Long before DxD's inception, as a high school senior, avid community volunteer, long-time comic book geek, & budding Otaku (Anime/Manga fan). I learned only >1% of Japan's population was Christian. From then on, I dreamed of becoming a Missionary in Japan.
Fast forward to August of 2006: I was a recuperating graduate from Pacific Union College in Graphic Design. I survived 20 credits my last quarter, 11 out of 23 papers, & finals; thank God I walked. I had put DxD's seeds into storage, as I was about to teach English for a year in Seoul, South Korea as a Missionary Teacher.
I was also blessed to visit Thailand once… I saw the devastation from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami about 2 hrs inland by bus, rubbish 10-15' in the trees. Oh, & Japan twice, but not as a Missionary.
In 2007, I returned from my year long Missionary call in South Korea to find the economic bubble in mid-burst. After many unpaid positions & countless un-fruitful interviews, I was blessed with working an Otaku dream job with a Manga publisher's IT team in early 2008… Only to be let go without any solid reason while our boss was on a business trip in Japan. After that & a friend's persuasion, I planted DxD's seeds.
May of 2008 witnessed the bungling premiere of DxD = Design by Divine at Fanime's Artist Alley (thanks again Zeiva, for the assist on the 1st day), followed by Anime Expo's AA, & another several failed applications to be a Missionary in Japan.
2010's September, found me happily duo-employed at Ascend Gallery in downtown Long Beach, while being allowed to sell DxD's sapling artwork & products in-house, with a wonderful friendship with the owners who're now behind { http://HolleyTeaTime.Etsy.com } & { http://PrettyElegance.Etsy.com } soon after Anime Expo. Unfortunately, we closed our physical doors just before New Years 2012, after 3 seasons of poor sales. But that didn't stop any of us.
The March 11th, 2011 disasters began at 2:46pm. The record of my experience from that day starts here: { http://dxd-studios.livejournal.com/31665.html }. Since then, 10% of DxD's profits have been donated to rebuild Japan.
Fast forward to May of 2012: My Dad kicked my younger sister & I out on Mother's Day { http://dxd-studios.livejournal.com/111207.html }, I slept in my car & my sister left altogether. A few days later, Dad allowed me a 3 month stay on his awkward b-day, & DxD somehow celebrated its 5th yr anniversary with all-time record sales at Fanime's AA.
June. My Dad allowed me to stay indefinitely { http://dxd-studios.livejournal.com/120985.html }; thank God Almighty! Then, he was in 2 accidents in as many wks… he was fine. My poor car, Ithil, did his job in protecting him during the 2nd one. And, my beloved cat Elen(riel) went missing { http://dxd-studios.livejournal.com/128743.html }… BUT, Ithil got restored { http://dxd-studios.livejournal.com/133186.html }!
2013 saw me with Mithril, my 6yr-old 1st gen MacBookPro & main computer/laptop, repaired. Sadly, Adobe CS2 never worked thereafter; I haven't done any digital art or designing since. Zumba helped vent my frustration. On April 27th, my younger sis (the one who left post Dad-fit) had her wedding { https://vimeo.com/65324145 }. God is so good!
I still dream of being a Missionary in Japan after these years, & still envision DxD's future, despite my humble beginnings & setbacks. Like Japan (& others who've survived natural disasters), as long as God wills me to live, I will move as far forward as I'm able with His vision over my life while blessing others with the gifts & love He's given me…
Life may be hard, but through His deep Grace & widespread Love, He reveals profound beauty in it too. You've my humblest & sincerest of thanks for your time, consideration, thoughts, & prayers. †
* • . ~ ✿ ~ • * • ~☆~ • * ♡ †{ ♔ }† ♡ * • ~☆~ • * • ~ ✿ ~ . • *
Etsy Shop: { http://DxDcloset.Etsy.com }
Creative Blogs: { http://DxD-Studios.LiveJournal.com } + { http://DxD-Studios.Blogspot.com } + { http://DxDstudios.Tumblr.com }
Twitter: { http://Twitter.com/DibeiChan }
Facebook: { http://Facebook.com/DxD.Studios }
Pinterest: { http://Pinterest.com/DibeiChan }
deviantART: { http://Dibei-chan.deviantart.com }
BlueCanvas: { http://Bluecanvas.com/dibeichan }
* • . ~ ✿ ~ • * • ~☆~ • * ♡ †{ ♔ }† ♡ * • ~☆~ • * • ~ ✿ ~ . • *
DxD's set up and I at Anime Expo 2010.
My humble UnFramed Art Sale Setup at Ascend Gallery during a Downtown Long Beach ArtWalk in 2010-2011.
My PMX 2010 setup.
My half-table setup at Anime Los Angeles 2012.