StudioKat News                     April 2010
 In This Issue-
Introducing- the Carolina CarryAll
Junk Jeans People
Material Girl Quilt.Com
Crochet Baby Hats & Accessories
Homer's Odyssey- a great read!
Ecoist.Com 
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Hello and Welcome-
So I started working on this newsletter WAY earlier than usual, because I was afraid the birth of my grandson (due April 2) might make it difficult to finish on time... and i was right!
Enter Canaan Ray on March 21st, (almost 2 weeks early) and since then my concentration skills just haven't been quite up to par. I've allowed myself to be totally immersed in the gramma-thing, and I know I'm biased, but I've just got to say...
          "Isn't he just beautiful?"
OK- now that I've got that out of my system, let's to get back to reality...
So whatcha say? Shall we proceed?
If you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter, or if you just feel like telling us something, please feel free to do so at info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
 
 
Feline Quote for April-
Cats don't like change without their consent.   Roger Caras
 
Bobbin Around the Web- Junk Jeans People
Here's a fun idea and a good way to recycle all of those old pairs of blue jeans you probably have hangin' around the house! Now you can use your old jeans and Junk Jeans patterns to create new designed garments! All patterns are multi-sized with full size pattern pieces and detailed instructions. There's a nice variety of patterns to choose from and you can see them by clicking here. Or you can checkout the Junk Jeans Extreme Makeover Book which include tissue templates and instructions for 16 different items, including children's items.
 
 "Handbag of the Month" Gallery-
We've got a new format!
Now, all the voting takes place on our website, (not some other place in cyberspace). It's commercial free, and once you vote, you will see how the voting is going, by percentages. So, without further ado...
Check out these pics, all received in March, then cast a vote for your favorite. The entrant receiving the most votes at the end of the month wins a $20.00 SKD gift certificate & a permanent place of honor on our website. Patty Benzing of Mayfield, KY was the lucky winner in our March '10 Contest. Click here to see her winning entry, a magnificent Lollapalooza made in patterned batik with matching accessory items.
Think you've got what it takes to win?  
Come on! Join in on the FUN! 
    
To enter the"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 image to see a larger view!)
Betty at Fabric Buffet has entered this Lollapalooza which her sister Mary (of Glendale Heights, IL) made for her daughter. She calls it, quite appropriately, her 'Dancing with Horses' purse. The fabric is from Laurel Burch's collection and since it turned out so beautifully, Betty says that sh'es made up a few kits to sell. So if you like this look, you might check in at Fabric Buffet and get yourself a kit!
 
 
 
As unbelievable as it seems, Lisa Garner of Maricopa, AZ actually made up her own printed fabric for her Odyssey Bag, featuring her own dog! She wanted something special to carry to the dog show to cheer her favorite entrant on. She defintely gets a blue ribbon for this bag and lets hope her dog did too! Lisa's bag is just as pretty from the back, and the inside is beautiful too!
 
Renate Kelly of Ajax, Ontario is a long-time Scouter and made up this cool Roly-Nester for an upcoming scouting trip from leftover 'necker' fabric!
 
The special effects on the flap of this Apropos Pack are just stunning. Jane Harris of Canberra, Australia says that she used silk dupion for the bag and accomplished the smocking with shiny black thread and sparkling variegated beads. The result is breath-taking!  
 
Peg Rice of Westport Island, Maine is one of my faithful testers, and she fashioned this useful Encore Purse Insert to organize the interior of the Carolina CarryAll she created.
 
I really admire exquisite embroidery and this bag is so enhanced with the beautiful stitchery that Pat Leask of Munster, Ontario has added! Pat says that she 'mirrored' some of her favorite embroidery designs to make them the right size to fit on this Gadabout. I have no idea what this means (maybe some of your embroidery fans do?) but I do know that the result is phenomenal!
 
 
OK, ready to vote now?
Just click on the link below to cast your vote.
NEW THIS MONTH- Only one vote per MONTH, per email address is allowed.
 
    and come back next month to see who the winner is! 
 
Coming SOON at StudioKat Designs- The Carolina CarryAll
 
Everything is falling into place for the imminent release our new handbag pattern, the Carolina CarryAll. I think you'll agree that carrying it ALL has never looked THIS good! And, hidden between the exterior layers of this luxurious bag are TWO generously sized 'Secret Pockets' for those items you need at your fingertips. Click here for a peek INSIDE this bag, shown organized to perfection with an Encore Purse Insert. (Encore Insert pattern is purchased separately.)
And just in case you're interested in the sumptuous embroidery work on this sample bag, it's another beautiful design by SusaGlenn, (of course), and you can get mor info about it by clicking here.
The official debut will be in our next Newsletter on May 5th, and we're going to kick it off with a $2.00 off coupon campaign to celebrate, but here's the deal... the Carolina CarryAll will be "live" and available for purchase on our website on or about April 15th. So... if you're in a hurry, and don't want to wait for a coupon code, you can get a jump on everybody else by securing one of the first copies. It's your choice.
 
 
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 March, don't worry, they are all listed below. 
 
 
 
Cat video of the Month- Whack-A-Kitty
Please do not be misled by the title of this adorable video. You won't have to call the ASPCA after viewing it! It's very cute and I think you'll love it. Click HERE to view
 
Website Spotlite- Material Girl Quilt. Com
 
What's the next best thing to finding a great fabric store near your home? Finding a terrific fabric store ONLINE!
Material Girls has a great overall selection of fabrics PLUS an EXCELLENT group of ethnic prints from Australia, like this aboriginal fabric, and this fantastic print (which
I may actually use for my next bag!) from M&S Textiles. You'll also find a good grouping of African textiles, like
this one which I LOVE! You are only charged ACTUAL shipping charges, which is great and you can buy fabric in less than whole yard increments. Sound good to you?
 
SmileGram- Hello Neighbor
Now here's a neat little idea you might like to try! It's a free printable from Amanda Joy: a label you can stick on a box of goodies for your neighbors. What a sweet idea! I've given baked goods to new neighbors before, but I'm sure my presentation (a paper plate covered with tin foil) wasn't as friendly as this!
While you're there, check out the other cool things presented in Amanda's blog, like these humorous bathroom door graphics, (for those who are tired of answering the question, "Where's your bathroom?")
 
                                                                                         (Image from Joy Ever After)
 
A Cool Place to Shop- Crochet Baby Hats & Accessories
Surely it won't be a stretch for you to understand why I might have come across this VERY wonderful webstore called Cotton Blossoms. It features crocheted hats and accessories for children & babies that are just too cute to believe! I love this Easter hat. Aren't the ears fabulous? And what about this little Elfin hat? Most of these hats are made with cottom products and yes, custom orders are accepted!
 
A Good Read- Homer's Odyssey
  Homer's Odyssey was first recommended to me as a comment to the 1st Question of the Week, posted on the Kat Talk Forums and on my blog. It is the touching and inspiring story of a tough little 2-week old kitten who lost his eyes as a stray. He was adopted by Gwen Cooper (the author), who maintains that she learned more from the spunky little guy, than he ever learned from her. (Here's a little video where you can MEET Homer.) If you're a cat-lover, or even if you are not, you will love this sweet, true story of a cat who refused to bound by his limitations. Homer even has his own website now,where you can find out more about his book, Gwen, and see some cute pictures!
 
Video of the Month- A Pop Star in the Making!
As you might expect, I'm obcessed with 'baby' videos right now, and this is a good one. Click HERE to see a pop star in the making!
 
Blog of the Month- V & Co.
Vanessa Christenson is a stay-at-home mom of four and the writer of this blog. She has some absolutely wonderful tutorials here, so many in fact, that she has a special tutorial link. Most of the tutorials are available as pdf downloads. One of my favorites is this strawberry shortcake made completely from fabric. Isn't it fabulous? She also has some pretty interesting clothing, jewelry and homedecorating turorials!
                                                                                                      (Image from V & Co.)
 
Quote of the Month- 
"Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't.
 Richard Bach
 
Look What I Found OnLine- Trouble Typing?
Is your hunt-and-peck typing method amsing to your friends? Typing (or keyboarding) is an important skill, and this site helps you improve your speed and accuracy. When keybr.com loads you will be presented with the typing tutor. Initially it is 'paused'. Click on the pause button in the middle of the screen to start typing.
It will give you sample text or you can import Web content to practice on. With each session, you'll see your words-per-minute rate and number of mistakes. You can also view a chart showing your progress and see the letters that cause you the most trouble.
 
New Word of the Month- Permafix   (pûr'mə-fĭks)
(n.) To permanently fix computer issues of an incompetent user by ripping the power cord from the outlet and taking it, thus preventing future use of the computer.
 
Love Handbags?- Ecoist Bags
(I know we've featured this site before, but this site is so fascinating, and since there are a few new bags styles available now, we decided to spotlight it again.)
Ecoist handbags are made from recycled candy wrappers, food packages, soda labels, and other waste-bound materials. Here's how they do it! The result, is one-of-a-kind and limited collection handbags, like this new Cross-body bag, and this circular bag, aptly called, the Sunshine Bag.
And here's the deal, if you ever get sick of carrying your Ecoist handbag, you can send it back for disassembly or other reuses. At Ecoist, nothing goes to waste.
 
                                                                                                               Image from Ecoist.com
 
Sewing Tips- 
Leave a length of thread in a needle before storing it in a pincushion. You'll be able to see it more easily, and the needle will be less likely to slip inside the pincushion.
 
Did You Know?- that African elephants only have four teeth to chew their food with?
 
A Cool Internet Activity-Bad Credit Hotel
This site makes learning about credit fun with an interactive game set in the spooky, Bad Credit Hotel. The object of this game is to get to Room 850, representing a perfect credit score. (You can also simply view the information in standard website format, but it's not as much fun!) Either way, you'll find out how to manage your current devt (including a handy budget calculator), what you need to know about your credit history and credit score, and why having good credit is beneficial.
 
Question of the Month-
Why do they lock gas station bathrooms?      Are they afraid someone will clean them?
 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
 
 
This advertisement was sent to me by a loyal customer who prefers to remain nameless, from Pittsburgh, PA.
              (Click on the image to see the enlarged version!)
 
Talk to Me- Thanks to Judy Graf of Tyler TX, who sent me these outstanding pictures of 'cat storage' devises. I don't know where she got them, but I think they're hysterical. And the best part is, I actually think these are basically the SAME cats in all 4 pictures. They don't LOOK drugged... so how did they get them to do this???    (Click on each picture to view the larger version.)
 
Monthly Trivia-
Today is Monday, April 5th. It's the 95th day of 2010 and there are 210 days remaining. And it's not just any Monday. Today is EASTER Monday, and that means that the place to be today is in Washington, DC for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, traditionally held on the south lawn of the executive mansion. Did you know that the Easter Egg Roll is the only event where people get to walk across the meticulously tended South Lawn? 
But that's not the only event being celebrated today, because Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, Country-music legend Vince Gill, and pop-star Paula Cole were ALL born on this day. If they were celebrating their birthday together, wouldn't that be a WIERD party? Now worry, odds are that won't happen. But maybe it's YOUR birthday today too? If it is, here's a great big, 'Happy Birthday to YOU!' from StudioKat Designs. and if its not, you can have some fun anyway today, and here's my recommendation. RUN! Do NOT walk,  to your nearest theatre to see "How to Train Your Dragon!" (Warning: You might want to take a kid with you, so you don't stick out like a sore thumb.) My nephew & I went to see it on Friday and I just loved it! The various dragons were protrayed as having behaviors very similar to cats. (Maybe that why I liked it so much.) Whatever the reason, it's definitely worth full price, so don't miss it!
 
Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
Sewing Forever, Housework Whenever!
 
 
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StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com