January 2008 Newsletter-StudioKat Designs

January 2008

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Welcome!-Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had a healthy and happy Christmas holiday, and that you found the time to celebrate, in whatever way you see fit. We had a lovely, long weekend, and we got to spend plenty of time with all the people we love. This was Joba's 1st Christmas, and for some reason, he took it upon himself to "guard" the Christmas tree. He really wasn't much interested in touching the Christmas tree, only in hiding under it, or the tree skirt, and attacking anyone (me, Bubba, the unsuspecting Jeter, or any wayward Christmas gift), who came too close to it. Here he is, on patrol. At first it was hysterical, then mildly comical, but after a while, it was downright annoying, but irregardless, he did not stop, until the tree was safely back in storage in the attic. Incidently, he had to be locked up in the basement while we undecorated it! Oh well, all good things must come to an end, (and that goes for you too, Joba). It's time to get back to work, so I suggest we do just that!
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/jan08.htm to see the online version of the newsletter.

Feline Quote for January- "A cat can purr it's way out of anything." Donna McCrohan

New on my Website!-
Karol Saxberg sent in some terrific pictures of bags she's worked up! Check out her gray PortaPockets, and also her beautiful red one. And if you like to embroider, Karol put a great design on this smart Odyssey bag!

I thought I was the only person who had to fight off cats every time my printer started printing, but Peg Rice, of Westport Island, ME, sent me in a little movie that shows otherwise! You'll love it!

Leslie Holstead sent in a picture of her gorgeous girl, Pippa, mugging beautifully for the camera!

New at StudioKat Designs- and coming SOON!- The Trifecta-
I know, I know. This new bag has been a LONG time coming, but that's only because I think it may just be my finest & best designed bag to date! And soon enough, YOU can be the judge of that! My BFF Mary, suggested the name Trifecta, and I LOVED it, because with College basketball season upon us, all I could hear was Dick Vitale yelling, "It's a TRIFECTA, Baby!", at every three-point basket! All this time, I thought that Trifecta was a term Dick invented, but Mary, (the more cultured of the two of us), tactfully informed me that Trifecta is an actual word, used most often in the world of Horse Track betting. Either way, Trifecta effectively conjures up the number THREE, and that's what I wanted, because this bag has THREE separate, roomy storage areas! Two deep storage pouches, separated by a unique divider area, which can optionally be embellished w/either a zippered, or a non-zippered organizer insert, for change, credit cards & ID. Another option is an Exterior Pocket, large enough to accomodate your keys, makeup, or cell phone. My able pattern testers are working with the Trifecta as we speak, and I am anticipating an early February release, so stayed tuned for more info. As usual, there will be a promotional discount code you can use if you like, toward the purchase of the Trifecta, so stay tuned! I just can't wait to share my creation with all of you!

A Cool Place to Shop!- BagguBags.Com
I read recently, that if each American made a pact to stop allowing the things they buy to be bagged in paper or plastic bags, it would save 300-700 disposable bags every year. The very thought of that is staggering! Just imagine the difference it could make if even half of America made this switch? And its so easy! But you know, as much as I want to "go green" in 2008, I still want to look stylish, so I was pumped when alert reader Eileen Ostrowsky, sent me this link for BagguBags. These great looking bags are not only strong enough to handle just about everything you want to carry out of a store, but they're also lightweight, AND great looking! And here's the cool part. BagguBags are inexpensive and come in 13 hot colors. Click here to get the details on multiple discounts and color options. Come on! Did you ever think it would be this easy, or this fun,to GO GREEN in 2008?

Quotation of the Month-
"Airport scanners are now scanning holiday fruitcakes. Not even the scanners can tell what those little red things are!" David Letterman

Your cat might own you if...You watch bad TV because your cat is sleeping on the remote.

Surf HERE for Neat INFO!- Resolutions Resource
Let's face it- most of us make similar New Year's resolutions year after year, from the ever-popular health goals of losing weight or quitting smoking, to the financially motivated ones, like paying off debt or getting a better job. This web portal provides handy information to help you succeed this year with 13 of the most common resolutions. There's all kinds of information and ideas to try, to develop your self-improvement plan, like these for losing weight, or getting out of debt, or even strategies for saving money. (The hard part is simply following thru on the work!) Good Luck!

New Word of the Month-Coffee- The person upon whom one coughs.

Cats in the News-A Kitten & his Unlikely Friend!
If you're in the mood for a heartwarming story, then click here for a sweet video of a kitten and the crow who loves him. Yep, you read that right! The video is quite long, but its definitely better than any clip you'll see on the 6 o'clock news tonight!

Love Handbags?- Harlequin By Maartje.Com
Did Santa leave you a little cash under the tree? Then you might want to check out Harlequin By Maartje , for some unique bags and home accessories with a European flair. I especially enjoy Maartje's use of color & texture, never more evident than in her Spring Carpet Bags, and especially her Harlequin Bags. And if unusual home accessories are your thing, you need to check our Maartje's table runners, and throws! Enjoy!

Sewing Tip of the Month-
Sew each side of your zipper in the same direction to prevent puckers & distorted seams. (This applies to basting as well as permanent sewing.)

Did You Know?- A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

A cool Internet Activity-Medicine Cabinet Makeover
Recent news reports about the risks of cold medicines for children under six serve as reminders to be mindful of what's in our medicine cabinet. WebMD includes a Medicine Cabinet Makeover video on their site, which walks you through the drug store shelves to help you stock the right over-the-counter remedies. You'll also find safety guidelines for kids and medicine- just in time for the cold & flu season.

Surf HERE for FUN!- What's Your Health Risk?
One way to take better care of your health in 2008 is to educate yourself about your disease risks. This site, developed over the past ten years by the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, can help you discover your risk of developing five important diseases- cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and stroke. Simply answer questions about your health, background, and lifestyle with easy-to-use interactive tools and get personalized tips for preventing disease. Knowledge is power and Your Disease Risk gives you the knowledge you need to make smarter healthier choices.

Question of the Month-What do you call memory loss in parrots?...
Polynesia!

Monthly Trivia- Today is the birthday of my all time favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien, famous for The Hobbit, and The Trilogy of the Ring, which I have read in its entirety, no less than seven times! (Heck, I even read it to my daughter, long before she was able or willing to take it on for herself, although it took us well over a year to complete the full trilogy!) If today is also your birthday, here's a great big "Happy Birthday to YOU!" from StudioKat Designs. You are in good company indeed! And if today is not your birthday, you can celebrate today anyway, by trying to find a creative way to work these exquisite quotes into your conversation!

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."
or
"Not all who wander are lost."

and remember, "It's a dangerous business, going out your door," so your best bet might be, to just hole up in the house today, and catch up on some sewing!

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.
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HotLinks- (in order of appearance)

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