Newsletter-StudioKat Designs- June 07

June 2007

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Welcome!- As many of you know, I have just recently returned from a terrific trip with my whole family to Israel. You know how sometimes the actual trip doesn't live up to the expectations? Well that sure wasn't true for THIS trip, because I totally loved it. For the many who have asked for details, I have prepared a short pictorial, which you can view by clicking here. But do come back, because I have some cool stuff to tell ya!
Also, especially for the convenience of our friends at Pattern Review & AOL, all of the hotlinks are listed in order at the bottom of this letter, and as always, if you prefer, you can go to www.studiokatdesigns.com/june07.htm to see the online version of the newsletter.

Feline Quote for June-
"There are no ordinary cats." Colette

New on my Website!-
Blair Sechrest of Cary, NC submitted this photo of two of her Vervalises as well as another, which she created for her Mom. She said her Mom was SO impressed!

Catherine de la Cruz of Santa Rosa, CA sent in this photo of a terrific Vervalise, and you might note, that she used the "Ricky Tim's Convergence" Kat trick! Wonderful!

Melody Teel of Renton, WA made this outstanding Polso Pouch. The fabric is GREAT, and it makes a perfect Polso Pouch!

And last, but certainly not least, Jean Bradford of Mound, MN sent in this absolutely BEAUTIFUL Apropos Pack pic. She made this gorgeous bag to go with her MOB gown. Click here to see the inside. It's stunning! I vote that jean send us a picture of her in the gown with the bag, how about you?

Quiltshop Spotlight-QuiltCampus - Enjoy the world of quilting from the comfort of your own home!

QuiltCampus provides quilting classes from well known quilting teachers. You'll have lots of fun learning from folks who live all over the world.

QuiltCampus also has a moderated live chat channel just for quilters. They even have free online projects that are held right in the chat room.
Make sure you check out the monthly newsletter, which is chock-loaded with news about upcoming projects & events, like Easter Egg Hunts or Sewing Retreats, to name a few. There's usually a quilting-related puzzle or a game for you to enjoy, and this month, you may even recognize an advertiser! (hint hint!)

Join the fun at www.quiltcampus.net!

Get your FREE pattern!- The Cash-Keeper
You've been asking for it, and here it is... a new FREE PATTERN! I think you'll like this ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight wallet. You can make it in 2 sizes, and it's a perfect gift for either men OR women! The large wallet holds paper money lengthwise, PLUS, there's slots for FIVE credit cards! The small wallet holds folded paper money, PLUS, there are THREE credit card holders! Both sizes feature a roomy zippered compartment for coins & other valuables.
Ready to get started? Then click here for the Pattern Instructions, and here for page 1, page 2, page 3,and page 4 to get the Pattern Templates that you will need.
If your dialup connection is just too slow to download this, or if you just don't like downloading things on the internet, then I will be glad to snail mail this free pattern to you. Just send a SASE, along with your pattern request, and $2.00 per free pattern, to cover my printing costs, to the address below, and I'll get it right out to you!**

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

A Cool Place to Shop!- JennyHarada.Com
Offbeat? Unusual? maybe even a little wierd? All true, but JennyHarada.Com definitely has some one-of-a-kind items that you certainly won't find just anywhere! Jenny specializes in making critters of all shapes and sizes, none of which you're going to be inclined to ever run into, in this world that is! For example, you never know when you'll be in need of a full-face mask, but if you do, consider my favorite, the Vampire Hamster Mask. Why wear a bag on your head on a bad hair day, when you can really make a statement, with a full face mask? You'll also find lots of other neat stuff, like brooches and statuettes. (Check out the purple guy!)

Quotation of the Month-
"My mother could make anyone feel guilty. She used to get letters of apology from people she didn't even know!" Joan Rivers

Surf HERE for Neat INFO!- FuelEconomy.gov
Can anyone tell me why gas is back up over $3.00 per gallon again? I understood it right after Hurricane Katrina, but right now the logic just escapes me! But anyway, with this mind, did you know that every five mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an extra 20 cents more per gallon of fuel? Clearly, it pays to slow down, especially since the cost of gasoline typically RISES during the summer vacation season. YIKES! You'll find lots more fuel-saving tips when you visit this site, including advice on driving more efficiently, keeping your car in shape, and planning and combining trips. You can also download the 2007 Fuel Economy Guide, to help you choose a more efficient vehicle - a move that can save you hundreds of dollars every year! (And it's better for the environment too!)

Laws Overlooked by Murphy-
I hope you are enjoying these Laws Overlooked by Murphy, because I sure am! Here's a few I think you'll agree with, all concerning VEHICLES!

The Law of the Alibi- If you tell your boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, then the very next morning, you will have a flat tire!

The Law of the Lane Change- If you change lanes, then the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now. (Works every time, and is also applicable to grocery store checkout lanes!)

The Mechanic's Law- After spending 10 minutes with your mechanic giving him an elaborate explanation of what your car is wrong with your car, it starts up just great and runs just fine! (infuriating!)

Now check out these Overlooked Laws sent in by some very alert readers.

The 2nd law of the Library- If a reader is less than 5'5" in height, then the book they want will ALWAYS be on the top shelf! (submitted by Pam, Fort Wayne, Indiana)

The Law of Leisure Time- Just when you actually/ finally have some free time to sew, someone will call "for a quick chat" & stay on the phone for an hour! (submitted by Aless White, Australia)

Love Handbags?- MandyBBags.com
Now here's a gal with a neat website that's easy to use! MandyBBags.com has a large variety of handmade handbags and loads of other cool stuff to look at. Check out the already-made bags , or if you prefer to design your own, you can choose your bag shape, fabric and extras, such as pockets, straps, and embroidery, to mention a few. Mandy B also has various apparel items for sale, and even some baby items, so check it out!

Did You Know?- that the first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone?

Laugh Lines-"Baby Boomer Blues"
Submitted by clever reader, Kathryn Maxwell of Winston-Salem
Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accomodate their aging fans! Hmmm... surely she didn't mean me! Oh well- these are funny anyway!

Herman's Hermits- "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker!"

The Beatles- "I Get By with a Little Help from Depends"

The BeeGees- "How Can You Mend a Broken Hip"

Willie Nelson- "On the Commode Again"

Paul Simon- "Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver"

Procol Harem- "A Whiter Shade of Hair"

The Temptations-"Papa's Got a Kidney Stone"

Helen Reddy- "I am Woman, Hear me Snore"

Abba- "Denture Queen"
And my Favorite-

Bobby Darin- "Splish, Splash, I was Havin' a Flash"

"Catsite" of the Month- KittenWar.Com
If you're like me, You're a sucker for a little kitten face, so have i got a website for you?!? It's called KittenWar.Com. The format is just like the card game, "War", in that two kitten pictures are matched head-to-head, and you vote for the one you think is the cutest by clicking on it. As soon as you do, another pair of pictures pops up, and you vote again. The site keeps a running total of the winningest kittens, who will melt your heart, as well as the losingest kittens, who might actually break mirrors! It's very addictive, and it almost makes me want to go out and get a kitten myself, so I can enter it in the contest. Speaking of which, if you want to enter YOUR adorable kitten, just click here.

Question of the Month-
Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All were invented by women!

Monthly Trivia-
Did you know that June 2nd is the annual holiday, "Yell FUDGE at the Cobras in North America Day"? That's right. In order to keep poisonous Cobra snakes out of North America, everyone who lives north of the Panama Canal is asked to go outdoors at noon local time, and yell "FUDGE"! Fudge makes Cobras gag, & the mere mention of it makes them skedaddle. Don't believe me? I could hardly believe it myself, but you can check it out here, where along with info about Fudge & Cobras, you'll also find a lot of other wierd information you won't find anywhere else.
You also might be interested to know that on this day, 40 years ago, The Beatles released what to me, was their finest album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", which produced such hits as "I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds".
Today is also Dennis Haysbert's 53rd birthday, (President Palmer on "24", my FAVORITE TV show!) He shares his special day with Dana Carvey, of "Saturday Night Live" fame. Isn't that special?? And if today is your birthday as well, here's a great big Happy Birthday to you, from StudioKat Designs! And if today isn't your birthday, you can celebrate anyway, by going outside at noon and yelling, "FUDGE!", or better yet, (and especially if you don't want to be carted off in a straight-jacket), you could go to your local pet shelter and adopt a little kitty or puppy friend, since June is "Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet-Month". Remember to "make adoption your first option".

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)

My Trip to Israel: www.studiokatdesigns.com/Israel.htm
New at StudioKat Designs:
        Blair Vervalises: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/blair1.jpg
        the Vervalise that Blair made for her Mom: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/blair2.jpg
        Catherine's terrific Vervalise: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/catherine.jpg
        Melody's Outstanding Polso Pouch: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/melody.jpg
        Jeans Beautiful Apropos Pack: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/jeanb2.jpg
        Here's the INSIDE View: http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/jeanb1.jpg
QuiltCampus Website: www.quiltcampus.net
The Cash-Keeper- A Free Pattern:
        Cash-Keeper-Credit Card View: www.studiokatdesigns.com/smccside1.jpg
        Cash-Keeper-Coin Purse View: www.studiokatdesigns.com/smcoinside2.jpg
        Cash-Keeper Sewing Instructions: www.studiokatdesigns.com/keeper-instructions.pdf
        Cash-Keeper Pattern Templates: www.studiokatdesigns.com/keeper-templates.pdf
JennyHarada.Com: www.jennyharada.com
        The Vampire Hamster Mask: www.jennyharada.com/goods-masks.html
        The Purple Guy: www.jennyharada.com/goods-statuettes.html
FuelEconomy.Gov: www.fueleconomy.gov
        Fuel Saving Tips: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml
        2007 Fuel Economy Guide: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml
MandyBBags.Com: www.mandybbags.com
         Already-Made Bags: www.mandybbags.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1
         Design Your Own Bag: www.mandybbags.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8
Kitten War!: www.kittenwar.com
        The Winningest Kittens: www.kittenwar.com/kittens/winners
        The Losingest Kittens: www.kittenwar.com/kittens/losers
        Enter YOUR Kitten!: www.kittenwar.com/upload.php
Bizarre Holidays: www.wellcat.com/summer.htm
Sign up for the StudioKat designs Newsletter: www.studiokatdesigns.com/newsletter.htm