We have been mixing it up here at Casa Testa, We built a Love Nest, replete with a large television, a dvd player and a Wii(!). It is cosy and fun, it honors the two of us as a couple and really feels like great space.

We have been working on recreating my studio space and also making space for my Man, who loves to play guitar, piano and needs his own interpretation of studio space. Today we blitzed the apartment and found storage for the odd piles that occur when overwhelmed by all the rest of life, we gathered up the cardboard that acrues when you purchase new stuff and gave the abode a good scrub.

It feels good.

My Mom made a fabulous, embroidered and beaded pin cushion for me. I am in love with it. And hey! I saw my folks for the first time in too long yesterday and my folks need a lovin' shout out. They have their own 'stuff' to deal with and they are doing a great job being my parents!

And of course we had to hang the stolenand helpful reminder of what life is really about (yes, I am both sorry and happy to say, I nabbed this ever so long ago).

And well, talk to ya later, gotta go whip my Mans butt at Wii Tennis.

If you haven't read my most recent Sketchbook Challenge post, it is right here.

I was out and about this weekend when I stopped in the park to have a good swing at the playground, there were no kids around hogging the swing set, so I took that as an opportunity. On leaving the playground, I saw a piece of paper tacked to a tree and fluttering in the wind. Normally, I would swipe it and stuff it in my backpack for use in my journal. But this was special, so I just photographed my discovery (and scrubbed the phone number in photoshop for good measure-you should support young entrepreneurs however possible, if you are local and would like her number, post a comment!). Way to go Beatrice!

I have been quiet here, I haven't had much to say and I wanted to try to combat this lapse. Here I show you the two drawers accessed from my workbench. These are all the tools I need, quick and nimble. This drawer shows all my acrylic paint. I should put labels on all the lids, and name the color in the jar, but. I am pretty organized but not that spazzed out.

Here is the top drawer. This one gets a lot of movement. All my favorite stuff is in this drawer. My pencil case, colored pencils, porcelain palette, water dropper (I don't mean to offend the religious among us-I have a loose interpretation of what might offend my higher power and using a Holy Water bottle as a tool in helping me paint is not among the top 100 offensive behaviors-on my list anyway), paint palettes, oil pastels, burnishers, folders, exacto. In other words this is a treasure trove of possibility.