is a subsidiary. Thanks to their editors for sharing these recipes with us. If you have questions concerning these recipes, please visit TasteoftheSouthMagazine.com, or call, (888) 411-8995. Click here to subscribe to Taste of the South.

Deviled Eggs
Recipe development by Aimee Bishop
Yield: 2 dozen
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cook: 22 minutes

12 large eggs
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon whole-grain Dijon-style mustard
2 teaspoons dill pickle juice
11/2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish: paprika

Place eggs in a large saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Cook over high heat until water begins to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer eggs for 10 minutes. Remove eggs from heat. Drain eggs and rinse with cold water. Peel eggs, discarding shells. Halve eggs lengthwise. Remove yolks and place in a small bowl. Set whites aside. Mash yolks with a fork until crumbly. Add mayonnaise, pickle relish, whole-grain Dijon-style mustard, dill pickle juice, yellow mustard, Dijon-style mustard, celery seed, and pepper, stirring until well combined.

Spoon or pipe egg-yolk mixture evenly into egg whites. Garnish with paprika, if desired.

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