Dear Friends,

For you who are just discovering WomenSpirit, we are a small company with a diverse staff, as you see from the photo below. We are located in North Kansas City, Missouri across the Missouri river from Kansas City, Missouri.

I started the business in 1995, working on the third floor of my home in Kansas City. (I'm at the far right in photo.) In 1994, I made a robe for my friend, Ellen Oak, who wrote and performed a show about Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th Century German mystic. Hildegard founded two communities of women, wrote books on healing, wrote music and was a contemporary of the popes of her time.

Ellen met Holly McKissick, a Disciples of Christ minister who was searching for robes that would fit her well and that reflected the tone and distinctiveness of her ministry. At that time, a pulpit robe or alb were women ministers' only options. A few very small companies made custom robes for women, but they did not have a national presence. Ellen introduced me to Holly, and WomenSpirit was born. Holly is still my good friend, and now my pastor, too. My family recently joined her church, St. Andrew Christian Church, in Olathe, Kansas, a Kansas City suburb.

Our staff experienced a tremondous loss this year when one of our long-time sewing operators, Rosemary (second from the right in the back row) died in March. The last five years she went to dialysis three days a week while working part time. She rarely complained about her health or anything else. Even when she was not doing well, she always replied "Pretty good!" when asked how she felt. She created most of the beautiful stoles and scapulars that many of you are wearing. She had a large family, and a terrific homecoming. We know she is at peace now, but we miss her strength and spirit.

On another staff note, Priscilla, from Sudan, (back row, middle) has become a U.S. citizen and is going to college while working full time. She has been our main cutter for four years.

I apologize if you experienced a long wait for a blouse order in 2006. We carry a wide assortment of sizes and colors in blouses, and because we are a small manufacturer it is difficult to keep them in stock. We appreciate your patience and will do out best to prevent that situation again. We have contracted with a small, woman-owned business to help make the blouses.

Product updates! We will have new blouse colors available by the end of June.We will notify you when those are available. We have a new blouse that is more fashionable, called the Fitted Blouse. It has a 3/4 length sleeve and is available in both Neckband and Tab collar styles. Please visit the robe pages and see our new robe, Anna. It has embroidery around the hem and sleeves in our new Crossroads design. The Esther robe has new fabric options for the yoke and also a beautiful new full sleeve that can be ordered with doctoral chevrons.

We are very thankful for you, our customers, at WomenSpirit. We know you are leading full, busy lives. We would like to make your shopping experience on our Web site efficient and convenient. Please call us if you have any questions or problems. I am proud that we still have the best fit and quality of any robe and blouse you purchase.

Finally, keep telling us how we are doing; we welcome your suggestions.

Gratefully,

Patty Fitzpatrick