StudioKat News                 March 2012
 In This Issue-
PlaysWithWool.Com
MORE PortaPocketsPlus pics
Vanilla House Designs
FabricShopperOnline.Com
WilliamOfMassDestruction

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Join the conversation
on
 
 
Customer Comment
of the Month
"THANK YOU for the new free pattern! Your cahs keeper is my favorite ever both for personal use and for gifts. This one looks like it could be a rival!"
Pat Bilski

Hello and Welcome-
Spring has spring here in North Carolina but we're gonna have to be satisified with enjoying it thru the window since we are hard at work putting the finishing touches on our new pattern! You can find out the latest release information PLUS we've loaded this edition with lots of other fun stuff, BUT first I must tell you that my grandson achieved a huge milestone this week! Click HERE to see what it was!   :)
So... what are we waitin' for?
and if you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter, please feel free to do so at info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
 
 
 
Feline Quote for February-
"If animals could speak the dog would be a a blundering outspoken fellow, but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much."  Mark Twain
 
 "Handbag of the Month" Gallery-
Thanks to everyone who participated in last month's contest! It was one of the most exciting contests yet with the decision literally being decided in the last few minutes! The winner, with her first ever entry in our contest, was Christine O'Donnell of Victoria, Australia. 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 stunning Dr. Seuss-inspired Quattro.
 
The March Handbag of the Month contest promises to be just as exciting, so without further ado...Check out this month's nominees, then cast a vote for your favorite.

(Click each individual picture for a larger view)

Susan Torrens of Ontario, Canada (but a parttime Floridian), chose our Baggalista pattern because she wanted a smallet purse that she could carry "cross-body" and be hands-free, and all the inside and outside pockets just added to the charm. Susan said that the focal fabric on the flap 'jumped into' her arms at JoAnn's and then the coordinates joined in. The print has a subtle gold fleck in it that you can notice more from the back shot.
 
 
This expertly pieced Baggalista was created by Lina Martel of Advance, NC as a SURPRISE Christmas gift for her mother-in-law. (check out this adorable video to see the reaction.) She said her MIL is obsessed with being organized so the Baggalista seemed like a perfect choice. (Here's a peek at the back side.)
 
It's hard to believe, but this Baggalista in ultra suede and tapestry is the very first purse that Marilyn Garcia of Minnesota has EVER made! She said that the ultra suede was surprisingly easy to work with on this design and that the whole process was fun. Here's a peek at the back where' it looks just as yummy!
 
 
 
And Linda Ross of Lake St Louis, MO is back with a striking Carolina CarryAll in a Stonehenge animal print from Northcott Fabrics. She says she just followed all the instructions and that it came together as "easy as pie", and since animal prints are nature's first "neutrals", I'm thinking this beauty will go with EVERYTHING!
 
Brooklyn native, Alisha Schultze was after a fun, quirky project, when she picked up some fabric for this super functional Encore Purse Insert. She loves how perfectly organized her bag is now and I love how her fingernails are perfectly coordinated with her project!  
 
 
Looking to make something special for her sister-in-law, Christine O'Donnell of Victoria, Australia decided to use this utterly delicious art nouveau chocolate embroidery design with some chocolate-themed fabric. The result? A Quattro that yummy enough to eat from the front OR the back!

Maureen Turcotte of North Grafton, MA fell in love with this fabric when she used in a quilt some time back and decided that these large flowers would be perfect for the front pouch of her new Quattro. She added that she really liked having the extra pictorial helps on the website and is on the prowl for fabric for her next bag now! Here's a peek at the backside  and the flashy red interior which I adore!  
A self-described "fabricholic", Maria Boyle of Farmington, NY saw a Quattro sample in a local quilt shop and it was love at first sight. To create the unique design on the front pouch area, Maria used methodology she learned in our eBook, RockStar Peacework and added a delicate flower which she created with embroidery from "A Bit of Stitch". Maria says that she stitched it in place to the pouch prior to constructing the bag. It lends that special touch, doesn't it?
 
 
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.
 
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.
 
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- PlaysWithWool.Com
Plays With Wool Designs LLC is a partnership between friends Becky Delsman and Kim Schueffner. When Becky's two boys and Kim's daughter grown and out on their own, the two found themselves with time on their hand and began quilting and when they took a wool applique class they were HOOKED! The business is so named because the two of them had such fun playing with wool!
I like their table runner pattern and several of their table mat patterns!
 
 
 
New at StudioKat Designs- PortaPocketsPLUS
 
 
We getting close... so very close to the release of our new pattern, the PortapocketsPLUS Purse Insert, so named because of the first of it's kind, zip ON and OFF insert modules. And here's the big news! Due to popular request, we've added alternate instructions for substituting Velcro for the connecting zippers.
The official release date for the PortaPocketsPLUS is April 7 (with our April Newsletter), and as usual, there will be a discount coupon announced at that time. The pattern however, will probably be available some time before then on our website (w/o benefit of the coupon), to test our systems out, so if you're hot-to-trot for it,  you might check our website toward the end of March.   :)
 
'HOT'Links-of-the-Month'- 
      check out these terrific offers from our sponsors
PursePatterns.Com- 15% off ALL Amy Butler patterns until March 27th.
Trish Stuart.Com- Shabby Chic Tablerunner
All DunnDesigns.Com- Sunshine Girls Download Special
FaveQuilts.Com- EIGHT Easter Sewing Projects- a FREE eBook
 
Website Spotlite- Vanilla House Designs
Vanilla House Designs started in 1994 introducing twelve patterns at International Quilt Market in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their current emphasis is on designing patterns that appeal to newer and younger sewers trying to make projects that simple but creative. Here's a few of my favorites;
Pocket Aprons, Hip Wraps, Monster Baby bibs. What I like the best though is their line of patterns which fabricate 'blingified' necklaces. They're called Fabric Blings & I love 'em.            
 
 
SmileGram-
Google recently found that a woman was using the following password:
 
"MickeyMousePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento"
 
When asked wwhy she had such a long password, she rolled her eyes and said: "HELLO! It has to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one capital!"
 
Cat Picture of the Month-
 
 
Click image at left for a larger view!
 
Video of the Month- 50 Ways to Hide Your Stash
If any of you have an ever-growing fabric stash, then you'll love this video!
Click HERE to watch it.   :)
 
Blog of the Month- The Fabric Shopper
Christie Martinazzi loves fabric, color, pattern, texture, and design, AND she loves to shop. So... she could be the perfect person to turn to when your hunting fabric online for your next project!
 
And here's some other cool things about Christie's website: She has what is probably the most comprehensive list of online fabric shops EVER, a HUGE listing of FREE tutorials, and a terrific sewing glossary!
 
Cat Video of the Month- Cat Saves Child from Mom
Who says cats won't protect children? Click HERE to watch.
 
Look What I Found OnLine- Life Expectancy Calculator
  If you're interested in living to a ripe old age, this site may be able to help. The Life Expectancy Calculator asks you 40 quick questions related to your health and family history and then estimates how old you will live to be. It also gives you detailed action items on what to do to live longer. Unlike many similar sites, you don't have to enter your email address to get the results.
 
New Word of the Month- Teleflector-  

(tĕl'ĭ-flĕk'tər)  -  (n.) The television, in its off state, used as a mirror

 
 STURGEON BAY, Wisconsin — A Sturgeon Bay woman has a lot to be thankful for after her newly adopted cat woke her from an insulin reaction just hours after bringing him home.
 Amy Jung and her son, Ethan Jung, originally went to the Door County Humane Society on Feb. 8 to play with the cats, not to bring one home. Then Jung, 36, saw Pudding lying on a counter. She made a quick decision to adopt Pudding and his pal Wimsy.   Click HERE to read more... 
 
 
Cat Site of the Month- William of Mass Destruction
 
Gender: Male
Astrological Sign: Taurus
Industry: Internet
Job: Cat
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Introduction: It's all about ME! 
Click HERE to read more about William!
 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
 Click image at left for a larger view!
 
 
Monthly Trivia-
Today is Wednesday March 7th, the 67th day of 2012. There are 299 days remaining in this year, and as I researched the events that happened on this day in history, I found out that it was on the 7th of March in 1933 that Charles Darrow devised the game of Monopoly. The great Depression was in progress and he sold the game himself for two years prior to it being mass-marketed by Parker Brothers in 1935 making Darrow a millionaire. I guess he passed "GO" and never looked back!
And if you're in the mood for birthday cake, why not crash a birthday party today. Willard Scott (Today Show weatherman & friend of centenarians) will be celebrating his 78th birthday today and former Disney-head Michael Eisner, his 70th. 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 with a rousing game of Monopoly, or if you're pressed for time, maybe just enjoy this little video of funny Willard Scott clips from 2009!
 
Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
Sewing Forever, Housework Whenever!
 
 
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StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com