April 2006

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Welcome!- I must admit, I've never been a big fan of April Fool's Day. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my trusting (gullible) nature makes me easy prey for the pranksters. I even debated publishing the newsletter this month on the 2nd instead of the 1st in protest, but I think we have plenty to talk about without even mentioning that "foolish" rite of Spring again, so let's get to it!
As always, if you prefer, you can go to http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/april06.htm to see the online version of the newsletter..

Feline Quote for -
"Women & cats will do as they please, men & dogs should just relax & get used to the idea." Robert A. Hunlein

Internet Spotlight- EclecticThreadsClothing.Com
If you're like me, you have a drawer full of t-shirts you got at special places, at special times. They clog up your dresser drawers, they're too wrinkled to wear when you want them, yet you just can't part with them. Well here's your chance to turn sentimentality into wearable art, gain some much-needed storage space, AND be a walking conversation piece at the same time! Maybe it's time to consider turning your tees into a recycled T-shirt skirt! This is such a great idea, and it makes a wonderful, personal gift for that "hard-to-buy-for" person in your life!

New at StudioKat Designs-
I've been working hard on a new design this month. I'm calling it the Tandem Tote because it has 2 distinct zippered compartments. The side pouch is perfect for your cell phone, makeup and a small wallet. The top-loading pocket is good for your checkbook, and glasses. It looks small, but you can fit an extraordinary amount of stuff in it. I've been carrying it everyday for weeks now, and loving it! I hope you do too. Click here to see some pictures of the first few samples I've made.... or that I'm willing to show you! (grin) I'll announce the release date in the May Newsletter, but right now I am aiming for May 1.

You've been asking for it, and FINALLY I have finished the 2nd "Kat Trick". Click here for page 1, and here to see page 2 of the next embellishment technique in my series. It's in pdf format, and as before, you'll need Adobe Reader to download it. You can get Adobe reader for FREE by clicking on the little link displayed on the main "Kat Trick" page. I know some of you really don't like downloading stuff on the internet, so if you send me a "SASE" to the following address, I'll send you a copy by way of snail mail.

StudioKat Designs
137 S. Hemingway Ct.
Advance, NC 27006

A Cool Place to Shop!-Sewbaby.Com
Looking for some great patterns and supplies for baby and maternity clothes? Then you need to shop a bit at Sewbaby.Com. Ann Brodsky, the owner of this neat internet store, carries a wide variety of patterns you just won't find anywhere else! I especially like the snow bags. She also carries a very cool pattern for a shopping cart cover. Did you know they say shopping carts are single nastiest place you can put your baby? Well think about it... the whole time you're shopping, she's eating various parts of the cart! GROSS!! This unique cover keeps that from happening! Heck, even if your kids are grown, we all need a gift or two for baby showers occasionally! Ann also carries patterns for other one-of-a-kind items and gifts, like handbags, (including MINE!), and other household items. I want to try the casserole carrier pattern.

Love Handbags?- HenriettasHandbags.Com
Henrietta is a good friend of mine, and a fellow North Carolinian, who runs a pretty interesting internet shop dedicated to one of my favorite topics, HANDBAGS! She carries the full Amy Butler line, as well as several of mine. :) I noticed the other day that now she is carrying Monica Poole bag patterns, and if you haven't seen these yet, you need to check them out! Monica's vintage style designs have a unique flair that you just may like!

Did You Know?-Picture yourself on a Wheaties Box!
For generations, Wheaties has recognized hundreds of outstanding amateur and professional athletes for their achievements, by placing pictures of them on Wheaties boxes. Dozens of interesting pictures of these commemorative packages can be found at this site. Did you know that Lou Gehrig was the first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box? Do you know that you can get your OWN picture on the front of a Wheaties box? What a fun gift for that special athlete in your family!! Check out this site to find out how!!

Laugh Lines-Set it Free
"If you love something, set it free.
If it comes back, it was, and always will be, yours.
If it never comes back, it was never yours to begin with.
But if it sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, takes your money, uses your telephone, and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place,
you either married it, or gave birth to it!
"

"Catsite" of the Month- OverTheRainbow.Com
Kudos to Linda Ferguson, of Monroe, Washington who wrote this month to alert me of a GREAT cat product that I might want to try. Seems she also has a cat, (Winston), with highly developed predatory instincts, and Linda has found a way to keep him entertained and happy when he's home alone! Linda bought him the Cat Sitter Video, and he is enthralled with it. She says he loves it so much, that if she leaves the house without turning it on, she finds him just staring at a blank screen! Click here for a picture of Winston enjoying his new pastime!
I may just try this idea, but right now Jeter has a new hobby occupying his attention. One day, a few weeks ago, Bubba spilled some sunflower seeds just outside the door while filling up the bird feeders, and voila, the bushy-tailed neighborhood cleanup crew swooped in to take care of the problem. There they were, just outside the glass, seemingly within paws-grasp, doing all the things squirrels like doing. We had such a good time watching Jeter watching his new buddies, that I've been feeding them every morning since. I think they know he's there, and that he can't get them, because i swear they tease him! It's like a LIVE video, and it only takes more sunflower seeds to "rewind" it! Want to see some pictures? Click here for some cute shots of Jeter and Co.

A Fun Place to Surf- Pictures of Men Wearing Socks With Sandals
If seeing pictures of men wearing socks with their sandals offends you, then do NOT enter this site. it contains over 300 pictures of men (some women too) who are wearing socks with their sandals, and proud of it I might add! Dark socks, white socks, watermelon socks, argyle socks-- you name it! Do you have a dad, brother or friend who wears socks with his sandals? Then why not take his picture and submit it to this site! At least go check it out for some fun chuckles!

Talk to Me-
Check out the new fun stuff on Jeter's Page, courtesy of alert reader, Ann Horton of Wilson, NY! At the right top side of the page, you'll meet Jeter's new "little sister", Maukie! Turn your speakers up, and move your mouse around to get the full "effect!" I think you'll LOVE her!
Ann also sent me two NEW cat videos that I think you'll enjoy! You can either see them on Jeter's Page, or click on the links provided here.

Cat Antics Video
Cat Herders Video

Kudos to Ann for providing this entertainment for us this month! Got something cool you'd like to share with everyone? Send it to me in an email. Who couldn't use another reason to smile today?!?

Monthly Trivia-
If you need a fun thing to do this weekend, why not attend the 'Schmeckfest", (that's right, I said Schmeckfest!) in Freeman, SD? Sausage, sauerkraut, kuchen and pluma moos are just a few of the dishes that will be served all weekend, (April 1-3) at this German "festival of tasting", where visitors can also watch cooking & craft demos.
Don't like german cuisine? I'm betting that you don't know that April is "National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month", dedicated to one of America's favorite foods, the gooey, oozy, melty grilled cheese sandwich! With more than 200 varieties of domestic cheese available, the grilled cheese sandwich options are endless!
Ever been rejected? Who hasn't! Well, think about this... April 1st is "Sorry Charlie Day", to honor Charlie the Tuna, the Ultimate Reject, who has been rejected for 42 years & still keeps his spunk. According to Cathy Runyan-Svacina, it's a day to recognize anyone who has been rejected & lived through it. You can join the "Sorry Charlie Club" by faxing in your best rejection story to (816)587-8687.

If your birthday is today, CONGRATULATIONS!, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU! You share your big day with Ali MacGraw, (actress, Love Story, The Getaway and current QUEEN of the infomercial), who was born in 1939 in Pound Ridge, NY. Entertainer, Debbie Reynolds is also celebrating a birthday today. Born in 1932 in El Paso, TX, Debbie is best known for The Singing Nun", one of my favorite old movies! And if today is also YOUR birthday, that's great! I'm sending you best wishes from Studiokat Designs, for a whole day of doing and eating all of your favorite things, with all of your favorite people! And if today is not your birthday, you can still celebrate April 1st, by fixin a big ol' gooey grilled cheese sandwich, (hold the mayo on mine!), with a side of kraut and sharing it with a friend!
Now doesn't that sound better than pulling some silly prank on your poor, unsuspecting neighbor?

Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
Sewing Forever, Housework Whenever!

My newsletters are copyrighted.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please feel free to share it. As a matter of fact, it would actually tickle me to death if you sent it to everyone you know! BUT- Please don't send just paragraphs of it here and there, because the authorship info is what usually gets left off in the process.
Better still, why not let your friends know that they can sign up for the newsletter themselves at http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/newsletter.htm?
(Note to other webmasters:)Authorship credit is the only payment I receive for this endeavor, so if you want to use an excerpt from this newsletter in your publication, please ask me first.

HotLinks- (in order of appearance)

StudioKat Designs April06 Newsletter ONLINE: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/april06.htm
EclecticThreadsClothing.Com: http://www.eclecticthreadsclothing.com
        Recycled T-shirt Skirts: http://eclecticthreadsclothing.com/gallery2/gallery2embedded.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=2047
The Tandem Tote by StudioKat Designs: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/tandem.htm
Embellishment Ideas by StudioKat Designs: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/kattricks.htm
        "Kat Trick #2" (page 1): http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/kattrick2pg1.pdf
        "Kat Trick #2" (page 2): http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/kattrick2pg2.pdf
SewBaby.Com: http://www.Sewbaby.Com
        Snow Bag Pattern: http://www.sewbaby.com/patterns2.html
        Shopping Cart Cover Pattern: http://www.sewbaby.com/patterns2.html
        Casserole Carrier Cover Pattern: http://www.sewbaby.com/patterns15.html
Henrietta's Handbags: http://www.HenriettasHandbags.Com
        Monica Poole patterns: http://www.henriettashandbags.com/bag_pattern_designer.html
Wheaties.Com: http://www.wheaties.com
        Get YOUR pic on a Wheaties Box: http://www.wheatiestrophy.com
Over The Rainbow.Com http://www.overrainbow.com
        The Cat Sitter Video: http://www.overrainbow.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?cart_id=3389882.16049.s0&lastmenu=&menu=submenu-8888.html
Jeter with his new "buddies": http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/JeterHunts.htm
Pictures of Men Wearing Socks w/ Sandals: http://www.sandalandsoxer.co.uk
"Kitty Central"- (Jeter's Page): http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/Jeter.htm
        The Cat Antics Video: http://studiokatdesigns.netfirms.com/CatAntics.wmv
        The Cat Herders Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4057591681481453187
        Send me something COOL for the Newsletter!: info@studiokatdesigns.com
Email StudioKat Designs:info@studiokatdesigns.com

StudioKat Designs * 137 S. Hemingway Ct., * Advance, NC * 27006 *
(336)416-1799 * toll-free at 1-866-409-8634 *
info@studiokatdesigns.com
www.StudioKatDesigns.com


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