Category Archives: Art Exchange

So Thankful

 

So Thankful. Mixed media on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

So Thankful. Mixed media on paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

 

The global postcard ‘heART exchange” is on again. I am late to the party, but I made the deadline. Whew! Even managed to make bookmarks from the scraps! Louise Gale hosts, she is amazing! One of my art Super Heroes! I have taken part before, and maybe you have too. If not, check it out! There are several swaps each year.

Very simple. Create three postcards, and get three in return. I created these with stamps, texture sheets, a nail head, a stylus, and a palette knife.

I was under the gun, trying to beat the postwoman. Save myself a trip into town. In my haste I made about 10 mistakes.  Addressed the envelope upside down, then forgot to take photos, and had to cut one open with a xacto. Ha ha! The recipients will have a good laugh. And now I am hoping that I did not switch two of the cards, while I put them into the envelopes! Fingers crossed!

Can you see where I had to squeeze forgotten letters in? LOL In my defense, I was also receiving important news at the time, so a bit distracted. Yes, I can spell thankful. LOL

 

Happy Messy Desk

Well, I did not want to share earlier, and no worries. All is well. Or will be soon. Our Thanksgiving was a bust. But we will all be together in celebration next weekend.

My folks both came down with the flu. They have not been this ill since 1993. Just heard from the doctors that Pete has pneumonia, and they will be keeping him in the hospital for three days. Scary, but glad to know he is in good hands. They have him on oxygen as his levels were low. He is also diabetic, so we have to be extra careful.

Mom is heading home with antibiotics for treatment. They are both at the tail end of the flu, thank goodness. Contracted from neighbors at Bible study.

I won’t be visiting him in the hospital. I have meant to post about this, but the holidays did not seem the right time.

Good news is, I have FINALLY found a doctor that knows what is causing my chronic cough.

HALLELUJAH! AMEN! THANK YOU SWEET JESUS!

The gerd is one aspect, and the acids from my stomach may have damaged my lungs some, still waiting on test results.  I found paperwork from previous visits in So. Cal., stating that my esophagus is ‘dilated distally’. I showed him the finding, and now we can do something about that too. The doctors never mentioned that to me before, we just moved on to scheduling for the next visit.

And I have asthma. Hallelujah, a definitive diagnosis! And my lungs are down to 25%. Not good, not good at all. But he is confident he can turn things around.

When I left the doctor’s office, I cried. Gave thanks to God over and over and over. Called a friend. Called my Mom. And cried some more. I have had these issues since 2007. The cough is what led me looking for an answer. And led to my Lupus diagnosis. A late December cold. Overworked and not sleeping enough. You know how it is. But three months later, I still had a cough.

I had honestly, just about given up.

So no hospital for me! I can’t afford to add to the list. But I am sorry, I won’t be able to keep Pete company. ( I know he won’t want me there. 😉 )

Prayers most welcome!

 

Late in posting this, and I shared it on IG. But you can get a closer look here. A slightly different view of Mingus.

 

Mingus Morning After. 2017 SMD

Mingus Morning After. 2017 SMD

 

So yes dear friends, so much to be thankful for!

Thanks for you good thoughts and prayers!

 

 

 

Six more days of sales on the way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fields Of Green

 

 

Amy Irwen, LYA side swap 2017.

Amy Irwen, LYA side swap 2017.

 

This gorgeous surprise arrived today. All the way from Minnesota! At first glance I thought it was a collage. And it is of course, in a way. I love the vivid colors, the warmth, the pop of black. Love the ode to nature and the repeating shapes.

The date on this is 2016. Amy said she didn’t get her cards out this year. I am counting myself lucky to receive this “leftover”! Amy sent a personal message on the back of the card, and wishes me “Happy Arting!” She also included a sweet sticker tribute to a friend who was a mail artist. Isn’t that a terrific idea?

The card is postmarked the 17th of May. Arrived on the 25th. LOL. Thanks Amy for sharing your art with me! It was such a nice surprise!

 

Yesterday was Soul Art Day and It was a blessed day of creating. Tomorrow I will share the work with you.

Happy arting Amy – and to you all as well!

 

 

 

 

 

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

 

 

Butterflies, original artwork. 4 x6 approx., pencil, pen and gouache. Carol Edan. 2017

Butterflies, original artwork. 4 x 6 approx., pencil, pen and gouache. Carol Edan. 2017

 

 

That was me when the mail came. I had no idea this sweet card would be there waiting for me. An original piece of art from Carol!! All the way from Israel! Oh JOY!!! I have followed Carol’s Journey for I don’t know how long. LOVE your work Carol! I LOVE this card!!

The image above is a photo, not a scan. Doesn’t do justice. But take a look at all that wonderful texture!! So soft and moody. A little mini-break for my soul. Breathe in, breathe out. Ahhh. This is a just-because card. Not part of LYA, and why it was such a surprise.

I guessed on the materials. You will have to correct me if I am wrong Carol. Your card did find me well. And left me in exaltation! Thank you my friend! You are a treasure!

Oh shoot, now I have done it. Christmas is in my head. But that works too. This IS “An Original Caroled”. Former choir girl here needs a fix.

 

 

I’m a dork, I admit it. I could listen to Christmas music all year long. OK, just one more…. start your day off with a shimmy and a shake!

 

 

But wait, there’s more!

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16

Not only was I blessed with Carol’s beautiful card, but I also received a surprise from Kat Sloma. I knew it was coming, but I sort of forgot. Sometimes brain farts aren’t so bad ‘ey?

As part of the LYA 2017 blog hop, Kat had a giveaway for a 6 x 9 print, and 10 packs of postcards. Seems the artists were super generous with their “extras” for Kat’s helpers. I was blessed with a gorgeous group of cards.

Kat's LYA 2017 giveaway gift pack.

Kat’s LYA 2017 giveaway gift pack.

Kat included one of her cards too!

"Imminent Downfall", Kat Sloma, 2014.

“Imminent Downfall”, Kat Sloma, 2014.

Artists included:

PJ Lawrence (TN), Louise Mamet (France), Sea Dean (Canada), Janice Darby (CA), ndvest, Lynda Stone, Linda Ursin (Norway), Therese Misner (OR), Laura Summer, Sarah Robinson, Catie Porter (WA), Ron Leunissen (Netherlands).

Thank you Kat for this wonderful and generous gift! And thank you to all the generous artists who shared their art! Each of these is a treasure! Yay! Thank you!

 

 

Pretty in Pink Pomegranates. Mixed media surface design. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

Pretty in Pink Pomegranates. Mixed media surface design. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

For my LYA friends who may have missed it:

Spoonflower’s design challenge this week – Whimsical Watercolor Fruit. The top ten winners each week will take home a Spoonflower credit and a Skillshare Premium subscription. All submissions into May’s design challenges are automatically entered to win the grand prize full of design goodies worth over $1000!

A super opportunity to learn and grow my pattern presence on Spoonflower, and why I am so grateful for your vote!

Read more about my entry  here.

 

Wishing-You-Joy-Orange