StudioKat News                      May 2010
 In This Issue-
  Gita Marie Jewelry
  The Carolina Carryall is HERE!
  Franceska's Creations
  Fat Quarter Factory
  Meet Conan, the kitten
  a squirrel obstacle course
  how to travel REALLY light
  MJH Designs 

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Hello and Welcome-
May is always a big month around here, and this year is no exception. Today, we're officially releasing our new pattern, the Carolina CarryAll, (scroll down to pick up a discount code) which means that the Spring Quilt Market must be upon us.
This year we're headed to Minneapolis, a new city for us, and we're excited about checking it out. (Does anyone have any recommendations for fun things to do, or cool places to eat while in downtown Minneapolis?)
We'll be blogging from the floor with pictures and previews of what's going to be HOT this summer, so stay tuned!
But for now, let's get on with it!
Remember, if you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter, or if you just feel like telling us something, please use this link to do so info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
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Feline Quote for September-
"A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through."   
Robert Frost
 
 "Handbag of the Month" Gallery-
There was unprecedented voting in our
May Handbag of the Month Contest!
Thanks to everyone who participated in last month's contest! We are thrilled to tell you that we had a record-high participation in our April Contest and the winner was Pat Leask of Ontario, Canada. 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 embroidered Gadabout.
 
The May 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. 

Think you've got what it takes to win?
Come on! Join in on the FUN! 
    
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 to see larger views)
 
 
This was Linda Hamelin's (of BC, Canada) first attempt at a Boho Baguette. Didn't she do great? But here's the deal. The very second she showed it to her friend (who adores pink), she HAD to have it, so that just meant one thing. Linda had to make another, which she says she really enjoys doing!
 
Wanda Spencer of Nova Scotia, Canada loves her PortaPockets Purse Insert. In addition to organizing her purse, Wanda likes to use it in her carry-on and her beach bag. Here's her empty PortaPocket and you can click here to see how much stuff she can load it with! WOW!
 
 
 
This is Thea McCurry's (of Greensburg, PA) interpretation of the Carolina CarryAll. She says she really enjoyed carrying this spring daffodil bag! 
 
 
 
Peg Rice of Westport Island, ME was just looking for an excuse to use this terrific fabric and the Carolina CarryAll was the perfect vehicle!
 
 
 
 
And speaking of spring bags, this beautiful Carolina CarryAll was made by Judy Graf of Tyler TX!
 
 
 
 
The beautiful ruffled top edges are emphasized beautifully with the contrasting fabrics that Lori Gates chose (of West Henrietta, NY) for her Carolina CarryAll. Great Job, Lori!
 
 
OK, ready to vote now?
Just click on the link below to cast your vote.
 Remember-  Only one vote per MONTH, per email address is allowed.
 
    and come back next month to see who the winner is! 
 
Blog with us!-  A Work in Progress
You can enjoy an insider's scoop to 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 April, don't worry, they are all listed below. 
 
 
 
Bobbin Around the Web- Gita Maria Jewelry
 I've seen Gita Maria's booth at the last few Quilt Markets and they are awesome. Since 1981, she has been handcrafting exquisite glass enameled shawl pins, buttons, brooches, bails, pendants, charms, and knit sticks....one piece at a time. Most of her pieces are inspired at least in part by quilt designs, like these cool earrings, and these tuxedo buttons, which would look great as a bag embellishment, don't ya think? And speaking of tuxedo items, this tuxedo cat brooch really should be mine!
 
 
New at StudioKat Designs-
 
Can we have a drum roll please? Today we are officially releasing the newest handbag pattern in our line, the Carolina CarryAll. I think you'll agree that carrying it ALL has never looked THIS good! The sample shown on left was made expressly for the Spring Quilt Market, which will be held in Minneapolis in just a couple of weeks. Don't you love this fabric? (It's an African print that I picked up at Material Girl Quilt and you can get some too by clicking here.) 

Last month I showed you our new feature for this bag, the 'Secret Pockets' which are perfect for storing those items you need at your fingertips. The cover bag features sumptuous embroidery work, once again provided by SusaGlenn, (of course), and you can get more info about that, by clicking here.
And here's the best part, in celebration of this special day, we're kicking it all off with a $2.00 off coupon campaign! You can redeem your coupon online, and receive $2.00 off the retail price of your Carolina CarryAll, by simply typing APRCARKAT in the coupon code box at check out, or if you prefer, you can also your discount by ordering  your pattern thru the mail or by phone.
 
               (But Hurry! This coupon offer expires at midnite on 5/15/10.)

 
Quote of the Month- 
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."  Robert Frost
 
Website Spotlite- Franceska Creations
Franceska Creations was established in 1997 and aims to provide unique fabric art accessories for the home or person that are fun to make, wear and display. A special feature of her art is the use of recycled neckties alone or in combination with other fabrics. She has both clothing and home decorating patterns in her line, and she also features a 'Tip of the Week'.
 
A Cool Place to Shop- Fat Quarter Factory
 
Check out a new newsletter sponsor, Fat Quarter Factory.
Besides notions, and patterns, you'll also find various fabric collections, including those by Amy Butler. I especially love Amy's new LOVE collection. You can get Amy's fabrics (along with many other designers) in fat-quarter bundles, AND even Half-Yard Cut bundles!
 
 
  The Devious Book for Cats offers today’s discerning kitties words of wisdom and advice on everything they need to know, from in-depth guides on cardboard boxes and catnip to a brief video about 'What's in There?' It provides fail-safe tips on waking a human when you want to get fed, choosing the purr-fect gift, staring like a pro, and making the most of superstitions. It also explains the undeniable allure of the Window, the terrifying specter of the Vacuum, and how you can 'Conduct a Secret Mission.' If you love or live with a cat, then I think you'll like this book!
 
Look Who's Sewing!- Idle Pastime-With Less to Haul,Drivers Try New Hobbies
 
 
 
Linda Campbell of Spartanburg, SC turned me on to this way-cool article that was run in the Wall Street Journal on March 29th of this year. After I got through reading it, I know I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face for about an hour. Check it out here.
 
Cat Video of the Month- Meet Conan, the kitten
Is this a picture of one of my cats? No, this actually Conan, but he sure acts like one of them and here's THREE fun videos to prove it! (I've gotta quit looking at these videos or I might just go out and adopt ANOTHER tuxedo guy!)
First click here, to meet Conan. (My Joba used to enter a room JUST LIKE THIS!) Video #2 shows that Conan is a bit high-strung (like my tuxedo guys). Click here to see what Conan is afraid of. And finally, click here to see what Conan did when he met his twin! These videos are among the best I've seen in some time. You'll want to watch them again and again!
 
 
If you are a follower of my blog, then you are aware that we have a LOT of squirrels around our yard... I love 'em, but they drive my husband nuts! So when I came across this FUN video of what has to be the most persistent squirrel EVER, I knew I had to share it with you guys! Click here, and enjoy!
 
Sewing Tips- 
Before throwing out clothing you no longer wear, stock up on notions by saving any usable zippers, buttons, or decorative trim. These can come in handy when you're trying to replace a fastener.

 
Blog of the Month- Make it and Love it
 
This is a previously private "log of projects"...gone public. Ashley loves creating inexpensive projects combined with simplicity, and believe me, there is a wealth of creative fun projects in this blog. Here's a few of my favorites-        
Interchangeable Flip-Flops                      ModPodgeHangars                                                          
 
 
Look What I Found OnLine- How to REALLY Travel Light
Traveling light always sounds like a good idea, but it can be difficult to do. After all, you really might need those two umbrellas, three pairs of shoes and ten pairs of pants, right? Wrong! That's where OneBag.Com comes in. This well-regarded site provides detailed infor about what to pack (including a sample checklist), what to pack it in, and how to keep your travel luggage to a minimum. Benefits of packing light include greater security, saving money of luggage fees, flexibility, and peace of mind. There's also a handy checklist of things you should do before you leave home.
 
New Word of the Month- Fictate (fĭk'tāt)
(v.) To inform a television or screen character of impending danger under the assumption they can hear you.  ( I do this all the time... can't make myself stop AND I am not convinced this is true!)    :)
 
Love Handbags?- MJH Designs
Melissa is currently a very Proud Army Wife who has been making beautiful bags for over two years.  She started making custom handmade military totebags when her husband was deployed and now her bags can be found all over the world. Melissa has a wide variety of military fabrics to choose from, or if you prefer, you can send a military shirt of your own for her to fashion your bag from (click here for those details). Whichever you choose, you'll be showing your support for our troops everywhere you carry your bag! Ready to see some samples? Just clickhere.
 
Did You Know?-
A giraffe can clean its ears with its 50cm (20 in) tongue.
 
A Cool Internet Activity- Hooked on Idol
If you can't get enough of American Idol, this is the place to be. Catch up on performances you may have missed or want to watch again, see video recaps of results announcements, or check out photos of the beloved stars-to-be. You can also support your favorite contestants and judges with t-shirts and gear, and share your thoughts with other fans in the Idol community as you anticipate the season finale in a few weeks!  
 
Laugh Lines-
Why do bees have sticky hair?.................    They use honeycombs.
 
Surf Here for FUN!- Get Crackin' with Eggs
Planning a brunch for a special occasion like Mother's Day? Make it "egg-ceptional" by visiting the Recipes & More section of the American Egg Board site. This site also provides information of egg nutrition, egg facts, egg cooking tips, egg games, and incredible people who make eggs part of their diet. Don't forget to check out the fun videos in Eggs 101.
 
Let's face it, cats can sleep anywhere, anytime. They have elevated sleeping to an artform, and if you want proof, here it is!         Thanks to alert reader, Judi Graf of Tyler Texas, for this fun info!
 
Question of the Month-
Do people who spend $2 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water know that spelling it backwards is Naive?
 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
 
 
           What executive cats keep in their desks...
           (click image to see an enlarged version)
 
Talk to Me- Wasp Spray- A personal protection idea?
A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on a Monday to rob them when they were counting the offering. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended instead, that she get a can of wasp spray instead.
They told her that the wasp spray can shoot up to 20 ft, while with pepper spray, the assailant has to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they can get to a hospital for an antidote. Now she keeps a can on her desk in her office. It doesn't attract attention the way a can of pepper spray can. She also keeps a can on her nightstand at home.
Interesting idea... don't you think?
This info was passed along to me by my Aunt Carol in Houston, TX.
 
Monthly Trivia-
Today is May 5th, the 125th day of 2010 (there are 240 days remaining). I'm sure you all know that today is Cinco de Mayo, (a BIG holiday for our friends south of the border), but did you also know that today is Project Aces Day?  Don't feel bad, I didn't know what that was either, but it turns out, it's an annual celebration of fitness culminating in "The World's Largest Exercise Class", which starts at 10am today. Sounds pretty cool. Evidently there will be children from all 50 states participating, as well as kids from 50 different countries!
And if you're in the mood for birthday cake, you might find some at the home of John Rhys-Davis. Who the heck is that you might ask? Well he's none other than Gimli from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy films. And if today is also YOUR birthday, here's a great big "Happy Birthday to YOU" from StudioKat Designs, and it today is not your birthday, you can celebrate the day anyway by joining the millions who will be exercising today at 10am, or maybe by simply shopping for a fun gift for the favorite Mom in your life (because Mother's Day is this Sunday). And in honor of all the mothers who read this newsletter, click here for a special tribute.
 
Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
Sewing Forever, Housework Whenever!
 
 
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StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com