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Issue #116-------March 2015

So... if you're thinking that our newsletter is late this month, you are absolutely RIGHT, and here's why....
I purposely held it in the cue because we knew we'd be in Orlando FL on the 10th (the normal delivery date) celebrating our grandson's 5th birthday at Disney World.
We had a terrific time but additionally,we wanted to be home and in our place for this monumental day... when we're releasing not just one, but TWO NEW Patterns.
And the truth is, we wanted to be here, in the office on release day, so we could relish every minute of this fun day!
So...  Ready...Set...GO!
 
 
 
 
 
If you can't see the pictures?-- Click HERE
 
 
It's time for our Annual 
"Purse Insert of the YEAR" Contest-
Congratulations to Tracy Prima Williams of Sequim, WA. Tracy was the winner pretty much from the outset in our February Handbag of the Month contest! Tracy wins a $25.00 SKD gift certificate and a permanent place of honor in our Handbag Gallery. Click here to see her beautiful Gadabout!
 
So...are you ready to see this month's entries? Because our contest this month will be devoted exclusively to Purse Inserts! That's right, we save up our purse insert entries over the course of the year and then have an annual contest to determine the ultimate winner! This year we have 7 entries for your consideration, so when you're ready, just scroll down to check check them out, then cast a vote for your favorite.
And don't forget!
(For BIGGER images: Click on each individual pic)

 
Heidi Degenkolb of Portage, MI created her Porta-Pockets Purse Insert (the large version) in exclusively red fabrics and it came out adorable, don't you think?
 
 
 
And this Porta-Pockets Purse Insert (also a large version) was created by Chrystina Power. It's almost too pretty to hide inside a purse, no?
 
 
Gretchen McClain has her Porta-PocketsPLUS Purse Insert loaded and ready to organize! She chose Velcro to connect her individual units together (at left) for use in her larger bags, but she can disconnect them anytime to use them as stand-alone units! Great job Gretchen!
 
 
 
This bold and graphic Encore Purse Insert was created by  Betsy Bucsanyi, who said once her friends saw it, they ALL want one!
 
 
 
And I think its a pretty safe bet that Judy McCaulley is a "cat lover" and the fabric she chose looks great on the large version of her Porta-Pockets Purse Insert!
 
 
And Sharon Anderson used some of my all-time favorite fabric in the construction of her large Porta-Pockets Purse Insert. Its from the Lumina collection by Peggy Toole. Now she'll be "beautifully organized"!  
 
And finally here's Georgia Segura's version of our Porta-Pockets Purse Insert. She made up the large version in an African print to match the  Lollapalooza she made for our February "HOM" contest.  
 
OK, ready to vote now?
 Only one vote per MONTH, per email address.
    
Blog with us!-  A Work in Progress
We're finishing up our 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.

New from SKD- Today's the day!
                                  We're releasing TWO new patterns!
So... It gives me GREAT pleasure to finally be able to say that today we're releasing not one but TWO new patterns!
First, our HipBag Hybrid,  which is our version of the old classic "fanny pack" (at right), but with a VERY big difference, which is that it can ALSO be carried as a Shoulder/Cross Body bag. And that's not all! It can ALSO be clipped to many types of mobile devices such as a bike, stroller or walker to provide a totally handsfree lifestyle!
 
 It boasts THREE storage areas, including one that's hidden in the middle! For MORE info and many, MANY pictures of our HipBag Hybrid, just click HERE!   *******************
 
The 2nd pattern we'll be releasing this Spring is a credit card "wallet" (at left)! We're calling it the Card Cozy and there'll be 2 sizes included, a small unit that hold 8 cards (front and back) and a larger unit that holds 12. And guess what else? We've included the instructions you need to provide additional RFID-blocking protection within every single card slot! How cool is that? For more info and many, MANY more pictures of our Card Cozy, just click HERE!  
 
Ready to see MORE? Just click HERE to watch an intro-ductory video for our HipBag Hybrid! And if you're ready to make either (or both) of these patterns  your next project, just click HERE to order the Card Cozy, and if you want to order the HipBag Hybrid, you have a couple of choices to make. You can...
(A) purchase just a pattern, or...
(B) purchase a "Pattern + Notions Kit" which includes ALL the necessary hardware, zippers, webbing, PLUS enough Soft & Stable to make one bag, or...
 
(C) you can come back later to purchase a "Notions ONLY" Kit when you're ready to make your 2nd HipBag Hybrid! Click HERE to get started!
 
Bobbin Around the Web-  Screw-B-Do
  I saw these cool little screw drivers at a trade show and the first thing i thought was... "Why didn't I think of that?" The Screw-B-Do is a terrific miniaturized screwdriver designed with the quilter in mind. It fits all makes and models of sewing machines; and due to the Neodymium rare earth magnet, it is computer and LCD screen safe! And besides all that.. they're adorable! Click HERE to watch a little video about Screw-B-Do.
 
Website Spotlite-  Fabric Confetti
Vanessa Fromm is the creative genius behind Fabric Confetti. I was captivated with her work which uses raw edges and "fabric confetti" to embellish and give a layered effect to the designs, which in her words, helps you sprinkle a little fun on your appliqué! My favorite is "Frances for Machine Embroidery". 
And while your here, don't forget to check out Vanessa's FaceBook and Instagram pages!
 
 
 
 
SmileGram-
Wife texts husband on a cold winter's morning:
"Windows frozen, won't open."
Husband texts back:
"Carefully pour some lukewarm water over it and gently tap edges with a hammer."
Wife texts back 10 minutes later:
"Computer REALLY messed up now!"
 
'HOT'Links-of-the-Month'-GREAT offers from our sponsors
FigureFlatteringQuiltwear-These "Mommy & Me" jackets would look terrific for Easter.
 
TWO For Your Viewing Pleasure-
 
 
Cute video of a cat protecting his territory from a.... photo! 
Click HERE to watch!
 
 
World record-holding highliner Faith Dickey battles in the wind to cross the line between two speeding trucks. Will she make it before the trucks reach the tunnel that lies behind the next bend?
Click HERE to watch!
 
A Beginner Project- Take Four Placemat Set
 
 
 
Take Four Placemats is a quick and easy project. A set of four placemats can be finished in an afternoon! Consider making a set for every season or for gifts, AND... there are five different variations you can make.
:)
 
 
Quote of the Month- 
 
 
 
 
Makes one think, doesn't it? 
:)
 
Tech Tutorial of the Month- How to Use Hashtags on Twitter & Instagram
The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages.
Using hashtags to categorize Tweets by keyword:
  • People use the hashtag symbol # before a relevant keyword or phrase (no spaces) in their Tweet to categorize those Tweets and help them show more easily in Twitter Search.
  • Clicking on a hashtagged word in any message shows you all other Tweets marked with that keyword.
  • Hashtags can occur anywhere in the Tweet – at the beginning, middle, or end.
Using hashtags correctly:
  • If you Tweet with a hashtag on a public account, anyone who does a search for that hashtag may find your Tweet.
  • Don't over-tag a single Tweet. (Best practices say to use no more than two hashtags per Tweet.)
  • Use hashtags only on Tweets relevant to the topic.
 
 
New Word of the Month-  Devicing
devicing (noun) : engaging in the use of electronic devices (such as tablets, smartphones, computers, etc.)        for example; Our children are prohibited from devicing after 7:00pm.
 
Take heart feline enthusiasts. Your cat’s continued indifference toward her new Deluxe Scratch DJ Deck may be disappointing, but there is an object that’s pretty much guaranteed to pique her interest. That object, as the Internet has so thoroughly documented, is a box. Any box, really. Big boxes, small boxes, irregularly shaped boxes—it doesn’t matter. Place one on the ground, a chair, or a bookshelf & watch as Admiral Snuggles quickly gets in it.....  (click HERE to read more)
 
 
Cat Picture of the Month-
 
 
Click image for a larger view.
 
Have you ever had the urge to play around with a music synthesizer or take a GoPro camera on an adventure, but didn’t want to own one?
It may soon be possible, once the Sacramento Public Library launches its new “Library of Things” program later this month. Library patrons will be able to check out a variety of tools, technology and home appliances the same way they currently borrow books.
Now through Feb. 10, the public can vote online for which “arts and innovation” items they want the library to make available for borrowing. Click HERE to cont.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article8920145.html#storylink=cpy
 
 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
 
Click image for a larger view.
 
Monthly Trivia-
Today is Tuesday, the 10th day of March 2015 (well.....at least we're pretending it's the 10th) and on top of all that, it's a very special day for action star, Chuck Norris (3/10/1940) and former American Idol and country music superstar, Carrie Underwood (3/10/1983). And if today is also your birthday, here's a great big "Happy Birthday to YOU" from StudioKat Designs, and if today is NOT your birthday, you can celebrate the day anyway by clicking HERE to listen to whats most likely my favorite video by Carrie Underwood or HERE to witness one of my favorite Chuck Norris "moments".
 
Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
It's a GREAT day to be sewing!
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!
 
 
Here's Our Upcoming Show Schedule- Let's Meet Up!
 
 
 
We'll be in Booth #3414 in the "River Room" 
(Convention Center 2nd floor).
It's our very FIRST time in Paducah, so we'd love to see a few friendly faces! 


 
 
 
If you're a Retailer, please stop by our booth in Minneapolis! We'll have models on-hand of all of our designs including our two new releases for Spring, the HipBag Hybrid and the Card Cozy!


 
 
The rest of our Show Schedule is as follows:
AQS Quilt Week - April 22-25, 2015, Paducah, KY
International Fall Quilt Market - October 24-26, 2014,  Houston, TX
International Quilt Festival- Oct 28- Nov 1, 2014,  Houston, TX
Road 2 California Quilters Conference  - Jan 21-24, 2016,  Ontario, CA
 

 
Why Not Pass along the FUN?

 
 
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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