"Kat Bytes"
the monthly newsletter of StudioKat Designs
Issue #177  April 2020
 
So... A whole lot has changed since last we "talked" a
month ago, right? These last few weeks have been, in a word: surreal. And I, like many of you, have watched carefully made plans go up in smoke knowing that the Corona Virus situation may be far from over!
So how do we continue to thrive in our creative space during such an uncertain time? Is it even possible to be creative in the midst of a situation so devastating?
I happen to think that those of us who are blessed with our health in times like these have all we need to thrive creatively, even in the face of having to reschedule EVERYTHING on our calendars, and here's why! It's because making something out of nothing IS not only our area of genius, in fact...it's our SUPERPOWER! 
If anybody knows how to thrive in times of crisis it is undoubtedly us.
So... as you take care of yourself and those you love in this unprecedented time don’t forget that the best answer to destruction is and has always been to create something beautiful!
That’s my plan anyway, so now I’ll wash my hands once more and go back to work…
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Please Take Note!
After well over five years  of maintaining the same  pricing schedule, we will be increasing the price of our patterns on May 12th, but we wanted to give you, our best of all customers plenty of advance knowledge before we do so!
  
 
April 2020 "Eye Candy"
The bags you see below are among those that customers have shared recently on either our FaceBook business page, our Instagram feed or on our Group page on FaceBook. So thanks to EVERYONE! They were ALL great but here's a few of my favorites!
(For LARGER images: Click on each individual pic)
Gayla Martell reported that this is her 6th Flaptastic Bag and that the exterior for this one is comprised entirely of vinyl and she LOVES this look!

 
Georgia Segura has made quite a fewQuattro's over the years and here is her latest which was both her last of 2019 and her 1st of 2020!
 
 
And if you're a lover of all things Laurel Burch (as I am) then you will be smitten by Deb Tabert's Gateway! I think cats look amazing on the Gateway design!
 
 
Sandra Rochon called this Sling Along  a pure "joy to sew". She added that she thought the instructions were clear, concise & easy to follow & she predicts she'll make another SOON!
Carolina Wilson said that this beautifully embroidered Gateway was a Valentine's Day gift from her sister, Virginia. Silver thread was used to embroider the bicycle and Virginia did a super job!

Angelia Fleming created this totally appropriate Sling Along for a friend who works in the US Forest Service out of several fat quarters. This is one of the best stories I've heard this year to date!
 Angelia Fleming inquired of our FaceBook Sewing Group for advice on how to stabilize this woven souvenir fabric from Mexico for her Sling Along, & thanks to many of our members, it came out terrific!
 
 
 Cynthia Wheelehan-Boo used inexpensive fabrics from her stashfor her very 1st Sling Along just until she could get a feel for this pattern, but now she can't wait to make another. She was happy to show it off at the MAQF last month!
And here's Pat Ross' take on our Flaptastic design! She chose a brave combination of fabrics/prints and I am ALL IN! It came out beautiful!

Heidi Jackman's brother brought this fun fabric back from Hawaii for her and she is SO excited to have finished this show-stopping GoGo   
 just time for her trip to Fiji!
(For LARGER images: Click on each individual pic) 
 
Quote of the Month-
 
 
Click image or HERE for a larger view.
 
Trending on our Website this Month-
Just in case you missed any of our posts this past month, you can easily catch up with the rest us because they're ALL listed below!
And now... Check out the "Oldie but Goodie" from our Archives
4/10/14- Ask Kat: Why Don't You Include Fabric in Your Notions Kits?
 
TWO for your Viewing Pleasure-
 
 
Click image or HERE for a larger view to see what sewing is like in Sweden.
 
 
Click image or HERE for a larger view of a mother dog playing with her pups!
 
Our society is living through radical change. Every day we are called upon to adapt in some way.
On TV, you may have noticed a particularly stark change in the appearance of guests, and even hosts appearing on your screen. As people move from professionally lit  and technically staffed studios to at-home arrangements, you may have noticed a drastic change in quality. Experts suddenly look bedraggled and things take on an almost surreal and often distracting quality.
 
You may wonder... what does this have to do with me? Well, I dont know about you, but I want to look my best when I'm "Zooming" with my family, friends & grandkids! I don't want them laughing at how crazy I look on their computer screen! So here's 3 very simple ways you can change your lighting & setup from the comfort of our own physically-distanced home so you'll always look your best!
Let’s look at some examples. Some good and some not so good: Click HERE to continue...
 
As Funny As Real Life-
 
 
Click image or HERE for a larger view.
 
Nadia, a 4-year-old Malayan tiger who had a dry cough and a loss of appetite, has tested positive for the virus that has caused a human pandemic at the Bronx Zoo.
She is doing well, according to Dr. Paul Calle, the Bronx Zoo’s veterinarian. So are three other tigers and three lions that show the same symptoms. And, he said, neither Nadia’s infection nor early scientific reports from China of infections among domestic cats should make cat owners fear for their pets, or fear that the cats may pass the virus to humans.   {Click HERE to read more}
 
 
 
 
We're all social distancing these days, and it's unclear when exactly that will end. But Billy Barr has been doing this for almost 50 years. He's the only full-time resident of Gothic, Colo.
He lives in an abandoned silver mine at nearly 10,000 feet in altitude in the Rocky Mountains. "The snow's going sideways, it's swirling," Billy Barr said of the local weather.
Barr has tips on social distancing, but he's the first to say they may well be entirely useless.
 
Cat Picture of the Month-
 
 
Click image or HERE for a larger view
 
A while back we received a shipment of 4.5" separating zippers that just weren't up to our usual standards. The white part of the ministripe just wasn't as clear and concise as it should've been.
In the photo at right you can see our usual zipper on the left and the one of lesser quality on the right.
Does it still work? YES!
Is it still as functional as the one at left? YES!
We have 27 of these zippers in stock which are usually sold at $4.75 each but until they are gone we will be letting them go at the bargain price of $2.00 each!
And here's the best part! Our Featured Product for April is the PortaPocketsPLUS Purse Insert and these zippers are on the recommended materials list! What better time to get BOTH at a bargain price? {Get YOUR sale zippers here}
 
 
Featured Product of the Month-PortaPocketsPLUS Insert
This month we're featuring our PortaPocktsPLUS Purse Insert, which has instructions and templates for THREE SIZES, which can be used separately or can be connected (using zippers or velcro) depending on the size bag you are currently using! 
The PortaPocketsPLUS is a fantastic way to both organize your bag and make it WAY easier to switch to a new bag!
And now we're going to make it WAY easier for YOU by giving you a discount coupon code you can use to get $4.00 off the purchase of the pattern! Just enter this code - 20PPP3 - into the coupon code box at checkout to get your discount! And don't forget to pickup a few discounted separating zippers (above) to use with your new purse insert!
(This offer cannot be used in combination with any other discount offer, nor can it be applied to an earlier purchase. It will expire at the stroke of midnight (EDT) on Sunday night, 4/19/20 & regular shipping charges apply.)
 
 
Join the April FabShopHop!
 

Come FabShop Hop with us for a chance to win amazing prizes!

Read the How to Hop guidelines and the Rules of the Game then click HERE for the List of Shops.
Psst! We're on the list! Wink
 
Come See Us at a SHOW!
 
Our Upcoming Show Schedule is as follows:
 
International Fall Quilt Market 2020- Oct 24-26, 2020 - Houston, TX  
International Fall Quilt Festival 2020- Oct 29- Nov 1, 2020- Houston, TX   
 Road to California 2021 - Jan 21-24, 2021  - Ontario, CA
Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival 2021 - Feb 25-28, 2021 - Hampton, VA
AQS Quiltweek Paducah 2021 - April 21-24, 2021, Paducah KY
 
 
So... thanks for reading our newsletter!
 
If you liked it, why not forward it to a friend? or email me some love? And if you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here to get it in your Inbox next month! So bye for now & until next month (on or about the 15th)! 
StudioKat Designs, Inc.,     1-866-409-8634,    www.studiokatdesigns.com