StudioKat News              November 2010
 In This Issue-
Kaye Wood.Com 
Laura's Sewing Studio
CoolStuff.Com
Blog- LazyGalQuilting
Saf-T-Pockets.Com
FabricOrigamiWorkshop.Com
BirchStreetClothing.Com
 
November
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Hello and Welcome-
If it's November, then Christmas can't be too far off, and I don't know about you, but I haven't even begun to prepare for the holidays. And here's the deal, you'll find all sorts of fun stuff to buy or make for the folks on your list in this, the Christmas shopping issue of our newsletter.
So let's get crackin'- 
If you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter, or if you just feel like telling us something, please feel free to do so at info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
  If you're having trouble reading this email- Click HERE for  web version
 
Feline Quote for September-
 "Sleeping together is a euphenism for people, but tantamount to marriage with cats."  Marge Piercy
 
Sponsor 'Picks-of-the-Month'- 
All DunnDesigns.Com- Recycled denim Christmas stocking
Vicki Welsh Hand-Dyed Fabrics- Stash Packs-
          (Perfect for embellishing the Lollapalooza and the DittyRoo)
Material Girls Online store- Hard-to-find African fabrics
 
Website Spotlite- Kaye Wood.Com
 
You've seen them on TV! You've seen them on the internet! Now you can get them in your mailbox every week! Quilting tips and techniques, advance notice of new products, weekly and monthly sales, special deals, and free projects. Literally TONS of information at your fingertips and in your email box. Just click here for your email signup form, then click SEND!
 
 
 "Handbag of the Month" Gallery-
Our October contest was a nail-biter. The winner wasn't decided until the last day of voting, and even then, only by THREE votes! It was the most exciting contest we have had to date and thanks to everyone who took part by voting.  And the winner, by only THREE votes, was Mary Molner of Pacific. MO. She wins a $20.00 SKD gift certificate and a permanent place of honor on our website. Click here to see her winning entry, a beautifully pieced & embellished DittyRoo. And here's the thing, Mary's not resting on her laurels, here's the DittyRoo she has fashioned to be her "winter bag".
 
The November Handbag of the Month contest promises to be just as exciting, with five entries all worthy of your consideration. So without further ado...Check out this month's nominees, then cast a vote for your favorite. 

Think you've got what it takes to win?
To enter our"Handbag of the Month" contest,
just attach your jpg or gif image to an email and send it to: info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
      And HERE are the fabulous entries for this month...
(Click each individual picture for a larger view)

Jean Mateychuk of Southbridge, MA told me that she had this Polso Pouch pattern in her stash for a long time before finally making it. She generally doesn't use a purse at all, but made this little one up for her trip to DC, where it worked fine all week for her and she even got a compliment about it from a passerby. No surprise there! Here's a peek inside.
 
 
Shannon Maciejewski of Warren, MI actually found this fabric on a bargain table at JoAnn's & it's been sitting in her stash along with a 4-year old button for quite a while. Digging it out for this   Harmony Handbag was a smart choice, & evidently her Mom thought so too. She like it so much that Shannon gave it to her. The The back is as pretty as the front and look how roomy the interior is!
 
This colorful Encore Insert was created by Katherine Gelpi of Corriere, MS. Since she had no need for the billfold feature, she added more pockets and credit card holders. Here's the reverse side and a peek at the interior. Great job, Katherine!  
Linda Richards of Tucson, AZ had a bit of a dilemma. Her 'thing' is smocking and she wanted to fashion a smmocked bag exterior that didn't look like it should be for a child, and I'd say she succeeded in a BIG way! (Do click on the picture to see the enlarged view of this Bellagio Bag. Linda's smocking is impeccable!  
And then we have this stunning Gadabout, created by Kristina Hartman in silk dupioni. The results are really quite incredible, especially considering how difficult silk can be to work with on a project such as this. The back is equally beautiful, & Kristina added a couple of auxillary slide pockets on the interior side panels. She says her Gadabout works perfectly with her matching CashKeeper wallet, one of our free patterns.  
 
OK, ready to vote now?
Just click on the link below to cast your vote.
 Only one vote per MONTH, per email address is allowed.
 
 
Blog with us!-  A Work in Progress
Enjoy an insider's scoop on what's happening behind the scenes at StudioKat Designs, by signing up for our blog, "A Work In Progress". If you're new to our blog, or if you missed any of the posts from last month, don't worry, theyre all listed below. 
 
 
 
Bobbin Around the Web- Laura's Sewing Studio
 
Laura's Sewing Studio is a fun site where you'll find unique and totally original embroidery designs which you can use to embellish quilts, wall hangings, clothing and even purse exteriors. The New York Beauty (pictured at right) is one of my favorites, as is the Colonial Floral. You also may enjoy checking out the various ways you use the "Love Is" designs!
 
 
A Cool Place to Shop- Cool Stuff.Com
The Holiday season is also the party season, and I have found the perfect place for you to find unique and memorable party supplies! After all, where else do you think you can find preloaded confetti guns, and custom-printed fortune cookies? And can you imagine the look of delight on the faces of your guests when you served them refreshments in edible lemon-flavored glasses, iced with cool LED Lite cubes? You can find all of this and more at CoolStuff.Com.
 
Cat Picture of the Month-
                                                 (click on picture to see an enlarged version)
 
 
Video of the Month- Radio Flyer Car
So you say you think you know someone that has it all?  Well you might want to re-think that because here's a video of the most unusual vehicle I've ever seen! Click here to enjoy!
 
Cat Video of the Month- Kitties on Ice
Cold weather's coming so click here to enjoy a humorous video inspired by the Olympic-gold-medal-winning flamenco icedancing of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the Canadian Icecats put together this exhibition of their skills on the ice. Enjoy!!! 
 
Blog of the Month- Lazy Gal Quilting
 
 Tonya Ricucci has been blogging for a LONG time, best I can tell, since 2005, and that's a LONG, LONG time in blog  years. She seems to have a whimsical outlook and a slightly offbeat humor that I think you'll enjoy. She also LOVES cats and includes them in her photos whenever possible, which I for one appreciate! I also found a cool gift bag how-to among her tutorials, which could come in handy in the next few weeks!
 
Quote of the Month- 
"Everybody's ignorant, only on different subjects."  Will Rogers
 
Look What I Found OnLine- Saf-T-Pockets
 
If you're not taking the highways and to the skies for the holidays, then someone on your gift list probably is, so why not check out the pattern offerings at Saf-T-Pockets. The philosophy of Saf-T-Pockets is that you travel every time you leave your home, and the items they design are for everyday travel as well as visits to exotic places, like the Travel Accessory  pattern pictured to the left. There's also some nifty travel tips and packing lists, like this one with travel tips specifically for women.
 
New Word of the Month-   Busblender   (bŭs'blĕn'dər)
(n.) The device at the front of the bus that tosses your fare around for a while, then swallows it. 
 
Everyone always tells me that my Jeter is the largest cat they have ever seen, but nw i have proof that this is just not so!  Click here to read about Stewie, a 5-year old Maine Coon cat who recently became the new Guiness world record holder.
 
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The University of New Mexico's Parent Association is raising money for need-based scholarships. This fundraiser, however, came with a fashionable twist.
The fundraiser, which took place Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. , offered a variety of handbags and accessories. The merchandise, manufactured by Bagolitas, comes in different styles, some including the UNM signature logo...... (click here to read more)
 
 
All those markings on patterns are there for a reason, and knowing how to transfer dots, notches, and sewing lines from your pattern template to your fabric can make all the difference in how your finished item looks.  Click here to view a neat instructional video!

 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
 
(click on picture to see an enlarged version)
 
Well, it seems convenience comes with a price, but what typically used items do YOU think have the biggest markup (as complied by Walletpop.com)? 
#1- Text Messages - 6000% markup
#2- Bottled Water - 4000% markup
#3- Movie Theatre Popcorn - 1275% markup
#4- brand name drugs - 200-3000% markup
#5- Hotel Mini Bar - 400% markup
 
among the other top offenders (I mean contenders), are coffee-shop coffee, and greeting cards!
 
A Cool Internet Activity- Fabric Origami Workshop
 
Believe it or not, one of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to wrap gifts, and how cool would it be to give gifts wrapped in fabric boxes. You can find patterns for virtually any shape box you might need at Fabric Origami, as well as Christmas ornaments, frames, totes, and of course.... swans! Soungs like a great foul weather project for the whole family ro me!
 
Laugh Lines-
Why is lemon juicemade with artificial flavor, but dishwashing liquid is made with the real jucie of lemons?
 
Cat Site of the Month- Beau's Blog
 
Beau is a self-problaimed southern gentleman cat and also a very handsome tuxedo guy who is no newcomer to the blogging scene.
He enjoys blogging about his inner thoughts on his life and also the human condition. Click here to check it out.
 
 
Surf Here for FUN!- Birch Street Clothing
 
And last, but absolutely not least, what about the pets on your list? Well, here's the deal...The best source for pet-related patterns that I found was at Birch Street Clothing. Yeah- you read that right. Birch Street has patterns for the cats, dogs and even the reptiles in your life! I like the Pet Travel BagBag with plenty of room for toys, blankie, leash, brush and of course, FOOD! But i also think the Pet Couch and the Cat Cube are fabulous and are things that Jeter and Joba would love, for sure!!
 
Monthly Trivia-
Today is November 6th, the 311th day of 2010, with only 55 days remaining. Does that scare you as much as it does me? Because that means that there's even fewer days left until Christmas and I have done nothing... nada...zero... zilch. I haven't even begun to THINK about my Christmas shopping yet. Oh well, I guess it won't hurt to put it off a bit more, and just enjoy today for what it is.
 
And speaking of which, today is International End Gossip Day- a day in which everyone is asked to not gossip (or engage in any negative or hurtful communications for at least one day). Having been the victim of malicious talk in my former workplace as well as within the scope of my in-laws, I know first-hand how it can devastate relationships. But you know what? Gossip really hurts everyone, both the teller AND the listener, and the Internet seems to have compounded the problem. So why not give it a try & remove hurtful talk from your life, at least for today!
 
And on a more celebratory note, here's a fun idea if today happens to be your birthday. Why not surprise your guests and suggest that they play ''The Stars & Stripes Forever' for you, instead of singing the usual ''Happy Birthday' song, because you share your special day with none other than John Philip Souza. And if you don't happen to like marching music, or if today is NOT your birthday, you can have fun today in some other way. Heck, ANYthing's better than thinking about Christmas shopping, right?
 
Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
Sewing Forever, Housework Whenever!
 
 
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StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com