quickies are good, too

I just want to check in quickly even though I've got to get off this computer and get to work! I've heard from several ladies who have made self-portrait stencils and wanted to share so you can get inspired, too. So check it out:

• Dawn's journal page using her gorgeous-self stencil here.
• Zorana's mystical and intricate collage here.
• And just in case there is anyone left in blogland who hasn't seen them, check out Patty and Mary Ann's journaling using portrait stencils. Does that make you want to go out and buy a case of spray paint or what?

As long as we're sharing, two posts by amazing artists that are sure to inspire:

• Bari J's scraplique's, as she calls them, here and here.
• Ro Bruhn's altered books here.

Both of these ladies can do beautiful magic with color & pattern. And, I can't do it. I can't leave you without a picture...blogging is a kind of visual communication after all. So, here it is. My husband got it into his head to build a chicken coop in the back yard. Yes. I happened to mention, at the suggestion of our nature book, that observing a little baby chick might be interesting for Soren as we study birds. That conversation then turned into this:

The coop has actually been finished and painted now so I'll have to share that another time--you're going to love it.  And just in case you were wondering, no, we do not live on a large piece of land and rolling hills. We live in a very nice, very old, and very quiet neighborhood. With neighbors, senior citizens, fairly close by. I do think having eggs will be cool, but I've been wondering--do chicken coops stink??

Oops, gotta go! My fabric finally came in. Off to oooh and aaahh.

Comments

[Felicia]

Can't wait to see the coop!

[ro Bruhn]

Thanks for mentioning my art on your blog, I love the stencils you've created, I must give them a try. I'm working my way through Randi's book at the moment

[tina]

Debra,
thanks for posting the self portrait stencil tutorial. you made it so simple so I had to give it a try and even though I haven't made one of myself yet, i did try cutting some from some of my stamps and was really quite impressed with how doable it was. great links in this post to some wonderful eye candy. i stumbled on your site a few weeks ago and loved your painted papers; i adore paint! you have some faboooo eye candy so thanks for sharing.

[bari ackerman]

Hi there. Thanks for the mention!
~Bari

[patti]

Just found you through following a link at Pink Chalk Studio. Chicken coops will stink if they are not cleaned often, or when you have TONS of chickens. I am going to have chickens when I buy my next home!

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch is one of my all time favorite books!