StudioKat Designs November 08 Newsletter

November 2008

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Welcome!-So here we are, fresh from the Fall Market. It was our first time exhibiting in Houston and we really had a great time. You can click here to see a brief synopsis of our trip and see a picture of my new and improved booth! Then come on back because I've got a lot of cool stuff for you this month, including a special sneak preview of my next design! So let's get started!
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/nov08.htm to see the online version of the newsletter.

Feline Quote for November 2008- "If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer." Alfred North Whitehead

New on my Website!-
Peg Rice of Westport Island, ME, sent in this saucy little video of a cat and his canine friend. Click here to watch.

Rebecca Welter of Lake Zurich, IL, made an elegant Apropos Pack to go with her MOB dress & liked it so good, she made another for her daughter, the bride AND her entire wedding party. I liked the pictures so much that they are now headlining the Bridal page on my website. Just click here and see!

Linda Ferguson of Snohomish, WA wrote to tell me that she has problems keeping her cat off of her kitchen counter, as I do. You can read more, and see a picture of Winston, Linda's problem child, by clicking here.

And finally, my buddy Ann Horton spied a cute video about a naughty little tuxedo cat on late night TV, & Of course she knew who to share it with! You can watch it by clicking here.

"Handbag of the Month" Gallery-
I love seeing the beautiful handbags you all are creating, and I'll bet you do too! It seems everyone is enjoying the new Handbag of the Month contest, so jump right in & check out these pics, & then cast a vote for your favorite. The owner of the handbag receiving the most votes at the end of the month wins a $10.00 SKD gift certificate.

October's contest was a real battle , but Donna Zukowski of Scottsdale, AZ was our lucky winner. Click here to see her winning Harmony Handbag, which has also won a permanent place of honor on our website!
And now...Here's this month's entries:
Beginning with this PortaPockets Insert, made by Mandy Hall of the UK, who was living on the "wild side" this month. Mandy said that finding cool fabric in Britain is not easy, but I think she did a fine job!

Tina Mally of Livonia, MI submitted this appliqued Bellagio Bag constructed of denim. This was Tina's first adventure with applique, but somehow, I doubt it will be her last!

This Gadabout & CashKeeper makes for a dynamic duo, and was sent in by Judith Bishop of Howell, Mi. Judith says she loves making all types of bags, but the Gadabout is her favorite, because it seems like no matter what, she can always fit something extra into it!

You're not going to believe it, but these are the FIRST bags that Shirley Medhurst, of the UK has made. She sewed up a Harmony Handbag/PortaPockets duo, and did with STYLE. And look, the back, is as pretty as the front!

Judy Dove of Wickham Bishops, UK, is thrilled with her flashy Gadabout, and she should be! She used faux suede & decorated the flap & pouch with machine embroidery & "hot-fix" crystals. She says she can carry everything she needs (including her umbrella) in her new Gadabout, yet still look fabulous!

Rebecca Welter of Lake Zurich, IL, made this elegantly stunning Apropos pack. She says she even altered the interior with a few credit card holders to make the bag perfect for "clubbing".

Cindy Tazelaar of Oakbrook Terrace, IL, made this beautifully embroidered & mitered Tandem Tote. She says she get compliments on it everywhere she goes!

OK, ready to vote now? Just click on the link below to cast your vote.
Only one vote per day, per email address is allowed.

Cast Your Vote HERE!

Come back next month to see who the winner is... or better still...

Click here to join studiokatdesigns

Click to join the StudioKatDesigns Chat Group!

Join the StudioKat Designs Chat Group at Yahoo! Looking for inspiration? Could you use a few friends to bounce idea off of, and to seek advice from? Our new chat group has over 130 members now & I am finding that I like having a lot of fun with this neat group of gals! Come ON! Join us TODAY by clicking here!

Website Spotlight- Quilters TV.Com
Are you interested in learning a new technique, but hate all the fuss of signing up for a class, finding a sitter, and then driving into town when you have so much else to do? Here's a great place to take a class without having to even get out of your pajamas! Quilters TV.Com has all sorts of FREE video classes you can watch, so there's surely one that interests you! There's seasonal offerings, like this cute little Pumpkin Pot Holder or this Mortimer the Moose Wall Hanging. You can also click here to see a new free pattern every week!

New at StudioKat Designs-Coming SOON!
I've made a good start on my next pattern and you can see a sneak preview of it by clicking here. It's a hobo style bag with a beautiful ruffled top, and it's large enough to accomodate either the large or the small PortaPockets Insert. Of course I've lost a bit of momentum going to Houston, but I should regain my traction soon enough for a late December release for my most loyal customers (my newsletter readers, of COURSE!), and an early January 09 general release. More information and a Pattern name should be forthcoming in the December Newsletter, so stay tuned!

A Cool Place to Shop!- BimBamBanana.Com
We all have those people on our list who are impossible to shop for, and HERE is the perfect place to shop! At BimBamBanana, you'll find things you didn't even know existed! Looking for a gift that's alternative, funny or crazy? Then how about a USB Desk Vacuum Cleaner, the perfect gift for the co-worker who eats, drinks, smokes and works at a desk? Do you have a loved one that's hard to get up in the morning? Nobody can sleep through the Puzzle Alarm Clock. It fires 4 puzzle pieces in the air and you must get them and put them together in the alarm clock in order to turn the alarm off. Hmmm... maybe get this for someone other than your spouse? You can find all sorts of "Happy Things for Happy People at BimBamBanana.Com.

A Great Book to Curl up and Read with your CAT!-Cats in the Belfry
This fun little book was recommended to me by a friend. It was written in the 50's by British writer, Doreen Tovey and it's basically a series of humourous & true stories about a Siamese cat "with catitude"... I mean attitude! I had a little trouble getting started, as I got a bit bogged down with some of the local British slang which Doreen uses in her writing. I was happy I hung in there though, because some of the stories are very funny, and a few of them reminded me of a couple of handsome (non-siamese) guys that I live with! This book has been around for a while and I got my copy used on Amazon.

Quotation of the Month-"I'm like a good cheese. I'm just getting moldy enough to be interesting". Paul Newman ...and interesting he was, up until the day he died on September 26th, 2008.

Your cat might own you if... you insist that the people who call to talk to you on the phone, say a few words to your cat as well...

Surf HERE for Neat INFO!-How to Winterize your Home
Before you know it, those winter winds will be blowing. Is your home ready? What needs to be done to prepare? This site provides a review of important tasks including furnace and fireplace inspections, adding insulation, and cleaning gutters. Get to work now and you can look forward to a more comfortable home with reduced energy costs!

New Word of the Month-Moronasaurus-
Someone whose stupidity has, or SHOULD HAVE caused them to become extinct!

Love Handbags?- A GenuineRattBat.Co.UK
Marilyn, the creator of the RattBag, has been sewing since she was a child, and creating beautiful & unique handbags featuring the unique fabrics of Scotland since 2002. I particularly like the Harriet Bag, from a fabulous curtain, or this beautiful mohair bag, quite aptly called the Heather. Do you have a favorite item of clothing that you just can´t part with because you love the fabric, even though you know you will never wear it again? You can send it to Marilyn and she can bring it back to life in the shape of a bag. Just click here.

Did You Know?-that at liftoff, a US Space Shuttle weighs ~4.5 million pounds?

A cool Internet Activity- Foods for Fall
This website is devoted to seasonal cooking and right now the spotlight is on Fall. You'll find recipes featuring ingredients that are currently in season, such as cranberries, pumpkin, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and yams. Tired of the same ol' ho-hum breakfast? Try some Yummy Pumpkin Pancakes. Is it just you and the hubby for Thanksgiving this year? Stuffed Turkey for Two sounds perfect! And why not finish off your delicious dinner with some luscious Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars? You'll find everything you need to enjoy the fruits of the season AND the holidays at this convenient site!

Laugh Lines- Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent!

Surf HERE for FUN!- Fun & Games for Kids & Parents
Long dark rainy days & small children present special challenges for even the most creative parent. Bookmark this site for just such a day! FunBrain.Com is loaded with fun & educational games and activites for bored kids AND spent Mom's and Dad's! Like this fun Fishing Game, or this interesting Painting Game. You can also download cool printables, and blog with other parents!

Question of the Month-Why is it that when someone tells you that theres billions of stars in the universe, you believe them. But if they tell you theres wet paint somewhere you have to touch it?

Monthly Trivia-Today is November 4th, 2008, "Election 2008"! Yippee! How will I function tomorrow, without my daily dose of negative TV ads & telephone calls from auto-dialers? Somehow I think I'll find a way! But here's the deal... not only will we soon have a new President, we'll also have a new First Lady, and speaking of First Ladies... Did you know that Laura Bush is a party animal today? At first, you might think that Laura is celebrating because she can finally move back home to Texas and get her life back, but on closer inspection, you'll notice that Laura is actually eating a big slice of birthday cake. That's because today is her 62nd birthday! She shares her special day with none other than rapper Sean Combs, (otherwise known as Puff Daddy), comedianne/actress Kathy Griffin, and the former anchor of the CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite, who used to sign off everynight with the words, "That's the way it is". And if today is also your birthday, here's a great big StudioKat Designs "Happy Birthday to YOU!" And if today is not your birthday, I urge you to celebrate the day AND your right to vote by getting yourself to the polls to vote for the candidate of your choice!

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

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