"Kat Bytes"
  Issue #113                December'14
the monthly newsletter for StudioKat Designs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Click HERE
to pick up one of our retired patterns at a DEEP discount price!
 
 
Testimonial
of the Month
"Well, I've read your latest issue from top to bottom and just have to say it's the best newsletter on the web!
Just keep doing what you do. It is SO appreciated"  
JUDY in GA
 
 
 
Here's November's most popular posts on our FACEBOOK page!
 
 
From 11/4/14--
Truer words were never spoken!  Amen?
 
 
From 11/21/14--
an ADORABLE pencil case tutorial
 
 
From 11/30/14--
In MY dreams!  :)
 
To check out our FaceBook page- 
 
 
 
Wanna catch-up on some of our back issues? 
 
 
Check out our NEWSLETTER
ARCHIVE!
    So... Christmas is around the corner and I don't know about you, but I'm starting to PANIC! The tree's not up, and my shopping's not done, never mind wrapped! 
     It's REALLY snuck up on me this year (for a variety of reasons), so let me tell you about two special things in this issue & I'll get back to work!
  1. It's time for our ANNUAL Bag Sample Sale, so if you're interested in buying one of our beautiful, retired show samples, hop on that quick. It's first come-first served as you know and the best ones go quickly!
  2. AND- as is our holiday custom, we've included a pattern discount code for you to jump-start your New Year sewing with.
So...shall we proceed?
If you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter, please feel free to do so at info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "Handbag of the Month" Gallery-
Congratulations to Shirley Allen of NJ who never once relinquished the lead in our November 2014 contest! Shirley wins a $25.00 SKD gift certificate and a permanent place of honor in our Handbag Gallery. Click here to see her beautiful Quattro! And if you voted for Pat Leask's Wrapsody (which came in 2nd) you'll get another chance to support that entry THIS month, because its time for our 5th annual
        "Battle of the HOM 2nd's"!
That's right...all of this month's entries came in 2nd in their respective month and that means they're pretty fantastic, so without further delay, check out our nominees, and cast a vote for your favorite.
And don't forget!
(For BIGGER images: Click on each individual pic)

Our January 2014 runner-up was Pamela Smolek of Corunna, MI.  Pam added complimentary embroidery and made up a PortaPocket Purse Insert with the leftovers.
 
 
And guess what? Pamela Smolek was also our runner-up in February  with yet another stunning Quattro entry. She said she combined 3 different embroidery designs from Embroidery Library to embellish the front pocket area of this bag!
 
 
Penny Oosterman of Vermont was the runner-up in our March  contest. She says she couldn't believe this  Pink" Encore Purse Insert could hold EVERYTHING in her purse!
 
 
 
Avalon Boullt of Phoenix, AZ made this Quattro for her Mom. She was the runner-up in our April contest. Here's a shot of the zippered main storage area. She says she was inspired by the colors in her Mom's living room... rust, and gold.
 
 
Dale Whyte of Santa Cruz, CA was our runner-up in May with another terrific Baggalista. Dale made this one with travel-themed fabric since she plans on taking it on a fun Hawaiian cruise!  
 
 
And June brought about our 1st ever tie! In this case it was for 2nd place between this Uptown Saddlebag by Sarah Dannerbeck of Santa Fe, NM.  :)   and........
 
 
 
This dynamic duos of Quattros by Alice Page, who said she loved the first Quattro she made so much that shejust "had" to create one more!  :)
 
 
And LOTS of you thought this embroidered butterfly on the pouch of this Quattro was just fantastic. This springy entry was created by Kathy Warner of Hubbard, OR and was our 2nd placer finisher in July.  
 
 
 
 
And Joyce Hykes of Newark, OH created a Quattro with a flair for the dramatic and it ended up as our 2nd place finisher for August.
 
 
 
Our 2nd place bag for September was created by Marilyn Wale of Essex, Great Britain, who said she had been saving it for something special! I'd say she made a good choice, no?
 
And wouldn't it be fun to carry this cheerful & colorful Wrapsody? It was created by Marty Campbell of Emmett, ID, and it was our 2nd place finisher in October. She said she made each of the zippered pockets a different color.
 
 
And Pat Leask of Ontario came in 2nd in our November contest with her latest creation, a cool blue Wrapsody. Pat said she liked the way this bag went together and decided to try  our "Pieced Embellishment" tutorial, utilizing ALL blue (and purple) hues! I LOVE the result!
OK, ready to vote now?
 Only one vote per MONTH, per email address.
    
 
Blog with us!-  A Work in Progress
We're in the midst of the TENTH cycle of one of our most popular blog series, Purse Pattern Chronicles. All posts in this series are all preceded with a PPC10 notation. And if you're new here, and you want to catch up or if you missed any of the posts from last month, don't worry, they're all listed below.
 
 
 
A Holiday Gift From Us to YOU! - A Pattern Discount Code
You know we could never let Christmas go by with leaving a gift for YOU under the tree!
This year we're giving you a discount coupon good for 20% off EVERYTHING in your shopping cart (and that even includes shipping, so take note of that!). This is made even MORE significant because come Jan 1st we will be increasing our pattern prices for the very first time (to $12.99 each). So what better way to give yourself the gift of creativity for the New Year!
Use discount code MERRY20off to get your discount. But don't delay... offer expires on 12/25.
 
 
HURRAY! It's time for the Annual SKD Closet Sale!
 
As many of you know, it's traditional for us to have an Annual Sample Bag Closet Sale in December, and as usual, I give our newsletter fans, (many of whom are our most loyal customers), 1st choice for this very special sale! But first...
Here's some important things to remember---
1- Each bag is one-of-a-kind. We sell them on a first come-first served basis... no exceptions. 
2- My shopping cart is stupid & doesn't know this. I will remove bags from the site as quickly as possible when they are purchased, BUT, if two customers happen to buy the same bag, I will send it to the person who completed their sale first, and give a full refund to the one who was beat to the punch.
3- This sale is open to customers with US shipping addresses only. I'm sorry but it's just too expensive to ship these bags internationally. (If however, you are willing to pay the difference in shipping, please message me privately and we can talk about it.)
 
Just click HERE to see the 35 bags you have to choose from, all  former stars of the show circuit! But don't delay... when they're gone... they're gone for good!
 
Bobbin Around the Web- Terial Arts
  My first exposure to Terial Arts was at the Fall Quilt Market last month and I was blown away! The booth was FILLED with beautiful, lifelike flowers that had all been made with scrap fabric. Seriously! And once YOU are armed fabric, liquid stabilizer & the FREE tutorial videos from Terial Arts, you can be decorating in no time! The pattern selection is fabulous, and there's even complete kits available to get you started! AND you can check out the videos here and while you're here, don't forget to check out Terry's Blog.
 
'HOT'Links-of-the-Month'- GREAT offers from our sponsors
Material Girl Quilt Shop- Now you can get Tula Pink fabrics at Material Girl!
All DunnDesigns.Com- Download Special! Download checkbook cover pattern for $1
Immedia Print- We print patterns and MUCH MORE! Click here to see our various services
 
SmileGram-
 
This is one of those rare photos that doesn't even need a caption to cmake you smile!
Go ahead and click the image for a larger view and see if YOU can look at it without smiling!
 
Website Spotlite-  Plum Easy Patterns
OK Folks- If you're looking for fun and interesting patterns that are EASY, then look now further. I met deborah at the Fall Quilt Market not only does she create beautiful patterns, but she does so with cutting edge fabric combinations that are to die for!l  
My personal favorite is the adorable Uptown Debbie Brown Thread Bag & Cushion Set. And while you're here, be sure to visit Deb's Facebook and Pinterest pages. 
 
TWO For Your Viewing Pleasure-
 
 
Do you like the "Dear Kitten" commercials? This one is particularly good. Click the image or HERE to view it.  :)
 
 
I never knew frogs would do this until I watched the video! WOW! Click the image or HERE to see for yourself!
 
Techie Tutorial of the Month- Taking Better Project Pictures
 
 
There's a big difference between taking pictures of people and taking terrific project photos, right? And this is a terrific little tutorial (by Spaced Cadet Creations) that just might give you some great tips and a few excellent suggestions for how to improve the pictures you take of the things you make!  :)
Click the image (or HERE) to get started.
 
 
Quote of the Month- 
 
 
So... are you thinking rejection is a bad thing?
Click the image or HERE and consider this..............
 
A Beginner Project- A Fabric Box
 
 
Here's a cutie-pie fabric box tutorial and just in time for the giving season! Click the image or HERE for the pictorial instructions.  :)
 
 
New Word of the Month-  Cybermyalgia
cybermyalgia (noun) : aches, pain, and stiffness resulting from overuse of computers
 
Cat Picture of the Month-
 
 
 
Click image or HERE to see a larger view.
 
MINNEAPOLIS — You could hear the meows nearly a block away, and also the “awwws.” The laughter too. On Thursday evening the Walker Art Center, one of the nation’s most prominent institutions of contemporary art, hosted the inaugural Internet Cat Video Film Festival here. An estimated 10,000 people turned out for an event that was, from its inception to its closing credits, an online meme made flesh (and fur). Click HERE to watch a quick video of the event.
 
 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
 
Click image or HERE to see a larger view.
 
Monthly Trivia-
So... after conducting extensive research into the history archives, I've come to the conclusion that Dec 10th might just be one of the most boring days in history (at least from my point of view)! And maybe that's OK, right?
So if today just happens to be YOUR birthday, here's a great big "Happy Birthday to YOU" from StudioKat Designs, and if today is not your birthday, well.... I think we ALL have enough on our plate without adding any other things to do, and with that all that's left to say is...
 
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
to all of you and yours,
from all of us and ours at StudioKat Designs!
 
We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on the happenings here. If, however, you'd prefer not to no longer receive these updates, please see the links below to manage your preferences.  Thanks for your support and best regards!
 
 
Why Not Pass along the FUN?

 
 
Note to other webmasters: If you want to use an excerpt
from this newsletter in your publication, please ask me first.
StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com
137 S Hemingway Ct
Advance, NC 27006
1/866-409-8634