Category Archives: Photos

Liberate Your Art Blog Hop 2017

LYA Loot 2017. Kat van Rooyen, David Wolanski, Deanie Houghtaling, Linda Yeatman, Chrisann Risser. Kat Sloma.

Always comes so fast. The end of the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap. First, the anticipation that seems to go on forever. Then before you know it, well here we are. Showing off our goodies and saying “Thank you!”

My first thank you goes out to all of my followers. Thanks so much for indulging my LYA hoopla. This is a fun event for me, where I can reconnect with friends, and hopefully make new ones. A few of you decided to join in this year. And I am so glad you did! And remember, the invitation is open to everyone. Kat Sloma would be thrilled if you joined in next year!

Kat put together another awesome video postcard showcase. Amazing all the work that has been created and shared. Be sure to check it out. My art is at 1:00. She also shares her swap stats, how many countries and participants, etc. Huge thanks to Kat for organizing this event, and to her “elves” who help make it work so seamlessly! Each card that arrives is food for the soul. Blessings that brighten the day!

Thanks again to each artist that has gifted me with their work. Photography, collage, illustration, paint, Zentangle, mixed media. And on top of that, words to fuel the spirit! Thank you!

Side Swap

I received a spectacular side swap from my friend Natasha Monahan Papousek in the San Diego area. I scanned it to be sure you could see all the wonderful details. Just look at all that layered paint and collage fun! Love the sweet little bee! Love the swirly clouds, the blooms, the music is in the air feeling! Natasha does intricate Henna art and she is a talented photographer. We actually met in person, years ago. Thank you Natasha for sharing this terrific piece with me!

California Springtime, Natasha Monahan Papousek. LYA 2017

Beautiful right!? Natasha’s cards are always stunning! On the back of her card was a personal greeting, and this:

Wishing you a wonder-filled Spring!

This makes nine side swaps I have received. There are more on the way, and I will continue to post them. The links below will take to you to my LYA posts if you missed any. I have posted the cards as they came in, and shared links to the artists websites. Also below is a peek back at the cards I shared in the 2017 LYA swap.

Giveaway From Kat Sloma
Mingus Mail Art Museum
Side swap Val van der Poel
Side swaps Janice Darby, Chandra Lynn, Diane McWhirter
Side swap Terry Owenby
Side swaps Nan Johnson, Kat van Rooyen
Side swaps PJ lawrence, Sherry Harmes, Christine Brooks, Suzette Rothlisberger,
Lisa Comperry, Kate Lehman, Louise Mamet
Side swap Teresa Harrington Hazelbaker
Side swap Snap Lane
Side Swaps Michele Matucheski, Patricia Mark
Washed in Spring, LYA Side swap Trang Kang
LYA #5 and a side swap, Chrisann Risser, Christine Brooks
LYA #4, Linda Yeatman
LYA #3 and a side swap, David Wolanski, Trang Kang
LYA #2, Kat van Rooyen
LYA #1, Deanie Houghtaling
Liberate Your Art 2017, my cards and envelope
First LYA Sides, David Wolanski, Kris McNeil

LYA Postcards 2017, SMDelgado

OOPS! Almost forgot! I started my LYA book for this swap, Just one of those 4 x 6 photo albums you can get at the dollar store. I love being able to pick up the book and take a look at the beautiful cards. Inspiration at my finger tips!

LYA album.

Follow the link below to hop on over and visit more LYA blog artists. Treat yourself to a mini creative retreat! You are welcome to check out my LYA posts from past events, just click on the Gallery link at the top of my blog. Enjoy!

L.Y.A. #5 And A Mingus Moment

8 Replies

Mingus 4-7-17. 6 x 6 watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper. © 2017 Sheila Delgado

The last LYA postcard arrived today. The last of the official swap that is. Our hostess Kat Sloma has sent her cards out, and that should arrive in the next few days. She will début her video collection, and next weekend is the blog hop.

LYA 2017 #5, Chrisann Risser, Cherries.

This lovely photo is just one of many that Chrisann Risser has in her portfolio. Color, black and white, sepia. Clouds, tulips, sunsets. I really enjoyed visiting Chrisann’s part of the world through her photographs. (I am guessing Canada, not sure though.) Cherries are my favorite. Each year for my birthday, we have cherry pie instead of cake. These cherries, with their snow caps on, bring a smile to my face.

Chrisann added on the back:

Great art picks up where nature ends.
Marc Chagall

Thank you Chrisann for sharing your photography with me! I am so happy to have received your postcard! Thanks for including the link so I could see more of your fabulous work!

It was a good day all around. I also received a surprise package from Christine Brooks. Christine is taking part in LYA, and we have exchanged postcards outside of LYA as well.

Surprise package from Christine Brooks.

Christine gifted me with a fun card I can sign and forward to a friend. There is a yellow flower and butterfly card, hand-made, with a sweet and encouraging message. She wrapped several blank postcards in a ribbon, and included a beautiful original watercolor. On top of all that, she found a sunflower zipper bag. She said it reminded her of my art, and she hopes I can find a use for it.

Of course I can find a use for it! It is small, but large enough for a small sketch pad, pencils and even a travel watercolor palette! Just what I needed! Thank you Christine for thinking of me!! Your surprise brightened my day!

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy,
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust

More LYA Goodness

12 Replies

Mingus in March.

This view of Mingus was taken a few days ago. I looked up, and was blown away at the sight of that humongous cloud crowning the mountains. Glorious!

One side swap card, and one regular LYA postcard arrived. I love them both! Kat Sloma suggested we get creative with our postcard placement, when showing them in the Facebook group. My placement isn’t grand, but it is very fitting for both postcards.

The first arrival is a sweet and sparkly sea scene. This side swap is handmade by Trang Kang in Texas. I know you can’t see the pearlescent glitter, but it looks as if the water is glistening. magical! When Trang and I agreed to side swap, she asked me what sorts of things I like. I had no idea that I was going to get a hand-made card. I have another shell to add to my collection Trang! Thank you!

LYA #3, Black and White Meditations #1, David Wolanski. Seashells and Pearls, Trang Kang 2017

Trang included this beautiful message, written in sparkling turquoise on the back of the card:

May your spirit always be bathed in oceans of sunshine and may your soul contain treasures of peace, love and joy glimmering brighter than all the seashells and pearls.

Now how can you not smile while reading that! Thank you Trang for this beautiful reminder of why I love San Diego, the sea, the sand, and sea shells! And I love the recycled gift wrap envelope. A present! It looked like spring at first glance to me!

Part of the fun of this postcard swap is finding connections between senders and recipients. My connection with Trang is that I was born in Abilene Texas. I love Texas, even though I have only been there a few times. I lived there until I was 6 months old, but I can’t really tell you too much about it. LOL.

The photo card is from David Wolanksi. This is #3, and the third card I have received from David during this swap! (You can see the first two here.) It is a signed and numbered, Black and White Meditations #1 Limited Edition Postcard series, 7 of 25. Now I have a Wolanski Trio!

David explains:

” I love this photo! I did down in the Mississippi Delta. In a restaurant that was at least 50 years old! Flaws and all!”

Thank you David for sharing your fabulous photography with me! Again! I can just make out the old dining chairs, trimmed with metal brads. I love old things! Places, buildings, homes, trees, books, history.

Midget Dictionaries, Burgess & Bowes, LTD., London. Printed in Belgium.

This was my inspiration for my postcard placement. Something old. I tried to think of the oldest thing I own. What came to mind was my vanity table. About 50 years old, when I bought it in 1984. And a set of travel translation dictionaries I found in an antique shop in Santa Barbara.

I am a sucker for old books. And these are in prime condition.

I think of someone like rose Dawson (Titanic) carrying them with her as she traveled the world in style. There is no publish date in the books. But I did find some online that are similar from 1933. A set in a box close to this is for sale on Ebay for £70!! ( I paid less than $20.)

These little books are roughly the size of an ATC. The pages have decorative edges, resembling cow hide. Each volume has 25,000 to 30,000 words and “dialogues for all occasions.” They also include photographic terms!

Thank you David, for sending me on this short journey to learn more about my books. I confess, I had not looked them up before. Now I have visions of Antique Roadshow running through my head! They might be worth hundreds! But no matter. They are not for sale. I might need them on my next world cruise!

Believe it or not, the second time I opened the book, it was to the page above. “Photography”

As you can see, changes are afoot here on my site. I have put in about 40 hours in the last few days. Long overdue. Seemed like for every item I crossed off the list, I wrote down two more. I added galleries, cleaned up the sidebar. Created widgets. “Freshened” just about everything.

Still a few details to take care of. But Whew! I think I might take a break for today!