As November Fades

perhaps i should start drawing illustrations instead of just taking photo's off the net :)

The end of November seems to pass by rather quietly, as all of a sudden everyone starts to slow down. Perhaps to ponder  and contemplate on the past 11 months of this glorious year or busy with their own little agenda's of end year closure. ( or all this may be more so in my world )

Maybe it is the month we get a little more relaxed, and start to wind down a little in preparation of a hectic end year of party and celebrations. November. It feels like autumn to me, even though i am living in the tropics where we do not have leaves turning crunchy red, but instead, spontaneous rainfall of the monsoon wind.

As of me, i feel like suddenly i have not much to say but is rather in a contemplative mood, getting my hands dirty making things, reading and getting into the groove of the new season. It would be a bit of a change, and i do want to adjust smoothly, effectively and productively.

I am rather enjoying the days, savoring the moments and using them to its greatest joy. I hope Time loves me and how i spend him as much as i am thankful for his company. If time was a person, what would you do with?

Childhoodflames.

They say childhood flames won't last. But i'll like to convince you that they do.

I remember 12 years old, stumbling upon a book of fashion illustrations. It inspired me and i got hooked. I am going to be a Fashion Designer, i told myself. And from then onwards, i practiced drawing figurings.

Somewhere along the way in High School, the world started to break into my bubble. People asked, "What would you like to be when you grow up?" " Perhaps a Pharmacist, a Missionary, or an Architect. " would I reply, while furiously sketching on the table or textbook sides. ' A pharmacist she said? ' they left confused, wondering why.

Then after college the opportunity came to decide the fate of freedom's way. Paths of many kind came to say Hi. Science, Maths, Humanities they cried, "learn with us, you'll make a living, we promise, its safe to try". But only when my eyes fell upon Fashion Design, my heart gave a tug, and i felt i had no choice. Its do or die.

And then came the disapproval from the parents eyes. No, He is too poor, He won't be able to provide. Look at Accounting , He is a far better guy. Deep down, I knew my heart wouldn't lie. So i unwillingly gave in to authority, and gave Science and Humanities instead a try. Persevered i did, and never gave up, my heart still whispered Fashion Design. So i asked and asked till Dad said, " Okay, do what you like."

So i left! With heart filled with joy, i planned and located a place we shall meet. Sydney we met and the courtship began. The First year was the hardest but was surely a ride, we had lots to learn about each other, the seasons definitely wasn't dry. The Second year much better, we tops excellence in innovation together. the Third was a struggle, i was distracted, by Missionary's humility and selfless life. Even so, we manage to pull through, and won 2 competitions and a vacation to Florence, the heart of Italy, where passion and art brought beauty to life.

I started to neglect Him because i felt the need to learn more from Missionary, and that journey lead me to teaching and giving and learning of life. Perhaps i was too young for marriage that time. While teaching suddenly i received a letter from Fashion Design. " How are you doing? Perhaps we could meet sometime?" Then i remembered of our times. They were magical and my heart leaped a little to fast to stop it fluttering high. 

" Meet indeed we shall, tomorrow 4pm at tea time? " i replied. So we met, and He inspired me. I started to draw again and it served me well. " Teacher you draw so well, why are you teaching us Science?" my students asked. And i was silent, for i didn't know how to reply. 

Then i started to thinking of life with Him and without, and when the day came, "Yes!", was my reply. From then onwards we committed our lives to One full of surprise. 

For love does not say " i will try" because it just does. 

and that is what I do mean. It means,

I do.

Linen

flax plant

So i am using a lot of linen for my first collection. Linen fabrics are the best. they have a life of their own. Smooth when you iron them, and they crisp however they want when you wear them. They are a favourite for beach lovers and for the tropics as they breath well keeping you extremely cool, they release moisture quickly and do not retain heat and may i add feels sooooo good on the skin. (im getting so excited just talking about it, but i must honestly calm myself down because it is a process of development that takes time) Best of all its all natural, made of flax. 

Nowadays especially in Asia, many fashion brands are just all about the trend, producing cheap clothing's with synthetic material. But i can't do that, as much as i can't produce junk food if i was in the food industry.

"Lots of hard work involved in producing linen cloth from flax plant caused its high prices. Not everyone afforded it. In ancient Egypt there was a custom to wrap mummies with linen before laying them into tombs and sometimes linen even was used as currency" - via linen beauty

I have this thing about doing things properly, plus being a village kid, i love the though of nature on the skin. not polyester, rayon, acetate or whatever else made of 'plastic'. So stay tune :)

Its going to be a very easy going, fun, light and simple, breezy collection, and with a unique twist that can be identified to be of my creation :) I totally believe that a designers work has to reflect the designer, it has to come from the heart, not just the head. A healthy balance of both organs working along side, with the heart leading its way through. If i love it, i hope someone else would too! because in the end, you are not going to be able to please everyone, whoever you are, whatever you do. :)

Anyway gotta run. off to meet high school friends, been long !

Refuse to be a Perfectionist.

Okay you see, i have this tendency of wanting to do things perfect. But the truth is, things will never be perfect. Another truth is, the more you want things to be perfect the more you won't even dare start. So i am just going to have fun and enjoy the whole process. ^^

So yes if you were wondering what i am talking about, its the collection i am coming out with now. It is a process, and i do want to get things done properly. And i do care about each process, even from testing the fabrics shrinkage, colour run etc. 

So well in a larger picture, Noelle is getting into the groove of a major transition. One step and a time! thats how i'll rolllll!. 

Another note, this week is the last week of school. woo hoo!! Im going to miss those adorable students.

- - - - - -

I feel that we go through seasons. And whats important is to keep constant our relationship with God. He is perfect, His love is, we are not. We have to be honest with ourselves all the time, trust that He is working in is continually, that we are crazy, foolish, silly, nonsensical, we are like inconsistent, and naughty. Heck it started from adam and eve. How must better can version 2013 be. I guess that is why, we need Him so much :) Its good to know of His unfailing love that nothing can separate.

a little quote of a reminder,

“The world needs to see Christians burning, not with self-righteous fury at the sliding morals in our country, but with passion for God.”  ―Kevin DeYoung

Be Brave and Courageous in God.

Yourself to Blame

If things go bad for you

And make you a bit ashamed

Often you will find out that

You have yourself to blame

Swiftly we ran to mischief

And then the bad luck came

Why do we fault others?

We have ourselves to blame

Whatever happens to us,

Here is what we say

"Had it not been for so-and-so

Things wouldn't have gone that way."

And if you are short of friends,

I'll tell you what to do

Make an examination,

You'll find the faults in you...

You are the captain of your ship,

So agree with the same

If you travel downward

You have yourself to blame

- Mayme White Miller 

- Life is faith in action. -

Remember “While you are the captain of your ship you are not the ruler of the sea.” 

All in all God is in control. Acknowledge Him always, 

Steer by faith.

Under mighty loving hands.

Relationship with God. You know how Christianity is a relationship with God? Its amazing when you start to remember that God is beside you, God is looking after you, God is holding your hands. That He is really leading you, guiding you, directing you as a Shepherd leads his sheep with his staff. That His is protecting you all the time!.

That He left us physically but not that we should be alone but that His Holy Spirit would be whispering to our hearts and mind. Leading us home and towards the finish line of Faith. In the process, slowly and surely transforming us to be more like Him :)

Thank you God for everything!

Life's lessons

5 greatest things i've learnt this year:

1. That i won't be able to do everything alone. I am not mean't to do everything by myself. Learn to let go, learn to trust, learn to believe in others. Community is important.

2. That if you want to start anything, you must desire more to finish it. That its important to have passion, to pace yourself and keep the momentum. That it would be a life long journey, and there will be lots to learn along the way, that its a marathon, not a sprint.

3. That generosity goes a long way. Its healthy to cultivate the habit and spirit of Giving. Sometimes we must be willing to part from something in order to receive something greater that may come in a different form of value.

4. That it is important to be extremely honest with yourself. To listen to yourself and your heart. If you are not honest with yourself you'll only live as a cover up or who you truly are and what you may truly give to this world. Sometimes we try to fit in, or try to do what others do, but the thing is, we are all made differently, and we will excel in different areas. So we must be wise to know more about ourselves and to trust our Maker.

We all go through seasons with lessons to learn. What are the top 5 things you've learnt in 2013?

Marathons have shown me what i am capable of doing, and taught me how to do it well. Preparation, training, listening to your body, timing, focus, prayer. And understanding your build, knowing what you can do, and that you are not like others, you won't excel by doing things the way they do it, but by how your body speaks to you and tells you.

And with all that i've learn from marathons, i shall apply it to this journey to succeed as a designer.

No the journey would not be easy, as for now, i don't even know, nor can i see the future, all i know is that i must proceed, to try, to do, to dream. To learn to grow to practice. 

Am i scared, hell yeah. but i'm excited at the same time! What if people laugh at me, think i am stupid, view me differently, think i'm crazy, see me doing what i do, and criticize me, what if they say, 'why is she doing it this way'. Well i guess,

" Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and to follow it to the end requires courage. " - Ralph Waldo Emerson

" To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment " -  Ralph Waldo Emerson.

If you are a dreamer, and you believe your dream has some significance bigger than yourself, be brave. pursue it.

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decided to post this draft i wrote sometime back. its funny how we get more tired when we go somewhere to do something, where we don't really do anything.