SEWING TIP FROM MARY HARPE

After 43 years of making buttonholes, mine sometimes still come out less than perfect. Imagine that! A quick and painless way to remedy this is with a disposable razor. If your UNCUT buttonhole is lopsided or just plain ugly, turn the fabric to the wrong side and gently shave it off. Don’t attempt too much at a time, just lightly whisk off the boo-boo till no bobbin threads are showing. Be sure to shave on the WRONG side of fabric; you don’t want bald corduroy! Then using tweezers, adhesive tape or a lint brush, remove top threads from right side. Now you’re ready to try that buttonhole again.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for all of your letters this week. We have needed each other like no other time in the history of sewing. One of our newsletter friends has a son, Josh, who is still missing from the World Trade Center. He was a stock broker working on the 102nd floor. She is praying to find his body. I am certainly praying for Josh's family as well as for all of the other families who lost loved ones. I am praying for our leaders that God would guide them in very important decision making. I am praying for the security of our country and other countries from terrorists. I am praying that this revival of prayer from our leaders, our people and people all around the world will continue for years to come. Our pastor, Dr. Jackson, said this morning, "I think there has been more praying this week than in my lifetime." We must not stop praying for our country. I would think almost everyone reading this letter has a contact who knows someone whose life was lost during this horrid situation in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania last week. One young man who grew up in Huntsville was on one of the planes.

Our president and other leaders have asked us to go back to work this week and keep the economy going. They have requested "business as usual" although from our hearts that will be difficult. I am going to write a little about sewing straight from my heart. Sewing has gotten me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I divorced and was so heartbroken, not knowing exactly what to do next, I turned to my sewing machine. Actually, I was back at my parents' house and I really just wanted to go to bed and sleep. My mother insisted that we go to the fabric store and buy fabric and a pattern. She insisted that I sew myself a beautiful pants suit. I never shall forget that green polyester suit; actually it was beautiful and I wore it for several years. That sewing machine helped me through my grief over the divorce.

When I was divorced and hardly knew where the next money was coming from to go to the grocery store, my sewing machine was my best friend. I well remember my budget for fabric was $2 an outfit for me. I made all of my clothing as well as my two boys' clothing. Well, nearly all of it; I never made t-shirts and blue jeans. Mama bought those as well as our shoes. I even had a little sewing business since I hemmed skirts for one of my neighbors. One of the happiest Christmas seasons I ever celebrated we had almost no money. I sewed every one of our Christmas presents and wrapped them in the comic sections of the Sunday newspapers.

This is the time to sew for most of us who know that sewing is therapy and sewing offers stress relief. In our time of grief, that sewing machine of ours can be the world's best therapist. Sewing for those less fortunate is always a great way to get one's mind off of one's own troubles. Having the fun of making something beautiful is a wonderful way to begin healing and to stop worrying. It is also something to do to keep us away from watching all of this tragedy replayed on the television set.
I pray while I sew so my sewing machine time is a time of prayer. I usually pray for the person that I am sewing for; now would be a good time to sew and pray for those who are in grief, for our country and for our leaders.

I am grateful to God that John and Suzanne and family are safely back in this country. They had been on American soil for 9 days when this horrid event occurred. Please pray for our missionaries around the world. Suzanne's parents are coming home for their stateside assignment early October, I pray for a safe trip for them. They are also missionaries in Africa.

I, like many of you all around the world, have read my Bible a lot this week. I have also read from Oswald Chambers, Henry Blackaby and Max Lucado. All of these people have offered words of comfort. I even brought Dr. Henry and Richard Blackaby’s book, “Spiritual Leadership” to my office with me this morning. It has chapters on the leader’s challenge, role, preparation, vision, character, goal, influence, decision making, schedule, pitfalls and rewards.

I have had the feeling that this country is going to get back to the roots which made this country great. My roots in Scottsboro, Alabama, include putting God first, being honorable and trustworthy, loving family, seeing about people in trouble, truly caring about friends and acquaintances, and sewing - mostly to save money and be thrifty. Mama always planned our wardrobes around the sewing machine. She spent a lot of time planning how to have beautiful things but save lots of money by sewing them. Some of my happiest memories center around Mama sewing and later my sewing. My grandmother made all of her family’s clothing from the time she was 12 years old because her mother was sick and could not sew. She even made the men's shirts on her treadle machine.

I believe now is the time to go back to our country's founding values as well as values stated in the Bible. Sewing is certainly one of those values. When I re-read Proverbs 31:17 this week about the wife of noble character I read: 13 "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands." 17 " She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." 21 "When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet." 22 "She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple." 24 " She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes." Her other qualities - her fear of the Lord and her other things of "substance" are also listed in the chapter. It is interesting that the Proverbs' woman is a businesswoman, a seamstress, and a merchant as well as a woman of God whose attractiveness comes entirely from her character. She is a woman of integrity; she is industrious; she is very resourceful; she is compassionate. Actually Kathy McMakin pointed out to me this morning that Adam and Eve sewed. Genesis 3:7 “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”

Speaking of the Proverbs' woman who had a sewing business, we are truly excited about our Pfaff Martha Pullen Licensed Teacher class here in Huntsville, October 3-11, 2001--that’s in about 2 weeks. I am thrilled that many of you from all over the world have become Martha Pullen Licensed teachers or are signed up to become a licensed teacher. So many people who love to sew truly want to change careers into something concerned with sewing. This licensing program is one of the best ways to open doors for teaching sewing. Many other aspects of the sewing for profit idea have been developed while people were here for the licensed teacher program. It is so good to learn from everybody else and to see all types of ways people are earning money sewing.

Sunday, Cecil wore the cutest dress to church. It was made of Bunnies By the Bay fabric (all gone, I am sorry to say). The idea was so cute to combine smocking, machine embroidery and relatively inexpensive fabric. The dress was made with 4-1/2 rows of very simple two step waves in hand smocking; the pattern was from our Jack and Jill book - just a high yoke dress. It was piped in tiny white piping and had two fabrics; one for a plain border around the hemline as well as for the bias strips on the sleeves. There is the cutest bumblebee machine embroidered on the collar as well as a Bunnies' By the Bay Bunny on the skirt. Matching panties have another Bunnies by the Bay embroidery on the "rump" as she calls it. She is just two and adores this dress and has to show me all of her bunny embroideries every time she wears it.

The Mommy's Helper's fabrics are in - almost all of the colors have arrived. With delayed shipments last week, all of the colors are not in yet. You can go to the web site http://store.marthapullen.com and click on Mommys' Helpers in the left hand column to see this beautiful fabric. Then let your imagination start roaming for a child-pleasing dress - maybe combining two of the fabrics. I am having a smocked dress made for Cecil with the dog named Fido; he is featured just looking and featured dragging a doll. I am having a smocked dress made for Emma with the striped fabric. Both will be simple geometric smocking, taking not much time at all. All of these fabrics have elements from the Mommy's Helpers machine embroidery disk which you can look at on the web site. Clothworks, the manufacturer, originally wanted the Mommy's Helpers fabrics for quilts. It will be adorable for that; however, I wanted the fabrics for children's clothing and for wall hangings in your sewing rooms. Three of the fabrics have notions, and sewing related prints which I think you will love. To order these fabrics call 800-547-4176 ext.2.

We need to give you one more week to get your Talent Search Entries delivered to us. The delivery time was September 15-October 1, 2001. We are extending the entry delivery time to October 8, 2001. We can't wait to see your entries. We are excited!!

We have added a photo gallery for projects using our IEC embroideries. We have received one photo which is up - an adorable bunny with the alphabet embroidered on the dress. Please send us photos to share the things you have made with your IEC embroideries. We want you to write up a little story about them giving your patterns and the fun you had making projects. This idea was an excellent idea sent to us by one of our newsletter readers. Please go to www.marthapullen.com and see the projects as they are sent to us. Please send your pictures (digital) using your IEC embroidery designs to joanna@marthapullen.com via e-mail or (regular photographs) to Martha Pullen Co., Attn: Embroidery Club, 149 Old Big Cove Road, Brownsboro, AL 35741 through the postal service.

We have a prayer board as well as a message/chat board on the web site. There are always some great ideas as well as a diet club on the message board. By the way, I am going to the gym two mornings a week and doing an aerobics tape every morning in the living room, for at least 30 minutes. I still do no caffeine and almost no sugar. By the way, there are some excellent "no sugar added" ice creams and popcicles on the market-namely Bryers and Weight Watchers. They do have calories, of course, but they are "no sugar added."

After last week’s horrid tragedy in our country, I want to tell everyone that I love and appreciate how much, indeed, I love them and appreciate them. You are on that list of people I love and appreciate. Each one of us has days which are numbered. Most of those cell phone calls from the airplanes were reported that the passengers told someone that they loved them. Please don’t forget to tell everyone you love those very words. Today is the day. Thank you for being my friends and may God bless you and your family and God Bless America.

In His Grip and Loving Him More Each Day,
Martha


WE WANT YOU TO SUBSCRIBE TO SEW BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINE!! IT IS NOW BETTER THAN EVER! WE HAVE GIFT CARDS TO SEND IF YOU WANT TO SEND A VERY SPECIAL PERSON A GIFT OF A SUBSCRIPTION!
The special occasions issue is loaded with beautiful things! It will arrive early November and it is beyond gorgeous. There is a magnificent flower girl’s dress sized 4-7 which won first place in the 1999 SB talent search. The back cover pattern is an antique christening dress, matching capelet style coat and bonnet. Laura Jenkins Thompson has written an article on the histry of Ayrshire needlework and designed a baby bonnet pattern which is of the same stye of the historic bonnets. A brand new technique done on a adult gown is soutache swirls. Setting pleats in a bishop collar, stitching a beautiful machine embroidered table runner as well as an extensive article modeled by myself and other larger women using Louise Cutting’s wonderful patterns for fashion wear. Pauline Richards wrote an outstanding article on faux pin weaving featuring a beautiful, black woman’s jacket. You will be fascinated with the article on framed smocking and stumpwork. This is not all--just a teaser to entice you to go ahead and call 800-547-4176 ext. 116 and subscribe. Read about the special offers below for subscribing!

SEW BEAUTIFUL CD AND NEW VIDEO OFFERS!!

We are so excited about the new Sew Beautiful subscription offer! At the time you either renew or subscribe, we are offering 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 for an extra $4.99. If you already have some time left on your current subscription, you will need to renew at the time you order your CD. 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 can 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 begin shipping in September, 2001. Please call 800-547-4176 ext. 116 or 115 to order your subscription plus the special offers. Thanks to Cactus Punch, Sulky of America, and Martha Pullen Company for underwriting this CD. You can order just the subscription alone; the subscription plus the CD; or the subscription plus the CD plus the Video.

DRESS ME BABY DOLLS!! SHIPPING LATE OCTOBER!! ORDER NOW FOR LOWEST NUMBERS
POSSIBLE!!

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 on the 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" day gown 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! The dress me baby dolls pattern book has so many adorable patterns. There are several day gowns - smocked and French sewn. There are boy outfits as well as girl outfits. There is a gorgeous smocked doll day gown which has a Madeira appliqué border on the bottom and the most spectacular doll christening gown with curved puffing and hearts on the skirt. Actually many of the doll clothes from this book could be adapted to baby clothes if you want to. The smaller size doll clothes can also be used to make preemie clothing for babies. I think you will really like the doll clothes pattern book coming with the baby dolls.

DRESS ME MARTHA, MARY AND JOANNA DOLLS!!

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.


PASADENA, CALIFORNIA MARTHA PULLEN SCHOOL IS FILLING FAST! NOVEMBER 14-17,2001! ONLY 10 PLACES LEFT IN THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL!!

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. 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 to register. Only $100 holds your place for you. The rest of your class fee will be charged in October. We have a few places left, but space is limited! 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.

HUNTSVILLE SCHOOL OF ART FASHION, FEBRUARY 2-10, 2002!

We are having a huge response to our February school here in Huntsville. Please call as soon as possible to get your place in the schools in which we still have a vacancy. Several of the schools are filled but we still have A FEW places in most of the schools. 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, 800-547-4176 ext. 105 for Louise Baird (our school director) or Hilda Wright ext. 106 (assistant director). Please go to the web site to see the schedule and make your selections.

INTERNET EMBROIDERY CLUB NEWS-TWO DESIGNS FOR SEPTEMBER!!

If you belong to the IEC, once again this month you have received not one but two beautifully digitized embroidery designs. I have received so many letters about the beautiful blue bird design; I think you will be pleased with the cherry branch design made especially to go with the blue bird. Either one of these will be perfect to be used seperately also.

Our new Christmas CD is ready to purchase TODAY for Internet Embroidery Club Members! If you would like to see the front and back covers of this CD, please go to the web site, http://www.marthapullen.com You can look at the Christmas CD even if you are not a member. If you are a member of the IEC, please go to the web site and purchase on our secured orderline. At this time this gorgeous Christmas CD is only available to IEC members.

If you would like to become a member of the IEC, please go to http://www.marthapullen.com and sign up. If you join the IEC, this Christmas CD, which is fabulous, will be available to you for only $49 rather than the regular price of $90 beginning in January 2002 for non-IEC members. You get so many goodies just for joining, and then the whole year's worth of designs to download. You will 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. A membership in the IEC would be a great Christmas present for those of you who have friends or family who love to sew and embroider.

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 trips!)
sewingroom@marthapullen.com (for sewing questions)
marthap@marthapullen.com (for personal letters to Martha Pullen)

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK

PSALM 85

Brother Jimmy preached Sunday from Psalm 85. I will write a few verses but I think you would love to read the whole thing. Brother Jimmy said, “We have been shaken to the roots of our lives. We are in revival and we need to keep this state of revival, prayer and going to our churches and to our knees.” “Only God can heal a broken heart.” “We need to ‘want to’ walk with God.” “How does God change a nation? One person at a time.” “Pray for security for our nation.” “We need to turn back to God.”

Psalm 85 1-9
1 You showed favor to your land, O Lord; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered al their sins.
3. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
4. Restore us again, O god our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-but let them not return to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

LETTER ABOUT PRAYER FROM Pamela A. Balistreri
Dear Martha,
I believe that we , His children NEED to be on our knees for our Country and our leaders not only now but to make the commitment to continue to do so! I have been taking the Beth Moore bible studies for quite a while now. In her "Breaking Free " study she spoke clearly in one tape about who will be the next generation of women that will be on our knees, she had talked about Corrie Ten Boom and others who have literally lived their lives on their knees, and challenged us to be the next generation of women to be on our knees, I would like to ask in a very humble way,,,if you could put out that very same plea to the ladies that you touch base with, Oh we need it more than ever! That really touched my heart when she said in the study, who will do this now,?? My bible study group committed to try to be that generation of women..and we will try to hold each other accountable. Our nation was founded on Christianity, we have turned our hearts from God and godly ways,,,,, I just had to email you and say what was on my heart, God can and will heal our nation IF we are on our knees ! I needed to do this, as you sent your email out to all also, Will we be willing to be that next generation of women who are faithful to prayer? We sew our children's clothes, we sew our grandchildren's clothing with joy and excitement, but do we really take their future seriously? Will we be the next generation of women that prays for the next generation?
In His Precious Name,
Pamela A. Balistreri

A LETTER FROM DEBI, A MARTHA PULLEN LICENSED TEACHER

During this time of national tragedy I feel like I want to hug and hold each of you, my family, my friends, those I know so very well and see day in and day out, as well as those of you I may have met casually or at work or church, or in Martha's licensing class. Somehow we formed a friendship so important that it led to exchanging e-mail addresses in an effort to keep in touch. To each and every one of you please know how very much you mean to me and how much I love you all. This nation has showed such a wonderful sprit of coming together. It helped me realize that EACH of you is representative of that sprit and how truly, truly blessed I am that our lives have touched. I know that I am richer because of that. Thank you so much for your gift of friendship. It has given me so much comfort in these past days and I will cherish it always. May God bless you all and may God bless America.
Hugs - Debbi

RECIPE OF THE WEEK
COUNTRY PEA SALAD

1 number 2 can LeSeur peas
1 bunch green onions, chopped
one half cup celery, chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup pecans, chopped
3 hard cooked eggs, chopped
one half teaspoon salt
one eighth teaspoon pepper
one half cup mayonnaise (can use low fat)

1. Mix all ingredients and toss lightly. 2. Refrigerate 2 hours and serve

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