in early october I let the pile of costumes leave my loving arms into the case and off they went.

To china, the BIGGEST ORDER I HAVE EVER DESIGNED AND HAD TO MAKE.... (faint)

Not the first designs to go over seas, The 19 penguins, the 12 jesters, kings queens, devils, and Jungle costumes, pirate costumes and SO MANY others have already traveled the world. but this group was the largest and the most emotional ever. attached to these costumes, were hope, fear, drama, upset, tears, blood and the life of my most precious baby girl who died by small fault of them.

There was heart ache, and sadness, love and determination, and A personal growth, inner strength and MANY lessons on trust and true friends.

as the new year rolls around, and sweeps into a new time of ending and beginnings, I am happy to see that in the end the strom is finally over.

this was truly the hapiest e-mail ever:

Jennifer,
Well, I am still in Hong Kong and I saw the show tonight and the Costumes are Awsome. Director Lichi is very, very happy.
Thank you soooooo much for your dedication and hard work. I hope you are pleased with your results. I have enclosed a picture of the costumes for your books. I will be back next week and Hope to have time to chat for a bit.
Hope you had a nice Christmas and a better New Year.

All the best,
Bill

To my lovely helpers THANK YOU! thank you Lisa and Cathy for your Help with SO MANY zippers! Thank you MOM, Jess, Jenna, and Shan (from sea world) and Crystal for help cutting and applique' ing.
Thank you ART, Matt, Belle, Mumsy, Crystal, Ryan Kilcoyne, Gena, Big Danny T., Jennifer "gen" Starling, Renne Starling, Rex, and Shawn-bob for comforting me when I cried, or had so little sleep and food that I started to break down.

thank you Timber for the laughs.

thank you Bri for making sure I saw the real china, and for teaching me so much about myself, life, and how TRUELY talented I really am.

In all THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Thank you most importantly to Bill and Keats, for standing by my side, and cheering me on. It would NEVER have EVER been possible without your strength, time, and patience. (and defending me in the face of some rather tough waves of OMG! OVERWHELMED!!!!! AHHHH!)

thank you for believing in me.

And thank you to everyone in VA who always supported me.

^.^

Lets have an even better 2009! together.




HAPPY NEW YEAR!