"Kat Bytes"          DEC'13
an e-letter from StudioKat Designs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Testimonial
of the Month
"I just completed the Uptown Saddlebag and I have to say it is one of the best executed bag patterns I have ever used! Your tutorial helps were super!"
Margaret Berg
Australia
Merry Christmas from StudioKat Designs!
So... Christmas is around the corner and I don't know about you, but it has REALLY snuck up on me this year (for a variety of reasons).
Special features in this issue of "Kat Bytes" include: 
  1. a visit to the websites of our neighbors from this Fall's Quilt Market & Festival,
  2.  an announcement about another StudioKat bag pattern we're retiring (at a deep discount price),
  3. a pattern discount code you can use to jump-start your new year with, and LOTS more!
So... Shall we get started?
 
If you have comments or suggestions about our Newsletter, please feel free to do so at info@studiokatdesigns.com
 
 
 
Can't see the pictures?
 
 
 "Handbag of the Month" Gallery-
Congratulations to Shannon Maciejewski of Almost, MI who was the winner of our November Handbag of the Month contest! She wins a $25.00 SKD gift certificate and a permanent place of honor on our website. Click here to see her peacock-themed Quattro!
 
And now for one of the most competitive contests of the year! It's time for the 4th Annual "Battle of the 2nd Place Finishers". Every single one of these bags came in 2nd in their respective contest, so without further adieu, check out this month's nominees, and give one of these worthy wonders a 2nd chance to be the WINNER! 

(Click each individual picture for a larger view)
 
January 2013
June Guske of Queensland, Australia decided to make up this Quattro as a challenge to herself. It's bright and cheerful and I would love to carry it, wouldn't you? June says that she lined it in yellow to go with the bright theme of the pattern!
 
 
 
 
February 2013
Helle Houlby of Denmark fashioned a special embroidery motif especially for the front of her Quattro! She said it involved over 30,000 stitches and 15 color shifts and I think it's just spectacular! Click here to see a close-up!

March 2013
Lucille Burgess of Chester, CA said she found the main fabric for this Lollapalooza at a home decorating store in Reno & combined it with the brown suede cloth print for this ingenious combo look! (Here's a great side view.) Lucille also made the complimentary beads which match so perfectly and added that although her fabric choices made the construction a bit challenging, she has truly enjoyed carrying it.
 
 
April 2013
T. Maenad Widdershins of Normandy Park, WA embroidered a window to adorn the front pouch of her Quattro. (Here's a little closeup of her trapunto piece.) She was so pleased with how it came out that it made her a little sad since this piece was actually made to be sold at auction. I'm thinking it fetched a good price, no?
 
May 2013
And this bright & beautiful Encore purse insert is efficiently organizing a living-room "nest" area. Tamsyn Mihalus of E Lansing, MI says it's perfect for storing her chair-side essentials for sewing, knitting & crocheting.   Here's the back.
 
 
June 2013
Ann Michel of Winston-Salem, NC said the inspiration for this flower & lace Quattro was actually our April HOM contest! She was making a lace jacket for an upcoming cruise & decided to make a matching bag for the trip. She loves a lot of pockets & a layered look and the Quattro has both! Here's a closeup of the embroidered front and the back!  Bon Voyage Ann!
 
July 2013
Mandy Lapsley of Upper Hutt, New Zealand also fashioned this Baggalista all from leftovers in her stash! I LOVE all the cat fabrics she used. Even the black background fabric has grey cats on it, and the pop of orange in the lining gives this bag such a happy feel!
 
 
August 2013
And I'm thinking that Melinda Nixon of Springport, IN is a coffee-lover! I love that she ALSO made a matching Porta-Pockets purse insert (above) to go with her Guardian, as well as a Cash-Keeper! GREAT job Melinda!
 
 
September 2013
And there's something about Louella Wilkin's Quattro that just makes me smile. Something tells me she's easy to spot in her hometown of Hampden, ME.
 
 
 
October 2013
First up we have this black & white Uptown Saddlebag, and since I'm all about black & white accessories, this bag really speaks to that sensibility. It was created by Andrea Smith of Austin, TX. She incorporated a chain strap so she could move it from bag-to-bag, which is a terrific idea!
 
 
 
November 2013
This divinely neutral Uptown Saddlebag created by    Daren Whitehorn oof Albuquerque, NM. This bag features two separate, full-length storage areas.
 
 
 
 
OK, ready to vote now?
 Only one vote per MONTH, per email address.
    
Now it's YOUR turn 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
Enjoy an insider's scoop on 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 last month, don't worry, they're all listed below. 
 
 
 
A Holiday Gift From Us to YOU! - A Pattern Discount Code
 
You know we could never let Christmas go by with leaving a gift for YOU under the Christmas tree!
This year we're giving you a discount coupon good for 25% off your pattern order. It's the perfect way to give yourself the gift of creativity for the New Year!
Just use the discount code MERRY14 between now and 12/25!
 
Discount code cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount offer and may be applied to our regular line of handbag patterns only (retired patterns, notions, kits and e-products are excluded from this offer.)
 
Bobbin Around the Web- Spring Creek NeedleArt Patterns
 
This year, we were fortunate enough to have Spring Creek NeedleArt Patterns as our "back door" neighbor for both the Quilt Market AND the Quilt Festival! Here's Nancy Richoux (owner & designer) standing by one of her newest creations, "Just Trucks". All of Nancy's creations are just TOO cute, but since I'm an animal nut, I'm partial to her "Zany Zoo Faces" pattern and if you're looking for something for yourself or another adult on your list, check out her "Quilter's Advent Tree" pattern. And while there, you might also think about "liking" her FaceBook page.
 
Newly Retired at SKD- the Presto Purse
 
If you're a subscriber, then you know that earlier this year we  retired FIVE of our older patterns. And here we are again, ready to retire one of our old standbys, the Presto Purse.
 
If you've never made this bag before, now might be the perfect time to try it, since now you can pick it up for the delicious discount price of $6.00!
 
Just click HERE to be see more pictures and details, or HERE to see it and the rest of our retirees!
 
 
'HOT'Links-of-the-Month'- check out these GREAT offers from our sponsors
All DunnDesigns.Com- Use discount code KAT2 and get 10% off your order
Immedia Print- We print patterns and MUCH MORE! Click here to see our various services
PursePatterns.Com- Click HERE to check out this month's pattern bargains!
Material Girl Quilts- I love this panel-print by Stephanie Brandenburg!
TrishStuartDesigns- Click HERE to check out Trish's FaceBook Page
Two Sisters Quilting- This fabric would make a GReAT bag border!
Farm fresh Fabrics- Click HERE and use discount code SKD to get 10% off your ENTIRE order. 
 
Website Spotlite- Kaleidoscope Collections
Our "across-the-street" neighbors at both Market AND Festival were Jeanie & Ramon Ajero of Kaleidoscope Collections. This is not the 1st time we were positioned across from Jeanie & Ramon, and this time it was no less fascinating! I love watching all the marvelous ways their software can be used to manipulate pictures into beautiful quilted items! The Kaleidoscope software can also be used in Scrapbooking, CardMaking and Paper Crafting and can you just image one of these creations on the front of one of our bags?  
 
Video of the Month- Old Tech vs New
Joel Appleman was driving to work in Central Pennsylvania when he came upon an Amish horse team pulling a tanker truck safely out of the snow. Fortunately, he had his camera and captured the conquest of old technology over new.
 
 
Mary Corbet has archived sewing articles primarily on hand-embroidery going back to 2006.  Take some time and browse through her stash.  She has videos of various embroidery stitches, as well as a tips & techniques page, so if you have a pattern that calls for a certain stitch that you don’t know how to do, this is a great resource.
 
 
Quote of the Month- 
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marktwain122862.html#gT6taDau7yX3EXpf.99
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marktwain122862.html#gT6taDau7yX3EXpf.99
"              
      Mark Twain
 
Cat Video of the Month- Kitten vs Iguana
This is currently one of my FAVORITE cat videos. It's a classic case of OVER-reacting! The stars are one crazy kitten and a befuddled iguana! Click HERE to watch.
 
Web Spotlight 2- Puffin & Company
 
r
Diane Zelinsky & her sister Linda were our "caddy-corner" neighbors at Market and they have some very unusual products! From their one of a kind Puffin Craft Strand Separator to their beautiful Counting Pins, Puffin & Co merges the art of crafting, the beauty of nature and the benefits of innovation to provide you the best in needlework, knitting & quilting tools. (The Scissor Leashes are a favorite of mine!) And just in case you're wondering how in the world that Strand Deparator works, check out this video!
 
 
Crafty Tutorial of the Month- Quilted Ironing Board Cover
 
Time to clean up and revamp your tired ironing board?
You can brighten your ironing station with a quilted cover for your board. This cover is created with a mixture of herringbone and strip and scrappy squares techniques. Beginner level.  Fits a 13″ x 41″ board, and it can be adjusted for other sizes. Click HERE to get the FREE tutorial.
 
 
 
Cat Picture of the Month-
 
 
Click image to see a larger view
 
New Word of the Month- Againda
(ə-gěn'də)  a. (n.) The resubmitting of an agenda that was refused at least once before. 
Example: This is the third straight election where the electorate has refused this agenda.
 
It's just not Christmas unless your cat has upchucked some goodies on the carpet, am I right? Okay, maybe I have different holiday traditions than most people. But nevertheless, all cat lovers have, at one time or another, had to show that love by taking some paper towels and gingerly cleaning up something that didn't sit quite so nicely in kitty's stomach. The ability to do that with grace and calm, even if it's right in front of friends and family is when your love for your cat really shows. Anyone can scritch a cat's head, or tease one with the laser pointer. That's amateur stuff; cat love for pros almost always involves icky bodily fluids at inconvenient times.
 
 
 
As 'Funnie' as Real Life-
 
 
Click image to see a larger view
 
Monthly Trivia-
Today is Sunday, December 9th, the 343rd day of 2013 and there's only 22 days remaining in this year. YIKES! Kinda scary, right?
Today is also the birthday of 3 guys who hail from three of America's most celebrated families. Kirk Douglas, (Michael's father & star of an untold number of Westerns) is actually celebrating his 97th birthday today along with Beau Bridges (son of Lloyd and brother of Jeff), and former teen idol Donny Osmond (Marie's brother). 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 the day anyway with a bit of nostalgia. Click here to watch the trailer from my favorite Beau Bridges film, Starman, or click here to listen to the Donny Osmond song that stole my heart as a young girl!
 
Well, that's it for now, so until next month, remember!
Sewing Forever, Housework Whenever!
 
 
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StudioKat Designs, www.studiokatdesigns.com