August 2008
The StudioKat Designs
Newsletter ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
HELLO and
Welcome!-It's August & true to form, it's hot as blazes
here. But that's a perfect excuse to stay in the house where it's cool,
and
sew... and read a newsletter of course. I've got some fun stuff for you
today & a nice surprise, because today is the day that we are releasing
our
new design, the Harmony Handbag, so what cha say we get
started?!?
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/aug08.htm to see the online version of the
newsletter.
Feline Quote for August-
"The clever cat eats cheese & breathes down rat
holes with baited breath." W.C. Fields
New on my Website!-
Ray Martel of Advance, NC (otherwise known as my Dad), sent me this cute
little video of a
kitty boxer.
If you check out this month's issue (Sept 08) of Creative Machine
Embroidery, you'll notice that I'm finally a cover girl... well at
least my Gadabout Bag is! Rebecca Kemp Brent featured our pattern as she
created a gorgeous Indian-inspired bag that's perfect for
travel. Check out an excerpt from the article by clicking
here, or read the full story by picking up the magazine which is on
newstands NOW!
There's been a lot of jockeying for power during July for the throne of
"RolyNester Queen". On July 3rd, Karen Dishion of Fountain, CO knocked off
Deb Richey of Huntsville, AL when she made EIGHT
beautiful RolyNesters, all with fun & funky linings. Then on the 20th,
Sherry Ray of Daingerfield, TX returned the favor, with a complete set of
TEN Roly's. (The smallest item in the picture is a
lipstick to give perspective to the picture.) Sherry's set could even be
called "green", because all of them have
recycled zipper closures!
"Handbag of the Month"
Gallery-
I love seeing the beautiful handbags you all are creating, and I'll bet
you do too! It seems everyone is enjoying the new Handbag of the Month
contest, so jump right in & check out these pics, all received in July, &
then cast a vote for your favorite. The owner of the handbag receiving the
most votes at the end of the month wins a $10.00 SKD gift certificate.
Joan
O'Malley of Newton Falls, OH was our lucky winner in the July Handbag
Contest. Click here to see her winning
Odyssey backpack, which has also won a permanent place of honor
on our website!
And
now...Here's this month's entries:
Beginning with Rosemarie Nettle of Romulus, MI. Here is her
glitzy
Kizmet Klutch, which is sure to add a touch of glamour to any
outfit. Don't you agree?
Next we have a
show-stopping Harmony Handbag submitted by my most faithful of
testers, Peg Rice of Westport Island, ME. Peg always chooses such great
fabric combinations!
And here is a truly special Vervalise, which was made by
Susan
Flamey of Eureka Spring, Ark. I am so impressed by the way Susan matched
her bias tape to the pattern on the flap of her bag. It's extraordinary!
Here's a peek at the inside of her bag!
And last but not least, Sue Thomson of Dorset in the UK sent me
these extraordinary pictures of her incredible
Trifecta. (Click
here see the beautiful interior.) Sue embroidered her exterior with a Susa Glenn design that was developed especially for
the
Trifecta purse.
And last, but certainly not least, here's a sumptuous
Harmony Handbag sent in by another of my testers, Arlene Stream
of Loveland, CO.
OK, ready to vote now? It'll be a tough
choice, but just click on the link below to cast your vote. Only
one vote per day, per email address is allowed.
Come back next month to see who the winner is... or
better still...
Click to join the
StudioKatDesigns Chat Group!
Join the StudioKat Designs Chat Group at
Yahoo!We're experimenting with a new chat group for
those of you who want to give and receive feedback about the Handbag of
the
Month entries, or anything else you've made, even if it's from another
designers pattern! Any pictures you want to post will need to be
pre-approved for now, (don't those rediculous porn spammers make you
crazy?!?) but don't let that stop you from enjoying all the benefits of
enjoying the company of a whole bunch of like-minded new friends! Just
click here & you can get started!
New Product Spotlight- Bifocal
Sunglasses
My best friend Mary turned me on to this cool product, (not that I
would need these myself mind you... heh heh
heh). Isn't it annoying when you can't read with your
sunglasses on? Now you can turn your favorite pair of sunglasses into
reading glasses. No more wearing two pairs of glasses around your neck, or
even worse... on your face! These stick-on bi-focal lenses are easy to
applu to any style glasses with water. It's a GREAT solution to expensive
prescription bifocal sunglasses!
New at StudioKat
Designs- The
Harmony Handbag- our newest pattern!
We are excited to tell you that today we are releasing our newest pattern
in the Bags w/Panache Handbag Collection, the
Harmony Handbag. The Harmony is generously sized but
surprisingly lightweight. The unique interior features a
pocket cup that can accomodate a water bottle or umbrella. The
magnetic
snap closure secures your valuables while the
exterior zippered pocket provides quick access to critical items.
But here's the best part, many of you have requested that we design a bag
that can be used with your favorite pattern, the
PortaPockets Purse Insert, and the Harmony is designed
to
collaborate perfectly with the PortaPockets, transforming your bag
interior
from a jumbled mess to organized perfection.
The Harmony retails for $12.00 but from now thru Aug 31st, you can
take advantage of a special $2.00 off coupon we are making available to
our
loyal newsletter readers. To redeem your coupon, simply type SKD19
in the coupon code box at checkout when you shop online, or write the
word SKD19 on your check when you order by snail mail, or mention
this offer when ordering by phone.
So order your Harmony Handbag today, the only handbag designed to
work in perfect harmony with your
PortaPockets Insert!
Get your FREE pattern!
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a yummy (and FREE) cupcake pattern download
made available to you from our friends at the FabShop Network, in honor of
National Cupcake Day (which is right around the corner). Just click here
to download your free pattern.
Quotation of the
Month-"A new government study has found that the
average
American car weighs 500 pounds more than it did ten years ago. However,
this is only true if the average American is sitting in the car!" Conan
O'Brien
Your cat might own you
if... you microwave his food... worse yet, if you make
it from scratch!
Surf HERE for Neat INFO!- The Maze
Craze
It may sound corny, but making your way through a corn maze can be a
wonderful bonding moment for families. This increasingly popular form of
agri-entertainment is spreading across the globe, so chances are good that
there's one near you. To find a corn maze this fall, check your local
newspapers or better still, click here
for an online list which contains listings for nearly 200 locations in
five countries, as well as
helpful tips on how to conquer the twists and turns to make your way
to
the exit.
New Word of the
Month-Alpopuck An empty dish pushed around the
kitchen floor by a dog trying to get the last morsel.
Love Handbags?-
Elaine Allerton- felted textiles & accessories
Check out this website & you'll see some
stunningly beautiful handbags, sure to attract compliments & attention
on your special occasion days. I love the fact that many of these bags
feature detachable & interchangeable corsages. My favorite is the
"Absolute
Essentials" bag. Which one is yours? I also love the luxurious
brushed mohair scarves. Pick the woll color that best matches your
style!
"Catsite" of the Month- NJ Fat Cat Hits the Talk Show Circuit
For all of those who think my Jeter is a fat cat, please check this out
this story sent in by alert reader Erica Lineberry of Raleigh, NC (my
sweet
daughter!). Recently, a 44-pound cat was found lumbering the
streets
of New Jersey, seemingly homeless. Camden shelter director Jennifer
Anderch
says an older woman who recently lost her home came forward saying she
abandoned the tubby tabby because her house was foreclosed. The shelter
has
been caring for the cat - who became a local media sensation this week and
was dubbed "Princess Chunk"! Upon closer examination, this princess is
actually a prince, and you can see a picture of Him by clicking here.
Sewing Tip of the Month-
Stitch your machine's decorative stitches onto a piece of fabric & you
will always have a ready reference of how each design actually looks when
it's stitched out.
Did You Know?- More
people study English in China, that speak it in the U.S.
Surf here for FUN- Wonderful World of
Watermelon
Nothing goes over better at a picnic than a big, juicy slice of
watermelon. Not only is watermelon delicious, it's also versatile,
nutritious and relatively inexpensive. The National Watermelon Promotion Board website offers
great recipes,
carving tips, games & activites for kids, and fun ideas on how to make
watermelon part of a
healthy diet.
Laugh
Lines- thanks to Judi Graf of Tyler, TX for sending me
this cute little joke.
Johnny's mother looked out the window & noticed him 'playing church' with
their cat. He had the cat sitting quietly & he was preaching to it. She
smiled & went about her work. A while later she heard loud meowing &
hissing and ran back to the open window to see Johnny baptizing the cat in
a tub of water. She called out,'Johnny, stop that! The cat is afraid of
water!' Johnny looked up at her & said 'He should have thought about that
before he joined my church!'
A Cool Internet Activity-
The Road Best Traveled
Let's face it, vacations are expensive, and lots of Americans won't get to
take one this year. This summer, consider making a car trip that's more
about the road itself rather than the final destination. Selected roads
throughout the U.S. have been designated America's Byways, based on
natural, historic, or cultural qualities. No two are the same, yet all
reflect something uniquely American. The National Scenic Byways Program
website provides maps & directions, ideas on stops to make, photos,
visitor
informations, & links to related travel sites.
Question of the
Month-
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons???
Monthly
Trivia-
It's my bet that you may not know that August is "Happiness Happens
Month", so named by the Secret
Society of Happy People to remind us that despite global & personal
chaos, happiness still happens. The society's goal is to recognize &
express happiness, & also to quit raining on other people's parades.
If being happy is a learned behavior, (and I'm increasingly convinced that
it is), then many of us would do well to take steps to 'unlearn' it, & this website is a good place
to start. For example, I was delighted to learn that there are 31
different
types of happiness. Click here
to
download a fun word-find puzzle that uses all of them.
Pitcher Roger Clemens is probably a happy guy today, since today
is his 46th birthday, as is NASCAR driver Jeff
Gordon, and actor Billy
Bob Thornton, who won an Oscar for his role in SlingBlade, (a
movie that my husband thinks is hysterical, but I've never quite
understood). And if today is your birthday as well, 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 doing a puzzle,
watching a baseball game, taking in a NASCAR race, or maybe by simply
ordering a nice big plate of 'french fried taters', which of course are
best eaten while watching SlingBlade. On second thought, and in
view
of the fact that we want to make 'happiness happen' this month, I think
you'll enjoy those taters a lot more by sharing them with a friend and
skipping the movie!
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. Better still, why not let your friends know that
they can sign up for the newsletter themselves at http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/newsletter.htm? (Note
to other webmasters:)Authorship credit is the only payment I receive
for this endeavor, so if you want to use an excerpt from this
newsletter in your publication, please ask me first.
HotLinks- (in order
of appearance)
StudioKat Designs August 08 Newsletter ONLINE:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/aug08.htm
NEW on my Website:
A Kitty Boxer Video:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/BoxingFan.wmv
CME Cover (Sept 08):
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/CMEcoverSept08.jpg
CME Excerpt (Sept
08): http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/CMEstorySept08.jpg
Deb Richey's EIGHT
RolyNesters: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/queen2.jpg
Sherry Ray's TEN
RolyNesters lined-up: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/sherrynestersclosed.jpg
Sherry Ray's TEN
RolyNesters nested:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/sherrynestersopen.jpg
Handbag of the Month Gallery:
StudioKat Designs
Handbag Gallery: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/winfreestuff.htm
Joan's winning
Odyssey from last month (July):
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/poll19.jpg
Rosemarie's glitzy
Kizmet Klutch: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/poll21.jpg
Peg's show-stopping
Harmony Handbag:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/poll22.jpg
Susan's special
Vervalise: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/poll23.jpg
Sue's incredible
Trifecta: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/poll24.jpg
Susa Glenn's
Trifecta embroidery design:
http://www.susaglenndesigns.com/Glories_Dragonfly_Embroidery_p/30100.htm
Cast YOUR Vote:
http://pub43.bravenet.com/vote/vote.php?usernum=3657359974&cpv=2
Join the StudioKatDesigns Chat Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/studiokatdesigns/join
NEW Product Spotlight:
http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/bf34.html#
My Newest Design:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/harmony.htm
the Harmony
Handbag: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/smhydrafront2.jpg
interior view, water
bottle in pocket cup:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/smfoliagepocketcup.jpg
PortaPockets Purse
Insert: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/portapockets.htm
Interior closeup
w/PortaPockets in place:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/smfoliageint.jpg
Harmony&
PortaPockets, the perfect duo:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/smfoliageduo.jpg
FREE CupCake Quilt pattern:
http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/cupcake.pdf
The Maze Craze:
http://www.cornfieldmaze.com
corn maze locations:
http://www.cornfieldmaze.com/site_list.html
corn maze tips:
http://www.cornfieldmaze.com/visit_howtoconquer.html
Elaine Allerton:
http://www.handmadesussexhandbags.co.uk/default.aspx
beautiful handbags:
http://www.handmadesussexhandbags.co.uk/products.aspx
luxurious scarves:
http://www.handmadesussexhandbags.co.uk/scarves.aspx
NJ Fat Cat Story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/31/national/main4311445.shtml?source=search_story
Wonderful Worlf of Watermelon:
http://www.watermelon.org
great recipes:
http://www.watermelon.org/watermelon_recipe.asp
carving tips:
http://www.watermelon.org/watermelon_carving.asp
games & activities:
http://www.watermelon.org/kids_games.asp
healthy diet:
http://www.watermelon.org/kids_ideas.asp
America's National Byways: http://www.byways.org
Secret Society of Happy People: http://www.sohp.com
31 types of happiness
(a puzzle): http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/Puzzle.doc
Roger Clemens:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Clemens
Jeff Gordon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Gordon
Billy Bob Thornton:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bob_Thornton
Sign up for Studiokat Designs Newsletter:
www.studiokatdesigns.com/newsletter.htm
StudioKat Designs *
137 S. Hemingway Ct., * Advance, NC * 27006 * (336)416-1799 * toll-free at 1-866-409-8634 *
info@studiokatdesigns.com www.StudioKatDesigns.com
All
logos,graphics,text, designs & images are copyright protected
and the property of StudioKat Designs © 2008 StudioKat Designs
| Home |
Links |
Site Map |
Email Me |
Press |
Contests |
Q & A |
| Download a Color
Brochure |
|