we have a blue moon tonight! say an extra prayer of thanks...

blue moon 09 Originally uploaded by * jdt... (shabba!)

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." --- Hal Borland A blessed Happy New Year to everyone! :) ps: Shabba! is the best word of the year

painting for larz

painting for larz
Originally uploaded by * jdt... (shabba!)

" like branches of a tree, we may grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one. each of our lives will always be a special part of the other..." --- my fave tree quote, read this somewhere

*** finally got to finish my friend, larz's request... funny because she is the grand daughter of a painter and she requested me to do a painting for her... i am honored... "hope you like this larz.... " :)

working for the Big Boss

“ for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” -- Philippians 2:13 In a chat once with someone wise... being super busy/stressed with work meant... a good problem... In a way, that is true... because that meant good business. It meant that we are continually blessed by God because He has trusted us to do His work for others... With the things that went on the past months, I got to realize (all the more) that blessings come in many shapes and sizes... Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi hit the country pretty hard and devastated many lives... losing homes, business and love ones... many are altered forever... And as it is Christmas season, I thought of what those people are thinking and feeling right now... What if I was in their shoes? Would I be able to go on... and deal with the busyness of the season? These natural disasters were meant to call our attention to something... and we thought it nothing but someone else's fault beacause it didn't hit us directly... Or did it? I write about this now because of things overheard from the people I work with... December, being a very busy month... work has been really stressful... everything rushed... miscommunications, misinformation and stuffs like that... everyone seems not to be as reliable as they should be... And the said people I work with are greatly stressed and have been complaining a lot... It is the holiday season and none of us have a proper holiday to speak of... not that we overwork them... I don't think that's the issue... And I am not sure what is the issue... may be they are just tired and stressed... so they complain... I can see their dedication and diligence... But I feel them being tired to the point of wanting to give up and yet none of them do... something is making them hold on... and for that I admire them... And so, you ask, what does that got to do with the storm victims? It's in my head... Because while my people complain about how hard their work is... or why this dress is being repaired for the nth time... and how their lives are this and that... I think of how little those are comparing to the tragedy that happened to the typhoon victims... and of recent, fire victims in Manila... the people who were on the ship in the sea tragedy in Batangas... and the people affected by Mt. Mayon's eruption... They seem to have forgotten how blessed they are... despite the struggle... they still have something to hold on to... unlike the others who have no more... They may not make the best decisions and choices but they should realize that they, too should share... maybe not money... but time and energy... because with each work they do... that is what they share... their time and energy and through them a peice of God's grace is given to whoever it si that wear the clothes... How do I tell that to people older than me? That they are channels of God's blessing... that each time they complain they complain not to me but to God... 'Lord, I need your help there.' Fashion is a glamorous business... maybe... to the famous and socially adept... but making dresses is not easy... one dress pass through many hands until it is done. My mind help create a design... another mind execute it, and another and another... I feel like I am only a channel that connects two places... From the people I work with to the people we do work for (employees to clients)... The stress from the people downstairs is very infectious... it get to me like glue... except at night when I sleep they come off like chipped paint because they seem not relevant to my level anymore... I am not a perfect boss... I still have much to learn... I am not a guru in this field of fashion... I do not claim to be... I am only an artist who help create... I am a bridge who help get ideas across... And hopefully, I am a channel of God's grace to the people I do work for and I work with... God's own hands, heart and mind... There is much to be done... ' O Lord, make haste to help me... So I can help as well...' Shabba!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Merry Christmas, everyone! Originally uploaded by * jdt... (super busy... shabba!)

May we all find Christ being born in our hearts and share Him with each other... Merry Christmas, everyone!

december dusk

december dusk
Originally uploaded by * jdt... (super busy... shabba!)

"There come times when I have nothing more to tell God. If I were to continue to pray in words, I would have to repeat what I have already said. At such times it is wonderful to say to God, 'May I be in Thy presence, Lord? I have nothing more to say to Thee, but I do love to be in Thy presence.' " --- O. Hallesby


simbang gabi, officially starts... christmas is so near...

wear your dreams

wear your dreams
Originally uploaded by * jdt...

*** the other night, my sister was hand-painting shirts for my brother to give away... i thought i should make one for myself, too... so i put down my work for a while and did a creative side trip... (hmm... pero creative din naman yung work ko, ah?)

good news: this is what came out... :)
... shabba!

bad news: but the shirt's not mine to wear... :(
... oh, snap!

ps: i wish i just did this to the wall downstairs... it's exactly what i want to paint there...