"Kat Bytes"
the monthly newsletter of
StudioKat Designs
Issue #147
October 2017
 
Hello and welcome!
I am writing this intro having just arrived home from a relaxing 2-week vacation in the Canadian Maritimes. It's been a long time since we've been able to get away just for fun and we thoroughly enjoyed it but now that we're home we better hit the ground running because in just 2 short weeks from today we need to be in Houston TX setting up our booth for the Fall Quilt Market! YIKES!
So we better get working and we'll catch up to  you at the end of this month's edition of "Kat Bytes".

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"Handbag of the Month" Gallery
Congratulations to Cecile Ellis of Shiner, TX!
Cecile's "Quattro" was the winner of our September 2017 "Handbag of the Month" contest. She wins a $25.00 SKD virtual gift certificate PLUS a permanent place of honor in our Handbag Gallery & just click HERE to see her beautiful entry!
BUT...here's the deal...
We're doing a little something different this month!
Since I'll be away from my studio for almost the entirety of October thru Nov 8th, it's really not advisable for us to conduct our usual monthly contest but... that doesn't mean we can't have FUN anyway!
Pictured below are my 12 "Alltime FAVORITE Customer-Made Bags" & I thought it might be fun to see which of MY favorites was actually YOUR favorite, so whenever youre ready, scroll down to check 'em out then vote for your favorite.
(For LARGER images: Click on each individual pic)
 
 Rose Marie Nettles created this Bellagio Bag & I love it as much today as I did then! She did a wonderful job choosing fabrics & her construction appears to be flawless, PLUS she photographed it beautifully!
 
I loved the unique texture of this fabric & what it does for our our Uptown Saddlebag design! Sylvia Gerber did a super job capturing it in this photo & I'm thinking she’s having a fun carrying it too!
I fell in love with this Tandem Tote (created by Anna Lankeshofer) who documented her experience making this bag for on  Pattern Review. She did a fantastic job on the fussy-cutting too!
 
Here’s Pat Leask again, but this time she created my favorite customer-made Porta-PocketsPLUS Purse Insert! Love the fabrics she chose and she did a GREAT job on the make!
I was totally won over by MaryAnn Merryman's Gadabout because this is literally some of the best embroidery I’ve ever seen! I love the whole look...  the denim, the red trim & to top it all off, she photographed it beautifully.
 
This Cosmo Convertible was created by Beth Revere as part of the very 1st testing round Beth took part in. I loved the whole overall look Beth created here & she photographed it in such a unique and complimentary way!
Pat Leask did such a really terrific job of choosing the fabrics for this impressive Baggalista. The 3 prints combine for an understated yet elegant exterior & the picture's pretty great too!
 
I still love the classic look of this Wrapsody created by Lies Varkevisser. The fabrication was an unusual pick and the binding Lies chose was just perfect for it! And the location she chose for the picture was just right as well.
Diane Rhodes is a master of using color gradations as an embellishment technique & she definitely used it to best advantage in this Baggalista . I always look forward to seeing the bags Diane makes!
 
And here’s a Triple Play that totally had it ALL in my book! Suzie Tate planned & fussy-cut the exterior perfectly & it was expertly sewn together as well! 
 
And here we have an entry by the “Queen of the
Quattro
s”, Cheryl Maass.  I actually had a hard time choosing which of her Quattros I loved best & finally chose this one due to the unusual & brave fabrication combination.
 
I loved Beth Revere's “newsprint” version of our Everyday  Attache which she created during the testing phase for this design. As usual, Beth did a very excellent job on the make & the photo she took was thoughtfully planned & executed!
(For LARGER images: Click on each individual pic)
  OK, ready to vote now?
 (Only one vote per MONTH, per email address.)
  
 
Trending on our Website this Month-
Just in case you missed any of our posts this past month, you can easily catch up to the rest us because they're ALL listed below!
And now... Check out thie "Oldie but Goodie" from our Archives
5/17/14-Will Purse Magnets Damage My Credit Cards? here's the surprising truth!
 
TWO for your Viewing Pleasure-
 
This cat decided to take matters into his own paws when he wanted a new toy to play with!
Click image or HERE to watch this video.
 
 
This little Westie loves to swim!
Click image or HERE to watch this video.
 
This tutorial shows you how to make this adorable (and reversible) baby hat with a chin strap. Baby won’t be able to pull it off, keeping them nice and warm when going out into the cold! And an added bonus: You'll also get tips on how to work with cuddle fabric (great for people who haven’t worked with it before).
 
 
Quote of the Month-
 
 
Click image or HERE for a larger view of this Jenny Doan quote.
 
Sick of a friend’s non-stop vacation photos? Bored of hearing about some business Page’s big launch? One of your groups won’t shut up about their upcoming get-together? Now Facebook has a Snooze button that lets you temporarily unfollow friends, Pages or Groups for 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days. Click HERE to read more.
 
 
As Funny As Real Life-
 
 
Hope you like this one as much as I do!
Click image or HERE for a larger view.
 
Increase Your Vocabulary- Stashcovery
 
 
See if you can guess at the meaning of this word,
then click image or HERE to see if you were right!
 
If you have a late-night hankering for some felty gefilte fish or a bottle of fermented fabric, be sure to stop by 8 ‘Til Late, the newest temporary installation by British artist Lucy Sparrow known for her felt recreations of everyday objects. Located in Manhattan, the bodega is filled from floor to ceiling with thousands of objects you might find at a typical corner store - all made from felt and a bit of paint. And just like a real store, every last thing is for sale!
Click HERE to read more!
 
 
 
Classified Ads
Unique patterns for purses, garments, dolls and crafts. Instructional DVD's and 60" wide fusible interfacing.  
 Visit All Dunn Designs
 
Interested in advertising in our newsletter?  Click HERE to find out more!
 
Featured Product of the Month - the Boho Baguette Pattern
 
This month we're featuring our Boho Baguette pattern, which is still one of my personal favorites as an everyday bag! The Boho Baguette features a magnetic-snap closure, a zippered back pocket and two interior slip pockets. I like it because its soft against the body and very lightweight! To find out more and see many more pictures just click HERE.
Just use discount code FPoct17 to get $2.50 off the retail price of either the stand-along pattern OR the "pattern + build-a-notions Kit" for the Boho Baguette!
(Coupon code cannot be used in combination with any other discount offer.)
(Discount offer expires at midnight on 10/31/17 EST)
 
 
 
Come See Us at a SHOW!
 
Our Upcoming Show Schedule is as follows:
 
International Fall Quilt Market- Oct 28-30, 2017 - Houston, TX
International Quilt Festival- Nov 2-5, 2017-  Houston TX
Road to California 2018 - Jan 18-21, 2018  - Ontario, CA
AQS Quiltweek Paducah - Apr 18-21, 2018 - Paducah, KY
AQS Quiltweek Virginia Beach- Oct 3-6, 2018 - Virginia Beach , VA
 
 
So... thanks for reading our newsletter!
 
If you liked it, why not forward it to a friend? or email me some love? And if you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here to get it in your Inbox next month! So bye for now and until next month (on the 13th)! 
StudioKat Designs, Inc.,     1-866-409-8634,    www.studiokatdesigns.com