Willow trees | Slim Paley

Slim Paley photo

So much for Spring coming in like a lamb…more like The Big Bad Wolf, huffing and puffing and blowing one of our 18 year old willow trees down. Of course in comparison to the catastrophic global events of this past month we certainly can’t complain about our weather in Southern California. We were sad to see our beautiful tree prostrate across the drive like a great fallen beast, but Madame Nature…She’s like Bette Davis -the dame takes no prisoners. ‘Twas but a stick in the wind…

Mehmet Ali Uysal, Belgium

If only we had a few of these to pin down our trees in bad weather

Alas, we pick up the “sticks”,

Slim Paley Photo

The neighbourhood sings with the melody of wood chipper & chainsaw,

and as willows do not make good firewood, I lament having never taken the ‘Basket Weaving’ class at summer camp. (Probably too busy wrapping rival tents in T.P. )

Rattan Tea Set by artist Anna Zarith, England

If I’d only been more industrious…

I did learn how to make those coloured plastic lanyards at camp though!

Reclaimed wooden lighting fixtures made from Oak barrel staves.

STAVE Luminary

Willow branches

Coco lashings

Both from Nettletonhollow.com

Vintage Wall Paper Printing Lamps from Jean Brown Antiques, Kings Rd. London

Wooden chair Natura

Amanyara Turks & Caicos

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma’s Bamboo House

Ming glasses of bamboo from Yii Collection

Wood Hammock Adam Cornish for Flex

Hermes make a most unusual and bold statement with sticks in their newest premises in Paris

Hermes Paris

I’m increasingly drawn to the interesting juxtaposition between the very old & the new in architecture, but that’s another post…

The Bridge School in Xiashi, China is a perfect example of what I’m referring to. Designed by architect Li Xiaodong it received the Aga Khan Architecture Award in 2010.

It’s a beautiful modern structure that successfully blends into the landscape with the use of local materials (bamboo) while ‘bridging’ two historic structures. The linear, lightweight form appears to float over the river below.

The structure and courtyard not only serve as a school, but also a gathering place for the entire local community.

.Slim Paley photo

Boats, Cambodia

To attract a partner, the male Bowerbird builds and decorates an elaborate nest, which can take weeks to assemble. The bower — a structure woven around a sapling that looks almost like a wooden tent — is carpeted with moss and decorated with flowers, colorful insects, fungi or even dung, depending on each bird’s design sensibilities.

This bird has not only an eye for design, but also an ear for song. This crooner is able to mimic a number of sounds from its surrounding habit and use them to weave together complex arias.

(Excerpt from Discoverynews.com)

I dunno- Is it just me, or does anyone else suspect this little guy could also be looking for another fella??

Just saying… that’s some pretty awesome decorating for a bird…

I don’t want to go all “Mutual of Omaha” on you, but if you have a minute, read this short article; “Bowerbirds Trick Mates with Optical Illusions” (NatureNews.com) They are something else!

Plywood “Egg Chairs” by designer Emma Selzer, Melbourne, Australia

From “The Giacometti Variations”, an elongated version of a Giacometti-inspired figured clothed by artist John Baldessari for the Prada Foundation, Milan

Basket light fixtures from South of Market