November 2005

The StudioKat Designs Newsletter
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HELLO and Welcome!- It's NOVEMBER, the month I've been waiting for. Why you ask? Well, at the end of this month, I will be hanging up my labcoat and RETIRING!

For 30 years I have been "dirtying my hands" in Winston Salem's Wastewater Treatment Plant Laboratory, and I believe that a career in sewage treatment serves a vital need, one that most folks take for granted. And if you doubt that, just ask the still displaced homeowners of New Orleans what's keeping them from returning home, and you will NOT hear that its electricity, Cable TV, or mail service, most of which has been restored. What is still lacking in that area, is a clean, reliable water supply!

Which leads back to the fact that as of this month, I am "washing my hands" of public service! I am so excited! So let's move ON! both figuratively AND literally!

Feline Quote for November -
"One small cat changes coming home to an empty house, to coming home." Pam Brown

New at StudioKat Designs-
In celebration of my retirement, I am soon releasing the 6th design in the "Bags w/Panache" series. I have had such FUN making this bag. It has so many embellishment possiblities, and it's fun to carry as well. You can see some sneek preview pictures of it at http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/mezzaluna.htm. I'm calling it the Mezza Luna, (which is Italian for half moon), and when you see the pictures, you will know why! I am aiming for a December release, so you may want to check back about then if you are interested.

Also new this month is a Christmas giveaway drawing. Yep, that's right. On the morning of December 7, 2005, Bubba will reach into the hat and draw the name of one lucky person who will win an original handmade purse to give as a gift to someone special this year, or to enjoy for themselves. That lucky person could be YOU! Just go to http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/Win%20Free%20Stuff.htm to see some pictures of the handbag and to enter.

A Cool Place to Shop!-http://www.aprilfooldesigns.com
I came across a very neat internet shop the other day, and it's called April Fool Designs. Christian Stewart is the owner of this little UK-based shop, which specializes in really cool and original cross stitch patterns and card-making kits, all of which I love looking at. The thing that fascinated me about this shop though, was the several pages of "Tea Bag Papers" she has for sale. "What do you do with tea bag papers?" Well that's exactly what I said too! Evidently, teabag papers can be folded in a variety of shapes to yield kaleidoscope-like units that can be used to decorate cards and what-not. It's all the rage overseas, and once I started researching it, there really was a wealth of information out there about it. For example, you can go to http://www.aprilfooldesigns.com/instructions.htm or to http://www.teabagfolding.circleofcrafters.com to see, and to download some free folding instructions, and to also get some ideas about how to use the units after you are done. This might make for some really intriguing and totally original cards to send in the upcoming card-sending-season. (At least until the rest of this country catches on!) Anyway, I heartily recommend a look at April Fool Designs! Who knows, you might find a new fun pastime!

Did You Know?-Random Cat Facts
Cat urine glows under a black light, which only raises the question... "What WIERDO figured THAT out?!?!?"

Need a Unique Christmas Gift?- http://www.webersart.com
Need an outstanding and unusual gift for someone this year? I found the COOLEST place ever! It's called Silk Visions, and it was created by Debbie Weber, a fine artist, disciplined in painting. She told me she was experimenting with painting on silk, and the outcome was too fabulous to keep to herself, and thus, her wearable Art accessories were born. Each silk accessory that Debbie creates is a handpainted, one of a kind design, and are popular with women of all ages! Wear them as belts, hair accessories, neck scarves and shoulder wraps. You and your friends will love dressing up their casual outfits and sparking their wardrobes with Debbie's creative silk goodies. To see Debbie's hand-painted scarves, go to http://www.lyricalbeauty.net/products.php?cat=13, and to see her graphic apparel, (that would be apparel with graphic DESIGNS, not pornography!) go to http://www.cafepress.com/webersart.

Laugh Lines-sent in by Arlene W., of Spokane, Washington
A man spoke frantically into the phone,"My wife is pregnant & her contractions are only 2 minutes apart." "Is this her first child?" the doctor asked. "NO!" the man shouted, "This is her HUSBAND!"

"Catsite" of the Month-http://www.ShopPawz.Com
OK, so this site also caters to dogs as well. (It really doesnt have to be ALL about cats, ALL the time, does it?) Hmmmmm... well anyway, check this cool site out. They have funny pet t-shirts and posters, and lots of other pet toys and items. They're also helping to promote a raffle to raise money for pets hurt by Hurricane Katrina. You can see more about helping the pets in the gulf region by clicking on the Humane Society link, http://www.hsus.org.
The owner, Bill Walters, is a good friend of mine, and it just so happens that he is also a graphic arts genius. Yep! he is the driving force behind all of my pattern covers, magazine ads, business cards, etc etc etc! Which all goes to show ya, cat lovers are some of the most artistic people in the world. (At least that's what I LIKE to think anyway!)
Need some graphics works done? or know someone who does? I can honestly say, Bill is the best there is. Check out his portfolio at http://www.plumrivermktg.com/. Excellent prices, and even more excellent service!

Talk to Me-
For those of you who haven't yet entered the Christmas drawing, i have a questionnaire posted on the http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/Win%20Free%20Stuff.htm page. I'm trying to determine where to best spend what little funds I have dedicated to advertising for 2006. You could help me out a bunch by letting me know what YOUR reading habits are, and hey, in the process, you'll be eligible to win the free handbag in December. And if you have friends who read sewing magazines, encourage them to do likewise. Heck, if you don't win the handbag, it might as well go to your best buddy, right?

Monthly Trivia- Well, I have spent a LOT of time this month researching the trivia behind November 1st, and I found out one thing... Down through history, November 1st has been a BORING day!!! One thing I did find out though, and that is that the whole month of November is designated as "Peanut Butter Lover's month", celebrating America's favorite food, and it's #1 sandwich.

And how coincidental is it that November 3rd is actually "Sandwich Day", to recognize the inventor of the sandwich, John Montague, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, England. A rake and a gambler, he is said to have invented the sandwich as a time-saving nourishment while engaged in a 24-hour long gambling binge in 1762.

November 3rd is also "National Cliche Day", which means you should definitely use cliches as much as possible on that day. Hey, why not? Give it a shot! You'll never know till you try it. The list is endless, it could make for an interesting day indeed at work!

Gary Player, the professional golfer has a birthday on November 1st, his 70th! Daniel Boone was born on November 2nd, and November 3rd is the birthday of actresses Kate Capshaw and Roseanne Barr, and if YOUR birthday happens to fall on November 1,2,or 3, than HURRAY for you! I hope you have a GREAT day! And if your birthday is not this month, you can celebrate November anyway by eating a big fat peanut butter sandwich and by trying to work as many cliches as possible into normal conversations today! And hey, in honor of my retirement, why not find a City employee, and tell them how much you appreciate the things they do! Just go right up to them and give them a hearty pat on the back, or even a nice big hug, but remember what i said, and think twice about shaking their hand!

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)

The NEWEST StudioKat Designs Pattern!= http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/mezzaluna.htm
The StudioKat Designs Christmas Drawing= http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/Win%20Free%20Stuff.htm
April Fool Designs= http://www.aprilfooldesigns.com
        Tea Bag Folding Instructions= http://www.aprilfooldesigns.com/instructions.htm
        MORE Tea Bag Folding Ideas= http://www.teabagfolding.circleofcrafters.com
Debbie Weber's website= http://www.webersart.com
        Hand-Painted Scarves= http://www.lyricalbeauty.net/products.php?cat=13
        Graphic Apparel= http://www.cafepress.com/webersart
Shop Paws.Com= http://www.ShopPawz.Com
        Humane Society link= http://www.hsus.org
        Plum River Marketing= http://www.plumrivermktg.com/
StudioKat Designs Questionnaire= http://www.studiokatdesigns.com/Win%20Free%20Stuff.htm
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

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