Dear Mik and Barb,

I absolutely love my van gogh shoes!!! You both are so very, very talented!!!
Once again the pictures you sent are fantastic!!! I will be printing these pictures out
and sharing them with my students tomorrow. They will be thrilled!!! Having these
shoes made has been a fantastic journey for all of us!!! The children, ages 7-13 a
total of 550 students in all, can't wait for the shoes to arrive...but they will have to wait a
little while longer to view them. Our school system is having an art and music festival
March the 21st. All of the elementary and jr. high schools participate. The number
of schools total 11. Student art work is shown and art activities are provided. This
years theme is "The Year of the Artist". The public is invited. In past few years we
have had really big attendance's numbering between two to three thousand people.
The grand viewing of the "van Gogh Shoes" will take place that evening. We hope to
have newspaper coverage of the event.

I really do believe that my students will never again look at a pair of shoes the same
way after this journey. They have taken "a walk on the wild side" and have discovered
the elements of design in the things they used to take for granted. Many of my
students beg to stay in during recess to create their versions of artsy shoes.
Enthusiasm is at an all time high!!! I plan to send you some pictures of my students
making their art. I will also try to take some pictures of the art show March 21st.

Happy birthday to your daughter!!! That's a wonderful age!!! My art students that age
are so creative!!!

Well, again thanks...it's been great fun for us!!!
I can't wait to get my shoes!!!

Elizabeth

Dear Mik and Barb,

Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! My "dream shoes"
arrived today!!! Will the real Vincent van Goghs please stand up!!! The artwork
on the shoes is superb as well as the craftsmanship of the leather work!!! I
couldn't resist trying them on...they are an absolute perfect fit and extremely
comfortable!!! But these shoes will only be worn on very special occasions...at all
other times they will be on display. I am going to try to keep from showing the "van
Gogh shoes" to my art students until next month at our annual big art exhibit. Then I
plan to have a grand viewing of the shoes for the first time. O.K. who am I fooling. I've
already shown the shoes to several of my friends and family. I have no will power
over the excitement of "those shoes"!!!

Thank you again for everything!!! Before the end of this year I imagine that I will be
cooking up another project with you for the year 2001. In the meantime, I am putting
together some pictures of my art students "creating" and I will be sending them along
your way in a few weeks. Sincerely, Elizabeth