but I'll try to keep this brief cos I could go on and on ....
I started blogging in February 2006, to my surprise, as a way to keep in touch with a best friend who'd moved out of London...
and blogging kept me well in touch with another good friend who'd moved out of England...
and, to my surprise, I developed new friendships with people here in south London
and the south of England
and with people in France
and Australia...
and these friends (as well as more local non-blogging friends) helped me to survive an awful few years when my life seemed to be falling apart
and the circle has grown and grown and I have friends around the world - I've met quite a few blog-friends face to face now but not as many as I'd like to. I've experienced great kindness and hospitality from blogging friends.
and finally a blog-friend inspired made4aid. We found each other when my mother and her brother were both dying of cancer and blogging was one source of comfort and strength and tears. Joyce continues to be an inspiration with her almost-daily bags - if you've not visited her bags4darfur blog please please take a look at her unique, wonderful bags raising money for relief work in Darfur. And buy!
And now I am making new friends again through made4aid - and some of them are giving some of their beautiful work to be sold for Darfur
Please take a look - lots of lovely hand-made things for sale. Yes, shameless promotion. No apologies.
I wish I could show my mother what we are trying to do with made4aid and I know she would love the way the web leads to friendship and leads to love and love leads to action for those in kinds of need beyond the experience or understanding of most of us...
Thanks so much to those of you who've supported made4aid (which is now just 6 months old) - and especially if you've bought, donated an item, linked on your blog or even done a blog post about m4a.
touch 4 love
24 comments:
You know I feel much the same as you about blogging and the wonderful and unexpected friendships, teachers of arts and life and sources of inspiration that I am lucky to have connected with.
Made4aid is a wonderful project. If only everyone wrote a post about it then maybe your wonderful initiative would get the traffic it deserves xx
Blogging has had a bit of a different effect on me but in a good way. And as soon as I remember which box I packed it in...I've something to put up for bid for Made4Aide. Cheers and Hugs luv!
hey friend!!
it is amazing how our world of friends have grown through this shared passion of blogging.
best with m4a - it is a wonderful service and project. i'm going follow up on your shameless promotion and bid on something in the next couple days.
if really need to figure out how to squeeze 48 hours into 24 so I can make something and send it in for the cause!
hugs - by the way you might recognize a certain gathering in the last photo on the mouse today!
xoxoxo from Washington, DC, Letty!
you know, shameless promotion among friends is never a bad thing...blogging has opening my circle of friends...i cant imagine how many people i would miss...happy tt!
You are such an inspiration. Some people talk about doing things to help remote places like Darfur that seem so hopeless. But you actually did the work to make a difference! I love my beautiful bag, which reminds me every day about Darfur and Blog friends, especially one in the UK!
So happy to have made your acquaintance, and hope to get to England in the not to distant future - my sister is there.
I can say that I am a huge fan of Made4Aid. I love my beautiful bag!
I agree, this theme was just made for bloggers. The friendships here are quite extraordinary.
very good! will have to check that out, and a happy TT, friend.
It is an amazing thing, especially for those of us who aren't as comfortable socially. :)
I love my cards and change purse and will be in again soon. Blogging has definitely been an eye-opener for me as well. I hope you and yours are well today!
I love the pic!
Wonderful post.
Happy tt to you.
feeling the same way too about blogging, connecting with so many wonderful people, tis a very warm web :) and a wonderful thing you are doing with made4aid x
A great celebration of blogging and friendships. Happy TT.
A great hurrah!
Best of luck with continued goodwill of Made4aid. -Jayne
Bloggy friends are THE best! :)
You've shown so clearly how blogging friends have touched your life. What a great project. Shamelessly promoted, indeed.
I'm new to the blogging scene and find it quite heartening to hear about friendships built over the internet.
A lot of posters are remarking on the true friendships developed via blogging. I guess the ole 'net is good for something, innit?
hey friends :-)
yes, tis amazing, indeed the good old net is good for something.
Stephanie, some of my best friends are people i met online or wouldn't have really got to know so well without the web.
Artsparker - eek! excited! will you be coming to/through London?
I'm sure my non bloggy friends think I'm internet dating! I refer to bloggers I've come to know as friends and often pop in a conversational line "Oh I have a friend in the US who . . . ." they look at me with that "you so do not have friends in the US" look. Oh yes I do, and England, Ireland, Hungary, Finland . . the list goes on! I've got the Maid for Aid linky thing but frankly, it's so expensive to ship here that I prefer to donate directly to Medicine Sans Frontiers and Make a Wish Foundation. It's a great initiative for the locals tho.
It surely helps to see the World is an amazing place, with many different people, who can truly all get along!
Cheers!
and enjoyed seeing/reading about your canals. wish we could make a trip to see it ; )
Blogging really is a way to make wonderful friends and find deep inspiration! Jasmine told me about Made$Aid, such a great idea. Thank you for sharing this!
Shopping season plug for the m4a blog coming soon.
Hopefully more bids coming from me soon, as well.
Cheers.
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