What a wonderful variety of art there is in the world! And, through the LYA Postcard Swap I get to see pieces from artists all over the world.
Each participant in the swap sends out 5 postcards and 6 return stamps so that when the final mail comes in we have all received 6 cards. Many of us share photos of the cards on the Group FB page and it is so interesting to see how everyone showcases the cards.
My first card was from Sherry Harmes in Alaska. While some artists will add an interesting quote , this year Sherry added two: "Sometime you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory" - Dr. Suess; and "There are always flowers for those who want to see them" - Henry Matisse. Because of the flowers I displayed Sherry's card with the flowers, dragonflies and butterflies that I made with wire, glue and nail polish.
Next was this lovely view of the night sky which is part of a painting by Beverly Leeck from Edmonton Alberta, Canada. I thought the card went well with my pen & ink fridge magnet.
The message on this lovely pastel painting is "you will find it" - a very hopeful phrase and one that resonates with me. This is from Kate McGee of Corvallis, Oregon and I displayed it with my arrangement of dried grasses.
This super painting of the red barn surrounded by fields seemed to fit in well with one of my quilled paper roosters. I don't know anything about the medium used or about the artist as the only information was an email address for Lorraine Rush and the message "You are Loved".
My fifth card is a mixed media piece called "Susie" and the message on the back is "May we all speak our minds". Again, I know nothing about the artist - not even a name. The email address on the card was hard to read and the note I sent came back as undeliverable - sigh!
The six card is a wonderful photo manipulation by Kat and her message is "Creativity take courage" by Henri Matisse
These 6 paintings are on the cards I sent out this year, They are all watercolour and are based on scenes around where I live. So far I have only heard from two of the people who received my cards and I am somewhat disappointed. Did my cards get lost in the mail? Were they damaged so badly people were unable to read them? Who knows?
This is my second year of participating in the LYA Postcard Swap organized by Kat Sloma. Although I have enjoyed seeing all the different art, my disappointment is making me hesitate about participating again next year - we will see.
I hope you will take the time to pop over to
Kat's Blog where, over the next few days, you will find links to many of the blogs written by the artists involved in the LYA swap. You will also find a video of around 70 of the cards that were sent out and all of the stats about the participants.
I love the beautiful postcards you received...I haven't seen any of them until now...wow! The postcard you "liberated" is beautiful and your artwork is stunning. Take care and I'll look forward to seeing you here again next time.
ReplyDeleteSuzette
Notes From the Road
Thank you Suzette. My 'liberated' card was not a collage but rather 5 different cards and the photo here is just the collection of those cards. I will be sure to stop by your blog to see what you got. With so many artists participating it is no wonder you hadn't seen these before. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYour artwork is beautiful! I would love to side swap with you if you are interested and have extras :-) You received an amazing collection of postcards!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Lisa. I am glad you like my art. I will be happy to do a side swap with you. I will message you on Fb for your address. I think everyone is getting a great array of cards!
DeleteSwaps are a lot of fun! I used to do them a lot on WetCanvas but we had a larger number of cards to do. Some people were very prompt in sending them out...and some very slow. Once in a while someone signed up to participate but I never received anything from them. Your cards are really lovely! Would love to do a swap with you at some time...maybe after my big trip.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great Joan - a swap anytime! For this swap all the cards go to Kat in Oregon and then she sends them on to different artists all over the world. Unless cards have gone to really remote areas everyone should have received them all by now. However, there are always people who don't participate fully in events - that is their loss. Did I know about your trip? where are you off to this time? I am sure you will be sharing via sketches - lol. Thanks for your words of encouragement.
DeleteI am heading to Australia soon. I am experimenting to see if I can keep posting from my iPad while I am away...not easy. I may have to change blog hosts which I hate to do.
DeleteWow - I am sure you will have a great time as from pics I have seen there is some fascinating country there. I am not much for traveling but being without computer would drive my husband mad - lol. Hope things work out for you! Have a safe and happy trip.
DeleteYour watercolor postcards are beautiful, I can't wait to get my side swap in the mail! I have done this swap for 8 years and have also had the problem of not knowing who received my cards. This is the first year where I have heard back from all five. Don't give up on it yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice, I am glad you like my cards. I think I must have been having a bad day when I wrote my blog. Although I am disappointed that I don't know where some of my cards landed I am sure I will give the LYA swap another chance next year. The side swaps are in the mail and thanks for your comments!
DeleteYour postcards are absolutely beautiful. If you have any left, I'd love to "side swap." Please let me know. Also, don't give up on the swap. Sometimes, it's "hit or miss" with senders not knowing how much to include on a postcard, but eventually they get it. I love snail mail, and the message side is just as important as the image side, so I understand your frustration. But hang in there. Overall, the LYA community is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Chandra. I am glad you like my art and I am happy to do a side swap with you. If you message me on FB with your address, I will do the same and get the card out early next week. I sent you a friend request and will enjoy following you on FB. I think I have been letting a few 'bad apples' spoil the whole LYA barrel and I am sure I will participate again next year. Thanks for your comments - I look forward to hearing from you again.
DeleteDo remember that Kat releases the cards gradually into the mail with the last ones just before the wrap up. It then takes about two weeks to get to interior Bc. It just prolongs the fun. Last year I was getting side swaps well into June.
ReplyDeletethanks for the reminder Sea. I guess I figured things wouldn't take so long as my cards actually get mailed to Idaho as we have a mail box there. I will be more patient - sigh!
DeleteBeautiful watercolors postcards, talented Lady. Glad to share the LYA Community with you. Best wishes from France.
ReplyDeleteLouise
Thank you Louise, I have enjoyed seeing your super photos of your trip - such great colours. I am gal you like my own cards. Best wishes from Canada!
DeleteBeautiful cards. Hope to see you in the swap again next year :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda - I probably will join again next year - see you then!
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. I have PM'd you with my address for a side swap. Your watercolors are all so lovely. I look forward to receiving your card.
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephanie. You will probably get a different card than the ones shown here as I don't have enough of the same pictures so I am sending out some different ones. I am looking forward to our side swap too.
DeleteBeautiful cards, both sent and received! Your watercolors are stunning!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Karen. I am glad you like my work.
DeleteYour work is beautiful! And looks like you received some beautiful cards as well! Interested in a side swap?
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, thank you so much for admiring my work. I would be happy to do a side swap - I have one card left - lol! I will put my address on your blog. You can share your's here, or on FB -which ever is best for you. LYA is such a great way to 'meet' so many artists!
DeleteGreat! My address is 5148 Wild Rose Way, Tallahassee, FL 32312
DeleteThanks Kelly
DeleteLovely cards given and received. You do beautiful work, and you must live in a beautiful part of the world to put those scenes into your artwork. I know it can be disappointing to not know where your cards land in the world -- They are like your children, and you want to know how they fare. Sometimes we don't hear back, but you have to believe that they are "adding light" and joy wherever they landed. If you want to do a side swap, I'd be happy to do so! --Michele at Sweet Leaf
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Michele, I am glad you like my work. Yes, I think I live in a beautiful area but then I also think that most places in the world have their own beauty. It is disappointing but also worrying. Because my post cards are cut down from art cards that I make with photos and are designed to go in envelopes I wonder if the cards survive the trip. Oh well, I can only hope that they did and that someone somewhere is enjoying them. I can easily 'make' another card and do a side swap with you.I have sent an email with my address. Thanks for stopping by and your words of support
DeleteVal your cards are so lovely. Your mountains are so... well you excel at distance and atmosphere. and the ones your received are wonderful as well :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you find out where your cards landed. I only know of one so far. And you are right, it is disappointing. It is always fun to see where the card traveled to.
So glad you were in the swap, always fun to do it with friends :) My cards go out on Monday, first batch. Keep you eyes open. :)
Thank you Sheila. I am glad you like my cards. I hope I will finally find out where my cards end up too but I have decided not to sweat it. I have received a number of requests for side swaps which has lightened my mood a lot. I was originally only going to do 5 but it looks like I will be doing 12 all together. so you keep your eyes open too - lol. Happy creating!
DeleteBeautiful cards! I am so sorry you didn't get any responses... I only got one response from mine, but it was so much fun to be a part of anyway! Hope you return next year -- and that I get one of your cards!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Natasha. Wow, only one response - that must be frustrating. I am pretty sure I will return next year and you will get one of my cards this year in the side swap. I have your address and the card will probably go out Tuesday. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteVery nice collection of cards...and yours is fantastic! This was my 5th year in the swap, and getting MAIL ART is always a delight! Aloha!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Vicki. I am glad you like my cards.You are right - mail art is a delight! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWhat lovely postcards, and a great exchange. Swapping with other artists is such an inspiring thing to do - on both sides!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Win. the LYA swap is interesting and getting positive mail is always a plus.
DeleteThe postcards you swapped are all so beautiful! I still enjoy the one I received last year! The ones you received are wonderful, too! I only know where three of my cards landed, which is about normal. I've participated for eight years and usually only know about two. It is rather disappointing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Cathy. I am glad you still enjoy the card from last year. It is too bad that some people don't participate all the way in the swap - that is part of the reason to do it in the first place. - Oh well, there will always be some who make their own rules - lol. Thanks for stopping by.
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