SEWING TIP FOR THE WEEK
I passed this hint to an Internet sewing club list I'm on, and it was suggested I pass it on to you. So here goes. I made some pattern weights. I made some fabric tubes round enough to put a drinking straw down inside in
various lengths. I put the straw inside the tube and used a paper funnel to fill the tube with BB's. Perfect for pattern weights. Can be made in any size. Even some 1" squares. Not expensive, and works great. Hope you might pass this on.
- Shelia from Kentucky
Dear Shelia,
Thanks for your fabulous hint. If anyone does not want to use BB's, she/he
might want to use dried beans or kitty litter.
Love, Martha
PERSONAL LETTER FROM MARTHA
Dear Friends,
Joe and I are enjoying a few days at Gulf Shores before beginning our wonderful late summer/fall lineup of events, which are so very exciting. We had a wonderful day with my sister, Mary, and her family while we were here. We went to Orange Beach Baptist Church yesterday morning and we have eaten some wonderful seafood. I got up around 4am this morning to begin my newsletter. I worked diligently until around 6:30 when Joe awoke. I saved my newsletter, turned off the computer and began breakfast. A few minutes later I turned on the computer and the whole thing was gone. I did not know whether to laugh or cry about my not knowing exactly how to use this laptop properly. Joe was planning a long bike ride out to Ft. Morgan and needed the car to transport the bike to the beginning of this destination, so I thought I would take today and just stay at home and write.
We had a fabulous day last Monday with about 100 of the American Sewing Guild ladies coming to Huntsville for a field trip after the national convention in Birmingham. They arrived about 9:30 and we divided them into two groups. Before we divided into groups, we enjoyed some Krispy Kreme donuts, coffee or bottled water and I made a little speech. Of course you cannot come to Huntsville without eating at least one creme filled Krispy Kreme donut. You will be proud to know that I stayed away from the Krispy Kreme tables. The first group went upstairs with me for a lecture/pass around demonstration on about 100 of my antique garments, which were on racks in the classroom. At the first group's request the talk consisted not only of antique clothing facts but also how I started my business and how I became a Christian and turned over my business to God. The other group shopped in the warehouse. Then the second group came upstairs and the first group shopped.
We went to lunch at the Hilton where we had a potato bar with all of the fixings plus a bowl of chili. Tabletop clinics were held in the Heritage Room and we had many wonderful demonstrations along with a make it take it tea towel. Viking underwrote this tabletop day by sending two educators, Connie Palmer and Peggy Dilbone (both Martha Pullen Licensed Husqvarna/Viking Educators). Other demonstrations included hand embroidery, hand smocking, using the smocking machine, making magic Madeira double borders, Click and Sew Wild Ginger Software patterns, cathedral lace windows and several more.
We went back to the warehouse and once again divided into our groups. One group went upstairs for a hand bullion rosebud class with Claudia Newton and Kathy Baggett, our Sew Beautiful editors, and the other group shopped. I signed books and dolls all afternoon long. We then went to our house for barbeque with turkey and pork, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw and Gibson's homemade pies.
We had beautiful weather and some even sat at tables on the patio. A hurricane was stirring in the Gulf so we were prepared for everyone to eat indoors. The rains did not come on our wonderful ASG day. I was so sad to see the two big busses pull out to leave. I truly loved having the ASG group for the day. To learn more about the American Sewing Guild go to their web site. I would encourage you to join a chapter near you or to start a chapter in your town. They have wonderful programs held all over the country and it is a fabulous group to belong to if you love to sew and love to take sewing classes.
One of the ladies who had been to our Martha's Sewing Market in Arlington was telling the other ladies about the market. She said, "It is a crash course in everything." I thought that was very fitting since our markets do touch on almost every type of sewing. By the way, our next market is in Orlando at the Tupperware Center January 24-26, 2002. I will be teaching a sit and sew class on Tuesday, January 22 or Wednesday, January 23, right before the market. I will teach a brand new class for half the day and Kathy McMakin will teach a brand new class on the other half day. Please choose one day of sit and sew classes, which includes your instruction, your kits, your lunch and your fun will be $125.
November 14-17, 2001, we are coming with our 20th anniversary celebration school to CALIFORNIA at the Pasadena Convention Center! I AM SO EXCITED! I LOVE CALIFORNIA AND THIS IS OUR FIRST BIG SCHOOL OUT THERE! We have a GREAT group already signed up for the school, and we want YOU to come also. Won't you come for our first BIG Martha Pullen School on the West Coast? We have six of the world's best heirloom sewing teachers - all of whom will teach you a class. We will have a retail store in the hotel with big discounts on many items such as lace, batiste, embroidery cards, books, patterns and much, much more. We always have this type of store at our schools in Huntsville, and we are going to display everything we carry for you to enjoy! Husqvarna/Viking will have a store in the convention center with great products for you. We have nine great classes and every student will take all nine of the classes. We have lovingly called our schools, "From can until can't." This school will certainly be jam-packed with what we hope will be more fun and learning than you have ever experienced in 4 days! Please come join the fun! You will have 6 half day classes and 3 more classes on Saturday! Your half day classes will be Double Madeira Scalloped Pillowcase (Martha Pullen), Serger Nightgown (Kathy McMakin), Serger Baby Quilt (Peggy Dilbone), Lace Cathedral Windows on the bodice of a girl's dress (4-14) (Sue Pennington), Pinless Lace Ovals on the skirt of the girl's dress (Connie Palmer), and Smocking by Machine Christmas Stocking or Envelope Pillow (the choice is yours) (Deb Yedziniak). On Saturday you will have three more 2 hour classes: Two Baby Serger Bonnets: Girl and Boy, Madeira Applique/Gimpwork Tea Towel and Shark's Teeth Small Pillow.
WOW!! What a line up of teachers and classes! These are the hottest techniques for heirloom sewing and serging and your projects are dynamite! And you get to take all the classes and make all the projects. Kits, lunches, classes and tons of fun while learning are all furnished for the total cost of only $625, the same price as our four day school here in Huntsville! Please call 800-547-4176 ext. 105 or 106 or 108 to register. We have a few places left, but space is limited! For those of you who have already registered, we are thrilled that you will be in our first BIG WEST COAST EXTRAVANGAZA! For those of you who are going to register, we are thrilled that you have decided to come. You can also e-mail louise@marthapullen.com or call her and she will send you a complete
brochure. We are thrilled that this event is underwritten by Husqvarna/Viking! They will furnish a brand new machine for each person to sew on, so you don't have to bring your own sewing machines. Without Viking's underwriting help this school at the Pasadena Convention Center would not have been possible for us to do at this price. Remember, we're furnishing all of the kits, banquet meal, lunches, teachers, workshops and everything else for only $625. Oh, I almost forgot - one night I will do a workshop on "How to Turn Your Sewing into Money" for those of you interested in earning money with your sewing. We have helped many people start a sewing business and you are invited to this workshop.
Registration begins for the HUNTSVILLE FEBRUARY SCHOOL OF ART FASHION on August 13, 2001 that IS TODAY!! Pre-day classes for the February school begin on Sunday, February 2, and run through Wednesday, February 6, 2002. The school is February 7-10, 2002. For your first choice of classes and pre-day classes, please call as soon as possible beginning on the 13th - 800-547-4176 ext.105 for Louise Baird (our school director) or Hilda Wright ext. 106 (assistant director). As you know, many classes fill very quickly so please call early so you will get the classes and the pre-day classes you want. Mrs. Elvin, the principal of the Royal School of Needlework in London will be here again as well as our celebrity teachers. Please go to the web site to see the schedule and make your selections. The school brochure will also be in the September issue of Sew Beautiful magazine, which will be mailed late August.
We are so excited about the new Sew Beautiful subscription offer! At the time you either renew or subscribe we are offering for an extra $4.99 a CD which includes 10 machine embroidery designs of my antique collection, 5 Lindee Goodall machine embroidery designs, 21 of my antique garments photographed with details and 6 of my antique pictures ready to print out for framing or photo transfer onto fabric. If you already have some time left on your current subscription, you will need to renew at the time you order your CD and this will just extend your subscription for another year. The new video is also available for $9.99 (includes shipping) if you want to order it at the same time you renew your subscription or get a new subscription. You choose to purchase either or both of these offers after subscribing to Sew Beautiful for $27.99 for the year's subscription. Both of the special subscription offers will be shipped in September, 2001. Please call 800-547-4176 ext. 116 or 115 to order your subscription plus the special offers, if you would like to purchase the special offers. Cactus Punch has digitized all 15 of the machine embroidery designs, and three companies have underwritten this special CD making it affordable for us to offer to Sew Beautiful subscribers. Thanks to Cactus Punch, Sulky of America and Martha Pullen Company for underwriting this CD. You can also e-mail cindy@marthapullen.com to subscribe. Be sure to include all of your details in the e-mail. E-mail for information concerning international costs on these specials. Prices given in this paragraph are for US subscribers only. International subscribers need to e-mail cindy@marthapullen.com to get her to send international subscription and mailing prices. Remember, you must renew or get a new subscription AT THE TIME YOU ORDER YOUR SPECIAL OFFERS; CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS WILL HAVE TO RENEW TO GET THESE SPECIAL OFFERS. The price to be able to order these special offers is $27.99 plus $4.99 for the CD plus $9.99 for the video. No other special subscription price offers can be used if you order either the CD or the Video or both. You can order just the subscription alone; the subscription plus the CD; or the subscription plus the CD plus the Video.
The Dress Me Gotz baby dolls are ready TO ORDER! Delivery will begin mid to late October, 2001, but many people like to get their orders in so they will get the lowest possible number. I personally sign each doll and each doll is numbered. We have four baby dolls - Sarah, Alex, Sydney and Rebekah. Please go to the web site http://www.marthapullen.com to get more information onthe dolls and to order. Or call 800-547-4176 ext. 117 or 119. Your credit card will not be charged until the week the dolls are being shipped. Each doll will come with a "play with" daygown and pantaloons plus a wonderful book of baby doll patterns so you can make gorgeous clothing for your doll. The dolls are 21" and 16" tall. They are gorgeous and so much fun to play with! Don't forget that the Dress Me Martha, Mary and Joanna dolls are almost gone. Please order yours if you have not already. I don't want you to be disappointed when they are gone. They will not be re-ordered. The cost of these dolls is $79 plus $8 shipping. You can see all of the dolls by going to http://www.marthapullen.com. Mary, Martha and Joanna also come with a "play with" doll dress and a book of beautiful doll patterns ready for you to sew her some really beautiful clothing.
The quilt book should be ready to ship by about August 20. If you haven'talready ordered, please call Toni, 800-547-4176 ext. 117, and we will get your order processed. It is a fabulous book with many different types of quilts, many of which have machine embroidery. The price is only $19.95 plus shipping. There are three nine square heirloom quilts as well as 14 other quilts.
We have a few places left in the Pfaff licensing October 2-9, 2001! We would love for you to join us if you would like to become a Martha Pullen/Pfaff Licensed Teacher. Kathy and I are also going to the Pfaff convention in Las Vegas at the end of this month. We can't wait to see the new machine! Our Bernina teacher licensing is January 11-17, 2002. We have another Viking licensing February 15-21, 2002, but it is full - you can still put your name on a waiting list. We have another Viking licensing June 24-30, 2002. We have a Janome teacher licensing November 17-23, 2002. Please call Kathy McMakin at 800-547-4176 ext 108 for more information to be mailed to you. You can also e-mail her at mcmakin@marthapullen.com
For those of you who subscribe to Sew Beautiful, a new catalogue will bemailed at the end of August in the magazine. Don't forget to use your mail in coupons in the back of the catalogue for some special values. For subscribers only, there is a special sale sheet inserted into each magazine. I have just gone over the final color proofs of the Christmas Sew Beautiful (being printed now) and it is the most beautiful Christmas issue we have ever had. It is packed with patterns, ideas, and beautiful photo shoots. Please go ahead and subscribe, TODAY, to get the special offers and the most beautiful Christmas Sew Beautiful we have ever had.
I thank God for each one of you who allows me to visit in your home each week. Even when I lost much of the newsletter in "computer land" this morning, I still thought how much I would enjoy writing even a better one later in the day. Be sure if you have a child who loves to sew please go to the web site and sign up for my daughter Joanna's Sew Kool 4 Kids newsletter. It is FREE, of course. She writes it once a month. She and I are working as quickly as possible (along with other staff members) to finish our first kid's sewing book called Sew Kool 4 Kids. It has really wonderful patterns that kids can really sew in sizes 6-16. It has 18" doll clothes that kids can really sew as well as hand embroidery projects that kids can really do - all by himself or herself. May God be with each of you this week and I offer prayers for healing where healing is needed. I have just paused to pray for you who are receiving this newsletter with special prayers for healing for your health, for your broken hearts and for your families. It is a great joy to write this letter every week. Thank you.
May God Bless You and Those You Love,
Martha
ANNIVERSARY SALE FOR THE WEEK, WOMEN'S PATTERNS IN BACK ISSUES OF SEW BEAUTIFUL! EXTENDED AND CHANGED SLIGHTLY FOR THIS WEEK-AUGUST 13-20, 2001
Because of the tremendous response to last week's special of 11 past issues of SB with women's patterns in them, we ran out of two of the magazines. We have found two more magazines with women's patterns - another blouse and a woman's collar pattern. To make up for the slight inconvenience of a collar rather than a full pattern, we are including an additional $12 pattern, Martha's Soft Suit, that includes a jacket, a skirt and a reversible shell.
So you will get 11 issues plus a pattern with a skirt, which will "sort of" replace that great skirt back issue we ran out of. August 6-13, 2001---1341 total pages of 11 Sew Beautiful Magazines-- Value newsstand price $65.89!
sale PRICE IS $33 plus $9 shipping) is $42!
EXTRA PATTERN FOR THIS WEEK: Martha's Soft Suit-Jacket, reversible shell and front button skirt-sizes 10-28) Retail price $12
1. Martha's Four Easy Pieces, Summer 1998 issue has the short-sleeved shell on the pull-out centerfold (6-28)
2.Special Occasions 1993, Meg Mayne's blouse (8-14 are included in the
magazine). The techniques can be adapted to a larger size blouse if you have
a larger size button up the back blouse pattern in your possession.
3. Issue 61, Special Occasions 1998 the long vest is featured.
4. Holiday 1995-Woman's Collar-Holly Collar-adult size-Shadow work by
machine holly and ribbon with wide lace around the collar.
5. Special Occasions 1996 we have a Ladies Shorty Pajama pattern.
6. Fall 1997 features Out of Africa Romantic Linen and Lace Blouses.
7. Issue no. 64 1999, May/June 1999 has Melanie's Nightgown, an original
round yoke gown with smocking for women. Plus, Martha's Favorite
Shirt/Jacket Pattern.
8. Issue 66, Sept./Oct. 1999 has Martha's Pocket Jumper (sized 6-28).
9. Issue 68, Jan./Feb. 2000 has Martha's Un-Wrap Skirt.
10. Issue 70, May/June 2000 features a dropped-waist dress pattern for
ladies sizes 4-16.
11. Issue 73, Nov./Dec. 2000 has Mary's Hidden Pocket Jumper (sized 6-28).
1341 total pages of 11 Sew Beautiful Magazines Value newsstand price $65.89.
Your sale price is $33.00 + $9. Shipping and Handling (total $42)
SEW BEAUTIFUL TALENT SEARCH!! YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO SEW AND ENTER THIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL CONTEST!!
Please go to http://www.marthapullen.com to read the rules about our new talent search contest. There are four major entry divisions: Sewing for the 18" Dress-Me Doll, Sewing for Babies, Sewing for Jack, and Sewing for Jill. Each division includes several categories, with prizes awarded in each category. There are fabulous prizes and we want everyone to enter! Many beginners will be entering as well as experienced seamstresses. We have so
many categories and so many prizes. You have until September to sew and sew some more. There is a page about the talent search in the May Sew Beautiful magazine! You can print out all of the entry forms and the rules from the web site. Your entries must arrive between September 15 and October 1, 2001. You still have time to make something wonderful and creative to enter. There are so many prizes and we want you to enter.
CLICK AND SEW PATTERN COVERS ARE ON THE WEB SITE
Our children's line of Click and Sew CD's by Wild Ginger are ready for you to see on the web site:
http://www.marthapullen.com/clicksew/marthaskids.html If you want the most
variety of children's clothing in one CD you will not believe the variations
on sleeves, collars, lengths, etc. You can have a loose fit, a medium fit or
a tight fit. Using your child's measurements you can actually print out
perfectly fitting patterns on a home computer printer on 8-1/2" by 11"
standard pieces of paper. Then, you glue stick them together matching the
lines and cut it out like any pattern. The complete sewing directions are
also on the CD and can be printed out. The cost is $24.95 plus $5 shipping.
They will be ready for shipping later this week. You can place your order
now with toni@marthapullen.com or 800-547-4176 ext. 117, or order over the
internet.
INTERNET EMBROIDERY CLUB NEWS
The final "sew outs" of our Christmas CD (available only to the Internet
Embroidery Club members for four months) have just arrived. They are
gorgeous!!! Our new Christmas CD will be ready for IEC members to purchase
around September 1, 2001. Members will be informed by a special letter.
This is the time to join our IEC if you have not already. Please go to
www.marthapullen.com and sign up.
You get so many goodies just for joining, and then the whole year's worth of
designs to download. You also get special rates on our new embroidery CD's
and other Martha Pullen catalog specials. You also get antique
illustrations, articles about sewing and fashion, and antique articles about
sewing over the last 100 years. I think you will love the IEC. Please join
today for only $59 for the whole year of membership. You can also call David
at 800-547-4176 ext. 104 and he will sign you up.
TO CONTACT US
To contact one of our departments, choose from this list:
orders@marthapullen.com (for order questions)
subscriptions@marthapullen.com (for Sew Beautiful subscriptions)
embroidery@marthapullen.com (Internet Embroidery Club questions)
editorial@marthapullen.com (for Sew Beautiful content)
schools@marthapullen.com (for School of Art Fashion)
licensing@marthapullen.com (for teacher licensing questions)
markets@marthapullen.com (for our sewing markets)
tours@marthapullen.com (for our increasing number of trips!)
sewingroom@marthapullen.com (for sewing questions)
marthap@marthapullen.com (for personal letters to Martha Pullen)
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
1 Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic,
love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing,
because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from
evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive
to their prayer, but the fact of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Peter lists five key elements that should characterize any believer:
harmony, sympathy, love, compassion, and humility. Some of these elements
are sometimes hard to do. I need to work on all five on a daily basis as I
seek to become a more mature Christian. It is amazing how the Bible gives a
complete blueprint for a joyous and fulfilled life. I need to study the
Bible more and really try to live every minute for Him rather than get
Distracted by other things. I know that God is truly in control of all
events.
This morning when I lost over two hours of work, I was somewhat angry with
myself. When I stopped to realize that God indeed controls all events, I
began to laugh and just start over again. God is sovereign and possibly I
needed to write this scripture from 1 Peter rather than the one from Acts,
which I had chosen earlier this morning. I had done a rather length lesson
on Saul's conversion to Christianity and his becoming Paul the great
missionary and writer. I guess that was not what God wanted in this week's
letter because when I began to read my Bible after the "computer loss" I did
not think that God was leading me back to Acts.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Breakfast Cups
Since I have no cookbook or recipes from readers here at the beach, I
will tell you about a recipe I used to prepare a lot for my boys when they
were at home. Knowing what I know about cholesterol now, I am not sure I
would have served it quite so much; however, it is good and very easy.
Muffin tin sprayed with Pam or greased
One can of biscuits
Sausage
Eggs
Cheddar Cheese
Spray the muffin cups with Pam. Flatten out the canned biscuits and press
around the outside edges and the bottom of the muffin cup to form a little
biscuit cup. Break one egg into the muffin cup. Brown little tiny pieces of
sausage in a pan. Drain and cool. Put little tiny pieces of sausage in each
egg cup (maybe four or five little pinches of sausage in each cup). Put as
much cheese as you like into each cup. I just sprinkle it on top. Bake at
350 degrees for about 15 minutes or longer depending on how done you like
your eggs.
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