2006

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Happy New YEAR!-
Well here we are at the start of another year. For me this also marks the beginning of my second designing year. I am expecting THIS year to be WAY more fun, if for no other reason than I can devote my fulltime efforts to doing only the things I like to do. Does that mean I won't be cleaning out litter boxes, and vacuuming up cat hair? Well, not yet anyway, but it does mean, that since I'm retired, I won't have to wear quite as many hats this year, which will definitely free up my mind to be creative! So let's get to it!
As always, if you prefer, you can go to http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/jan06.htm to see the online version of the newsletter.

Feline Quote for January-
"Even overwieght cats instinctively know the cardinal rule: When fat, arrange yourself in SLIM poses!"
John Weitz

New at StudioKat Designs-The Mezza Luna Bag is finally here!
It seems like I have been trying to get this new bag released for MONTHS, but at long last, here it is. My newest pattern is called The Mezza Luna, (half-moon in italian), and I think you'll like the stylish shape, and the almost endless embellishment possibilities of this little bag. It features 3 different front faces, as well as two types of back exteriors, a flat back and a pocketed back exterior, for extra storage. All views include a secure zippered top, as well as an interior credit card holder.

It's a good size, and can be made in tough sturdy fabric for everyday, as well as in silky slinky fabrics for a night out on the town! And here's the deal, beginning January 1st, and for the whole month of January ONLY, I am offering The Mezza Luna at an LOW introductory price of $10.00. On February 1, the price will increase to the regular price of $12.00. So check it out, and all my other patterns as well, at www.studiokatdesigns.com/Patterns.htm .

We're HOPPIN' Again this month!-www.fabshophop.com
That's right, you loved it so much last time, that we're hoppin AGAIN this month! If you missed it in July, this is like a great big treasure hunt. You hunt through various design shop websites for an elusive "bunny", and in the process become eligible for TWO brand new sewing machines, which will be awarded at the end, in addition to LOTS of other prizes. The best part is... you do all this from the comfort of your computer chair, in your pajamas if you want! Check it out at www.fabshophop.com, sign up, and get HOPPIN'!
Who knows, you may come away with a some great bargains, or a new favorite place to surf, or maybe even A NEW SEWING MACHINE! How cool would THAT be!?!

Love Handbags?-- RubyTagBags.Com
Click here to see some of the most original and beautiful bags on the web! You'll find a collection of distinctive and elegant handbags that have been featured in magazines like "Southern Lady" and "Red Hat Lifestyles". RubyTagBags all feature elegant fabrics, embellishments and some of the most unique trims I've ever seen!

My favorites though, are the Boutique & Bridal Party Bags, an incredible line of small evening purses, all with RubyTagBags signature trims and embellishments. This site is a showcase of eye candy, and you're gonna LOVE shopping here so much, you'll come back again and again!

Did You Know?-
Cats, camels and giraffes are the only animals who walk by moving both right legs together, and then both left legs together. You know, I never noticed this before, but it is TRUE!

SKD Promotions Update! We have a winner in the Christmas Drawing!
Actually, there's a pretty funny story to go with this! First of all you must know, that Jeter, has a PASSION for balled up pieces of paper. Forget stuffed mice and jingle bell toys. Just wad up a piece of scrap paper and Jeter's in HEAVEN!

Well anyway, at midnight, on Dec 6th, (when the contest ended), I put the bowl of contest entries, which are little folded up pieces of paper, onto the stove top, so that my husband could draw a winner for me this morning before he left for work. Well, I looked behind me as I rounded the corner to go to my room, and what do I see???? That crazy Jeter has his head in the bowl! On closer inspection I see something in his mouth!!!! "What's that silly cat up to?" I wondered. Well, I had to chase him down and tackle him to check it out, but I found that he was carrying off a contest entry to his "lair". I thought it was an isolated incident, but as soon as I placed the entry back in the bowl, he was back, "making another drawing"! So I thought, "what the heck, let's go with this!", so I mixed the bowl thoroughly, got the camera ready, put the bowl back on the stove top, and sure enough, here comes Vanna, I mean Jeter, and the entry that he "drew" was that of Carol McKinney, of Poulsbo, Washington! Click here for some actual picture of Jeter doing his thing!

Laugh Lines- Everything Has a Gender, submitted by alert reader, Jeanne K., of Syracuse, NY

You may not know this, but many non-living things have a gender.

1) Sponges are female, because they are soft, squeezable, and retain water.
2) Ziploc bags are male, because they holds everything in, but you can see right through them.
3) A tire is male, because it goes bald and it's often over-inflated.
4) An hourglass is female, because over time. the weight shifts to the bottom.
5) A subway is male, because it uses the same old lines to pick people up.
6) A webpage is famale, because it's always getting hit on.
7) A hotair balloon is male, because to get it to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under it, and of course, there's the hot air part.
8) A remote control is female. Ha! You thought it's be male, didn't you? But consider this... it gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know the right buttons to push, he keeps trying!

"Catsite" of the Month- Travel Wisely with your Pet!
Are you planning to take your pet traveling with you this winter? Be prepared by checking out this helpful site, http://pettravel.com. It links you to over 28,000 pet friendly hotels. It's also got information on how to obtain an international health certificate for your pet, quarantine and inspection information for over 100 different countries, airline pet travel requirements, travel tips for pet health and safety, and details on how to microchip you pet!

Talk to Me-
Now that I'm retired, I have the time to do a few of things you've been asking for lately... ok, ok, so you've been asking for a LONG time! But anyway, people often ask me where I find the unique fabrics for the sample bags you see on this website, and at trade shows. The simple answer is, that I usually can't find exactly what i am looking for, but that's OK, because as long as my sewing machine is working, I can cut'n paste a fabric design together, to get the effect I want.

Fot this reason, the first "Kat Trick" that I will demonstrate for you, will involve my new pattern, "The Mezza Luna" bag. This fabric technique is one that I have actually used on several of the bags you see on this website. The best part about this technique, is that nothing has to be perfect, in order for the final result to look FANTASTIC! Cut pieces don't have to be symmetrical, and the angles don't have to all be the same. It's easy as pie, the hardest part is, shopping for the perfect piece of base fabric. I can't help you there, but once you've found it, just click on the link below and get STARTED!
**here's a hint- These files will download a WHOLE lot faster if you SAVE them to your computer, rather that just OPENING them.**

Kat "Trick" #1

**If your dialup connection is just too slow for this, or if you just don't like downloading things on the internet, then I will be glad to snail mail you this Kat "Trick". Just send a SASE to the address below, and I'll get it right out to you!**

StudioKat Designs
137 S. Hemingway Ct.
Advance, NC 27006

Monthly Trivia- As you might guess, January is a BIG month in terms of trivia, and January 1st tops the list, of course, but here's a fun thing... I bet you didn't know that January was International Creativity month? What better time to take up a new project, or try a new technique on for size? January is also "National Cleanup your Computer" month, and I do not mean with a dust rag, or windex! Thats, right get rid of some of those useless old files, to make room for new ones! :)

January might be a good time for you and your dog to take up walking, since its "Walk your Pet" month, but I've gotta say, shouldn't they have named this month "Walk Your Dog" month instead. I mean really, what other pets do people walk, besides dogs? Have you ever seen a neighbor walking his hamster? or his snake? And my clothes would be completely shredded if I tried to put a collar and leash on Jeter! Oh well, but I digress!

There really weren't any famous people born on January 1 (that I recognized anyway), except for Betsy Ross, and that's only a legend, so she may not count! However, Kathleen Wilkens of Philadelphia, PA, was born 60 years ago today. Who is Kathleen Wilkins you might ask? Well, she was the first, of almost 78 million "Baby Boomers" (of whom I also am one) born between the years, 1946- 1964. So if you, along with Kathleen, are celebrating a birthday today, here's a great big StudioKat Designs birthday greeting to you! And if today is not your birthday, don't despair, you can still celebrate the New Year by digging into that pile of patterns you've bought but never tried (we ALL have a pile like that don't we?), or by spending the afternoon cleaning up that hard drive on your computer, or by grabbing the leash and taking a little stroll with your favorite "walking buddy". As for me, it's gonna take more than a leash to get my "walking buddy" off the couch, and away from those football games today, so I guess I'll put on my full body armor and try leashing up Jeter! (no way!)
Happy New Year all! Thanks for your support this past year!

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 Jan06 Newsletter ONLINE: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/jan06.htm
StudioKat Designs Patterns ONLINE: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/Patterns.htm
        Mezza Luna Pattern page: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/mezzaluna.htm
The FabShopHOP!: http://www.fabshophop.com
RubyTag Bags http://www.rubytagbags.com
        Beautiful Handbags:http://www.rubytagbags.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?=&product=Ruby_Tag_Bags_Ltd
        Boutique & Bridal Party Bags:http://www.rubytagbags.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?=&product=Boutique_Bags
StudioKat Design Christmas Drawing Results: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/winfreestuff.htm
Travel Wisely with your Pet: http://www.pettravel.com
Kat Trick #1: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/kattrick1.pub
Email StudioKat Designs:info@studiokatdesigns.com
Sign up for StudioKat Designs Newsletter: http://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
© 2004-2006 StudioKat Designs