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SEWING TIP FOR THE WEEK "PLEATING CORDUROY" FROM NOREEN FROM THE MARTHA PULLEN MESSAGE BOARD at www.marthapullen.com

"Last year I made 8 featherweight corduroy smocked dresses/rompers for my grandchildren. They were all different patterns, but not Mary De -however, I have done Mary De in the past and used the standard 45" of fabric - it worked out fine in the size I was using. You need to be sure you can tie off to the correct measurement after pleating - if you can't (too much bulk), just cut the piece down to size (Pull out the pleater threads to as far as you need to). Ask me how I learned to do this! You need to run a test piece of fabric through your pleater to see if you should pleat right side up or down. You want the "Long" threads of the pleats on the wrong side of your fabric. Some pleaters result in the thread lengths being almost exactly the same length, in which case it won't matter if your fabric is right side up or down. Even pleaters made by the same manufacturer may be machined for different correct fabric "sides" - or so I was told at a recent MP School.... so test yours out."

Note from Martha: The question asked on the board was how much of the featherweight corduroy to use to make the Children's Corner pattern, Mary De. I might add that we now have the gorgeous butter weight corduroy in our catalogue and we are showing it for the first time on this newsletter. I have looked for years for just the right, very buttery, featherweight corduroy to carry and we now have it. We have just gotten this gorgeous fabric in, I might add.

THE NOVEMBER SEW BEAUTIFUL IS BEYOND GORGEOUS! HERE IS AN OVERVIEW!

You can subscribe for only $23.95 and get 6 gorgeous issues plus 3 Martha Pullen catalogues mailed to you, plus a FREE membership in the Sew Beautiful Internet Club, plus sales in each issue of Sew Beautiful subscriber copies, plus a fabulous one hour video for only $9.99 extra! Please click here to subscribe. Don't forget to put your e-mail address if you want to belong to the SEW BEAUTIFUL internet subscribers club.

I often hear our readers say that Sew Beautiful is their "Idea Magazine," and the next issue really is that plus lots of great projects and patterns. To tempt you completely is the Mystery Dress feature which includes 20 fabulous ways to use one pattern. This was made possible by our wonderfully creative readers who participated in our Mystery Dress Challenge along with our own interpretation of the original antique which inspired the pattern. The "mystery dress" is an actual copy of one of my garments from my personal collection of antique clothes. You can copy this dress exactly as it was made in about 1900 or you can use some of the 20 adaptation ideas from our readers from all over the country. The pattern (sized 2-8) and instructions are included on the centerfold pattern supplement.

Since our November issue is also well known as our Special Occasions issue, we could not miss the opportunity to showcase 8 heirloom graduation dresses and 7 flower girl dresses. This particular pictorial features the graduation gowns and flower girl dresses from a very traditional commencement ceremony of a prestigious girl's preparatory school in Memphis Tennessee. You will never want for a fabulous heirloom design for the older girl again. Many of the featured graduation dresses are actual antique dresses; some are adaptations of antique dresses. If graduation is yet a long way off for your little ones, be assured that we have not left you out. Marriane Schubbe shares a wonderful christening set for twin boys, which incorporates a detachable formal skirt and a very practical yet, elaborate bubble suit. Complete instructions are given for this fashionable and functional ensemble.

Ever wanted to add a bit of machine embroidery or hand embroidery to a bishop but did not know where to put it? Well, your problem is solved with this wonderful "how-to" article which will lead you step by step in how to set a box pleat into any bishop pattern. A hand embroidered monogram alphabet is included on the centerfold with this feature. Do you love the look of smocked dresses with a cute little matching sweater, but can never find the sweater? Gail Doanne shares her tried and true technique for transforming an adult sized sweater into a child sized cardigan for embellishing with bias trim, appliqué, machine embroidery, and duplicate stitch. A sweater jacket pattern is provided on the centerfold and a free duplicate stitch design is offered in the article.

Speaking of beautiful smocked dresses, we saved the best for last this year to bring you two gorgeous plates for any special occasion. Mary Blackwell's midnight lace is fit for royalty with it's illusion of lace on navy silk dupioni. This article also features a lesson in graphing your own monogram. Kim Holcomb has designed a white on white daisy bullion plate that's perfect for Easter or a wedding, but could offer entirely new possibilities for a casual play dress if stitched in color. Our women's sewing section covers some must-know-info for working with silks and super fine fabrics. Linda Gray shares her many secrets and tips as she walks you through the preparation and challenges she faced while designing her Maiden Fair evening gown, which includes beaded smocking on silk chiffon, a couture zipper, and no-fail, tiny machine rolled hem for sheer fabrics. This article also offers the herringbone smocked stitch and the beaded carrier smocked stitch on the centerfold.

For those who love quilting, you will love the two Memory Quilt designs shown in this issue. Family photos become treasured wall quilts to preserve precious memories in a unique and creative way. In our Special Features section, Kent State University focuses on yesterday's magazines for today's inspiration as they share some special designs from a few Godey's Ladies Books, a ladies journal from the 1800's. A smocking granddad shares his story as we honor a man for his sewing contributions to his family. A feature which I think everyone loves is the Theresa Borelli paper dolls. This time the doll is a baby doll which is actually Anna Garrin, my granddaughter, when she was a baby.

Dear Sewing Family,

  The machine embroidery conference at Ruthie's Notions in Ft. Walton Beach was incredible. We loved seeing so many friends and learning some things about machine embroidery and software. All of Ruth Barnhill's events are so much fun and so very informative. The most amazing thing I learned is that Baby Lock has a new "semi-professional" embroidery machine which is a home machine. It has six spools and changes colors on the design without re-threading. It threads itself! What an amazing machine!

  You might want to go by your local Baby Lock dealer and see this new marvel which is a professional embroidery machine in a home machine size. We also saw the new wave serger being demonstrated and that was quite interesting also. Margaret Tully, the Baby Lock serger specialist, is teaching a Baby Lock Serger School here in Huntsville at our February 1-9, 2004 School. There are few places left (but only a few!) in Margaret's Baby Lock serger school. I spent a little time with Ann the Gran, Sue Lord, Rose Smith and other machine embroidery friends who were also there to teach. My teaching topics were Machine Embroidered Quilts and Turning Your Sewing Hobby into a Business. It was so much fun having Joe with me on this trip.

  One morning we drove over from Ft. Walton to San Destin to the Magnolia and Ivey Tea Room to see this charming place which I learned about from the new magazine, "Tea Time," published by my dear friend, Phyllis Hoffman. Phyllis also publishes my other favorite new magazine, "Southern Lady." If you have not picked up either of these magazines, you simply must. Both of these new magazines are even more beautiful than "Victoria" which I understand is not being published any more. For those of you who love cross stitch, you will know Phyllis' all-time popular magazine, "Just Cross Stitch."

  Speaking of excellent education, it is time to register for our February 1-8, 2004, Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion. We have a few places left in every school except for the Jenny Haskins School. We truly want you to come to Huntsville for the sewing vacation of a lifetime. SOME SCHOOLS ONLY HAVE A FEW PLACES - PLEASE HURRY TO REGISTER. We are offering the following schools: Beginning, Carol Ahles, Jenny Haskins (full), Mirella Arroyo, Wendy Schoen, Baby Lock, Serger, Bernina, Husqvarna/Viking, Janome and Pfaff. Pre-day classes are filling very quickly also. Please call 800-547-4176 ext. 105 to register.

  I have a cute Africa missionary family story that Suzanne has written to share with you. She wrote, "Since we got back I had one funny story that I thought you might enjoy. You know we have had many, many visitors coming by to greet us, welcome us back and admire Benjamin. In this culture your last child is called your "Benjamin" (as in the Bible, where Benjamin was Jacob's youngest child). Whenever anyone asks what our child's name is and we say, "Benjamin" they really do a double take. We even had one pastor say, "You didn't put that on his birth certificate, did you?" So Benjamin is now being called by his middle name "Paul" by the Togolese."

  I will now share the secrets about this year's IEC (Internet Embroidery Club) alphabets for the 2004 IEC membership. (The IEC is a totally different internet club from the Sew Beautiful Subscribers Internet Club.) The redwork alphabet is taken from an antique quilt, circa 1920, which I purchased about a year ago. I had never seen a redwork alphabet on a quilt until I found this one. I purchased it immediately(at a very high price, I might add) knowing that this would be the perfect alphabet for our IEC members. The quilt was called "The Flag Quilt." That name came from the fact that an American flag was used for the picture which went with the letter "F." Because all of our IEC members are not American, we have added another version of the "F" which has a fishing pole.

  I love redwork but I also love full color alphabets. We "colored" in the redwork so you will have two versions of this alphabet. Remember the alphabet was designed and stitched around 1920 so this is truly a piece of American needlework history. The quilt was purchased from a Pennsylvania quilt antique dealer. My thinking is that it is a Pennsylvania piece. I don't know if it is Amish or not; however, I think the reason there are so many Pennsylvania antique quilts is because of the love of the Amish women for quilting.

Visit the IEC 2004 Info page to see the entire alphabets! Click Here

  The IEC not only has two alphabets downloadable when you join, but also you will have, starting with January 2004, at least one machine embroidery design each month. There will be a total of 26 designs coming throughout the year! The IEC is so much more than two redwork alphabets and 26 machine embroidery designs. Each month we post on our website antique pictures, antique articles concerning sewing and patterns with the black and white drawings accompanying the articles from my antique magazines and books. One of our artists, Angela Pullen, hand tints an antique black and white drawing from my collection so you will have truly one-of-a-kind antique pictures. We also post antique poems. The IEC is machine embroidery plus much, much more.

  To get a complete idea of what you receive with your membership, over a year's time, please click here to see not only samples (from 2003) of the machine embroidery designs but also links to samples of the antique pictures, hand tinted antique pictures, articles and poems which you may download each month. All of this is available to you for the 2004 designs for only $49 if you join (or renew) before December 31, 2003. After that date the 2004 membership is $59 per year, just like the previous years. The value of the machine embroidery designs alone is $315! All of the photos, history articles, paintings and poems are in addition to the $315 machine embroidery value.

  In addition to all of the goodies you get, you also get new Martha Pullen machine embroidery CD's for $54 rather than the regular price of $90. Each month you get sales on different Martha Pullen company catalogue items such as laces, embroideries, fabrics or other catalogue items. You get different sales each month. Please click here to renew or join for 2004.

  I love going to the message board at www.marthapullen.com and reading the some of the thousands of messages which our friends write to each other. I was reading about pleaters this week and I read the cutest message from LS who had just ordered a new Dr. Joe pleater. The ladies were talking about naming their pleaters and she said, "Haven't named mine yet. Can it have a boy's name? I thought of Joey, but then maybe a guy won't be good at pleating. Can't wait till it gets here!" She signed her name, "Linda (grandmother to be). Linda, I hope you name the pleater Joey because that is my pet name for Joe. His mother called him Joey and I call him that a lot of the time.

  The new Sew Beautiful is simply beyond gorgeous. The Theresa Borelli baby paper dolls are of Anna Garrin, my little granddaughter when she was a baby. Many of you have requested some baby clothes paper dolls and we not only have baby paper dolls in this issue of Sew Beautiful we also have one page of baby dolls in the new 2004 Theresa Borelli paper doll calendar. Theresa used Anna Garrin's baby picture from the cover of a Sew Beautiful magazine as the basis for the calendar art. This year's magazine came out almost exactly on her third birthday which was last week. I am sure that not everyone has not received their copy yet (because the postal service delivers at different times), however, they have all been mailed.

  We can't wait to see some of you in Pasadena next week! That school is full and we are very excited. We also are looking forward to seeing some of you November 17-22. That "beginning sewing teacher" licensing is full and we are thrilled about that event. If you want to become a Martha Pullen licensed teacher we have openings in 2004 for Viking, "beginning sewing teacher," Pfaff, and "serger sewing teacher." I might quickly add that each of these licensings already has students signed up. OUR LICENSED TEACHER WEEKS FILL MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENTS. PLEASE REGISTER NOW IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A MARTHA PULLEN LICENSED TEACHER IN THE YEAR 2004! Call 800-547-4176 ext. 108. If you want more information and dates on teacher licensing please click here.

  Thanks for letting me visit with you each week. I love writing this letter and I can truly say that I appreciate your friendship and your loyalty over the years.

May God Bless You,
Martha

MARTHA CAMPBELL – BRAND NEW 23" DOLL FOR CHRISTMAS, 2003

Martha Campbell, my maiden name, is our second 23" doll made exclusively for Martha Pullen Company by the Gotz Company of Germany. You might want to order her now to get the lowest number and not be disappointed if the dolls are totally sold out before they arrive in this country (like Katherine Ruth sold out last year). We expect arrival in early November, 2003. I will be signing and numbering each doll and her worldwide production will be limited to 400. She is gorgeous with her red hair, brown eyes and elegant ecru and green pleated dress and jacket (very detailed tailoring on her jacket including scalloped cuffs) and her pretty ecru panty hose and gorgeous ecru shoes. The price is $249 plus $9 shipping (in USA, international shipments extra). Call 800-547-4176 ext. 2 to order. Your card will not be charged until the dolls are ready to be shipped.

SALE ON BABY DOLLS!

Dress Me Sarah 21" Baby Doll Blue Eyes	Dress Me Alex 21" Baby Doll Brown Eyes	Dress Me Sydney 16" Baby Doll Blue Eyes	Dress Me Rebekah 16" Baby Doll Brown Eyes

The large dolls (21") retail for $79; the small dolls (16") for $59. The book retails for $16 and the little play-with dress and matching pantaloons retail for $14. You can have all of this for $63 plus shipping (for the 21" dolls); for $47 plus shipping (for the 16" dolls). The value for the 21" dolls is $109 (your cost $63); the value for the 16" dolls is $89 (your cost $47). I will sign and number each and every doll. Some of the dolls are in very limited supply. For a limited time these dolls are offered at 20% off 2 plus you get the dress and the book on top of that! Click here to order.

FREE with Baby Doll Order!

Calendars are $11.99 each, two for $20, or three for $28 (plus s/h)
Click to Order

NEW BUTTERSOFT 100% COTTON CORDUROY NOW IN STOCK! We have lots of colors, so click on the link below to see this gorgeous fabric for which I searched and searched! Only $11.95 per yard!!

(See all the colors in our online store. This all-cotton fabric is 58" wide)
Click to See and Order

MARTHA'S QUILT CONFERENCE ORLANDO! How would you like to have a ton of fun in ORLANDO and learn lots of new quilting techniques from very famous Australian and American quilters from January 8-10, 2004, at The Expo Center? How would you like 9 (1-1/2 hour) celebrity lectures/seminars over three days? The classes will be lecture/demo only, not sit and sew. In addition to these seminars how would you like mini-lectures lasting fifteen minutes each inside the vendor hall while you shop each day in between your lecture classes? How would you like to see many beautiful quilts on exhibit including our teacher's fabulous quilts? Click Here for Lots of Information

Pre-Day Sit and Sew with Martha will be January 7, 2004, prior to the Quilt Conference. Two great classes with limited enrollment. Click here for details!

FEBRUARY SCHOOL OF ART FASHION REGISTRATION GOING ON NOW! We are now registering for our February School of Art Fashion! We have a few openings in every school except Jenny Haskins School. Pre-days are Feb 1-4, 2004. The four day school is Feb. 5-8! Please call to register as quickly as possible if you want to come! The complete brochure is on the web site so click here for links to the complete guide to classes. Please call 800-547-4176 ext. 105 to register.

SALE - VERY BIG SALE - ON Sew Beautiful SUBSCRIPTIONS! REGULAR PRICE $29.99 - YOUR PRICE $23.99! PLUS YOU GET FREE, COMPLETELY FREE, THE INTERNET MACHINE EMBROIDERY, HAND EMBROIDERY, PROJECT, SMOCKING PLATE AND TIPS AND TRICKS CLUB ABSOLUTELY FREE IF YOU SUBSCRIBE AND GIVE US YOUR VALID E-MAIL ADDRESS.

The Sew Beautiful Internet Club has started. You will receive your FREE goodies the months that you do not receive Sew Beautiful magazine. This means that you get "Sew Beautiful goodies" every single month! Please subscribe today and do not miss the current issue.

Click on this link (Sew Beautiful INTERNET CLUB) to read complete details about the brand new Sew Beautiful subscribers Club! SAVE 35% off the newsstand price by subscribing and get MUCH, MUCH MORE IF YOU SUBSCRIBE! Don't forget about ordering the Sew Beautiful 2002-2003 Video for $9.99 if you subscribe. You can subscribe on the internet - don't forget to send your e-mail address on the form or call 800-547-4176 ext. 115 or 116.

IEC IEC IEC IEC - Internet Machine Embroidery Club - The machine embroidery Internet Embroidery Club is truly something to save for future generations. When you join you will get to download two antique alphabets. During the year, along with the new embroidery designs to download each month, we also have antique pictures and articles which can range from 60 to 120 years old! Each month you ALSO get SALE prices on regular Martha Pullen Company merchandise and during the year our new machine embroidery CD members' price is $54 plus $5 s&h. Click here for complete information

MARTHA PULLEN LICENSED TEACHER WEEKS The next machine groups (which have openings) and dates are as follows: Beginning Sewing Teacher Licensing, November 17-22, 2003 (full, but taking a waiting list); Viking, February 15-21, 2004; Beginning Sewing Teacher Licensing, April 22-27, 2004; Pfaff, May 23-39, 2004; SERGER Licensing, Sept. 17-23, 2004; and Viking, Oct. 13-19, 2004. Call 800-547-4176 ext. 107 or 108 to get more information. 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)
subscriptions@marthapullen.com (for Sew Beautiful subscriptions)
schools@marthapullen.com (for School of Art Fashion)
licensing@marthapullen.com (for teacher licensing questions)
markets@marthapullen.com (for our sewing markets)
mcpullen@marthapullen.com -- MY PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK – Psalm 73: 23-24

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

  On January 27, 2002, when John and Suzanne were here on stateside assignment, he was invited to preach at a very tiny church, South Sauty, near Scottsboro. These were the verses he used for his sermon. I know many of you are suffering right now. I have several very close friends who are fighting cancer at this time. I have other friends who are suffering almost every type of physical and mental pain at this time. Mary Nell Shelton, who happens to be the mother of one of my dearest friends, is currently suffering greatly in Huntsville Hospital from a broken hip fall and surgery. I have been praying for this precious 86 year old lady who was one of my mother's childhood friends. I remember all of the wonderful times we had at her house when I was a little girl. I am praying for God to ease her pain as she returns to her home at North Jackson Nursing Home.

  I turned to the Bible to find this week's scripture selection for this newsletter and I turned to Psalm 73. The author of this Psalm is Asaph, who has confidence in God's presence in his life. God, indeed, always holds us by our right hands. His guidance is there even though we have times of very little strength. He is there during our trials and our pain. I love knowing that the promises in the Bible are true, and that those who believe will go to Heaven after this earthly life is over and be able to serve him forever and ever. He and He alone is my security. I pray that each of you who is suffering in any way right now will cling to God who is able to give you comfort and strength - the strength to endure pain here on this earth. Please remember "I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand."

HISTORIC RECIPE FOR THE WEEK (Cheese Rolls) FROM A BRIDAL TEA ARTICLE FROM The Delineator, November 1901

Oh, the glorious teas and luncheons which were given around 1900. I can just imagine the planning and work which went into cooking and preparation and decorating for these teas. These were the days before catering was in style for most people so I am sure the cooking was done at home. Actually, for our parties at our home, we still have the different hostesses do the cooking and preparation so we will have homemade food. This tea seemed to be a rose tea and the gorgeous art work surrounding the tea was all about roses. The table was decorated in the following manner:

Table Arrangement - A runner of Renaissance lace is laid the length of the table which in this case is mahogany. A wreath of roses and fine foliage circles the candelabra, which holds candles and shades of rose-pink crepe paper. Upon each cover is placed a rose; the honor chair in which the bride-elect sits being trimmed to correspond.

The candle shades seem to be hooked onto the sides of the candles from the illustration. There are several wonderful recipes for the refreshments but I thought I would share one with you today.

Cheese Rolls-Mash rich American cheese, adding lemon juice to make a paste; season with Hungarian paprika; fill cavities of crisp celery; then lap three pieces to form a roll; tie with rose-pink ribbon. Serve with wafers.

Mama used to stuff celery for many special meals with pimento cheese which would work for these tied cheese rolls also. I never thought of putting three of them together and tying them with ribbons. How beautiful and very delicate for this bridal luncheon/tea.

RECIPE FOR THE WEEK

SWEET LETTER AND RECIPE FROM SUE MASON, A MARTHA PULLEN / HUSQVARNA-VIKING LICENSED TEACHER FROM MICHIGAN (A MEMBER OF OUR LATEST GROUP JUST LICENSED IN OCTOBER, 2003)

I "Truly" want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful experience and time that I had at the licensing this month!! You and your sweet staff were so caring and sensitive to our every need, which made the week even more special. Please tell them hi and thank you again from me. I have praying for over a year now for the Lord to show me what he would like me to do with the talents that he has given me. When my friend Trisha (Makayla's Mama) heard that you all were coming to Detroit, she told me I HAD to go! So I registered. While packing I picked up one of the issues of Sew Beautiful magazine I had purchased (only because Makayla was in it) opened to your Dear Friends letter and began to read it for the first time ever. Martha, the tears ran down my face! I had no idea that you were a Christian!! Your words spoke to my heart! Thru you, I knew God was starting to answer my prayers. Your love for the Lord and how you give all the glory to him are such an inspiration to me!!

So, I knew when I heard about the licensing, it was what I was supposed to do. I am so PROUD to be a Martha Pullen/Viking Licensed Teacher!! I'm still praying for Gods direction and he is opening doors along our journey. (I'll keep you updated.) Love, Sue

Here is a family favorite recipe I thought I'd share!

Oven Beef Stew

In a large Dutch oven mix together:

1 can (16oz.) crushed tomatoes
2/3 cup dry red wine(or water)
1/2 cup beef broth
1/4 cup quick cooking tapioca
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons dried fines herbs
2 teaspoons salt
2 small bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon pepper


Add:

3 pounds cubed lean boneless beef chuck (or I will cut up what ever nice roasts are available)
1 pound carrots-peeled and quartered (I have also used the baby ones in the bags - EASY)
4 large ribs celery cut into 1 in. chunks
3 medium onion peeled and cut into large chunks

Stir everything together. Cover and bake at 325 for about 3 hours, stirring twice, until meat is tender & sauce is thickened. Discard bay leaves before serving or refrigerating. It really is BEST made a day or 2 ahead! I love that!