Tag Archives: Kat Sloma’s Liberate Your Art 2015

2015 Liberated Art – The Blog Hop

 

 

The Liberate Your Art  swap comes to an end much too soon (click to see the video). As with Christmas, the anticipation for the next one begins as soon as the last present is unwrapped. Once a year, doesn’t seem enough. Our hostess, Kat Sloma might feel otherwise.

Kat has the huge task of sorting all the art. You can see her art swap preparations for yourself. Kat loves sharing the artful envelopes as they arrive, (she even shared mine this year). Can you imagine seeing this big stack of artful envelopes in your mailbox?

My Swap Stats

Swap participants receive five postcards, from fellow swappers, and one from our hostess Kat. Through the swap Facebook page, side swaps are arranged. Some of my LYA friends have traded with me 3 years in a row! This year I made enough cards to share with friends and family.

Side swaps – 23
International swaps – 6
States swapped – 17
Postcards mailed – 60+ (including family and friends)
Pending swap arrivals- 4 (in the mail)

My Swap Posts

You can learn more about the cards I liberated, as well as those I have received by following the links below. These are my “official” cards, minus Kat’s, per her request.

Mary Grellner, Mark Wilson, MJF, Jo Murray, Liz Velichko

Mary Grellner, Mark Wilson, MJF, Jo Murray, Liz Velichko

The cards I sent out…

LYA postcards 2015 Sheila Delgado

LYA postcards 2015 Sheila Delgado

Early postcard arrivals – ArtyKat, Sherry, Teena, Sarah, Amy

Chain, chain, chain – Terry, Deanie, Juana, Janice, Mark, Mary

Sunsets and shells – Chelsea, Jo, Lui, Maggie, MJF, Vicki

Snow and sand – Jill, Jasmine, Liz

But wait, There’s more!

I am so thankful for having connected with so many talented, creative people! It’s about more than the art and photos. It is the stories that go along with them. And so often finding a shared experience, or interest.

Lisa Schwinghammer, Snap Lane, Diane McWhirter

Lisa Schwinghammer, Snap Lane, Diane McWhirter

Diane McWhirter shared her bold tulips with me. There is a note on the back of the card that says it was put in the wrong box. Whew! I am so thankful it made it from Australia! I love Diane’s loose technique. (One I wish I was better at.)

SnapLane shared one of her glorious garden shots. Don’t you just love those fuchsia blooms? The message is, “Leave room in the garden for the fairies to dance.” Diane is a proud Texan. I was born in Abilene, so, gotta love that!

“Paris is always a good idea.”  I have never been, but I totally agree with Lisa Schwinghammer! Paris is on my list! Lisa sent this from Denver, Hello Denver! I grew up in Loveland which once was 60 miles north of Denver, but now I think it is closer to 45 miles. Sure did seem closer the last time I was there. This is the third year Lisa and I have exchanged cards. How lucky am I!

Liberated Art Album

LYA Album

LYA Album

This year I have filled a small album (dollar store) with the cards I have received. It is a little over half full. Room enough to add my cards maybe. (To remind myself next year, what I sent out this year.)

I have a small space, and not a lot of display space. I like the idea of being able to keep this close by, and open it up when I need inspiration. Keeps the neat freak (me) happy too.

 

 

Thanks to my Liberate Your Art friends!
High five to those who liberated art for the very first time!
Thanks to Kat Sloma for having such a super idea
and allowing us to be a part of it!

b

b

 

Liberated Art

I have received Kat Sloma’s postcard, signaling the end of her Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap. Kat has asked us not to show it, so that everyone can be surprised when theirs arrives. That might be another week or two for participants outside the U.S.A.

The LYA Blog Hop is April 16-19. Kat will reveal the video showcasing cards from each participant. It is a great chance to discover new artists!

My last official postcard arrived on Friday. Liz Velichko sent the photo of the boardwalk below. It was taken on an overcast day, one of my favorite times to visit the beach. Liz included this on the back:

You were created to love and be loved, to know and be known, you matter.
May you find grace and beauty in exactly who you are today.

Wonderful to find that in your mail, don’t you think?

LYA 2015 postcard art

Jill Hejl, Liz Velichko, Jasmine

Jasmine is a photographer, a “New Yorker” now living in California wine country. She enjoys taking landscape photos of her new surroundings, finding beauty in the everyday. She hopes that her photos will bring joy to others as well. And this one did Jasmine! Very curious about that bold red wall! You can follow her on Instagram, jasmine_sk.

The fellow on the top of the photo, is “Snow Shoveler” by Jill Hejl. Those flecks of white are chunks of snow flying as he wields his weapon. I have followed Jill’s blog for a while now, and I was so excited she agreed to do an extra swap with me. Jill not only creates wonderful characters, but she often writes short stories about them. I get a kick out of what she thinks up.

I would be slightly sad right about now. But I still have some extra swaps I am expecting. Last week I sent out the last of my postcards, and I am looking forward to hearing about their arrival.

Thank you Liz, Jasmine and Jill, AND Kat!
I feel so fortunate that you have shared your art with me!

b

b

Liberate Your Art Continues

I’m a bit behind in posting, Friday and Saturday the mailbox was bursting with art. Kat Sloma’s LYA is joyous!

Sunset by Vicki, Count your blessings by MJF

Sunset by Vicki, Count your blessings by MJF

The sunset Vicki captured at Waikiki is stunning isn’t it! She included this quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, ” Nothing is worth more than this day.” Amen! Vicki also shared her blog link. Vicki finds old books, and alters them into works of art.  She also takes paper scraps, and turns them into really fun flowers. Take a peek!

I love the colorful reminder from MJF. 1, 2, 3, 4… The card reads:

Mom always said, ” Count your Blessings!” OK then…

I have counted my blessings a lot this past week! This card was an official swap postcard. (#3 of 6) Awesome!

Sunset by Chelsea Rawson

Sunset by Chelsea Rawson

You can never have enough photographs of a gorgeous sunset. This one is Terrific, look at those trees! Not sure if you can tell, but all along the bottom are silhouettes of folks watching the sun disappear.

Chelsea is an Architect and a Photographer! She has an interest in Tiny Homes, something I am obsessed with. (One of my favorite Pinterest searches.) Chelsea has MANY interests and her blog is full of, well, take a look for yourself!

Hoya, by Lui Bacaltos, Fireman by Maggie, Moon/Earth #7, Jo Murray

Hoya, by Lui Bacaltos, Fireman by Maggie Gem, Moon/Earth #7, Jo Murray

Maggie’s card made me smile. Exactly what she intended. Maggie I couldn’t find you on Flickr to follow, but I did find your blog.  Really fun photos Maggie!

Lui’s black and white photo gives me such a peaceful feeling. You can see all the postcards Lui created for LYA on her blog.  Lui and I have swapped once or twice before, she is my arty friend in the Philippines!

The colorful mixed media piece on top is from Jo Murray in Australia. This is #4 of the official swap. Her blog is full of bold, beautiful colors! Jo works in collage, mixed media, abstracts. Mediums I would like to pursue.

Thanks to each and every one of these artists! I so enjoyed reading your thoughts and inspirations! Joyful!