Deirdre Flint is one Bitchin' Babe -- literally.

She is the bassist for The Four Bitchin' Babes, a quartet of folk singer-songwriters. When she's not playing with her fellow Babes, however, she also carries on her own career as a solo artist. That is the musical form she will assume when she comes to State College for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

Based in the Philadelphia area, Flint is a folk singer who often writes about light-hearted subjects like Americans' refusal to switch to the metric system.

"I sing songs about the woes of high school, for example, not making the cheerleading team," Flint said. "I have a song called 'The Boob Fairy Never Came for Me.' "

Flint began her musical career in 1998 as a 5th grade teacher who struggled to connect with her students. To get their attention, she used music.

"My first year of 5th grade was totally disastrous, but I figured out that the kids like to sing," she said. "I started writing humorous American history songs to hold their attention."

After moving to Korea to teach college English in hopes of saving enough money to record an album, her songwriting technique used the whimsical style of her musical origins.

"I would say it's comedic folk mainly, although I do some serious songs," she said. "It's geared towards 14 and up, but it's suitable for all ages."

Flint is a veteran of the weekend's festival and has also played in State College as part of the Acoustic Brew Concert Series.

"There's this haven of really smart people at Penn State," Flint said. "There's something about State College that I love playing there. I guess because it's a town, not in the middle of a huge metropolitan area, but people come together in community there."

Flint said her music appeals to people of all ages because of the humorous aspect of the lyrics.

"It's a specific type of person [who] finds my music appealing -- people with off-beat sense of humor that enjoy word play, that try to have a sense of humor about life's little disappointments," she said.

Although she stays busy with music during the summer, she is also a substitute teacher.

"I love being out on the road, but I would not want to do it all the time," Flint said. "Half the time I'm a teacher, and half the time I'm a musician. It's really good to have a nice balance."

In addition to her busy solo career, Flint stays moving due to her duties for The Four Bitchin' Babes, who play dates nationally. The band has been around for 15 years, Flint said, but she started as the bass player in February 2005.

When Flint hits the Arts Festival this weekend, however, she will be flying solo, wielding just a guitar and her quirky songs about homicidal bridesmaids and Maury Povich.