For the first year or so after I started blogging, I didn't understand. I didn't *get* how bloggers became good friends with other bloggers. And then it started happening. I started connecting with certain bloggers, who have become my friends. Some whom I've still not met to this day, but talk to on the phone and email. Others who I have met and treasure dearly.
Honestly, I don't like it when bloggers distinguish between their online friends and their "around the corner from my house" friends. I don't like to be referred to as a "bloggy friend", "online friend", or "imaginary friend". I don't know, I just look at it like even though I've never met several of my friends (and may never have the chance), they're just my friends. Online or in real life.
And I'm always blessed when I receive a thoughtful note or card or gift in the mail from my friends. Most recently, Alpa, who I've been friends with for a couple of years, sent me this little spice container. She knows I love Indian food and wanted to sow into that love I have for it. I am still just totally blown away by such a thoughtful gift.
And then, Amanda (with some help from Tara) goes and does this for me.
Can you believe it? I still can't. It's not just the pillow, but the time and thought she put into it. Remember this pillow I made for the last round of the pillow talk swap? She says she felt bad that I spent so much time on it and then gave it away. It still makes me laugh because that's exactly what she did for me! And I love that she did.
So thank-you Alpa and Amanda. Thank-you for your friendship and your thoughtful gifts.
And sincerely from my heart to all of yours, I hope you have found the same thing with the blogging community. It really is full of wonderful, awesome friends at every turn if you will take the time to look!
And now for the winners of the Stitch and 101 Patchwork Magazines:
#35-Lisa, who said: Love the fish mat! Both of these mags look like alot of fun.
and
#97-Lisa, who said: Luv, luv, luv the magazines, especially the patchwork one. Luv your projects too - so wimsy & fresh!
Congratulations, Lisas!!
Thanks so much for the giveaway - I've never won a giveaway before so I can't stop smiling about it!
Wise words about friends. I have one friend in particular who I've never met in person but we've been friends for many years. At the end of the year we are meeting up at last! It will be such great fun! I've always just thought of her as a friend - she's certainly not an 'imaginary' friend.
Posted by: Lisa | 02 May 2011 at 05:08 AM
Oh I know I'm guilty of calling friends I've met through blogging blight friends. Mostly for nick when he asks how I know someone. I'm addicted to friends!! Glad you are one of mine! xoxo. Awesome pillow and spice jar!
Posted by: Amylouwho | 02 May 2011 at 05:14 AM
That should say Bloggy not blight. Stupid autocorrect.
Posted by: Amylouwho | 02 May 2011 at 05:16 AM
what a fun pillow, that is so sweet of her to send to you.
and lol at the comment ahead of me, autocorrect is the funniest. :)
Posted by: Angela | 02 May 2011 at 06:07 AM
celebrating the joys and bonds of friendships no matter how they are formed!
Posted by: dee | 02 May 2011 at 06:50 AM
What wonderful friends! I too cherish the friendships I have made through blogging.
Posted by: Amy | 02 May 2011 at 06:55 AM
thanks! what a fun post!
Posted by: nicke cutler | 02 May 2011 at 07:52 AM
I completely agree with you. I have met so many wonderful people in blogland and hope one day to take that friendship a step further and actually visit each other. I belong to www.couchsurfing.org where you can also meet some great people who love to travel and then stay with them or they stay with you. I now have friends in Vienna, India, and 2 in France through this great association. Friends are so important.
Posted by: diane stanley | 02 May 2011 at 08:40 AM
Thank you Penny! You've received a lot of nice things from other bloggers & I can say the same for you! I love your tutorials & thank you so much for the magazine. Have a great day...Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | 02 May 2011 at 08:51 AM
Hooray for friends!
Posted by: felicity | 02 May 2011 at 10:35 AM
A double Lisa win; what are the chances?!
I'm also wonderfully touched by the generosity of friends I've met through blogging. When a gift arrives for no other reason that the thoughtfulness of the sender, it makes me all warm and fuzzy. People who make stuff and give it away, although common in our blog world, are actually kind of rare, I think. Maybe that's why it's so easy to find kindred spirits here.
Love that spice tin set!!!
Posted by: krista - Poppyprint | 02 May 2011 at 10:37 AM
Hear hear to friends! I cannot believe the people I have met through blogging, how you get to know each other so well and i just know I will meet some face to face one day too! I saw that pillow on Amanda's blog and I sort of had a feeling where it was heading! Lovely gifties from friends
Posted by: Kerry | 02 May 2011 at 10:47 AM
I personally am quite proud to be one of your friends! Although I would love to meet in person someday. I know that it will happen.
Posted by: Angela | 02 May 2011 at 11:23 AM
I know what you mean - becoming friends with other bloggers has been one of my favorite, and least expected, parts of blogging!
Posted by: Kate | 02 May 2011 at 04:37 PM
Wow, what awesome friends! I have several close friends from an online mommy group that is 5+ years and going now. They are an amazing group and I'm lucky to have them.
Posted by: Faith | 02 May 2011 at 05:16 PM
I agree with you Penny, I can't believe the friends that I've made through my blog. You were one of the firsts. Just when I think I should stop blogging I think of my friends, the connection and the reality that there are people like us that just enjoy life, the simple things. It's pretty amazing what has come out of it for so many of us. Big hugs my friend.
Posted by: Marjorie | 02 May 2011 at 06:54 PM
Yes, bloggy friends are some of the very very best ;] LOVE that pillow!
Posted by: Erin | 02 May 2011 at 07:05 PM
Fun prizes! You picked the wrong Lisa but I guess I already have that issue of Stitch.
Posted by: Lisa | 02 May 2011 at 07:15 PM
I saw that pillow and you got it in the mail! Cool.
Posted by: tara | 02 May 2011 at 07:28 PM
I love your gifts and totally agree with your sentiment about friends made through blogs. I think we all just need to recognize that friendships are forged and fostered in different ways now that we have the internet and blogs.
Funnily enough, when I saw the pillow, I thought, "My friend Amanda made a pillow just like that."
Isn't it nice that my friend Penny received it? :-)
Posted by: Suzanne | 02 May 2011 at 08:07 PM
What sweet friends, Penny - yes, friends are wonderful, and I can say I've met some kindred spirits in blogland that I would love to meet in person - yet, if I never do, they won't be any less my friends. Heart-to-heart doesn't always need to be face-to-face.
Congrats to the Lisas!
Posted by: Allie | 02 May 2011 at 10:11 PM
oh, penny. i'm so touched with your blog post today. it's so much more inspiring to read blog posts about what is GOOD rather than all the yuck going around blog posts these days. thanks for being a breath of fresh air. i'm happy, happy, happy to be able to call YOU my friend. sending you a big sappy hug!
Posted by: amandajean | 03 May 2011 at 06:41 PM
Penny, you are a wise one. i have a close-knit group of friends from an online mommy group and whenever i tell someone else about them, i start with explaining ravelry and how i've not met them in real life. today i stop explaining. i have friends in Finland, Australia, Brooklyn, Seattle, Cleavland, San Francisco, and Kansas City. i'd like to add Fort Collins to that list, too :)
Posted by: melinda | 03 May 2011 at 08:23 PM
Wow. Thank you for this. It really put things in perspective for me. Just because you haven't met face to face doesn't disqualify you as a friend. I love it. Thanks for this post!
Posted by: Hollie | 04 May 2011 at 04:11 PM
That pillow is so beautiful. You are both such nice people that it doesn't surprise me at all that she would send it to you! Love that spice container too!
Posted by: Audrey | 05 May 2011 at 07:52 AM
What goes around, comes around Penny, Karma is paying you back for what you give. My daughter, who is a student at CSU lost her wallet this week and was in a panic because she was flying to Houston with the Ultimate Frisbee team today and had no driver's license. In the past, she has turned in several found wallets, and hers showed up at the campus police station yesterday. So, no good deed goes unpunished. Love your new pillow.
Posted by: Melodee Cartin | 06 May 2011 at 01:14 PM
You're so right. Friends are friends. And to distinguish the type may really trivialize them. I'm excited to be with some friends this week. It makes life very sweet to be with people you have things in common with and whom you enjoy.
Posted by: nanette | 09 May 2011 at 10:32 AM
Those are very sweet gestures of friend ships. My Grma had pen pals that she wrote to for years and years and yet never met or talked on the phone(Grma didn't have a phone until the 80's). She thought of them as closely as she did her friends down the road. We women love to bond, that is for sure!
Posted by: Jody Blue | 10 May 2011 at 05:47 AM
You are indeed a blessed woman!
Posted by: Glynis Cozza | 13 May 2011 at 06:53 AM
Such a nice post and that pillow WOW! I can't leave out the spice container either you have such thoughtful friends.
Posted by: Petra (Creative Mom) | 15 May 2011 at 11:14 AM
Awww, Penny! Thank you for the terrific shout out! You're very very very welcome. Hopefully we will have the chance to meet in person. Hugs!
Posted by: Alpa | 13 June 2011 at 09:37 AM
I love all of my dear friends that I've met through blogging. I always enjoy hearing about others feeling the same way. Here's to great people!
Posted by: Deborah | 14 June 2011 at 07:58 AM