Celebratory copy

I received this year's annual report copy in the mail two days ago. The deadline was real tight this year, but I didn't expect to see it in print so soon. Compared to the subdued red cover last year, this year's design had a celebratory feel to it. It reminded me of Christmas lights.

It is my second consecutive year doing translations for this association. I am going to keep this copy alongside 2008's copy on my bookshelf reserved for writing work. It still feels surreal to see your own words in print. I wonder what it's like if it's not a translated work but my own writing. I bet it would feel real gratifying.

A Journey

Pastel b. website, designed by Pascale

Jamie & Co. logo, designed by Pascale, too

I was really frustrated the past months with a bombardment of questions, or to be exact, accusations of what work I am in right now and how I am getting by with no "job". I tried to put on my best face and told the inquisitors that I have my own professional writing company and I do translations for companies. More questions came, so how did you get the projects, did you know somebody, did you actually make money? Duh....

I also told them that I have a studio, and the inquisitors went, what do you sell, do you pay rent, how much revenue's coming in per month? Blah....

I was so fed up with them that I was perpetually in a bad mood for the past 2 months. I confided in my friends and a very dear friend reminded me that every start up takes time. She reminded me that when I first saw her, I had no name card. I was carrying my then manager's name card. Oh, I also had no seat in that office, since I was in training then. I sat opposite my manager in his room.

Well, 6 years had gone by and in the process, I became a Business Director of the company. I had no grand illusions of the company after my 6 years tenure and I decided it was time to go. Well, 6 months into my retirement from active work, I had a chance to do some editing and translating work for the internship program with my previous company. I was real happy that the feedback was pretty good.

One day, an ex-colleague called me for coffee. As we were chatting, the topic of the internship program came up, and I told him that I did the writing. He said he knew of the program and asked me if I would like to do bilingual translation for his association in the future. I said "Yes, I'd love to." So it all began from a coffee chat. I am blessed with ongoing projects with his association now.

Another friend who saw my writing also referred me to a big project for a new fast food franchise. I am very grateful for his referral and I am blessed I have ongoing projects with them, too. When the store opened, I went to try it out with a couple of friends. The satisfaction from seeing the words I had labored on turn into a real store was really heart-warming.

We are working on Pastel b.'s website at present. The concept of a hand sewn card came 11 years ago. That was when I made my first card and named it Pastel b. I can't wait to see the website up and running coz it is designed so beautifully. I am reminded once again, that every start up needs time to grow and flourish.

You don't know how much your words meant to me, dear friend, when you reminded me of the name card incident. I really hit a bottom the past few months, thinking that I am not "doing" anything, when all the while, the start ups are taking their natural course to grow. Thank you, my friend, for being there for me. I truly appreciate it. :D

A chance encounter

2007 is an eventful year. I quit a job I hated, applause is called for here, clap, clap, hooray. The culture of the work place stifles individuality and creativity. You have to play to the right politics, subject to the whims of the higher ups and hang out with groups to scheme and stab people in the back. It was horrible. But then again, I had no regrets having worked there for six years. I developed my survival skills, and learned to go within for power. This self-reliance turned out to be an important asset, as I spread my wings to embrace the present and the future.

The second Pastel b. card was sent to a dear friend very close to my heart, on her birthday. She resides in Japan now, with an adorable baby girl called Leigh. I met my chere amie, Pascale, in a chance encounter during the early days of the job I had quit. This encounter has blossomed into a beautiful friendship and I am happy to announce that we are working together on several projects.

I have opened my consulting company, Jamie & Co. in January 2008. Along with three like-minded friends and partners, we will be pre-launching a wedding planner service, ai wedding in a few months. Plus, a new brand of high quality, semi-handmade baby clothes, Petit enjel, will be launched in days to come. All these exciting ventures, had an undeniable link to this chance encounter I had bumped into six years ago.

Merci, ma chere amie, for designing my Jamie & Co. logo, our ai wedding logo et finalement a toast to the success of the launch of Petit enjel. To more future collaborations et joie de vivre.