December 30, 2002
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WONDERFUL LETTER ABOUT SEW BEAUTIFUL FROM Laura Hart, Baldwin Park, California
I have only recently found the treasure of your magazine, and savor every page when it comes--even the advertisements. Machine sewing in general has been a burning passion that has not ebbed in 30 some-odd years. Now the necessities of work clothes are finally giving way to new adventures for my twin granddaughters. I want to learn to smock, and embroider, and entredeux and on and on and on to the many new things I could only drool over these past years. I really only wanted to mention that when my Sew Beautiful magazine comes, the first page I turn to is your letter to us. I enjoy your thoughts and sharing of the Word and can feel your love reaching out to all of us. Thank you for sharing.
SEWING TIP FROM Naomi Jackson, McCrory, AR
I have a little sewing tip that I discovered today. I had purchased a Boutique Turban pattern at my Bernina store and had purchased 12 towels to make these for Christmas gifts. I sewed the turbans and embroidered names on them. I was having a hard time removing the extra-heavy water-soluble film stabilizer that I used on top of the towels - then I remembered someone telling me that it took warm water. I put some water in a Pyrex measuring cup and heated it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Wow! - it was so easy to remove and I then took a toothbrush and scrubbed off the tiny places--I was careful not to get the hot water on the embroidery thread. I hope this helps someone as much as it helped me. I enjoy being a member of your embroidery club and especially getting your news letter each week. Naomi Jackson, McCrory, AR
Sewing tip from Claire Shaeffer, author, Couture Sewing Techniques.
For a flatter waistband and slimmer look, face the waistband with lining fabric or petersham. (Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel use petersham to interface waistbands.)
To create the illusion of a longer waist, Chanel cuts the skirt waistband from the blouse fabric.
The front edges of the jacket should hang perpendicular to the floor even when the jacket is unbuttoned. If they swing toward the side seams, it is because the front edge has been stretched. (Sometimes the weight of the fabric causes it to stretch even though it is cut on the lengthwise grain and you have handled it carefully.)
To prevent the front edge from stretching, measure the finished length on the pattern. Measure and mark this length on a preshrunk piece of lightweight selvage. Sew the selvage in place invisibly with a running stitch on the fold or seamline.
If the neckline or armscye gaps on a finished design, use elastic to tighten the edge. Place a strip of narrow (6 mm - 1/4") braided elastic on the facing just below the finished edge. Use a catchstitch to make a thread casing over the elastic. Pull up the elastic the desired amount; and sew the ends securely to the facing. If desired, cover the ends with narrow ribbon for a neater finish.
Dear Friends,
Today is our 28th wedding anniversary and we are celebrating in Gulf Shores, Alabama where we went on our honeymoon in 1974. We bought a new Billy Graham daily devotional book last Saturday and have been enjoying that each morning with breakfast. I am at an internet café writing this letter since I have misplaced my laptop computer. As the new year approaches next Wednesday I have been thinking about matters of the heart and soul which I intend to work on this year. To me, sewing is both a matter of the heart and soul.
While we have been in Gulf Shores I have finished a wonderful Christian fiction book entitled The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. It was wonderful. I am about half way through another Christian fiction book by Wick (can't remember her first name) entitled Sophie's Heart. Suzanne has always loved Christian fiction so much and I cannot believe that I am just now finding the joy of this genre of literature.
Sunday we heard the most wonderful sermon entitled 8 Exercises for Spiritual Fitness. I will share more about the sermon and the scriptures in the "Scripture for the Week" portion. For those of you who get Sew Beautiful magazine you might have read my new year's resolution in the "Dear Friends" column. My new year's resolution is: "I have come to the conclusion that my goal needs to be God. Period. I know I need to pray more than I ever have before." This sermon was about prayer being the answer to spiritual fitness along with scripture reading and spiritual fitness exercises.
Since many of us love machine embroidery, I was thinking that we might keep a Bible beside our sewing machine and study scripture while the machine is embroidering. I have always loved to pray while I sew, not only for the one for whom I am making the garment but also for others. Sewing is a great time for me to become closer to God. The Proverbs 31 woman loved to sew. She not only made her family's clothing but she also had a sewing business. I am turning one of our larger upstairs bedrooms into a wonderful sewing room. I'll share more about that later.
This issue of Sew Beautiful is one of the most wonderful we've ever published. Of course, I love the fact that Joe's picture is in the magazine (on page 78, if you've never seen my handsome husband). He adores the pictured vest - I must have one made for him to wear with his tuxedo.
This issue is loaded with patterns and designs including 3 full sized patterns (little girl's jacket sized 1-2 and 3-4) to go over any little girl's dress, Catherine's Blouse and Skirt for the older girl sized 6-14, and a Peter Pan Collar pattern which goes with the Debbie Glenn baby cape. There are instructions for a Sunday Handkerchief Purse which is shown with the skirt and blouse on the back cover (but would be great for any age little girl).
There are seven smocking design plates in the magazine; 3 shadow work designs, one which goes around the whole skirt; 6 hand embroidery designs; 1 machine embroidery placement template for the man's vest; and 3 large shaping templates for 3 different garments. One is for a christening dress, one is for a doll and girl's matching dress and one is for the elaborate Suzanne Hinshaw dress with templates for the sleeves, front and back bodices and skirt. There are machine techniques: piped binding on a blanket, padded satin stitch scallops and picots by machine; color striped lace; machine smocking; lace shaping and piecing; and shadow shell edging.
Hand techniques include broderie anglaise, applying a contrast band with hemstitching, silk ribbon manipulation with variegated organza ribbon and an antique technique called rouleau. There are incredible photo shoots including one by Marlis Bennet, a Bernina educator, with absolutely elegant uses of machine embroidery for women's clothing. Marlis's question with which she opened the article was "Most of us save our best heirloom creativity for children's apparel, but why?" I loved that question - and just wait until you see her creativity for women's clothing using machine embroidery.
A BRAND NEW BOOK, Contemporary Heirlooms For The Older Girl, will be arriving in the warehouse any day now. This book is a dream come true for me since many of my granddaughters have reached the stage of wanting more "grown up clothing." If you have a new catalogue, which was mailed with Sew Beautiful magazine, you will see some of the outfits on the cover.
All patterns are sized 6-16 and there are skirts, tops, pants, shorts, a jacket with three sleeve versions, a flared top with four sleeve versions and a very sophisticated a-line dress with five sleeve variations. There are lots of techniques including traditional heirloom ones which look very sophisticated on these "grown up" looking clothes. I might hasten to add that these clothes are ones which will please not only the older girl but her mother and grandmother.
Martha's Sewing Market in Orlando is next WEEK!! I have three new suits made using my Six Easy Patterns book patterns which I will enjoy wearing. Joanna, Cecil and Chase will be at this market. The babies will model beautiful heirloom outfits, including a new very dressy matching outfit which would be perfect for a flower girl and ring bearer.
If you haven't ordered your tickets yet, do not worry! You may still purchase them at the door. We have an exciting lineup of new seminars for you this year with lots of great sewing vendors from all over the country with heirloom sewing, quilting, embroidery, machines, notions, patterns, books and much, much more for you to see. Thursday evening at 6:15 we will have our annual Martha's Vendor Fashion Show (which is always GREAT!). I will have all of the latest fashions and designs from Martha Pullen Company there for you to see as well as some of the highlights of my antique collection.
Friday evening at 6:30 will be an exceptional treat. Quilting celebrity and expert Jinny Beyer will be on hand for a special added feature seminar on "Color Confidence". Jinny's lecture is only an additional $3.00 admission fee (regularly $30.00) if you already have a purchased Sewing Market wristband. You don't want to miss out on this exciting and informative lecture with Jinny Beyer. She will have an autograph signing at her booth immediately following the lecture. This is sure to be the biggest and best market ever!
Pfaff licensing is the week after we get back from Orlando! We are so excited about our new group of soon-to-be "Pfaff/Martha Pullen Licensed Teachers!"
I told Joe that I was going to share events about our London trip throughout the next few months. One night we went on a dinner cruise on the River Thames. They had the most wonderful music, including big band music like Joe used to play when he was in a high school dance band. We ate and danced while looking at the lights of London. What a view!
Fun Times with Friends on the Thames River Dinner Cruise Boat
When we went under the Tower Bridge (that is the famous one which you see in the travel brochures) the boat started turning in circles and the Halleluia Chorus began playing over the sound system. Chills went up and down my spine to hear beautiful Christian music while turning in circles in the middle of the Thames River. I'll share more about London each week. It was such an incredible trip it would take two whole newsletters to even begin to tell you about our experiences.
It is TIME to renew or join the IEC for this year. The $49 special price will be over very soon and we have the best year ever for you.
Let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year. More than happiness, I wish you joy - because happiness depends on events, whil joy comes from the Lord. Thank you for letting me come to your home each week during 2002. I look forward to doing the same thing in 2003. You are appreciated and precious to me.
May God Bless You,
Martha
MARTHA'S SEWING MARKET IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 7-11, 2003. Please Come Join Us!!
Our exciting schedule for 2003 begins with Martha's Sewing Market in Orlando, January 9-11! We will teach pre-day sit and sew classes on Tuesday, January 7, and Wednesday, January 8! Call Diane at 800-547-4176 ext. 109 to register and get your early bird discounted tickets. We have a special event on Friday night of the Orlando market. Jinny Beyer will be our guest speaker. Her topic is Color Confidence and the lecture will begin at 6:30pm. She will have her books, etc. to sell after the lecture. The cost of this special lecture is only $3 extra if you hold an admission ticket for the Friday market.
We will also have a sewing contest at this market with very special prizes from Sulky of America, Wild Ginger Software and Martha Pullen Company. The best of show prize will be tuition to the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion in Huntsville! The theme of this market is "High Tech to Handwork" and we will have many classes from digitizing, to software, to hand work, to fitting, to stabilizers, to needles, to crazy patch, to just about everything. Click here to get more details.
FEBRUARY, 2003, SCHOOL OF ART FASHION BROCHURE NOW ON WEB SITE - Click here!
February 2-5. 2003 (Pre-Day Classes) February 6-9, 2003 (Four Day School) CALL 800-547-4176 EXT 105 TO REGISTER! A complete copy of the school brochure is also included in your current issue of Sew Beautiful. We have a large number of students already registered. Please call if you are coming to the biggest and best school ever! Schools are Beginning School, Australian Quilting School, Carol Ahles School of Fine Machine Sewing, Fine Embroidery for Little Ones, Jenny Haskins Victorian School, Mirella Arroyo School, Wendy Schoen Baby School, Creative Serger School, Baby Lock School, Bernina School, Elna School, Husqvarna/Viking School, Janome School, Pfaff School! Wow what a line up!
MARTHA PULLEN'S GREAT LAKES SEWING EXTRAVAGANZA--April 3-6, 2003
For the very first time we will take our Huge Sewing Extravaganza to the Great Lakes Area! This four day event will be held in the Double Tree Hotel, at the Detroit Metro Airport. Everyone will take all 9 sit and sew classes! This event will be underwritten by Husqvarna/Viking, who will furnish machines and sergers for everyone to use! The teachers are Martha Pullen, Dody Baker, Kathy McMakin, Peggy Dilbone, Jody Hooker, Deb Yedziniak, and Connie Palmer.
Your cost for the whole 4 days is $625 which includes instruction for all classes, kits for all classes, four lunch meals, Thursday night seminar "You Can Make Money from Your Hobby," Friday night table top clinics, and Saturday night banquet with special celebrity speaker Sue Hausmann! Please call 800-547-4176, ext. 105 or 106 to register.
SALE SALE SALE Sew Beautiful SUBSCRIPTION SALE EXTENDED: ONLY $23.99 FOR A YEAR'S SUBSCRIPTION! CALL 800-547-4176 ext. 116 - SUBSCRIBE (at this sale price of $23.99) ON LINE! Don't forget about ordering Video XI for $9.99 when you subscribe. Sew Beautiful Link
MARTHA PULLEN LICENSED TEACHER WEEKS - The next machine groups (which have openings) and dates are as follows: Pfaff, January 15-21, 2003; Viking, Feb 13-19, 2003 (full but taking a waiting list); Bernina, March 15-21, 2003; Babylock, June 17-23, 2003; and Viking, October 2-8, 2003. 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)
marthap@marthapullen.com -- MY PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK
Luke 1:34-38
Timothy 4:7-8 (living Bible)
"Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually and practice being a better Christian, because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too."
I need to invest time and energy in being spiritually fit. I need to practice kindness and being a better person. The closer I come to God, the more I realize that being saved is one thing but there is more to serving God than just accepting the Lord as my savior. I was thinking about the question which I heard Brother Rick ask Sunday. He said, "If you had 2002 to live over again, would you change a few things?" The answer is "Oh, my goodness, yes! I would change so many things."
With 2003 about to begin, I can think about what changes I need to make in my life. Prayer is one thing I need to do a LOT more of. Prayer deepens my peace of mind: "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ." (Philippians 4: 6-7). I know to send my worries on to God but sometimes I just love to take them back.
"Lord, please help me to know that you are in control and that you are perfect. Please remind me about a hundred times daily that I need to give everything to you and that you are perfectly capable of handling everything in my life. Mark 9:23 says, "Everything is possible for him who believes." I pray this year will be the best you have ever had and with God that is possible. I pray for the strength to stand up for what I believe. I pray I will have the dream of being a bold witness for our Lord in every area of my life."
RECIPE FOR THE WEEK FROM Evelyn Nichols, Pomaria, S.C.
Chocolate Cake
2 c. plain flour
1 c. water
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 sticks margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
3 T. cocoa
1 tsp. soda
Combine in a large bowl the flour, sugar and salt; mix well. Melt margarine. Add cocoa and water, mixing well. To flour mixture, add the margarine, cocoa and water mixture, then add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and soda. Mix thoroughly. Bake in an 11 x 16-inch pan at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Icing:
1 stick margarine
1 box powdered sugar
1/4 c. milk
1/2 c. pecans
3 T. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch salt
Bring to boil the margarine, milk, cocoa and salt. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar, pecans and vanilla. Pour over cake while hot.