May 2007

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Welcome!-This message is coming to you via the miracle of a time-delayed email list server. As many of you know, I have spent the last 10 days in the Middle East and am winging my way home, somewhere over the Atlantic, even at this very moment. I'll tell you a few of the highlights next month, but in the meantime, let's jump right into this month's news.
Also, especially for the convenience of our friends at Pattern Review & AOL, all of the hotlinks are listed in order at the bottom of this letter, and as always, if you prefer, you can go to www.studiokatdesigns.com/may07.htm to see the online version of the newsletter.

Feline Quote for May-
"You can't own a cat- The best you can do, is be partners!" Sir Harry Swanson

New on my Website!-
Box-Me-In! If you have a little time on your hands, then check out the new game on my website, Box-Me-In ! It's very similar to a game I used to play as a kid called, "Dots", but as usual, it has a handbag twist.

If you like the shenanigans of fun and talented cats, then you need to check out Spartan's story, sent in by Kim Bagala, of Baton Rouge, LA. "Sparty" evidently thinks he can fly, and if you don't believe it, then check out this picture .

As usual, Peg Rice has been sewing up a storm, (and they've had more than their share of those in Maine this month!) She has made the COOLEST Gadabout, and she's also created a few of the new PortaPockets too. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see them. Wouldn't you LOVE to be on Peg's Christmas list this year?

New at StudioKat Designs- Now Available! The PortaPockets Purse Insert
Do you avoid changing handbags simply because you hate having to move and reorganize your purse contents? How many times has your cellphone hit the floor when your handbag tipped over? Do you find yourself struggling with a diaper bag, a baby in a carseat, AND a purse? Well ladies, I have good news for you! The PortaPockets Purse Insert is the answer to all 3 of these dilemmas. PortaPockets is not a purse, its a pocketed purse liner that you insert inside your bag. Click here to see that it's big enough to secure all of your daily items in zippered, slotted or elasticized pockets, plus, there's lots of room for "girly-stuff". Don't feel like dragging around a purse AND your shopping tote? No problem, just lift your Porta Pockets out of your purse and drop it into your tote, and you'll lighten your load for your whole excursion, without having to do without any of your daily items. This idea was suggested to me by a very alert customer a few months ago, and here it is. Two sizes are included in the pattern because all women can reap the benefits of a PortaPocket Purse Insert , whether they like to carry a large or a small purse! These inserts work up very easily in quilter's cottons and would be a great gift idea for virtually every woman on your list!
There's still time to get $1.00 off the $10.00 retail price by simply typing SKD14 in the Coupon Code box at checkout on my website. If you prefer, you can just send me your request by snail mail along with a $9.00 check with the code SKD14 written in the memo line. (The $1.00 off coupon expires May 31st.)

A Cool Place to Shop!- FreshCrafts.Com
If you're looking for a truly unique gift, or just something interesting for yourself, then check out Fresh Crafts.Com, for some tasty jewelry and sometimes some other stuff too! One of my favorite things is the Watch Face Bolo Tie . You could even use something like this as a neat embellishment for an Odyssey Bag!

Quotation of the Month-They said I live in a wonderful country and should pay my taxes with a smile! I tried that, but they insisted on CASH! Mel Narvey

Surf HERE for Neat INFO!- Get Growing!
May is Lawn and Garden month, so it's time to get growing. To plant the seeds of inspiration, you may want to visit this comprehensive landscaping site. It's an excellent resource for planning your next yard project, and includes information on all aspects of landscaping from selecting the right plants for your climate, to adding beautiful and practical pathways. And because things aren't always rosy, this site also offers advice on controlling weeds, insects, and disease .

Laws Overlooked by Murphy-
Last month I started a new feature compiling various "Laws that were overlooked by Murphy".
Here's some Laws of the Sewing Room...

The scissors cut easiest past the buttonhole.

Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner,

And my personal favorite... Your best idea is already copyrighted.

Now check out these Overlooked Laws sent in by some very alert readers.

The 2nd Law of Close Encounters-The likelihood of running into someone you are dying to meet, increases proportionally based upon how crummy you look!
(submitted by Lynn Heidorn)

The Law of the Library- When searching for a specific library book, it will always be found on the bottom shelf.
(submitted by an anonymous reader)

The Shopping List law-The LESS time you have to shop, the MORE likely it is you will leave your shopping list home on the kitchen counter.
(submitted by Viv, and I got the idea that she was speaking from recent experience!)

Got an Overlooked Law of your own you'd like to see added to the list? Just click here to send it in an email to me, and I'll include it in a future newsletter. Don't forget to include your name and hometown, or anything else you'd like to share!

Love Handbags?- PetrifiedBaggage.Com
If you want a new bag, but don't have the time or interest in making your own purse right now, then check out PetrifiedBaggage.Com . This is a little Canadian shop specializing in funky and unique, one-of-a-kind handmade purses, totes and messenger bags. I think you'll like the inventive use of color and textures! Check it out!

Did You Know?- The NEW 7 Wonders of the World
Did you know that the Ancient 7 Wonders of the World (including the Pyramids at Giza and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia) will soon have company? This site is gathering a global vote for the NEW 7 Wonders of the World and millions of people have already voted for their favorite "wonder". Will the new list include the Statue of Liberty? the Eiffel Tower? St. Basil's cathedral? We'll find out, appropriately enough, when the seven winners are announced on 07.07.07. There's still time for you to cast your ballot, but as with any sort of online voting site, it's best to use a "throw away" email address (like Hotmail)rather than your main e-mail account.

SKD Promotions Update- Vote for your Favorite Handbag!
It's too late to enter the Handbag Making Contest at PatternReview.Com, but its not too late to vote for your favorite, or to read pattern reviews, and pick up excellent ideas or suggestions about a future project of your own. Click here to cast your vote for YOUR favorite! You might even see a few bags you recognize!!

"Catsite" of the Month- Funny Cat Clips!
Peg Rice of Westport, Me., sent in a really fun new video mantage of cats doing funny things. (Where does she find this stuff?) My advice is, to wait until you really need a good laugh... then click HERE !

Surf HERE for FUN!- Top Picks in NASA Pics
It's the next best thing to being there! Each day NASA posts the Astronomy Picture of the Day on this site, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. You can see our fascinating universe in all of its glory, and get a close-up feel for the stars and planets so far away. In addition to the Astronomy Picture of the Day, check out selected photos dating back to 1995.

Question of the Month-
Did you hear about the striptease artist who married a clown? ... They ended up in a comic strip!

Monthly Trivia- Well, I for one, was THRILLED to find out that this is National PostCard week, and in honor of that, I have sent LOTs of them from the Holy Land to various friends & family. Who knows when they'll get them. The last time I sent a postcard from overseas, it took over THREE weeks to arrive.
The first week in May is also National Teacher's Appreciation Week, when students are encouraged to thank their teachers for their care and concerned effort, & to be extra cooperative with them.
In case you're interested, May 2nd is the birthday of Sarah Hughes, Olympic Gold Medalist, and also of Leslie Gore, famous for her song, "It's My Party, & I'll Cry if I Want to!" And if today is YOUR birthday as well, that's just GREAT! Here's a great big StudioKat Designs Happy Birthday to ya! And if today is not your birthday, you can celebrate anyway by surprising your favorite teacher or friend with a cool postcard. Alright, so you may not think its quite as fun as getting one from Isreal, but if I may speak for postcard collectors everywhere, who wouldn't LOVE to add a postcard from Kalamazoo, or Texarkana or even Billings to their collection?

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.

	Powered by YMLP.com