Mosaic Monday

It's Mosaic Monday! I hope you'll join us - it's really easy! Just make a mosaic - you can use whatever photo editing software you like, or a website such as the mosaic maker & photos from Flickr - & then post it on your blog. Go ahead & pick a theme if you want, but don't feel like you have to. Have fun with it!

Make sure to come back here & add a link to your blog post so that others can see your awesome mosaic!

Here's mine for this week: Spring Rain.

1. spring rain, 2. Spring Rain, 3. Spring Rain, 4. Spring Rain

Here's the list of mosaics this week. Once you've blogged, click the button below to add your blog post link.

Item of the day: Soap for Men

MSOE member soap has a shop filled with - you guessed it - handmade bath & body products. I'm really tempted to trying out some of the man-friendly scents, like this woodsy buckland:

You can read more about soap's success story on the Etsy blog!

Item of the day: Walden Pond

MSOE member sweettweelab has a shop filled with paper goodies - I'm particularly fond of these paper & ephemera packs:

Follow along on the sweettweelab blog.

Friday Five

The long weekend made this week short & sweet. here's what I was up to:

1. Sunday I went to the arena to watch my niece & nephew at their skating practice. It's almost the end of the season, so they were practicing the end-of-year "spectacle" (it's a very French little town, so that's French for "show"). Jaden is doing really well - the coaches told my sister-in-law that she'd be moved up a level in figure skating & be ready for competitions next year. Edward is doing really well too - he's all about speed.
2. I registered for the ATS conference & booked my hotel in Denver. I just have to book my flight now. I'm hoping for nice weather since I'll be doing lots of walking - anyone know what mid-May is like in Denver?
3. While I was at it, I was planning what I could do while in Denver. I'll be right downtown, so within walking distance of some art galleries, a nature & science museum, the Denver zoo, the botanical gardens & much more I'm sure. I won't have time to see it all... not sure how I'm going to choose! All suggestions welcome!
4. It's been all work & meetings around here: journal club, grad student council meeting, fat sample, muscle baths... Hoping to get in lots of crafting this weekend.
5. I have been listing quite a few new items (as per the MMG challenge) - here's a new bracelet in my jewelry shop:

Have a lovely weekend!

Item of the day: Copper Bookmark

MSOE member anandi has a shop filled with lovely hand-stamped metal jewelry & ID tags. You can also find bookmarks & bookplates - these copper ones are my favourite:

Follow along on anandi's facebook!

My Creative Space

Not much going on here creatively... I really need to clean up & organize my craft desk so that it's easier to spend 10 minutes there when I want a break. Right now, all I have out are these 3 composition books that have yet to be completed:

I need to glue end papers on the inside covers before I can call these finished. Not sure what's taking me so long (I started these in the fall), the papers are all cut & ready to go... maybe tonight.

Head on over to kootoyoo for more creative spaces.

Item of the day: Psyche

MSOE member jvdarcy is known for her bizarre & fantastical drawings - this one of Psyche is just my style:

You can find out more on jvdarcy's facebook page.

Item of the day: Canada Goose

If you're in need of a hand-carved stamp, check out MSOE member jackbear. His birds, like this Canada goose, are particularly amazing:

You can see more on jackbear's blog.

Mosaic Monday

It's Mosaic Monday! I hope you'll join us - it's really easy! Just make a mosaic - you can use whatever photo editing software you like, or a website such as the mosaic maker & photos from Flickr - & then post it on your blog. Go ahead & pick a theme if you want, but don't feel like you have to. Have fun with it!

Make sure to come back here & add a link to your blog post so that

others can see your awesome mosaic!

Here's mine for this week: Family Day.

1. first steps: ZED 207.365, 2. Food of Love, 3. Life is a meadow full of buttercups on a summer's day., 4. Resting mother...

Here's the list of mosaics this week. Once you've blogged, click the button below to add your blog post link.

Item of the day: Tea Button Set

If you need a smile, head on over to MSOE member scientificculture: the cuteness that is the wide-set-eye-smile will be too hard to resist! I particularly love the tea set:

But there are lots of sets to choose from, including some labware ones.

You will also not want to miss the scientificculture blog for a daily dose of crafty goodness!

Item of the day: Waffle Infinity Scarf

What first catches your eye in the shop of MSOE member velonoir is the stunning photography. I particularly love the bike series. But if you keep browsing, you'll find some real gems, including this amazing crocheted scarf:

Follow the velonoir blog to keep up with this talented team member!

Spring 2011 Colour Palettes

It's almost that time of year again; the best, cheeriest, brightest time of year: spring. Recently it's been warmer, the sun shining brighter & the days have been getting noticeably longer. It's almost still light out at 6PM!

With spring comes a new wardrobe: t-shirts, skirts, shoes & light jackets. Our colour palettes also adjust with the changing seasons. In the fall, we lean toward the darks: black, navy, burgundy, brown. But the spring is all about the lights: pastels & vibrant shades spanning the entire rainbow.

As with past seasons, I've put together a couple of colour palettes for Spring 2011. This time, I've done a bit of research first, checking out some online trends before choosing my colours. I focused on versatility, infusing my own style & tastes into my collections.

Here is the soft palette:

And the bold palette:

As I mentioned, I wanted a versatile collection of hues that would combine well with each other. As a demonstration, here are a few combinations that I found particularly appealing:

This first combination is striking & chic. Pair a buttery blouse with a navy skirt or suit for an outfit that radiates confidence & class.

Honeysuckle, this bright pink, was rated the colour of the year by Pantone. I think it pairs nicely with the fawn shades that are so popular this season. I also liked how the two pinks play off each other.

Yellow & orange make another winning combination paired with nude. As you can see in the original palettes, blue is also a perfect partner for these lovely shades of tan. Stocking your wardrobe with a few key items - trousers, a blazer, shoes, a purse - in versatile neutrals can go a long way, combining to create a variety of different looks with seasonal brights.

Lastly, these cool tones would be perfect for a bathroom or kid's room, don't you think?

What's your favourite spring shade or colour combo?

Item of the day: Plush Stomach

If you're looking for some nerdy plush (because you have to start them young) or one-eyed monsters, look no further than MSOE team member FurWillFly. I really like this orange stomach:

But isn't the whole set of innards adorable?

Be sure to check out the FurWillFly blog for more, including a Project 365 with a plush scientist that's sure to make you smile.

Friday Five + A Recipe

Another busy week - and this one feels like a short one since we're leaving early to head up North for the Family Day long weekend. We were planning on going up for a pond hockey tournament... but that might be cancelled, depending on the weather. Either way, it'll be nice to see our families on the holiday celebrating them.

Here's what I was up to this week:

1. I broke the toilet. The chain that attaches to the handle broke off the other part that lifts up to drain the bowl... so I have to do the lifting manually until we get it fixed. Awesome.
2. I finished a book and started another. Now I'm reading Jeanette Walls' Half Broke Horses. She's such a compelling storyteller.
3. I tried a few new recipes this week, including a lentil soup, a rice dish & a chickpea salad. Only the chickpea salad is worth talking about: it was delicious & so easy. I modified the recipe to accommodate the ingredients I had - you can find my version below.
4. I wrapped up a few things at work, making sure I didn't have to go in this weekend. I also ran a muscle bath: an all day experiment. Except half my tissues crapped out nearly half way through, so I scrapped the whole thing. Wasted days are so frustrating...
5. I listed my MSOE team February challenge: The theme this month is Keith Campbell, a biologist who was part of the team that cloned the first mammal, a sheep named Dolly. I thought this sheep-y paper (though from my Christmas pile) was perfect.

Here's that recipe - it makes a great side or a quick lunch.

Recipe: Chickpea Salad

Ingredients:

1 19oz can chickpeas, drained & rinsed

1 lime, zest & juice

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 small red onion, chopped

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Methods:

1. Chop onion & parsley. Rinse chickpeas. Zest lime.

2. Mix together with olive oil & juice from 1/2 the lime (or less if it's a really big one).

3. Add more lime juice & salt & pepper to suit your taste.

Enjoy! Sorry there are no pictures - that's how long it lasted! This salad keeps well in the fridge for a few days. Obviously, you can substitute lemon for the lime, and play around with the herbs & veggies (or go with cheese like in the original recipe). Let me know what you come up with!

Item of the day: Embroidered Cell

This embroidered cell by MSOE team member AlphaRabbitOnline is too cool:

And if you're handy, you can pick up a kit to make your own (with glow-in-the-dark thread)!

Follow AlphaRabbitOnline on facebook.

My Creative Space

I've only had a bit of time in my sketchbook this week. This is my newest sketchbook - I've already shown you the first page spread I filled in, after having inadvertently skipped the front page:

I like the first page to be personal, and since I was inspired by Charley Harper & Alisa Burke for this spread, I thought I'd borrow inspiration from another favourite artist of mine, Gustav Klimt, for the front.

I've only ever collaged my goddesses out of pieces of paper, so I decided to stick to pencils & pens this time. I sketched her out with pencil, then traced the lines with black pen.

I wanted colour & patterns mimicking Klimt blended with my own style, so I filled her clothing in with pastel dots & the background with rounded yellow squares.

I'm so pleased with how she turned out - she makes me smile every time I open my book!

I've only filled in one other page, the next one, in this sketchbook. On Valentine's day, I felt like drawing my honey - so I took this reference photo of Pat & sketched out his face in pencil:

Once happy with my sketch, I again traced the outlines with black pen.

Men aren't the easiest for me to draw, so I'm pretty pleased with this. He's recognizable at least - the only thing really "wrong" is the size of his eyes (just a bit too big).

Drawing in my sketchbook is very relaxing - and I'm really enjoying seeing my progress as an artist unfold.

Head on over to kootoyoo for more creative spaces.

Item of the day: Paillettes

If you're looking for some unique stamped silver jewelry, look no further than MSOE team member PangaeaDesigns. Of course, she has a whole bunch of gorgeous pieces, this necklace being my favourite:

I love all the little discs, some smooth, some textured. There are matching earrings too.

Wordless Wednesday

Item of the day: Rabbit Moon

I have quite the collection of MSOE team member Jerise's papercut ACEOs - I think they're just stunning. My favourite in her shop at the moment is this bunny in celebration of the Chinese New Year:

Hop on over to Jerise's website & blog to learn more.

Item of the day: Shampoo Bar

MSOE team member GetLathered has a range of bath & body products, but specializes in solid shampoo & conditioner bars. This Nor'Easter sounds like a perfect scent to share with the men:

I'm thinking of ordering the pair in vanille de framboise - I'd like to try them out.

Find out more on the GetLathered blog or facebook page.

Inspiration: Dancers Among Us

I can't remember when I first came across this gallery by Jordan Matter, but I was completely blown away! The idea behind the photos is to represent professional dancers dancing in everyday situations, downtown New York City.

The first thing that strikes me is joy - all the dancers seem to be having so much fun. You can't help but smile & secretly want to join them.

These photos inspire me to continue working on my photography. I need to get outside more, capturing people & motion.

These photos also inspire me to continue working on my flexibility....

You should definitely go check out the Dancers Among Us gallery when you have the chance, this is only a small selection of my favourites!

Item of the day: Dopamine Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

Treat your valentine to some nerdy love, compliments of MSOE team member molecularmuse:

The classic silver molecules by molecularmuse are sure to garner lots of attention year round! What's your favourite molecule? I'm partial to this thebromine (chocolate) one.

Find out more on her blog or facebook!

Mosaic Monday

It's Mosaic Monday! I hope you'll join us - it's really easy! Just make a mosaic - you can use whatever photo editing software you like, or a website such as the mosaic maker & photos from Flickr - & then post it on your blog. Go ahead & pick a theme if you want, but don't feel like you have to. Have fun with it!

Make sure to come back here & add a link to your blog post so that

others can see your awesome mosaic!

Here's mine for this week: Happy Valentine's Day!

1. Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love..., 2. Love ... Love ... Love ..., 3. LOVE, 4. Love mark

Even if you aren't one to celebrate Valentine's Day, I hope everyone will take the time today to make up a list of all the people they love. Then tell them so - you'll be sure to bring a smile to a few faces!

As for me, I received my Valentine's Day surprise a few days early: Pat came home from getting his hair cut on Saturday with a small bag for me. Inside? A gift certificate for a 45 minute massage at a day spa just up the road from our place!!! I can't wait! How thoughtful & unexpected - (I guess he can be spontaneously romantic on occasion!) I love that man!

Here's the list of mosaics this week. Once you've blogged, click the button below to add your blog post link.

Item of the day: Mobius Cowl

Today's item of the day is something I've coveted ever since iWunder, an MSOE & MMG team member, first listed it. This cowl features handspun art yarn (by kittygrrlz) in the most gorgeous colourway:

Project 52

So week 5 of Project 52 wasn't a good week for me. The theme was muse & I couldn't think of anything to photograph. Plus, I didn't have much free time to play with my camera.

Week 6 rolled around & still no photo - I felt like such a slacker. The theme for this week was words. And then it all clicked together for me. Words, reading, writing - these are all incredibly inspiring to me - you could certainly call books a muse of mine. So here are the photos I came up with:

week 5/52: muse

This Willow Tree figurine (my mom & I call them faceless angels) is named wisdom & I absolutely adore her. I actually have seven Willow Tree figurines (Angel of Protection, Angel of Learning, wisdom, birthday girl, Angel of Courage, Angel of Wishes & mother and daughter ... hmmm, looks like I need to make a Collections post about them), but this is one of my favourites (reminds me of myself).

This photo is slightly edited: I made it brighter with a white balance & rounded the corners.

week 6/52: words

This is a photo of a page spread in a diary of mine. I've kept a diary regularly since high school - this journal is from the beginning of 2010. On these pages, I'm actually talking about writing & how I want to do more of it: scientific writing & recreational.

I didn't edit this photo - the bright, dreamy feel was created with my Nikon D3000 (high ISO & wide open aperture).

The theme for week 7 is open your heart. I think I might try photographing some people for this one...

Item of the day: Limoges Dish

One of the MSOE team's newer members, ravensrealm has a shop where you can find a little bit of everything. Personally, I really love this vintage Limoges candy dish:

Friday Five

Another busy week flying by...

1. I tutored a course on Tuesday. The regular prof was away, so I subbed. It was the BioPharm companion course to the lab I TA, so it was all the same students (well, half of them, so 10 students). It was a lot of fun!
2. Speaking of the 3rd year BioPharmers, I'm all done TAing that lab. The students have the next couple of months to work on an independent project. So, according to BioPharm tradition, the class is taking us - the TAs & Denis, our program director - out for dinner tonight.
3. I received quite a few samples in the lab this week - lots of fat to process!
4. I started a new book: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. I started it yesterday & have already read half, it's that good. It's a very easy read with figures & diagrams because it's written from an autistic boy's point of view. I love books with an interesting layout like that!
5. Dorana, our MMG captain, started a 200 in 100 challenge. The goal is to have 200 items in your shop - or to list 100 new items if you're already at 200 - in the next 100 days. So I've listed some new things, including the little blue house with a red door painting I showed yesterday & this sweet bracelet:

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day weekend - nothing planned here, I have to go into work both Saturday & Sunday.... well at least there's nothing that I know about yet! But I won't hold my breath - Pat isn't the most spontaneous, romantic person I know. We'll see - it isn't like I have anything for him anyway! Maybe I'll convince him to take me out for dinner...

Item of the day: Ira

Today's MSOE member, imagiro, has such a cute shop! The illustrations are adorable - of course this nerdy bunny is my favourite though!

Do check out this sweet shop - you won't be disappointed! You can see their facebook page here too.