Liberate Your Art 2015

Liberate Your Art 2015 has come to a close.
The official postcard swap is over.
It was a lot of fun this year and now
It's time for the annual blog hop to see all the wonderful postcards.

The FaceBook group was very active and a lot of fun ... still is!
What a bunch of talented generous folks!

A big thank you to Kat Sloma and her helpers for putting this swap together each year.

Now, for the "official" postcards that I received:

The Eye by April Rocco. April lives in Cocoa, Florida.
The second card is a view of Notre Dame Cathedral from the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. The photograph by Deanie Houghtaling.

Kat asked us to photograph our cards around our house and that's what you see with cards number three and four.
The beautiful shore scene is by Darlene Cunnup.
"There is never one sunrise the same or one sunset the same." ~ Carlos Santana

"Just Dandy" is by Kelly Warren at Happy Shack Designs.

Postcard number 5 is photographed on my "crafty/arty" table. It is from Sharon in New Zealand. I believe it is the Maori design for the seahorse. Cool!

And last, but not least, is "Imminent Downfall" by Kat Sloma at Kat Eye Studio.

Leave room in the garden for the fairies to dance is the postcard I sent during the swap.
I hope everyone enjoyed the plumeria blooming in my garden and could see the fairies!

And then there were the side swaps.

They are all beautiful.
How did so many of them know I love birds???!!!

Thank you, Sheila Delgado, Siobhan Wolf, Marsha Leith, Sherry Harmes, Terry Owenby, Michelle Matucheski and Kat van Rooyen. Many hugs to all of you.

This was my third year to participate and Liberate Your Art just gets better and better with each year. So much fun to dash to the post to see what treasure has arrived. So much fun to "meet" new folks and make new connections. So much fun to have the video return! I'm already looking forward to 2016!

Thanks again to Kat for another wonderful year.
See you in 2016!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

An InLinkz Link-up

This and That

- Got my hair cut and then had a lovely lunch at the Black Walnut.
I sat outside enjoying my salad, ice tea, and book.
And, I admit, I listened to some nearby conversations.
People are funny!

- I haven't found my Easter wreath.
I know I had one.
I looked in all the carefully packed bins marked Easter.
No luck.
So while I was out and about yesterday,
I found this little guy who now welcomes everyone at the door.
Better late than never!

- I'm becoming addicted to iced chai tea. Spending way too much time at Starbucks.

- Easter is just around the corner. I'm sharing a reproduction vintage postcard. Fun!

- I'm spending most of Easter weekend at the ballpark. The Rice Owls have a three game series this weekend. They always have an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It will be colorful and fun!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Easter

A big thank you to Nancy for hosting Random 5 Friday.

This and That

The good news:
One of my favorite bloggers is back
Along with Random Five Friday!
YeeHaw!

Welcome back, Nancy!!!

- I am taking part in Liberate Your Art 2015. This is the third year I've signed up for the swap. It's lots of fun and I "meet" new folks. This is my postcard for this year. Do you see the fairies?!

- I think everyone is getting tired of winter. This week, I am sure, confused even the weather gods. The one thing that was constant -- the cloudy skies. Otherwise, cool, cold, damp except for two days in the middle that brought heavy fog and 80 degree temps. All I have to say is: Old Man Winter -- MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

- St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner. I have my leprechaun flag flying from the balcony and Irish Luck hanging on the front door.

- Major League Baseball Spring Training has started. There were three games today on the MLB Network. I'm happy!

- For Downton Abby fans: the lovely young lady who plays Rose is the beautiful Cinderella in the new Disney movie.

And that's my Random Five for this Friday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Hole in the Head

Last week I went to a lecture and then saw the exhibition

"Monet and the Seine: Impressions of a River"

at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

I love postcards.
So much cheaper than buying the exhibition book.
The two postcards above show some of Monet's early work.
He was still painting people.

The one on the right is The Seine at Bougival (1869) and
the one on the left is The Promenade with the railroad bridge, Argenteuil (1874).

Even using these postcards, you can see how his technique changes.

Monet's family knew a lot about boats.
When Monet drew one, he knew where to put all the lines.

The postcard on the right (above) "Ships riding in the Seine" ~1873
The left is "Sunset on the Seine", 1874

What would Monet be without a series?!!
The postcard above on the left is titled The Seine at Giverny 1897
and the one on the right also from 1897 is titled the Islet on Port-Villez.

I've shared 6 of the 52 pieces in the exhibition.
Monet is magical.

While I was in the gift shop buying postcards (conveniently located at the end of the exhibition)
I found this.

I need another teacup/tea-for-one like I need a hole in the head,
but I told myself it was a nice reminder of this wonderful exhibition,
 and the lovely luncheon I had with a dear friend.

This tea for one was made by McIntosh Fine China.

I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday

and several tea parties!

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

Liberate Your Art 2014

Liberate Your Art 2014 has come to a close.

This is the second year for me to participate and I had a great time again.

It's always fun to see what surprises might be in the mail box.

Kat Sloma puts this swap together each year and it is because of her that it is such a big success and so much fun.

Last year, I made five different postcards to swap.

I only heard from two of the folks who received my cards and I was disappointed.

So, this year I picked one image and had Moo make the postcards for me.

They did a great job.

This is the image on the cards I sent to Kat for swap.

Two of my favorite things: the baby Buddha and Iris.

The first card I received was from Lynne Foerster of a lighthouse near Cape May.

She used the pallet effect on photoshop.

*

The cute little shore bird is a photo by Annie Kelleher of Crimson Cove Photography.

I love shore birds. They are very entertaining. So much fun to watch.

The second photo is by Eric Muhr. 

He was in the right place at the right time to capture the morning sun along the crest of the young fir trees.

Both of these cards speak to the beauty of nature, contemplation, quiet. 

**

The watercolor circles are by Carlyn Clark.

I love watercolor and the colors on this card are so bright. Cheerful!

The mixed media LOVE postcard is by Tina.

Clicking on Tina will take you to her Flickr page.

Unfortunately, I have not received Kat's postcard.

I'll keep looking and hoping that it is just slow or that the mail people

are enjoying it before they deliver!

I'm already looking forward to Liberate Your Art 2015.

I hope Kat will be able to put together a video of all the postcards like she did in previous years. This year she was unable to do so. 

See you next year!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Namaste

An InLinkz Link-up

More Mail Call

I'm still trying to catch up with Mail Call!

Here are two more Liberate Your Art postcards.
Both of these were made by blogging friends.
We thought we'd continue the fun of Liberate Your Art.

By Sherry at Becoming.

By Tracey Fletcher King

Tracey and I are both tea lovers
and along with the wonderful postcard she sent me a print of her beautiful watercolor header.

One of the blogs I've been reading for years now -- even before I started blogging

is Colette Copeland's Blog.

I've always admired her lovely art.

 She had a give-a-way and I won! 

And last, but certainly not least is the bracelet I won on Face Book
 from Diane at Snigglefritz.

I think I'm all caught up.

Another big thank you to Sherry, Tracey, Colette and Diane.

I love all my goodies.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Mail Call

It will come as no surprise that I LOVE Mail Call!

The lovely June at A Creative Dreamer suggested a postcard swap

to her followers and I threw my name in the hat.

Here are the lovely mixed-media cards that arrived in the post.

The first postcard came from June.
She sent a card to each of us.

In many ways the scan doesn't do this card justice.
The colors are so bright and wonderful.
I'm glad June loves poppies.

The second card came from Eileen - The Artful Crafter.

Isn't this lovely?!

I loved the message Eileen had on the back:

"Striving for perfection sometimes prevents me from finishing things. Challenges and swaps help push past my inner critic."

And last - this is the card I sent to Barbara at Rocky Cross Studio.

You know how I love tea.

This little bird is trying to add the teabag string to her nest.

And, I liked the message (also from a teabag):

For All You Do and ALL you are

SIP, SIP

hurrah.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap 2013

This was the first year that I participated in the

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap.
There were 216 participants.

Kat Sloma is the brains behind the swap and thank you Kat!

It was loads of fun and I'm already looking forward to the swap in 2014.

Zen Mind by Valeria at Zen Mind Photography

Abandoned Rail Car by Jenny Tucker

By Kelly Ishmael at Minding My Nest

By Karin Wei (unfortunately I have no link for Karin)

By Mandy Kopelke

"Abandoned and Alone" by Kat Sloma at Kat Eye Studio

Another big thank you to Kat and to all the participants.
I can't tell you what fun it was to check the post everyday and find the next surprise.
Kat is hosting a blog hop.
You can visit with Kat and see a video she has put together of some of the art.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Yungang Grottoes

I have a very special Postcard Friendship Friday to share with you.

My dear friend, Vivian, is a Fulbright Scholar studying in China this year completing her PhD.

I first met Vivian at the Museum of Fine Arts where we both worked on updating and

reinstalling the Asian Galleries.

We also spent a good deal of time temple hopping in Houston.

With a large Asian population, the city has many beautiful Buddhist and Hindu temples.

When Vivian left for China she asked what I wanted (besides tea) and I said

POSTCARDS!

Vivan was able to vist the amazing Yungang Grottoes in Datong city in the Shanxi Province.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with 252 caves and 51,000 statues that

represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries.

For a student of Art History, Buddhism and Archaeology -- what a wondrous place!

Vivian sent these to me in early December and they are just arriving.

Talk about the slow boat FROM China!

The Buddhist tradition of religious cave art achieved its first major impact at Yungang, 

where it developed its own distinct character and artistic power. The Yungang cave art represents the successful fusion of Buddhist religious symbolic art from south and central Asia with Chinese cultural traditions, starting in the 5th century AD under imperial auspices. At the same time it vividly illustrates the power and endurance of Buddhist belief in China. As Buddhism spread over Asia, it was able

to successfully assimilate with the local traditions and Yungang is a good example.

You can read more about the Yungang Grottoes here.

You can find many photographs of the grottoes by "googling".

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

I'm also joining Mosaic Monday.

Wishing you well and much joy!

Postcard Friendship Friday

The lovely Marie is our postmistress for Postcard Friendship Friday.

Today Marie has a card featuring the letter W and a story about Braille.

Go see it!

I thought today I'd celebrate Canada - in honor of the beautiful country to the north that has brought us the winter Olympics this year.
I don't have Vancouver postcards, so it's off to Toronto we go.

Toronto at night.

Toronto Island

Toronto Harbourfront

All of these cards were sent to me by a dear blogging friend of mine.

If you haven't met Sherry, you should!

Happy PFF!

Postcard Friendship Friday

Our lovely postmistress, Marie, is the hostess for Postcard Friendship Friday.

Today she posted a little girl with a canary.

I didn't find a canary or a little girl with a bird, but I did find this...

This is from The Audubon Postcard Folio 30 full-color photographs of John James Audubon's magnificent The Birds of America to mail, share, and cherish.

On the back of the card: Carolina Parrot, Psitacus Carolinensis, M.1, F. 2, Young 3, Plant Vulgo, Cuckle Burr, Plate 26, from The Birds of America by John James Audubon, 1827. National Gallery of Art, Washington/Gift of Mrs. Walter B. James.

The Audubon Postcard Folio, 1986 by Running Press Book Publishers.

Happy PFF!

Postcard Friendship Friday/Naughty Puss

Our wonderful postmistress, Marie, is the hostess for Postcard Friendship Friday.

Marie posted a wonderful postcard of a little girl with a pig.
(Pigs fly!)

I didn't have a postcard with a pig but I did have one of a little girl and a cat.
(I'm a big fan of cats, as you know.)




This postcard is from The Cat Postcard Book: A celebration of cats with
30 full color portraits to mail, share, and cherish.

The back of the card reads:
The Cat Postcard Book, copyright 1987 by Running Press Book Publishers

Naughty Puss!, 19th century (American).
Advertising trade card for Jayne's Tonic Vermifuge,
a cough remedy.
Northampton Historical Society, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Looks to me like it should be an ad for something like Bactine!

Postcard Friendship Friday

Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted by our lovely postmistress, Marie.
Be sure you go by to visit.

Marie had a lovely postcard from Picadilly Circus posted for PFF. I didn't have anything like that so I visited the New York Public Library and found this:

"London Life - No. 7. A Newsvendor. Beagles Postcards
In Many Favourable Spots For Custom, Newsvendors Have Secured An Odd Corner Or Railing, Which Serves In Place Of A Shop For The Sale Of Their Wide Selection of Periodicals And Newspapers"

The Library listed the following additional information: Schwimmer-Lloyd collection, 1852-1980, bulk (1890-1960) / Rosika Schwimmer Papers / J. Photographs / Woman Suffrage and Feminism. / Individuals / Women's Professions

Location
: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building / Manuscripts and Archives Division

Happy PFF!

Happy New Year and PFF!

A Very Happy New Year to You and Yours!

(Another reproduction vintage postcard from the Lillian Vernon Corporation.)

Happy PFF!

Be sure to visit with our lovely postmistress, Marie.
She makes Postcard Friendship Friday possible!

Merry Christmas

A Jolly Christmas to You


May your world be warm with peace and joy,
may your life hold love and laughter,
may all that's dearest to your heart,
fill your Christmas and each day after.

Thank YOU
for your friendship.
We wish you the merriest of holidays.

Postcard Friendship Friday

Our lovely postmistress, Marie, brings Postcard Friendship Friday
to us each week.
Be sure to drop by for a visit.


In preparation for the upcoming Holiday,
two more postcard reproductions from
the Lillian Vernon Corporation.

A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

A Merry Christmas

Sing a song of Christmas Cheer
Of Santa Claus who'll soon be here;
Of dolls and other lovely toys,
To please both little girls and boys.

Ho-Ho-Ho!!!

Postcard Friendship Friday

Postcard Friendship Friday is brought to us by the lovely postmistress, Marie!

Here are two more of the Lillian Vernon Corporation
reproduction Christmas Postcards.

A Jolly Christmas to you.

Best Wishes for Christmas

Happy PFF!