StudioKat News                    June 2012
In This Issue-
Pickle Pie Designs
Susan Cranshaw Design
The Colletterie
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Join the conversation
on
 
 
Testimonial
of the Month
"Your newsletter is wonderful...full of fun info and I LOVE the videos of your grandson. Thanks for all of your work and a pleasant read every m month!"
Bobbie Greiner

HELLO and WELCOME- to another edition of the StudioKat Designs Newsletter!
 
It's been an exciting month here and I think you're REALLY going to enjoy this newsletter! Here's a few reasons why-
  1. We've found some super stuff at Spring Quilt Market to share with you.
  2. Our "Handbag of the Month" contest just got bigger and BETTER. (Check out the details below.)
But first, click here and let's get the ball rollin' with a super fun little video of my favorite little guy!

and as always, if you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter, please feel free to send them to me at info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
 
 
 
 "Handbag of the Month" Contest-
 
What could make our "Handbag of the Month contest even BETTER?
Better prizes (of course!) Beginning this month, the winner of our contest will get a $25 gift certificate, and ALL other entrants will receive a 20% discount coupon good any future purchase! 
.
Our May contest was fun wasn't it!
Our winner was Therese Karlsson of Hallsberg, Sweden. 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 delightfully girly Quattro.
 
The June contest promises to be exciting as usual AND it has a definite international flair!  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)

Mandy Mitchell of Great Britain has made several of our bags & says that the Baggalista may well be her favorite! She loved using the Soft & Stable as well as the multitudes of pockets. Mandy used my bloglink to locate this fabric because the UK doesn't have the fabric selection we enjoy here in the states. Here's the view from the back. Great job Mandy!
 
 
 
And this orientally-inspired Lollapalooza was created by Pauline Walters of New Zealand for her DIL. She basically followed the instructions in our Freeform Embellishing tutorial leaving room for the large center image. I think she did a great job!
She added that she enjoyed the process so much that she already has another in the works! Here's another view for you to consider.
 
 
 
 
Elaine Snyder of Silver City, NM used upholstery fabric samples to fashion this DittyRoo adding in a beautiful embroidered focal point. (from Birds & Blossoms by Joan Elliott).
 
 
And speaking of embroidery, Frances Ironmonger of Loganville, GA wanted to make a managrammed bag and thought that our Quattro had the perfect spot for it! She used a Friendship Square design from Embroidery Library to add her initial and this also gave her an opportunity to add the 2nd coordinating color! I love the result!
 
The anonymous creator of this Baggalista is from Australia. She did post a nice write-up about her experience on her blog though where she mentioned that she did have a bit of problem finding the Soft & Stable foundation material across the pond, but didn't it come out beautiful with her substitution? I love the dog motif she chose and here's a little peek at the back  
 
Michelle Flaugh of Florence, KY said that zippers doon't scare her a bit and that she was actually excited at the prospect of adding five to her Baggalista. She added that even though she's been making bags for years she really felt she was able to use her creativity with this particular bag. Michelle plans on trying the PortaPocketsPLUS for her next project after a little hand surgery. Good luck with that Michelle. We wish  you the best!  :)
 
 
 
Susanne Rodian of Stockhom, Sweden is the creative mind behind this simple and elegant Quattro. (and isn't it fab when the back is just as pretty as the front?)
Great job, Susanne!
 
 
 
 
And evidently Susanne (see above) enjoyed making her 1st Quattro so much, that she made a second with this adorable panda bear theme! Here's a peek at the back.
 
 
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
This month's posts were predominated with the doings before, during and after the International Spring Quilt Market. 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- Pickle Pie Designs

Pickle Pie Designs is a new North Carolinian business that is all about offering stylish, fun, and easy in-the-hoop embroidery designs! Their designs are made to stitch out perfectly and quickly, and the finished items you make are designed to look professionally made.
I really love the huge assortment of Zipper Bags & cases, and I'm also thinking that grandson of mine would love a couple of these Softies! Have fun shopping and don't forget t check out their FaceBook page and Blog while you're there!
 
 
'HOT'Links-of-the-Month'- 
      check out these terrific offers from our sponsors
All DunnDesigns.Com- Download Cushion Special
Material Girl Quilts-Kobayashi batik fabric- simply gorgeous!
 
Website Spotlite- Susan Cranshaw Design
Susan Cranshaw is a lifelong artist specializing in innovative applique designs with a southwestern flair. I fell iin love with her little Horned Toad design when I saw it in my booth on a beautiful vest. Check it out, aren't they adorable? You just use Susan's pattern and your own color palette and no two toads will be the same! Don't like toads? then maybe flowers, roadrunners or hummingbirds are more your speed. Take your time shopping and don't forget to take a look at Susan's Blog before you leave!
 
 
Video of the Month-
I've never had a lamb for a pet, but it they are THIS much fun, then maybe i need to get one! This little guy would keep me laughing ALL day! Click HERE to check it out!
 
Cat Picture of the Month-
 
 
Click image to see a larger view.
 
Cat Video of the Month-
Unbelievably, this oriental cat has learned to open the freezer door to retrieve his dinner! WOW! If only he's clean up after himself too, right? Click HERE to watch how he does it!
 
Blog of the Month- The Colletterie
This month's featured Blog is The Colletterie. It's written by Sarai Mitnick, the designer behind Collette Patterns and her design assistant, Caitlyn Clark and it features sewing tips, style advice and some amazing tutorials, like this one that features tips for taking better pictures of your projects!
 
 
Look What I Found OnLine- Protect Your Vision
 
 
With heavy computer use can come Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), which commonly results in symptoms such as eystrain, headaches, blurred vision and dry eyes. To help prevent these problems, take a look at this site. You can set up your choice of automatic sigmals to remind you to periodically take a break from the computer screen and rest your eyes.  :)
 
New Word of the Month- Smuffy  (smŭf'ē)
(adj.) Used to describe weather that is foggy, cloudy, smoggy, and other forms all combined yet with no precipitation despite the fact that it looks like it will rain at any moment. Often this weather form makes it hard to breath.
 
Cats in the News- Project Pet Slimdown
NEW YORK, NY - Think YOU have an unusual job? Well, Jordana Serebrenik may be New York City’s only for-hire pet-cat catcher. Her service, Catch Your Cat, Etc., does what it suggests: Ms. Serebrenik, will go to your home and corral your cat in situations when you cannot do so or prefer not to.
Click HERE to see a short video.
Click HERE to read the rest of the story.
 
 
 
 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
Click image to see a larger view.
 
Quilting Headlines- Angela Walters
KEARNEY, Mo. - When Angela Walters learned to quilt, she had no idea where it would lead. She bought a fancy machine and then started doing quilting for paying customers.It was traditional quilting, and she loved it. She got invited to a meeting of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild, and that was all it took.
Click HERE to read more.
 
 
Cat Site of the Month-  BloggingCat.com
 
 
This blogging cat lives in Alabama and has a pretty wry sense of humor that I think you'll like.
You can check out his blog by clicking HERE.
 
Monthly Trivia-
Today is Thursday, June 7, the 159th day of 2012. (There's 207 days remaining in this year.)
And for some reason, it seems that the men born on this day are destined to be VERY good looking. Just check out the evidence below;
Bear Grylls- 38, television personality and survivalist ("Man vs Wild"), born on Isle of Wight, UK.
Prince- 54, musician and singer ("Purple Rain"), born in Minneapolis, MN.
Liam Neeson- 60, actor ("Taken", Schindler's List") born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
Tom Jones- 66, singer, ("It's Not Unusual") born in Pontypridd, Wales, UK. It is my humble opinion that Tom Jones is STILL 'got it'. Even at his age, he's got a sex appeal that's hard to beat!  :)         Pretty fine looking group of men, no? 
And if today is also YOUR birthday, then 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 by listening to a little music (I recommend this one by Prince), or by taking in one of the movies listed above and hopefully you have a good lookin' guy or two (any age will do) to enjoy it with! 
 
* Please note- This issue completes our SIXTH newsletter year. So... beginning with our July issue we will be publishing our newsletter on the 8th of the month, so don't worry when the 7th rolls around and you don't see it in your mailbox!  :) 
 
Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
Sewing Forever, Housework Whenever!
 
 
Why Not Pass along the FUN?

It's never been easier to get your friends in on the FUN! If you enjoy this newsletter and want to forward a copy to a friend, you need only click on this link and enter their email address!  
 
  
 
Note to other webmasters: If you want to use an excerpt
from this newsletter in your publication, please ask me first.
 
StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com