diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df1ffd3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# AppVeyor.com is a Continuous Integration service to build and run tests under
+# Windows
+
+environment:
+  global:
+    # SDK v7.0 MSVC Express 2008's SetEnv.cmd script will fail if the
+    # /E:ON and /V:ON options are not enabled in the batch script intepreter
+    # See: http://stackoverflow.com/a/13751649/163740
+    CMD_IN_ENV: "cmd /E:ON /V:ON /C .\\tools\\appveyor\\run_with_env.cmd"
+
+  matrix:
+    - PYTHON: "C:\\Python27_32"
+      PYTHON_VERSION: "2.7"
+      PYTHON_ARCH: "32"
+
+    - PYTHON: "C:\\Python27_64"
+      PYTHON_VERSION: "2.7"
+      PYTHON_ARCH: "64"
+
+    - PYTHON: "C:\\Python34_32"
+      PYTHON_VERSION: "3.4.2"
+      PYTHON_ARCH: "32"
+
+    - PYTHON: "C:\\Python24_64"
+      PYTHON_VERSION: "3.4.2"
+      PYTHON_ARCH: "64"
+
+install:
+  # Install Python (from the official .msi of http://python.org) and pip when
+  # not already installed.
+  - "powershell ./tools/appveyor/install.ps1"
+  - "SET PATH=%PYTHON%;%PYTHON%\\Scripts;%PATH%"
+
+  # Check that we have the expected version and architecture for Python
+  - "python --version"
+  - "python -c \"import struct; print(struct.calcsize('P') * 8)\""
+
+  # Install the build and runtime dependencies of the project.
+  - "%CMD_IN_ENV% pip install -v %WHEELHOUSE% -r tools/appveyor/requirements.txt"
+  - "%CMD_IN_ENV% pip install -v -r requirements.txt"
+  - "%CMD_IN_ENV% python setup.py bdist_wheel bdist_wininst"
+  - ps: "ls dist"
+
+  # Install the generated wheel package to test it
+  - "pip install --pre --no-index --find-links dist/ scikit-image"
+
+
+
+# Not a .NET project, we build scikit-image in the install step instead
+build: false
+
+test_script:
+  # Change to a non-source folder to make sure we run the tests on the
+  # installed library.
+  - "cd C:\\"
+
+    # Use the Agg backend in Matplotlib
+  -  echo backend:Agg > matplotlibrc
+
+  # Run unit tests with nose
+  - "python -c \"import nose; nose.main()\" -v -s skimage"
+
+artifacts:
+  # Archive the generated wheel package in the ci.appveyor.com build report.
+  - path: dist\*
+
+#on_success:
+#  - TODO: upload the content of dist/*.whl to a public wheelhouse
diff --git a/skimage/io/collection.py b/skimage/io/collection.py
index dccd88c8..49d6aa25 100644
--- a/skimage/io/collection.py
+++ b/skimage/io/collection.py
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ class ImageCollection(object):
                  **load_func_kwargs):
         """Load and manage a collection of images."""
         if isinstance(load_pattern, six.string_types):
-            load_pattern = load_pattern.split(os.pathsep)
+            load_pattern = load_pattern.replace(os.pathsep, ':')
+            load_pattern = load_pattern.split(':')
             self._files = []
             for pattern in load_pattern:
                 self._files.extend(glob(pattern))
diff --git a/skimage/io/tests/test_multi_image.py b/skimage/io/tests/test_multi_image.py
index 76a71ec2..04a51ec6 100644
--- a/skimage/io/tests/test_multi_image.py
+++ b/skimage/io/tests/test_multi_image.py
@@ -29,12 +29,12 @@ class TestMultiImage():
         assert len(self.imgs[2]) == len(self.imgs[3]) == 24
         assert len(self.imgs[4]) == 2
         assert len(self.imgs[5]) == 24
-        assert len(self.imgs[6]) == 26
+        assert len(self.imgs[6]) == 26, len(self.imgs[6])
 
     def test_slicing(self):
         img = self.imgs[-1]
         assert type(img[:]) is ImageCollection
-        assert len(img[:]) == 26
+        assert len(img[:]) == 26, len(img[:])
         assert len(img[:1]) == 1
         assert len(img[1:]) == 25
         assert_allclose(img[0], img[:1][0])
diff --git a/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py b/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py
index 780c66e0..fc28ce89 100644
--- a/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py
+++ b/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def test_imsave_filelike():
     s = BytesIO()
 
     # save to file-like object
-    with expected_warnings(['precision loss']):
+    with expected_warnings(['precision loss|unclosed file']):
         imsave(s, image)
 
     # read from file-like object
diff --git a/skimage/measure/tests/test_regionprops.py b/skimage/measure/tests/test_regionprops.py
index 5a14aba5..3ac735c7 100644
--- a/skimage/measure/tests/test_regionprops.py
+++ b/skimage/measure/tests/test_regionprops.py
@@ -126,13 +126,13 @@ def test_equiv_diameter():
 
 
 def test_euler_number():
-    with expected_warnings(['`background`']):
+    with expected_warnings(['`background`|CObject type']):
         en = regionprops(SAMPLE)[0].euler_number
     assert en == 0
 
     SAMPLE_mod = SAMPLE.copy()
     SAMPLE_mod[7, -3] = 0
-    with expected_warnings(['`background`']):
+    with expected_warnings(['`background`|CObject type']):
         en = regionprops(SAMPLE_mod)[0].euler_number
     assert en == -1
 
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ def test_equals():
     r2 = regions[0]
     r3 = regions[1]
 
-    with expected_warnings(['`background`']):
+    with expected_warnings(['`background`|CObject type']):
         assert_equal(r1 == r2, True, "Same regionprops are not equal")
         assert_equal(r1 != r3, True, "Different regionprops are equal")
 
diff --git a/skimage/segmentation/tests/test_random_walker.py b/skimage/segmentation/tests/test_random_walker.py
index f2207fde..a3a45c8d 100644
--- a/skimage/segmentation/tests/test_random_walker.py
+++ b/skimage/segmentation/tests/test_random_walker.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def test_3d_inactive():
     old_labels = np.copy(labels)
     labels[5:25, 26:29, 26:29] = -1
     after_labels = np.copy(labels)
-    with expected_warnings(['"cg" mode']):
+    with expected_warnings(['"cg" mode|CObject type']):
         labels = random_walker(data, labels, mode='cg')
     assert (labels.reshape(data.shape)[13:17, 13:17, 13:17] == 2).all()
     assert data.shape == labels.shape
diff --git a/skimage/viewer/tests/test_tools.py b/skimage/viewer/tests/test_tools.py
index aae44783..b79a40e2 100644
--- a/skimage/viewer/tests/test_tools.py
+++ b/skimage/viewer/tests/test_tools.py
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ from skimage.viewer import ImageViewer, has_qt
 from skimage.viewer.canvastools import (
     LineTool, ThickLineTool, RectangleTool, PaintTool)
 from skimage.viewer.canvastools.base import CanvasToolBase
-from matplotlib.testing.decorators import cleanup
+try:
+    from matplotlib.testing.decorators import cleanup
+except ImportError:
+    def cleanup(func):
+        return func
 
 
 def get_end_points(image):
diff --git a/tools/appveyor/install.ps1 b/tools/appveyor/install.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f165d8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/appveyor/install.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+# Sample script to install Python and pip under Windows
+# Authors: Olivier Grisel, Jonathan Helmus and Kyle Kastner
+# License: CC0 1.0 Universal: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
+
+$MINICONDA_URL = "http://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/"
+$BASE_URL = "https://www.python.org/ftp/python/"
+$GET_PIP_URL = "https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py"
+$GET_PIP_PATH = "C:\get-pip.py"
+
+
+function DownloadPython ($python_version, $platform_suffix) {
+    $webclient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
+    $filename = "python-" + $python_version + $platform_suffix + ".msi"
+    $url = $BASE_URL + $python_version + "/" + $filename
+
+    $basedir = $pwd.Path + "\"
+    $filepath = $basedir + $filename
+    if (Test-Path $filename) {
+        Write-Host "Reusing" $filepath
+        return $filepath
+    }
+
+    # Download and retry up to 3 times in case of network transient errors.
+    Write-Host "Downloading" $filename "from" $url
+    $retry_attempts = 2
+    for($i=0; $i -lt $retry_attempts; $i++){
+        try {
+            $webclient.DownloadFile($url, $filepath)
+            break
+        }
+        Catch [Exception]{
+            Start-Sleep 1
+        }
+   }
+   if (Test-Path $filepath) {
+       Write-Host "File saved at" $filepath
+   } else {
+       # Retry once to get the error message if any at the last try
+       $webclient.DownloadFile($url, $filepath)
+   }
+   return $filepath
+}
+
+
+function InstallPython ($python_version, $architecture, $python_home) {
+    Write-Host "Installing Python" $python_version "for" $architecture "bit architecture to" $python_home
+    if (Test-Path $python_home) {
+        Write-Host $python_home "already exists, skipping."
+        return $false
+    }
+    if ($architecture -eq "32") {
+        $platform_suffix = ""
+    } else {
+        $platform_suffix = ".amd64"
+    }
+    $msipath = DownloadPython $python_version $platform_suffix
+    Write-Host "Installing" $msipath "to" $python_home
+    $install_log = $python_home + ".log"
+    $install_args = "/qn /log $install_log /i $msipath TARGETDIR=$python_home"
+    $uninstall_args = "/qn /x $msipath"
+    RunCommand "msiexec.exe" $install_args
+    if (-not(Test-Path $python_home)) {
+        Write-Host "Python seems to be installed else-where, reinstalling."
+        RunCommand "msiexec.exe" $uninstall_args
+        RunCommand "msiexec.exe" $install_args
+    }
+    if (Test-Path $python_home) {
+        Write-Host "Python $python_version ($architecture) installation complete"
+    } else {
+        Write-Host "Failed to install Python in $python_home"
+        Get-Content -Path $install_log
+        Exit 1
+    }
+}
+
+function RunCommand ($command, $command_args) {
+    Write-Host $command $command_args
+    Start-Process -FilePath $command -ArgumentList $command_args -Wait -Passthru
+}
+
+
+function InstallPip ($python_home) {
+    $pip_path = $python_home + "\Scripts\pip.exe"
+    $python_path = $python_home + "\python.exe"
+    if (-not(Test-Path $pip_path)) {
+        Write-Host "Installing pip..."
+        $webclient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
+        $webclient.DownloadFile($GET_PIP_URL, $GET_PIP_PATH)
+        Write-Host "Executing:" $python_path $GET_PIP_PATH
+        Start-Process -FilePath "$python_path" -ArgumentList "$GET_PIP_PATH" -Wait -Passthru
+    } else {
+        Write-Host "pip already installed."
+    }
+}
+
+
+function DownloadMiniconda ($python_version, $platform_suffix) {
+    $webclient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
+    if ($python_version -eq "3.4") {
+        $filename = "Miniconda3-3.5.5-Windows-" + $platform_suffix + ".exe"
+    } else {
+        $filename = "Miniconda-3.5.5-Windows-" + $platform_suffix + ".exe"
+    }
+    $url = $MINICONDA_URL + $filename
+
+    $basedir = $pwd.Path + "\"
+    $filepath = $basedir + $filename
+    if (Test-Path $filename) {
+        Write-Host "Reusing" $filepath
+        return $filepath
+    }
+
+    # Download and retry up to 3 times in case of network transient errors.
+    Write-Host "Downloading" $filename "from" $url
+    $retry_attempts = 2
+    for($i=0; $i -lt $retry_attempts; $i++){
+        try {
+            $webclient.DownloadFile($url, $filepath)
+            break
+        }
+        Catch [Exception]{
+            Start-Sleep 1
+        }
+   }
+   if (Test-Path $filepath) {
+       Write-Host "File saved at" $filepath
+   } else {
+       # Retry once to get the error message if any at the last try
+       $webclient.DownloadFile($url, $filepath)
+   }
+   return $filepath
+}
+
+
+function InstallMiniconda ($python_version, $architecture, $python_home) {
+    Write-Host "Installing Python" $python_version "for" $architecture "bit architecture to" $python_home
+    if (Test-Path $python_home) {
+        Write-Host $python_home "already exists, skipping."
+        return $false
+    }
+    if ($architecture -eq "32") {
+        $platform_suffix = "x86"
+    } else {
+        $platform_suffix = "x86_64"
+    }
+    $filepath = DownloadMiniconda $python_version $platform_suffix
+    Write-Host "Installing" $filepath "to" $python_home
+    $install_log = $python_home + ".log"
+    $args = "/S /D=$python_home"
+    Write-Host $filepath $args
+    Start-Process -FilePath $filepath -ArgumentList $args -Wait -Passthru
+    if (Test-Path $python_home) {
+        Write-Host "Python $python_version ($architecture) installation complete"
+    } else {
+        Write-Host "Failed to install Python in $python_home"
+        Get-Content -Path $install_log
+        Exit 1
+    }
+}
+
+
+function InstallMinicondaPip ($python_home) {
+    $pip_path = $python_home + "\Scripts\pip.exe"
+    $conda_path = $python_home + "\Scripts\conda.exe"
+    if (-not(Test-Path $pip_path)) {
+        Write-Host "Installing pip..."
+        $args = "install --yes pip"
+        Write-Host $conda_path $args
+        Start-Process -FilePath "$conda_path" -ArgumentList $args -Wait -Passthru
+    } else {
+        Write-Host "pip already installed."
+    }
+}
+
+function main () {
+    InstallPython $env:PYTHON_VERSION $env:PYTHON_ARCH $env:PYTHON
+    InstallPip $env:PYTHON
+}
+
+main
diff --git a/tools/appveyor/requirements.txt b/tools/appveyor/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9cc4022f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/appveyor/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Fetch numpy and scipy wheels from the sklearn rackspace wheelhouse.
+# Those wheels were generated by @ogrisel by calling `wheel convert` on
+# the binaries from http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/
+# This is a temporary solution. As soon as numpy, scipy and cython provide
+# official wheels for windows we can delete this --find-links line.
+--find-links http://28daf2247a33ed269873-7b1aad3fab3cc330e1fd9d109892382a.r6.cf2.rackcdn.com/appveyor_pip_index.html
+
+# fix the versions of binary packages to force the use of the whl
+# of the rackspace folder instead of trying to install from PyPI
+# wheels are preferred for a given version
+numpy==1.8.1
+scipy==0.14.0
+cython==0.20.2
+matplotlib==1.4.2
+pillow==2.6.1
+wheel
+nose
diff --git a/tools/appveyor/run_with_env.cmd b/tools/appveyor/run_with_env.cmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c70d633
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/appveyor/run_with_env.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+:: To build extensions for 64 bit Python 3, we need to configure environment
+:: variables to use the MSVC 2010 C++ compilers from GRMSDKX_EN_DVD.iso of:
+:: MS Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4 (SDK v7.1)
+::
+:: To build extensions for 64 bit Python 2, we need to configure environment
+:: variables to use the MSVC 2008 C++ compilers from GRMSDKX_EN_DVD.iso of:
+:: MS Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 (SDK v7.0)
+::
+:: 32 bit builds do not require specific environment configurations.
+::
+:: Note: this script needs to be run with the /E:ON and /V:ON flags for the
+:: cmd interpreter, at least for (SDK v7.0)
+::
+:: More details at:
+:: https://github.com/cython/cython/wiki/64BitCythonExtensionsOnWindows
+:: http://stackoverflow.com/a/13751649/163740
+::
+:: Author: Olivier Grisel
+:: License: BSD 3 clause
+@ECHO OFF
+
+SET COMMAND_TO_RUN=%*
+SET WIN_SDK_ROOT=C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows
+
+SET MAJOR_PYTHON_VERSION="%PYTHON_VERSION:~0,1%"
+IF %MAJOR_PYTHON_VERSION% == "2" (
+    SET WINDOWS_SDK_VERSION="v7.0"
+) ELSE IF %MAJOR_PYTHON_VERSION% == "3" (
+    SET WINDOWS_SDK_VERSION="v7.1"
+) ELSE (
+    ECHO Unsupported Python version: "%MAJOR_PYTHON_VERSION%"
+    EXIT 1
+)
+
+IF "%PYTHON_ARCH%"=="64" (
+    ECHO Configuring Windows SDK %WINDOWS_SDK_VERSION% for Python %MAJOR_PYTHON_VERSION% on a 64 bit architecture
+    SET DISTUTILS_USE_SDK=1
+    SET MSSdk=1
+    "%WIN_SDK_ROOT%\%WINDOWS_SDK_VERSION%\Setup\WindowsSdkVer.exe" -q -version:%WINDOWS_SDK_VERSION%
+    "%WIN_SDK_ROOT%\%WINDOWS_SDK_VERSION%\Bin\SetEnv.cmd" /x64 /release
+    ECHO Executing: %COMMAND_TO_RUN%
+    call %COMMAND_TO_RUN% || EXIT 1
+) ELSE (
+    ECHO Using default MSVC build environment for 32 bit architecture
+    ECHO Executing: %COMMAND_TO_RUN%
+    call %COMMAND_TO_RUN% || EXIT 1
+)