October 19, 2009
Events • Sales • Sewing Tips • From Our Readers • Letter from Martha • Don't Miss Out • Scripture • Recipe
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West Coast Sewing Extravaganza!!
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Great Projects, Great Teachers, and Great Classes for You in Pasadena!
Are you ready for the week of your life? Then come on to California with us for the West Coast Sewing Extravaganza, November 12-15, 2009! In addition to the world's best teachers, we will have door prizes and GIFTS at each lunch and at the banquet. This will be a great place to bring your sewing friend to just have a girlfriend getaway. And sew until you drop! Since it is so close to Christmas, I might add that all of these projects will make great Christmas gifts! Just think! You will have your Christmas gifts started and have lots of new skills in addition to that!
The teachers will be Peggy Dilbone, Connie Palmer, Dody Baker, Alicia Welcher, Kathy McMakin and Martha Pullen! The four days of sit and sew have some of the best classes we have ever taught. And you licensed teachers who come to take these four days can use these classes to go home and teach to your students. The optional Wednesday night class (November 11) is our famous Little French Bonnet. Thursday's, Friday’s and Saturday’s classes are as follows: Top, Pajamas or Nightgown! Take your pick! (serger); Madeira Apron (machine); and Elegant Decorator Pillow (machine). The kits are gorgeous and include beautiful cotton fabrics, laces and trims. On Sunday, you have THREE classes: Serger Zippered Lingerie or What Not Bag; My Goodness, How Cute is This Drawstring Bag? (either little girl’s purse or lady’s gift bag); and Kitchen Towel Set - All Dressed Up and No Dishes to Dry!
There will be a Floriani Stabilizer Workshop Thursday night. I will present a “You Can Make Money from Your Hobby” Seminar Friday night. The banquet will be Saturday night. I will entertain you with hysterically funny stories that have actually happened to me during the 28 years I have been in the sewing business. I will lead an optional Sunday school class Sunday morning in the convention center from 7:30-8:30.
Everyone can come to shop during the store hours. There will be a 20% discount for everybody who comes to shop. The registered school students will get an additional 10% off while they are at the event. Please call 800-547-4176 ext. 105 to speak with Sis to register. Click here to download the brochure in PDF format.
February School of Art Fashion
February 1-7, 2010
Register Now While Space is Available!
Three Schools Already Filled!
The February 2010 School of Art Fashion is going to be one of our best schools ever! Three schools are filled and already have waiting lists; however, no need to worry, because we still have nine other wonderfully creative schools for you! Choose from classes in heirloom sewing, children’s clothing construction, women’s fashions, machine embroidery, embellishing, quilting and hand embroidery. Come for the 4-day sewing school or choose to come for the full seven days by adding your choice of 50 different pre-day classes! If you are already registered for the 4-day school, call today to add your pre-day class selections while they are still available. See the complete online brochure for pictures of some of the projects. Call to register today! Click here for complete descriptions of the schools/classes. Click here for pre-day classes.
Phone to register at 800-547-4176 (Ext 105)
or 256-533-9586 (Ext 105)
or FAX: 256-533-9630 or 256-534-548
KENT STATE Hard Cover Books and CDs ON SALE for you THIS WEEK
Get the sale of your dreams this week! We present Kent State and Kent State II!
 Kent State - Vol. I Click here to order Click here to preview Vol. I |
 Kent State - Vol. II Click here to order Click here to preview Vol. II |
How well I remember going to Kent State the first time to view their gorgeous collection. How well I remember getting to know Dr. Elizabeth Rhodes who helped us, along with Jean Lawrence Druesedow, to make these books a reality. Some of the most gorgeous machine embroidery designs in the world are included on these CDs. These two books are beyond fabulous!! Gorgeous clothes with gorgeous ideas for you to re-create into garments for today. The classic turn of the last century embroideries will be spectacular, not only on clothing but also on linens and other items for the home.
If you purchased these books and CDs individually the cost would be $210 each. One book plus two CDs! If you purchased a set on our website last week the set (combination of book plus two CDs) would have been $120. TODAY IF YOU PURCHASE ONE SET your cost is only $75!!! You heard me - only $75 for the book plus the two CDs.
What is on these CDs? Some of the most fabulous machine embroidery designs in the world. Book I has 82 designs on the two CDs! Click here to preview Book I and view the embroidery designs. And you can get the book plus these 82 designs for only $75! Click here to order Kent State Vol. I. Book II has 85 designs on the two CDs. Click here to preview Book II and view the embroidery designs. And you can get Book II plus these 85 designs for only $75. Click here to order Kent State Vol. II.
NOW THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF ALL, JUST FOR YOU THIS WEEK!! AND ONLY FOR OUR NEWSLETTER FAMILY!!! ARE YOU READY???
Get BOTH Kent State books plus FOUR design packs with a total of 167 exquisitely digitized designs for only $140! Yes, that’s what I said - ONLY $140 for two books plus the four CDs accompanying these two books! Please click here to order. Don’t delay! And this sale is only for our newsletter family. This is the perfect Christmas present for anyone on your list who loves to sew and embroider.
 Kent State - Vol. I |
 Kent State - Vol. II |
Click here to order the entire collection for $140!
WANT TO HAVE SOME FUN SEWING GORGEOUS THINGS?
AND LEARNING NEW TECHNIQUES?
HUGE SALE FOR YOU, OUR NEWSLETTER READERS!
Regular price for all four leaflets is $28, but THIS WEEK you can have ALL FOUR for ONLY $15!
That is only $3.75 each when you buy all four!
 Chenille Teddy Bear Quilt |
 Baby Bunting |
 Bunny Love Changing Pad |
 Reversible Rag Quilt |
Click here to order all FOUR of these fabulous leaflets for only $15
Do you want the greatest present for your sewing friends for only $15? Or how about a wonderful present for yourself to make fabulous gifts? Click here to order all four of these fabulous leaflets for only $15.
I promise you, these are dynamite projects with great, great instructions. These four little leaflets contain all of the instructions for fun projects that are quick and easy.
The Chenille Teddy Bear Quilt you will love. Chenille bears, made of alternating layers of woven and flannel fabric, give this quilt extra snuggle power. The 12-square design is a combination of baby pastels, tan and white. Bear eyes are satin stitched, and the muzzle is appliquéd to the face with a machine heart nose. This leaflet has eight color pages and fabulous directions.
You will want to make a Baby Bunting for everyone on your new baby list. This project is very easy and adorable! Actually, this baby bunting is great for a baby doll, also, for that Christmas-morning-surprise doll for someone you love very much. Strategically placed buttons magically allow you to fold this flat quilt into a baby bunting. The vintage styling features two layers of gingham fabric with batting sandwiched between them, and it is bordered with gathered Victorian eyelet edging (so lovely). This leaflet has four color pages, and the project is VERY EASY to make.
The Bunny Love Changing Pad is just adorable to put on baby’s changing table. It can be made in any colors. We used calico fabric in baby colors and country quaint gingham. The 18” x 26” pad (not including the head and feet) buttons to a 10” x 13” size. The feet are pockets for storing handy travel-size lotion, wipes and other necessities.
Have you ever wanted to know how to make the easiest rag quilt ever? Just try this Reversible Whole-Cloth Rag Quilt pattern, and you will know how! This color 4-page leaflet shows you exactly how. We used redwork machine embroidery designs inspired by the 1920s on each square. It is the perfect quilt to make with your redwork designs. And it is easy and fun to make, and you can choose colors and embroideries to match your nursery.
All four project leaflets for just $15!
Just In – Another Fabulous Instructional DVD from Lezette Thomason |
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IEC PAPER DOLL TIPS FROM ANITA
I am a fan of your IEC and love the annual paper doll designs. I love to make them for my granddaughter who is now three years old, and I have made them for her since she was only one!
I have recently figured out a way to help my granddaughter interactively play with the dolls. After stitching out the doll on heavy stabilizer, I apply shirt collar fusible interfacing to the back before I cut out the doll. Then I attach a 'dot' of hook-and-loop fastener (hook side) to the center of the trunk of the doll. I use hot glue to apply a piece of clear plastic (slightly narrower than the doll) from the shoulders to the feet. (I save occasional/greeting card box tops and other appropriate clear plastic containers for this purpose.) This gives the doll "invisible stability." Then I have my husband cut 2" x 2" X-shaped blocks of wood, about 3/4” thick, with canted slots in them. Anna can now 'stand' her dollies in the slot and spend many happy hours with them interactively by herself or with Mom and Grammy. The doll clothes are easy to change, because I apply the loop side of the hook-and-loop fastener to the back of the doll clothes.
Note from Martha: Anita, so many people love our IEC paper dolls. We have been doing them for several years. Please click here to see the 2009 IEC designs. For other years, please click here.
SERGER CHALLENGE GOING ON AT MarthaPullenfanclub@yahoogoups.com
Note from Martha: I think there are so many good ideas in this serger challenge that you might enjoy doing. I especially love the statement, “It’s okay, it’s only fabric and thread.” Have fun experimenting with your serger and TRULY try to make things using nothing but your serger. It is fast and EASY!
Your challenge is to do something with your serger -- read the manual, practice threading over and over until you get comfortable. It's just a silly machine, and you are the boss! The idea of using a different distinctive color in each threading path is an excellent one. In fact, I even bought those brilliant colors that would really stand out on any test fabric. I got colors that matched the colors in the manual, since I was so paranoid about doing it wrong. After you get more comfortable, go through the manual and do all the exercises, saving your samples and making notes for yourself. Make it a fun day; get some special treats to reward your successes -- yes, you WILL have successes as well as ooopsies. It's okay, it's only fabric and thread. For those others of us who are comfortable with our sergers, let's challenge each other to make an item, relying on the serger as completely as the pattern or project will allow. Let's announce in advance what our project will be and hold each other accountable. Any takers? How about doing a Christmas gift or fall item?
IRON CLEANING TIP FROM DOT NIXEY
To clean the plate of your iron, use a Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser®. Lay it on your ironing board, spritz the eraser with water and iron back and forth with a hot iron right on the eraser. This works great, and there are no fumes!
SEWING TIPS NEEDED!!! PLEASE SEND SEWING TIPS TO martha.pullen@yahoo.com! Please send pictures of your projects. Our newsletter readers love to see what you have made.
GORGEOUS HOMECOMING DRESS FROM ELIZABETH BRIMM
I had to share this picture of my daughter Jade in her homecoming dress. She chose a pattern from my stash of patterns. The fun began when I started to cut out the dress and discovered that over the 20 years I have had the pattern I somehow misplaced the pieces for the top two tiers. Well, that being said, I had to draft the two pieces myself. I thank Lezette [Thomason] for teaching me the art of drafting!
FABULOUS CLOTHING IDEAS USING VINTAGE HANKIES FROM ELIZABETH BOONE, PA
I was so happy to see my new issue (#126) of Sew Beautiful arrive with vintage hankies on the cover, but I was surprised that there were no articles of clothing featured using vintage hankies. For years, I have been making newborn jackets out of hankies and have given them at baby showers. I also have used them on two adult jackets and on the bodice of jumpers for my granddaughters. It's so much fun to look for the hankies at flea markets and yard sales and then come up with a color scheme. I was able to find more "masculine" hankies, mostly red, white and blue, for my grandsons. I thought you'd enjoy seeing some of my uses of hankies. Perhaps they will inspire someone else to do the same.
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PRIZE WINNING CHRISTENING DRESS BY WANDA JONES OF TEXAS
Wanda Jones, a licensed teacher many times over from Martha Pullen, won the Martha's Market Viewers' Choice Prize last year with this gorgeous christening dress made for Zyon Elaine Jones. This event has been held in Arlington, Texas, every year for the last 12 years. The high yoke dress is the perfect combination of smocking, lace shaping and machine embroidery. Don't you love the use of the slightly darker shades of thread for the gorgeous machine embroidery? This slightly darker color of machine embroidery thread also makes the slip easier to read when embroidering the family history information on the slip. This information might include name, date, birthplace, weight and height; names of parents, siblings or grandparents; favorite verse of scripture, the church where baptized or dedicated and for whom the baby was named; or any other information you want to include on this most special occasion.
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Dear Sewing Family,
I have some BIG news to add about our Pasadena event, West Coast Sewing Extravaganza with Husqvarna/Viking, November 12-15, 2009! I just received word from Sue Hausmann that she will be able to join us for Sunday at this event. Sue is the host of America Sews with Sue Hausmann, which airs on PBS all over the country and Canada. She is going to present a wonderful trunk show Sunday during lunch, and her trunk show will give you more ideas than you ever dreamed possible. Talk about your Christmas sewing energy! Sue has more energy and sewing skill than anyone, and she will share it with you. She is flying in from an event in Tucson just to be with us.
It is time for YOU to sign up for our West Coast Sewing Extravaganza at the beautiful Pasadena Convention Center with Husqvarna/Viking, November 12-15! Here is a list of our tabletop presentations which will be Thursday night: Hand Smocking; Using the Smocking Pleater; Wing Needle Techniques; Continuous Hoop; Tips and Tricks for Machine Embroidery; Personalize It!; Spanish Hemstitching; Serger Feet; Adding Sparkles & Lace Painting; Cute Socks; Software, Software, Software; and other surprises! And these are just the tabletop demonstrations for one night! The four days of sit and sew have some of the best classes we have ever taught. And you licensed teachers who come to take these four days can use these classes to go home and teach to your students. The optional Wednesday night class is our famous Little French Bonnet. Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s classes are as follows: Top, Pajamas or Nightgown! Take your pick! (serger); Madeira Apron (machine); and Elegant Decorator Pillow (machine). The kits are gorgeous and include beautiful cotton fabrics, laces and trims. On Sunday, you have THREE classes: Serger Zippered Lingerie or What Not Bag; My Goodness, How Cute is This Drawstring Bag? (either little girl’s purse or lady’s gift bag); and Kitchen Towel Set - All Dressed Up and No Dishes to Dry! There will be a Floriani Stabilizer Workshop Thursday night. I will present a “You Can Make Money from Your Hobby” Seminar Friday night. The banquet will be Saturday night. I will entertain you with hysterically funny stories that have actually happened to me during the 28 years I have been in the sewing business. I will lead an optional Sunday school class Sunday morning in the convention center from 7:30-8:30. Everyone and anyone can come to shop during the store hours. You do NOT HAVE TO BE REGISTERED AS A STUDENT TO SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP IN OUR STORE! There will be a 20% discount for everybody who comes to shop. The registered school students will get an additional 10% off while they are at the event. Please call 800-547-4176 ext. 105 to speak with Sis to register.
You know I always love to show off my family. Charisse sent me a few pictures, at my request, of my Arizona family. I miss them so much. It hardly seems possible that Campbell and Marshall are almost grown. They were only seven and five when they moved to Arizona. Campbell is a senior and is currently looking at colleges. He plans to be a physician. His granddad, Bill, has brought him back East on a college tour. He still has another trip to make before making his decision on a college. Marshall is a sophomore and is becoming quite an accomplished guitar player. He does well in school but has a musical interest. Anna Garrin, named for my mother, loves gymnastics and school. She competes at a local and state level and has won many awards. Best of all, she loves school. My baby girl, Sophie-Reese loves kindergarten and is reading already. She also loves the gym. Camp and Charisse are doing well and love Arizona. Of course, I miss them terribly.
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We absolutely cannot WAIT for our BRAND NEW curriculum, Heirloom I Licensing to begin later this week! Kathy McMakin and her team have been working for over a year on this new heirloom curriculum. Many of our already licensed teachers have been waiting for a year for the next new curriculum. They are coming this week. I will have lots of news next week about the new group. We are certain to have a wonderful time. By the way, if you are interested in taking the Heirloom I Licensing, we have another group planned for January 2010. We are almost closed in this group, too, so if you are interested, please call Karen today at 800-547-4176 ext. 131 to register before the event fills up.
Kathy Farmer, one of our Viking III students from last week sent me this picture of Bobbin underneath the table at our graduation barbecue at our home. Thought you would love to see it.
Here is a picture of Kathy McMakin's handsome grandson Ryder, along with Ashley and Andy. Ashley and Andy have a fabulous catering business in Birmingham, and I would like to personally congratulate them for a huge honor they received recently. Ashley Mac’s has been nominated for three different categories in “Birmingham’s Best 2009” from the Birmingham News. Over 3,000 people sent in nominations, and Ashley Mac’s was nominated for “Best Dessert, Best Pie, & Best Takeout.” I invite you to visit their website www.ashleymacs.com especially to order some of their delicious brownies. If you are ever in Birmingham please, please go by to have some of her strawberry cake or carrot cake. They are the best in the world. Plus, I keep her small dish casseroles in my freezer for a quick, delicious meal.
Andy, Ashley and Ryder
Earlier this week, I received an e-mail stating that the sender was having trouble with bullion rosebuds. She asked what she could do and specifically if it were being taught at the Pasadena school. I replied that it was not being taught at Pasadena, but a fabulous DVD done by Wendy Schoen is available. She can run Wendy’s lesson over and over and over again. I truly want you to know that our vision for making the DVDs in the first place was to offer lessons for 1) those who cannot come to our schools, and 2) those who come to our schools but who want to take the teacher home with them. Truly, truly our DVDs are fabulous, and we have a large variety from which to choose. Click here to order Wendy Schoen’s DVD, Basic Heirloom Embroidery. Learning basic hand embroidery stitch techniques and tips is made clear and simple as you are transported to the classroom of a master teacher. Wendy begins with the basics of supplies and fabric preparation and then continues step-by-step in her demonstration and explanation of stitches that every heirloom-sewing enthusiast must know. The stitches included are Backstitch, Lazy Daisy, Stem or Outline Stitch, Running Stitch, French Knot/Colonial Knot, Feather Stitch, Buttonhole/Blanket Stitch, Bullion Stitch, Bullion Flower, Fishbone Stitch and Eyelet Stitch.
Our newest DVD is a wonderful, wonderful detailed lesson on how to “Add A Little Smocking” to many types of garments. Lezette Thomason teaches how to re-draft a garment front to add smocking as well as re-drafting a garment back for pleats. She also shares how to draft a knife pleat and make a knife pleat—all tailored details for children’s clothing. She details the bishop collar and magic bindings. This lesson would be one similar to the classes Lezette teaches here in Huntsville; however, you can have it in your home and run it over and over and over again. Click here to order “Add a Little Smocking.”
Here is a photo of the October Gift of the Month project. It is a gorgeous table runner in our luscious imported handkerchief linen. We used the embroidery design as the finished edge, and the results are magnificent! Please visit your local dealer soon and pick up this month’s project. Click here to find a dealer near you.
Joanna and Ron went on a trip, and I had their five children with me for nine nights. I can tell you, I appreciate her more than ever now. I had lots of help with her mother’s assistant who worked overtime every single day. Joe and I talked about the importance of little children belonging to younger parents. We loved having the children, and they were good. Just getting two to football practice and one to gym and feeding a tiny baby, plus trying to get food that the others would eat, were chores even though I had tons of help. Joe is not much of a “little child person,” so he was pretty overwhelmed with the whole process. I was pretty overwhelmed also. I think he deserves an A+ for having five spend the night for that long. They loved the hide-a-bed sofa in the den. I was very happy to see Joanna and Ron show up again.
I am so honored to have you receive this newsletter every week. I love to write it. I always try to take pictures of our events, so everyone can attend even if you were not able to be with us. I always have you on my mind and my camera in my purse. I wish all of you getting this newsletter could join us for every event. We have such fabulous events with the greatest teachers.
I pray for our men and women serving in harm’s way and for their families. I pray for you and your family. I have just prayed that God will touch you in a special way this week and that you will know of the faithfulness of God during the good times and especially during the difficult. God is a little like a sewing machine and fabric. Taking a flat piece of fabric and spending time makes it whole and beautiful. God’s work, even with our imperfections and “flat pieces” ends up in something beautiful and whole. Remember Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I send my love to each of you. I appreciate you more than words could ever express, and I thank you for everything you do for this company and me. You truly are my family.
May God Bless You,
Martha
Martha's Internet Embroidery Club
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MARTHA PULLEN LICENSED TEACHER WEEKS
Licensing dates are scheduled as listed below:
Martha Pullen/Heirloom Sewing I - Jan 12-19, 2010
Martha Pullen/ Serger I - February 10-17, 2010
Beginning II - Teaching Adults & Children - March 5-10, 2010
Martha Pullen/Heirloom Sewing I - April 13-20, 2010
Martha Pullen/Serger II - July 28-4, 2010
** New curriculum in 2009.
Roman numeral designations indicate a collection of curriculum and not the order in which the licensings need to be taken. All licensing curriculums are stand-alone and have no prerequisites other than a love of sewing and a desire to learn.
For more info, call 800-547-4176, ext. 5 or visit our licensing info page: Licensing Link
Hebrews 11: 6-8
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest [Original publication date, 1927 (UK), 1935 (USA)], “Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason—a life of knowing Him and who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.”
I guess that I have never doubted, since I was 39 years old and accepted Christ as my personal Savior, that I had a great faith in God and in His direction for my life. I still confess that I like the comfort of knowing where I am going and that security of not too many ups and downs. Many times I plan too carefully where I am going and those plans go completely astray. My friend, Dr. Wendy Wood, said at one of our licensings, “I love to give worries, plans and troubles to God since I know He will take care of me. Then, I seem to love to take them back.” I find myself, probably daily, giving my cares to God and then grabbing them back into my hands to “fix things.”
Going back to the scripture above, Abraham went to a place “even though he did not know where he was going.” I many times ask myself the question, “If God knows everything about my life and where I am going, why don’t I pray more and let go and let God? Why do I try so hard to make things smooth and to make decisions that aren’t mine to make?” Chambers writes later in this essay, “A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day-in and day-out consistency; a life of walking without fainting.”
RECIPE FOR THE WEEK from the editors of Taste of the South, a magazine about the 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.
Here’s a yummy fall treat for Halloween giving or everyday munching. For more recipes like this, see the October/November issue of Taste of the South. Oatmeal-Apple Cookies
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TO CONTACT US BY PHONE: 800-547-4176, ext. 2 or 256-533-9586, ext. 2
TO e-mail ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, choose from this list:
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)
webhelp@marthapullen.com (for Internet Embroidery Club)
markets@marthapullen.com (for our sewing markets)
martha.pullen@yahoo.com – MARTHA'S PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS
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®2009 Martha Pullen Company, 149 Old Big Cove Road, Brownsboro, AL 35741
Go to: October 12 Newsletter
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Note: All newsletter sale and bonus offers are for "in stock" items only, while supplies last. Shipping costs, where indicated, are for USA, international shipments extra. Martha Pullen Company reserves the right to correct pricing errors.
© 2009 Martha Pullen Company