StudioKat Designs Newsletter for April 2007

April 2007

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Welcome!- It's April, but its feeling more like summer here in NC, than it does spring. I have been very BUSY finishing up my new design, AND trying to tie up all my loose ends so that my husband and I can take a much deserved, and long-awaited vacation at the end of the month. On April 22nd we'll be leaving on the "trip of a lifetime" in the Holy Land. We're going with a great big group of old and soon-to-be friends, one of whom is our daughter Erica, our son-in-law Steve, and his whole family! It'll be wonderful and I am really getting excited.
Since StudioKat Designs is a home-run business, you need to know that April 21st will be the last mailing day for us, until we return on May 2nd. You can continue to order products while we are gone, and we will mail them out as soon as we possibly can, upon our return. (Credit cards will not be charged until merchandise actually gets shipped). Even though I will winging my way home somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean on May 2nd, my May Newsletter will still be released as usual on the 2nd, at 6 am that morning, due to the miracle of a time-delay email list server. Did I mention how excited I am? Oh yes I'm sure I have, so let's get going!
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/apr07.htm to see the online version of the newsletter.

Feline Quote for April-
"There's no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat." Wesley Bates

New on my Website!-
Stitcher extraordinaire Kelley Barkei, recently submitted these photos of her Gadabout Purse and her unbelievable matching jacket. She has featured Laurel Burch designs on both and she is currently headlining my Hall of Fame page. you did a fantastic job Kelley!

Click here to see a cool Gadabout that was made by Sandi Harrah of Suffolk, VA.

Dwen Heminway submitted this neat picture of the Odyssey Bag she made up especially for an upcoming trip to Florida. I LOVE the fabric. I bet she'll get loads of compliments on it!

New at StudioKat Designs-Coming SOON!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!
The PortaPockets is ALMOST ready for its official release, which is scheduled for May 2nd. I'm expecting everything to be back from the printer sometime in mid-April, and I'll post it on my website then. You can get $1.00 off the $10.00 retail price from then until May 31st, by simply typing SKD14 in the Coupon Code box at checkout on my website. My May newsletter will have more information and pictures as well as the official release announcement.

Sew Much Information!- PatternReview.Com
If you like making handbags, and you like the compliments you get when people see your work, then you need to RUN, not walk, to PatternReview.Com to check out the contest that has just started. Beginning April 1st and running through May 31st, PatternReview.Com is having a handbag making contest, and the sponsor of the event is none other than StudioKat Designs. You can click here to enter as many times as you like and there's no charge for getting in on the act. You can even lurk on the sidelines and check out the entries, by periodically checking out the Contest Gallery. The winners are chosen by a simple majority vote amongst PatternReview members, and you don't have to use a StudioKat designs pattern in order to get involved, (although I would LOVE it if you did!) hint hint You can click here for a complete list of the Contest Rules.
I know for a fact that you girls have made some of the most creative handbags I've ever seen, so why not enter YOUR bag, and bask in the applause from a gallery of likeminded sewing nuts! At the very least, PatternReview.Com is a terrific site, and an excellent resource for ALL things sewing. My bet is that you'll bookmark the site and become a regular visitor! I know I did.

Quotation of the Month-
"It's just like magic! When you live by yourself, all of your annoying habits are gone!" Merrill Markoe, author

Surf HERE for Neat INFO!- SmartMoney.Com
Different stages of life generate different types of financial decisions. Should I buy or lease a car? How much house can we afford? How much should I save for college? How long will my money last once I retire? This site contains a broad range of step-by-step financial worksheets to help you find the answers you need. It's easy to use, and a smart resource for making informed choices about buying, saving, investing and borrowing.

Laws Overlooked by Murphy-
You probably don't know this, but I am a big-time fan (and believer) in Murphy's Laws. The only thing is, the official list of Murphy's Laws is woefully short. If I were writing this list today, there would be many laws I would add to Murphy's list, and I am willing to bet that you feel the same way. For this reason, beginning this month, and lasting until we run out of ideas, there will be a new feature section in my newsletter, that being, "Laws Overlooked by Murphy. And to start us off, here's 3 right off the top of my head! See if you don't agree, that the following three laws really should have been included in the original list!

The Law of Close Encounters-The probaility of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Southern's Law-As soon as you find a product you really like, it will be discontinued.

Law of the Telephone-When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

I'd also be willing to bet you know some laws that should have been included in the original list as well. Why not share them with the group? Just send me your "over-looked" law in a quick email at info@studiokatdesigns.com, and check back each month to watch this list GROW!

Love Handbags?- MoonSpunDesigns.Com
If you love vintage textiles and needlework, then here's a fun little internet shop I think you'll enjoy. It's called MoonSpunDesigns.Com and it is home to some truly unique patterns and kits. Karen Krause, the designer, employs the use of ruching and embroidery in her purse patterns. I especially like the Madeline pattern and the Lavinia pattern. The Lavinia actually looks like a fuchsia blossom. It's fabulous and even if you don't want to make it, it is definitely worth checking out! I also like Karen's pincushion kits, a beautiful array recreating the charm of pincushions from the Victorian era. They make special gifts, finished or not, in much the same way as pincushions were tokens of affection long ago!

Did You Know?- Astounding Stats
Any idea what the least populated country in the world is? It's Pitcairn Island, which has just 45 residents. What country has the most Internet users per capita? It's new Zealand. And did you know that in Taiwan, mobile phones actually outnumber people? You'll find a world of fascinating facts at this site, which provides a vast central source of statistics comparing nations in more than one thousand categories. Browse around and you'll probably discover a thing or two about your own nation. For example, did you know that the U.S. is the all-time leader in number of Summer Olympics medals?

SKD Promotions Update- Fab Shop Hop for April
Do you like shopping? Would you like to win a brand new Bernina sewing machine? Then you need to know that we'll be hopping into April again, with the Fab Shop Hop. Click here to find out more information and to register for prizes! It just might be the most fun you have in your pajamas! Well, maybe not, but it's still fun, so check it out!

Surf HERE for FUN!- How Many of Me.Com
Have you ever wondered how many people in this country have your name? Well I found out that there are 407,957 other people in the U.S. who are named Kathy (or Cathy). There are also 9599 other people with the last name of Southern. Interesting, but get this... there are 13 other people who share my exact name, Kathy Southern.

Or maybe you have a little bundle of joy on the way, and you don't them to have the same name as 3 other kids in the class? I found out that Kathy is currently the 136th most popular name for girls. (I'd be willing to bet it was in the top 5 in the 50's though, when I was born.) Go ahead, try it for yourself. Click here to find all of this out about your name, and MORE!

Question of the Month-
Do you know why goldfish don't like to watch television?.... They're afraid of getting hooked!

Monthly Trivia- April....a great month to go kite flying in. I bet you, (like I), would have thought that March was National Kite Flying month, but it's not, it's April! So grab the nearest kid and get flyin', or at the very least, check out the official website. It has fun facts, free kite making plans and terrific teacher resources!
And here's a fun fact about April 2nd... it was on this day in 1956 that As The World Turns premiered on CBS as the first 30 minute daily serial, (all serials were 15 minutes in length until then), and I would just about be willing to bet that my Mom was a viewer then, as she has faithfully been, from that day forward. Meg Ryan, Julianne Moore and Michael Nader are just a few of the Hollywood stars that got their start on ATWT, and you can find out lots more neat info about ATWT by clicking here. You can see all of the opening title sequences since it's inception, as well as updates on current and former cast members and LOTS more!
Emmy Lou Harris is 60 years old today. (Her age has finally caught up to the color of her hair!) Happy Birthday Emmy, and if today is YOUR birthday, here's a great big StudioKat Designs HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! And if today isn't your birthday, you can celebrate today anyway by maybe catching an episode of ATWT. (They might be having a cool anniversary type show today.) Soaps not your cup of tea? Then think about flying a kite, or better still, think about TELLING someone to go fly a kite!! Hmmm... that thought brings to mind some delicious possibilities!

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