I participated In the Liberate Your Art postcard exchange , and it literally changed my life. Here is the link to what I am referring, and on that page you will find a video of all the postcards exchanged. Mine is there (one of 2 that I sent) at about 2:48 - it is a photo of three teasels (sort of looks like a thistle) and I will post the photo here soon.
Click on this link:
All about the Exchange
This postcard exchange literally changed my life! My friend, Kathryn Hall, who was also a participant in this exchange, told me about it and encouraged me to join. I am a retired woman who used to be so very creative even when I was swamped with work, and my private practice, and raising a family. However, when I became disabled, and actually HAD the time to be as creative as I wanted, I had lost interest due to multiple physical challenges and fighting depression due to being housebound for eight years (no longer, since November, thank God). My precious friend (more talented than any one person I have ever seen!) knew that the creativity was still inside of me, and she had been trying to coax it out. This was one of her various ways of trying to do just that.
I signed up but didn't really quite understand what I was getting into, and didn't put my all into it. Yes, I made my requisite five postcards from photos that I had taken, but there were surely better ones that I could have chosen - or maybe one of my watercolor paintings would have been better to photograph and use. Anyway, the postcards started coming and I was absolutely BLOWN away by the quality of art! But even more, this community of artists welcomed me with open and embracing arms, and I've needed friends and like-spirited fellow artists in my life SO MUCH. They changed my life by encouraging me and including me even though they didn't know me from Eve.
Kat, of Kat Eye Studio, is a wonderful encourager and human being, and I'm going to be following her from now on... where she leads, I'll follow!
Here are the postcards I received... one apparently got lost in the mail, as it never came :(
This one is by Elaine Millar http://elainemillarfiberworks.blogspot.com/2012/09/
This is by Lisa Wright (the one to the left) http://www.all-the-wright-stuff.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/once-upon-postcard-swap.html
I am holding a contest GIVEAWAY! If you leave a comment below, you will be entered in a contest to win one of my (better) postcards! I will draw out the winner's name on September 30th, and announce it so the winner can message me with their contact information. Good luck!
Kat
Pleased to meet you; the swap was such fun. See you next year, I hope.
ReplyDeleteThe swap defintely pushed me out of my comfort zone -- I tried new things (painting) and met lots of wonderful new friends! I can hardly wait for the next one!
ReplyDeleteHi Kat! I loved hearing about how the postcard swap touched your life. This was my second year to participate and I think the connections made with other artists is really the best part. I only heard where three of my five cards landed this year. I have some extras and would be glad to send you one if you'd like. Who knows, maybe it's the one you're missing! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, Please! I'd be glad to send you one of mine, or at least a different one. If you email me at ArtyKat@me.com and give me your info, I'll do the same back! (squeeeeee!)
DeleteWhat a great post! As Kat stated early on in the swap info, it's so nice to receive "happy mail". It sounds like participating in this was just what you needed in your life right now. How encouraging!
ReplyDeleteLoved your post! So happy to hear that this act of liberation lifted your spirits and boosted your creativity.
ReplyDeleteYay! You are my winner!! Please write to me at ArtyKat@me.com and give me your contact information so I can send you a special postcard that I really like, if I say so myself! LOL
DeleteThank you for sharing so much of your story and I'm so glad it has helped put you in back in touch with your creativity. It is so important for us, although I do know how things like depression can bury it. You received some gorgeous cards, and it looks as if they were just the right ones for you. It has been great making connection with you through this swap.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting, Carolyn! It has helped me so much. I am eager to get to every blog on the hop, as I haven't yet done that. Hope you have one there!
DeleteHope you eventually get your last postcard. Perhaps it is travelling from a galaxy far, far away. It's been a great swap and I love the ones you've received so far.
ReplyDeleteYou got great cards even if there is one missing! I loved the swap too and I'm really looking forward to next year one :)
ReplyDeleteDid you participate this year? I did and wrote about it in a recent post!
Delete