StudioKat News                      July 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

Sneek-a-Peek at our new bag!
Kaye Wood.Com
Highlights from our Blog
Quilting Gallery.com
NEW Feature- Blog of the Month
View the NEW You!
Haven Designs
 
Newsletter Sponsors
 
 
 
 

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Join the StudioKat Designs Chat group!

 
With Us!
 
Kathy Southern's Facebook profile
 
 
Hello and Welcome-
I began writing this newsletter 4 years ago in July of 2005, so it's only fitting that we launch this brand-new format with this month's edition. I have resisted using a template format such as this, mainly because of that little voice in my head saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!", but I think the time has come. I hope you enjoy the new look, but of course I worry that there may be a few of you who cannot view the new format in your inbox, so if that is so, simply click on this big purple button below to view it in your browser.
So whatcha say? Shall we proceed?
If you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter or this new format, please feel free to let us know at info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
  If you're having trouble reading this email- Click HERE for the web version
 
Feline Quote for July-
"Artists are like cats, soldiers are like dogs".  Desmond Morris
 
New on my Website- Sneek a Peek!
Since I am not a big fan of this North Carolina heat & humidity, & since this spring it seems that's all we're going to get, I've been spending all of my time indoors slaving working feverishly on my new handbag design which I hope to release in time for Fall Market in Houston. I've been blogging about it, but just in case you haven't heard, you can get a sneek peek of it by clicking here. It's the largest bag I've created so far, and it's designed to work perfectly with the Encore Purse Insert. By the time you read this, I hope to all the draft items in the hands of the testers, so watch for more info & many more pictures in August's newsletter.
 
Website Spotlight-Kaye Wood.com
 
You've seen them on TV! You've seen them on the internet! Now you can get them in your mailbox every week! Quilting tips & techniques, advance notice of new products, weekly & monthly sales, special deals & free projects. Literally TONS of information at your fingertips AND in your email box! Just click HERE to join the fun!  
 
 "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 our"Handbag of the Month" contest, so jump right in & check out these pics, all received in June, & 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. Rose Marie Nettle of Romulus, MI was our lucky winner in the June 09 Handbag Contest. Click here to see her winning Bellagio Bag, which has also won a permanent place of honor on our website! 
   So...here's this month's entries (and they are FABULOUS!) 
  • Christine Gannage of Los Osos, CA sent in a picture of the Odyssey Backpack she made for her trip to Hawaii. She said she loved traveling hands-free & that she received compliments on her bag, virtually everywhere she went!
  • Roxane Murray absolutely LOVES her Vervalise. She made her bag with a covered strap and a totally unique pin-weaved flap that's to die for!
  • And nobody's been busier than Mandy Hall of Great Britain. Here's her 2nd Boho Baguette, which includes elasticized ties instead of the normal cotton cords. And this beautiful pair of Kizmet Klutches were done in gold-threaded upholstery fabric. And last, but certainly not least, here's Mandy's versatile PortaPocket Purse Insert.
  • I know the folks in Sydney, Australia must all be impressed with Jenny Durey's striking Trifecta. She's the person I know that piped all of the seams of her Trifecta, and what a beautiful she did! And of course she 'just had to " put embroideries on the front and the back!
  • Judy Dove of Wickham Bishops, Great Britain, had a blast making her 1st Boho Baguette. Judy added embroidery from the Urban Boho collection by AnitaGoodesign, to both the front and back of her bag. Here's a closeup for your enjoyment!
  • Peg Rice of Westport Island, ME is at it again! THIS time she whipped up a nifty Gadabout/PortaPocket Insert combo. I wonder WHO will be the lucky recipient THIS time?
 OK, ready to vote now? Just click on the link below to cast your vote.
Only one vote per day, per email address is allowed.
 
    and come back next month to see who the winner is! 
 
Blog with us!-  In a StudioKat's Day

                                           

Do You think you've got what it takes to be a designer? Would you enjoy seeing what happens behind the scenes as new patterns are developed? You can enjoy an insider's scoop on what's happening "In a StudioKat's Day", by signing up for our new blog! And don't worry, you can catch right up with everyone else by clicking on individual "Purse Evolution" entries listed on the right.

 

 
 

 

Here's the entries from June,
just in case  you missed an installment
 
 
June 5-  Bunnicula Lives
 
Bobbin Around the Web- Quilting Gallery.Com
  I found out about the Quilting Gallery while in Pittsburgh at Market this Spring! It's a really cool site that features tons of free patterns, tutorials, tips & techniques, videos, guest bloggers, swaps, contests, and weekly Friday Give-aways....  PLUS- Check out the Quilting Bloggers Directory with more than 3000 quilters from around the world. It's also home to the new Quilt Shop Locator, a unique way to find quilt shops worldwide!
 
Quotation of the Month-
"Sandwich every bit of criticism between two thick layers of praise."  Mary Kay Ash
 
It seems no matter what we do right now, we're surrounded by bad news. Radio, TV, newspapers... it seems there's no getting away from it. I try real hard to not worry about things I cannot control, but it sure is difficult if you watch the news, or read the paper. Maybe that's why I've quit reading the newsaper with my morning cereal, in favor of a few blogs I've come to enjoy. Nothing like a witty little story or a well-thought out essay to get your mind off the crummy stuff that seems to be happening everywhere. If you feel the same way, then I think you'll enjoy a new feature we're starting this month... The Blog of the Month. Watch for a new Blog feature every month, in hopes of giving you a positive thought to ponder, an alternative viewpoint to consider, or an interesting topic to discuss with family or friends. 
 
This month we are featuring the writing of Erica Lineberry of Raleigh, NC ,otherwise known as my daughter. In particular you might enjoy Erica's recent entry, Good Marraige Bars, a unique & very witty recipe for granola bars (with a twist). Enjoy!
 
Surf HERE for Neat Info- View the New You!
Ever wonder what you would look like if you lost those extra pounds? Now you don't have to wait for it to happen to find out! The WeightView site allows you to upload a photo of yourself & specify how much weight you'd like to lose, then sends you back an image of you at your target weight. You can use this image to motivate yourself to stay proactive about your goals. Check out the blog for additional support & the  Results Gallery to see a few of example photographs
 
New Word of the Month-  Fryfugee
A French fry found loose in the bottom of a fast food bag
 
Your Cat might Own you if...
your cat eats out of crystal stemware because you both watched the same commercial on TV!
 
Love Handbags?- Haven Designs
If you're looking for an unusual gift for a hard-to-shop-for person, try this little online shop on for size! Besides great gifts for catlovers, there's some interesting custom photo gifts, such as cosmetic cases , and handbags & totebags!
 
Did You Know?-
The Saguaro Cactus does not grow branches until it is ~75 yrs old.
 
Surf Here for FUN!- Instructables
Go here to learn how to do just about anything better! The site features instructions for do-it-yourself projects in a wide variety of categories such as crafts, gardening, music, pets, & technology. User-freindly videos & photographs guide you through the projects, and user comments offer first-hand accounts of what it's like to work on them.
 
Laugh Lines-
"President Obama is proposing a new national healthcare plan that's both inexpensive and accessible... He's calling it "Have Your Surgery in Mexico".   Jimmy Fallon
 
Talk to Me- The Quest for Tim-Tams
Last month I mentioned that I was given some wonderful cookies by my Australian friends at Market in Pittsburgh and thanks to a couple of alert readers, I now know where I can buy them in this country! Thanks to Linda Hulen, who recommended I check out the  About Australia Shop in San Antonio, TX, and to Dayna Lipkin, who passed along the link for this online-store in San Jose, CA! Dayne said they were a favorite of hers too! Try 'em!
 
 
Monthly Trivia-
Believe it or not, July is known for a few other things than parades & fireworks! For example- did you know that July is National Blueberry Month? This is the peak of the season, so head to the store and check out the great values on fresh blueberries, or better yet, pack up the family and head out to the nearest u-pick farm! And if you're into fashion history, you might want to know that it was on this day in 1946 that the bikini was first introduced at a fashion show in Paris by Louis Reard. Mr. Reard evidently had a hard time finding a model who was daring enough to wear his design, which had a g-string back!
And if you happen to be invited to Huey Lewis's place for a picnic this weekend, be advised they'll probably be serving cake, since it's his 59th birthday today. he shares his special day with Robbie Robertson, lead guitarist for what is absolutely my favorite band from the 60's and 70's, hamed appropriately, The Band. (I literally wore the grooves off of my "Music with Big Pink" album!) 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 anyway by diving into a great big mess of blueberries... and hey... I wonder how they would go with Tim-Tams?

 

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:)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.
 
StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com