Scientifically speaking

I am on a geek roll and I couldn't help myself.  With science and math on my mind, I'm inspired to paint some mitochondria.


This has made its way around the internet and around it goes again

edible cell biology.  is that a golgi apparatus or endoplasmic reticulum?
source:  se7en






just in time for halloween!
source:  chavezdesigns




laboratory kitchen
source:  pinterest



paramecium necklace
source:  sciencecrush on etsy


How would you incorporate science into your style?


signed, the willow

Equations at Home

Ever just try to imagine how you could marry two things that you love?

I love math (yes, insert nerd glasses here) and I love home decor.  So, let's go!


equation bookshelf (source:  estudiobreder)



math pillow on graph paper fabric!  (source: pinterest)



geometrical bookcase (source:  bobbyberkhome)




magnetic curtains (source:  florian krautli)




random geometry wallpaper (source:  design interior decorating)




formula flash cards (source:  apartment therapy)



Pythagorean theorem wallpaper (source:  andrew martin)


Isn't math divine?

signed, the willow

Brown Paper Bagging It

Since *mila* has to present on how she feels about herself by placing 5 objects in a paper lunch bag tomorrow,  I thought I'd try the same.  Remember, it has to fit in a paper bag!


source:  club doctissimo

1. a croissant:  I can't put the cappuccino in the bag.  I like to think of myself as pensive and a bit of a daydreamer that can sit over an americano and a nice croissant in an outdoor cafe in Paris.



source:  art paints

2. an indigo paint chip:  Rich in character like the colour indigo. Dark and mysterious.  Vibrant and fun.




source:  touches home interiors

3.  a crystal door knob:  It creates prismatic views of life.  It allows others to open new doors.  It is the way in or out, not the door itself.  It's like I need the attention that a doorknob from 'Alice in Wonderland' would need in order to be opened.  I like to be tippy-toed around, handled with kid-gloves and all those other wonderful things!  No, I'm not a princess or a diva, just fragile like that crystal door knob,




source:  schleich

4. a toy icelandic horse:  it's unique and has a gait like no other (I have a normal gait, but I march to my own drum).  It's a reminder to be true to who I am.  It's a reminder of my familial roots (my great-great grandparents emigrated from Iceland to Canada).   Oooh, that's a boy pony, isn't it?  Eeek, sorry about that.




source:  coo home designing

5.  an ikea catalogue collection:  First of all, I have a collection of IKEA catalogues.  This is not my collection.  I guess if you have no clue who I am or just started to read my blog, you probably haven't noticed that I'm a bit of an IKEA freak.  Been there for dinner tonight, have a Billy bookcase in just about every room.  I know each and every catalogue like the back of my hand.  How does it describe who I am?  Well, I'm a bit obsessive.  I like to collect and I can't dare throw anything out (sometimes).  I'm loyal.  Loyal like a dog.  I was born in the year of the dog.  99% of my home items come from IKEA.  I like to think that IKEA acts with integrity and I like to think I do too.  Or at least I try.

+++++=====++++++


Normally I would identify myself by my relationships.  I'm a mother, I'm a daughter, a sister, a wife, a grand-daughter, a cousin, and an aunt.  But, this time I needed the autonomy lesson.  We all do.  Life gets busy and life can whisk us away to places that take us down roads where we forget who we are.

Take some time to fill up your bag.

What did you put in yours?

signed, the willow

Bend little willow

It's not everyday that you can blog about your middle name.  But I'm so lucky I can do it over and over and over again.  And now, I have so many more reasons to love willows:




willow leaf ring
silver blueberry on etsy




source:  pinterest




source:  pinterest




(blue willow inspired johnny walker bottles)
source:  pinterest



incredible sculpture of dancing lady
source:  trevor leat





signed, the willow

Walk with me in the park

So, my dear, wonderful, and very kind husband has complained that I don't tell enough story on my blog.  So, once a week, I'll give him a little anecdote and that should shut him up.

Take a walk with me in my neighbourhood park (or bike trail).  Please excuse my photos taken on my phone.

Aren't the willows on my walk just fantastic?

Have you met my poor old girl, Suma?  Isn't she sweet?  She generally can't walk very far any more.  But she did 6 km with me this day.  It was a bit of scorcher too.

Here we go again.  She needs to sniff every single blade of grass on our way there and back home.

The city has these great new benches on the trail.   I think this one says "Kiss again....the stars in your eyes will be glowing brighter".  There are more, but it's really rather awkward taking photos of them when people are sitting on them.  I stood by the bench opposite this one for a minute waiting for an elderly gentleman to pass.  Instead he stopped and sat on it.  So, I'll have to sneak out earlier with the camera and take some better photos.

Lastly, after school, I picked up my little *mila* monkey and she wanted a photo of her lying in this tree.  Because she's so pensive and laid back, don't you know?  *sarcasm* goes here.

signed, the willow

Autumn, Fall, Post-Summer, Season-Before-Winter

Call it what you like, but it has arrived.  It's Fall.  It's Autumn.  Summer was great.  Winter is around the corner. Fall is my favourite.  It's usually drier than Spring, cooler than summer, warmer than winter, the colours are incredible.

My favourite things to do in the Fall - shop for new clothes, shop for new decorating.  Let's play match it up.  Fashioning the body, fashioning the home.


Fall Fashion Trend for 2011:  Minimalism (Thank you!)


source:  modern fashion




source:  best interior design

Fall Fashion Trend for 2011:  Coloured Trousers = Coloured Chesterfield?

source:  gingersnaps

source:  sky architects

Fall Fashion Trend for 2011:  Polkadots = Polkadots


source:  style.com



source:  design-decor-staging






Fall Fashion Trend for 2011:  Oriental Opulence


source:  fashionising


source:  inspiration for decor




Fall Fashion Trend for 2011:  Texture

source:  polyvore


source:  chictip



What's your favourite trend for Fall 2011?

signed, the willow

The many-drawered

If there is one thing I love, it's many, many, many, mucho drawered things.



source:  apartment therapy




source:  art of asia corp



source:  design sponge




source:  cantyshanty





source:  all about abbie






source:  daily decorator






all 3 above, source:  driftwood interiors






source:  american listed





source:  scissor variations




what would you put in all those drawers?  i think i'd keep polly pocket's shoe collection in any given set of drawers.


signed, the willow

Studio Moodio Love

Daydreaming of a new art studio?  Daydream no more.  Put your paints or musical instruments in one of these beautiful studios here.


source:  wishstudio



source:  roomzaar






source:  borough gallery & studio


source:  flickr




source:  studio-house




source:  emergency response studio





source:  jenniferyoung





source:  fashion copious



source:  interiordesignnet




I long for a studio in a loft space.  I know, I know, "be careful what you wish for".  Maybe I'll take a room above the garage instead. Or, I love the idea of transforming a trailer or airstream!


Do you have a studio?  Send me a link and I'll make a special mention!

signed, the willow