Work

I have decided to make a real effort into putting my best foot forward at my science job and Muntedkowhai. All my attention, motivation and spirit has been put wholeheartedly into Muntedkowhai, which has left science all pathetic and wailing. I've been really bad in the lab, just cruising and not really thinking about my experiments. Really, I'm just like a robot in the lab. My mind is 99.8% occupied with designs, ticking of lists mentally and the dream of being a featured seller on Etsy. This has left very little room for logical and problem solving capabilities which has ended quite foolishly this afternoon. I repeated an experiment for the 3rd time with results that did not make sense ( ok... for the science nerds: I was getting IFNy response from non specific tumor co incubation with TILs) Only to find out that I had repeated the same mistake three times when all it needed was a bit of thought before carrying out the experiement. ( science nerds: I stimulated all the groups with anti CD3 so that the T cells was stimulated regardless of tumor cell lines... DUUUUUUH) This made my boss go : "Oh Tiffany!" *In despair* " Oh Tiffany! Tiffany.."
This makes me feel SO bad and I know as a scientist, I should have stopped and thought about it. I knew it was kinda strange that I did what I did but I did not stop but just carried on. This is bad. Asking questions is good. It oftens prevents you from carrying on with your mistakes. So I will be vigilent. I will ask questions when I am not sure. I will ask questions even when I am sure. One of the reasons I've been so miserable at work lately is because the lack of tasks which has made me think more of Muntedkowhai.
So here I am, pledging that I will do everything to the best of my ability, to ask before doing when unsure and carry out experiments in such a way that I can put a hand over my heart and let my results speak for itself. I have left my work ethics slip a whole lot and this is not on.

I want to be a pretty red snapper

Scalloped and dusty peached- by Christopher Kane




Be still my heart

New Muntedkowhai Wedding pieces

All new addition to the 2009 Muntedkowhai Wedding collection.




and one spring introduction:

Quarry Bay Necklace

Jane Austen Shopping

I caught Pride and Prejudice (the one with Kiera Knightly) and it stirred my love for Austen era clothes, so I just HAD to see what I could find online:

Bottega Veneta. Rebecca Taylor


LOVER. Fendi


Lanvin. Diane Von Furstenberg

See by Chloe. Marni.


Fendi.See by Chloe

Zac Posen. Matthew Williamson






Roberto Cavalli




Doma. Vivienne Westwod



Oscar De La Renta.

Oscar De La Renta. See by Chloe

All available at Net-a-porter!

A softer Admiral

Watch out for this Admiral, it'll be in a giveaway soon!

I've been so caught up with crafting that I have forgotten to take care of myself, so yesterday I:
*Made an appointment for a hair cut (I haven't cut it in 4 months!! It is horrible looking)
*Made an appointment for a massage (especially my hands!)
*Made an appointment for an eye check and getting a new pair of specs (mine is all scratched up which is really annoying me)

What's on your to do list this weekend?
Happy Friday!

The Admiral Returns

Contemporary style. Long bold gold plated chain. Greet its return here.

Malaysian Kitsch

A Curry restoran in Penang, Malaysia has some pretty cute adornment on their shelves.
(Aaron loved their curry)

Erin's Dialogue

I just caught up with Erin from Design for Mankind's new series of Dialogue videos. I love these videos, I find myself nodding my head and saying, Yea! Yea! while sipping my coffee inbetween. It is very much like a Dialogue, in which Erin had intended and so I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on each of the video even though I'm not a full pledge, live off my art like these inspirational talents!

Balance

My balance between non art and art time is pretty much carved out by my science job. I think my need of balance focuses on art and much needed social time that this Muntedkowhai addiction has robbed me of. How do you balance something when you actually prefer to be doing one of the things you want to balance? I feel already, that there is not enough time in the world to do what I want to do with Muntedkowhai so on weekends and at nights when I am out (very rarely might I add), I feel like I've robbed myself of Munted time. This being said, I am fully aware of how unhealthy it is for me to stay in on a Friday night crocheting watching ANTM reruns every week... That is why, I've been thinking more and more of venturing out to participate in more Portland art events, be it shows, festivals and what not, just to get out there and interact in soemthing that is still inspirationally grounded.

Finances

I have thought about this alot and agree with one artist on the video in particular, I'm able to enjoy Muntedkowhai because I do not need to depend and live off its earnings. I LOVE to create and when I get orders for necklaces that I have already created, I feel it such a chore to make them. Make and create, is SO different. My pure joy is when someone purchases something I created than something I made for them. The stress of not having to live off Muntedkowhai fuels my passion and at my Science job, the phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is so so true because Munted is the only thing I think of when I'm at work... and Aaron. Within Muntedkowhai, when I first started, I allowed myself around $500 in which after, I could not spend anymore out of my own savings until I made it back. Once I made it back and then some, I only bought supplies when I sold pieces and that is to say, I'm living within my own Muntedkowhai means. I wanted to seperate a bold black line between my savings and my Munted money so I solely use Paypal for Munted. All of my supplies use paypal and as I've found out, I'm so glad that I did this because tracking expenses for tax purposes was easier not having to go through different receipts. It is hard to not want to purchase 50,000 vintage buttons but I simply can't afford it if I had not made any sales. I just could not justify it. When I've made some pretty good sales, I make an effort to purchase my supplies in one go so that I'd be sitting pretty and creating if there is a sale draught. (Ah! I hate sale draughts!)

Family

I often wonder what my family or boyfriend would think if I did Muntedkowhai full time... right now they're very supportive and I appreciate it so much. I'm amazed that Aaron doesn't want to cut off his hear when he hears "Muuuuntedkowhai". My friend Tania, is a pillar of support, ideas and constructive critiscim that I respect which is so important. I have many a friends (overseas) tell me, Tiff, no one will want to buy that, it's "old". Luckily, my intuition took over because I never respected those friend's advice because they naturally don't understand my creations and hand made pieces. My friends in Portland, are hugely supportive, even if they only get to see me once in a blue moon. Family wise, I have no problem because I'm a daughter of an artist and my father, he thinks it is great that I'm making money off of my hobby. Money is the key word here. My dad likes money. He lives in Hong Kong you see. Everyone there, loves their money. My Aunt doesn't understand, she asks me why all my pieces look the same. However when she sees that I sell them, they are now instantly worthy in her eyes. This makes me mad to think something is only of value when others demands it. To me, I take it personally but I know it makes sense in the "economic" world.



Oh look, I should have been in my car 15 minutes ago.

<3

Hello Yann. You are beautiful. I will be seeing you 29th of April at the Wonderball room.
???!!!! You will play beautiful music just for me!?? Ahhh! Swooning as I'm typing....

Hello Pinchandspoon...

I want more! Found via StudioHomeCreative, the very few images of Pinchandspoon is teasing me! I love love the romantic feel of their photographs and not to mention the gorgeous feminine clothes. Eeeep! I want to be able to purchase that canary ruffle scarf!

Bella Gioia

Bella Gioia probably does not need introducing to many a Portlanders but we went to try it out for the first time this weekend. We left with tastebuds a dancing, tummies smiling and knowing there is another place to indulge in. (Portland is never short of great restaurants. We are definitely a foodie city) Located on Everret St, right next to Utrecht ( heart heart heart!), the restaurant itself is a vast open space with huge wooden ceiling beams. The wait has a thick Italian accent, as does the prep cooks in the back who were all rolling Italian while they cut up vegetables in the back. Photographs of items you should try when you go (the prices are very reasonable!):

Romana Pizza

Polenta with different cheeses

Selection of anti-pasta meats. (OH MY GOD, SO GOOD)

Did I mention this place is quaint?

Spring time in the Pearl