04 May 2010

has it really been a year?

1 year and 159 posts ago, i began my adventure in the blogosphere - and it has been the BEST!

'at times our own light goes out 
and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude 
of those who have lighted the flame within us.'
~ albert schweitzer


over and over again in the past year, i have been saved, encouraged, inspired, stretched by the most wonderful people... i have developed friendships that i couldn't have imagined... and i am so very grateful... 

i would like to thank you by having a giveaway of my own... just tell me how your life has changed because of a blogging service (blogger, typepad, wordpress, etc) ... that's it! how about we give it until friday - so there is something nice to announce on monday... 

37 comments:

  1. It's interesting that you're mentioning your one year as I am looking back to two years ago and my first posts in 2008. I can't believe how different life looks since then!
    Life with the blogosphere? Fun, exciting, connected, encouraged, inspired...it has been a great thing to have this outlet and connectivity while my husband's away and I'm "flying solo" at school for the year. Thanks to you for being a part of my world...cyber or not, it's as real as it gets! :)
    Jen

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  2. i'm rather new to blogosphere..but i can't imagine what it would be like without the connections and insights from so many creative people..when i lived in Eugene there was a huge community of clay and metal artists..it was so easy to connect..but moving south has proved somewhat isolating in that respect,currently,i find that i look to blogs to keep me up with whats going on out there in creative land.

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  3. Congrat's on your year, and your marvelous journey! My blog started a bit over a year ago, and it opened a whole new world to me. Besides getting to connect with so many people I knew must have been out there like me, it helped to open the artist in me that had been shut for soooo many years, and that has changed my outlook on life, my jewelry work, and my being. Here is to many more years for all of us!

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  4. Congrats on your 1 year anniversary! Has it only been one year? Your blog seems like a staple in this little jewelry community...I cannot imagine that it wasn't there a year and a month ago. Through blogging, I have met so many friends that like Jen said, are as real as it gets. You would think that we are all long lost friends from childhood, reunited by our common love for creating jewelry.
    Cindy

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  5. Congrats Mary Jane! As the other ladies have said, through blogging I have met so many wonderful and supportive artists. It's always amazed me how people who don't know you or haven't met you are willing to read about your life and art and be there for you.

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  6. My journey blogging has been so much more than I ever thought it would be. I never expected to meet so many wonderful talented people who care and share so much of themselves.I have learned so much through the warm and caring hearts of my blog friends. I am so happy you too have been blessed on this journey. Hugs to you Mary Jane.

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  7. Congratulations on your one year blogiversary! I've been blogging about one year as well and have met the most wonderful and giving women. I have grown as a person and artist through my blog friendships and have experienced such support, understanding, and encouragement from artists whom I have never met personally but hope to one day!

    Thank you Mary Jane, for your treasured friendship and your beautiful words!

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  8. Congratulations, Mary Jane! I still marvel at how blogging has enriched my life. The connections I have found have encouraged me and helped me grow. These are friendships I would never have been able to make without this "virtual world" - but they are as real as they get, as Jen says.
    Thank you for your friendship!

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  9. a real beauty mary-Jane! love the sweetest of the pink bead with your focals!! perfect!

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  10. My blog is responsible for allowing a quiet, lonely girl with a handful of friends, to become a superstar with 500 friends!! I feel so loved and I think Blogger has a lot to do with it!!!
    Your earrings are to die for. I love the pair I bought from you and wear them often!

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  11. Blogging is the connection to like minded people both in art and in spiritual thinking.

    Blogging gives me the ability to express thoughts that I would never say out loud in person.

    Blogging enables that little bit of me that is nosey and allows me to peek out the window and see what everyone is doing.

    I would be lost without blogging, both posting and reading.

    There is so much more to say, but most comments are similar to mine so I feel, again, that I am in the company of like-minded friends.

    Happy Blogiversary. I think I have followed from the beginning.
    Carol

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  12. Congrats! I think that blogging makes you realize what a lot of great creative people are out in the world. That the world isn't as big and strange as I might have thought. That you can have dear friends that you've never met face-to-face, just heart-to-heart. And that's powerful!

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  13. Congrats on your blogiversary!!! the earring you've made are stunning..love the transparent resin behind the words!
    my one year blogging experience has led me to the place I am today with my art creatively and given me the opportunity to meet many wonderful and talented folks from the online art community!

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  14. HapPY one Year! You've done such a great job and been so diligent.
    Blogging has helped me appreciate the little things. It's helped me be more aware of what I'm doing and has pushed me to be more of a creative. xo

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  15. Congrats, Mary Jane. I only blog for two month now, but my life has changed so much in this few weeks. I've met wonderful people with wonderful ideas and minds like you, I can share my ideas and participate in this great community of artist around the world who are all so incredible generous and kind enough to share their lives and work.

    Blogging made my life richer.

    regards

    Stefanie

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  16. congrats!
    i love having connected with so many like minded people.
    none of my close friends are into jewelry making or ghost stories, so it's so wonderful to meet so many talented artists here in blogland.

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  17. Congrats on your 1 year blog-o-versary ;-)

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  18. congrats and good wishes, my friend!
    i love the way that we are all connected. i feel that i have found my 'tribe' and that there is a whole world of people who share my same passions and outlooks. that has been the best. i love all the connections, and yes, i have sold jewelry because of my blog, but that is now what it is about for me. i enjoy the act of stringing together words that make sense out of chaos for others. to have that a-ha moment. to connect and revive myself with these ever-widening ripples in this community. it has been a lovely ride. and i got to 'meet' you. that has been one of the many blessings of my life.
    enjoy the day.
    erin

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  19. Happy Anniversary MJ! Been just over a year for me too. Who knew we had so much to say! I've enjoyed your blog, and getting to know you! I've met some awesome friends through my blog, and have been encouraged to lay aside my second guessing and just follow my own creative path by others who are doing the same. Also helps immensely to know that others struggle with the same quandaries, insecurities, etc., and that I'm "normal." I've also enjoyed making people laugh, it's good therapy for me. Also have gotten some fantastic practical help too with tutorials and the like. Definitely feel that the blog environment has given me a turbo boost.

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  20. Congratulations, Mary Jane.
    To me, it is the people I met, and how well they know me (I guess I do write some personal things on my blog). I read an article recently about a person being interviewed about her use of the net. She said she found so many special friends online that there almost needs to be another word for the "real" ones.

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  21. Congratulations on a year of blogging! My life has changed in a good way because I have met and communicated with so many like-minded people. That part has been great fun and a blessing. On the downside, I spend so much time on the computer reading comments and other blogs that I am now trying to stay offline a little more so I can get other things done.

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  22. Like so many of the others said, it's all about the connecting. I have made wonderful friends, learned new techniques and seen and read things that I never would have with out the "blog world"
    Congrats on your anniversary, and thanks for another wonderful blog for me to get lost in....
    ~smiles~

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  23. I started blogging a few years ago in a more private manner. Last year I hardly wrote at all, but a few months ago I started writing again and even have a few followers who are not relatives! I have posted some of my work and gotten encouragement, something that I needed in order to keep blogging and keep working on jewelry. I really enjoy your style - jewelry and blog. I agree with Doreen, sometimes I spend so much time checking out the blogs that I need to cool of and work. I don't have much of an art community where I live and blogging has helped me have some virtual reality type interactions with the community. Thanks all!

    --Lois
    http://loismoon.blogspot.com/

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  24. What a generous Giveaway and Congrats to you on your One year!!I have added your Giveaway to my sidebar!!Warmest Regards,Cat

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  25. Oops forgot to mention what blogging has done for me.Well I also started a little over a year ago,with the intention of talking about my art.But as a jornal writer for most of my life,the blog became a creative way for me to journal with the added bonus of meeting beautiful people.I am so grateful for my blogging journey as are you.Warmest Regards,Cat

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  26. I have grown personally and creativly by the amazing support of friends I have come to know in this blogland via blogspot. Blogging has allowed me to put myself on notice publicly and be accountable towards my personal goals. I have enormous respect for fellow artists like you mariedodd as you share your talents and insight. Thank you so very much.

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  27. Congratulations Mary Jane! Your blog is wonderful and I look forward to reading your inspiring thoughts. It hasn't been a year yet for me, but I think what amazes and touches me most is the comradery and like-mindedness of fellow bloggers. Sometimes I even get teary-eyed from the warmth and kindness extended from those I have never met:)

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  28. Blogging is a window into the world outside of my own rather isolated W TX home. It nutures my creativity in ways that I never imagined. But the thing that is most special is all of the friendship I have found through blogging. MJ, I love your blog and am so happy to have found you!

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  29. I must confess, this is my first time seeing your blog. I found it through a link at another blog. So, that's what I love about blogging - that I can "wander" the blogoshere, discovering more cool, creative people & ideas. Like being in a labyrinth and opening doors with beautiful, wonderful discoveries on the other side. I love tapping into all the creativity out there, and it motivates and inspires me!
    Congrats on your one year anniversary. I wasn't there for year 1, but I look forward to year 2!!

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  30. Blogging has opened a whole new world to me. Started off just shaing my gardening exploits, then was inspired to share my creative side and to start an online business.

    I have grown in skills due to blog hoping and met and become friends with people I would have never had the pleasure to meet in my normal day to day life.

    Now I can't imagine not being part of the blogging community.

    Congrates on your year's achievemnts and though you said you have been inspired by others, it must be said that you are quite inspirational yourself. I look forward to seeing you blogging for many more years to come.

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  31. Congratulations on your one year blogging anniversary! I'm always inspired by your beautiful creations.

    Blogs such as yours have opened up so many rescources, sharing, inspiration, and of course, friends. For being such a technical illiterate person, I don't know what I'd do without the blogs I visit nearly daily.

    Happy Anniversary! I look forward to seeing what the future brings!

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  32. It's difficult to pin down any one change that blogging has brought to my life. I started my blog three years ago, after immersing myself in so many wonderful blogs. It was a great leap for me, to go from observer to participant, and that opened up a whole new way of communicating for me. Over three year's time, so much has changed, and there've been so many good experiences from this path. I would say mostly 'expansion', opening up to new ways of seeing and being, meeting wonderful people like you, learning more about my own capabilities, and on and on...

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  33. Blogging keeps me focused and motivated to continue creating new things to share with my blogger friends. So for me - it's FOCUS.

    I also love the connection with like minded women from around the world. It's a beautiful world filled with wonderful women.

    Thank you for sharing your work with us, those earrings are sensational. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  34. Congratulations on your one year blogaversity! I so enjoy your postings as one can feel the care and consideration you put into each image, each word. I would have to say my favorite part of blogging is connecting with gifted and special artists like yourself! xoxoxoxo

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  35. I just happened on your post through another blog. Congratulations on your one year of blogging! I am such a novice, but learning as I go and really enjoying the experience...so much so that I have two blogs. Best regards, Connie

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  36. Congratulations to you on one year! To be honest, I started a blog to participate in a design challenge originally - I never would have believed that I'd still be doing it a couple years later. I really only have one friend locally who enjoys beading or even being crafty, so being able to connect with like-minded folks through the blog has been immensely helpful. I doubt I would still be designing or working with metal clay without it.

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  37. As I'm really just starting out on my jewellery making journey, I find the blogs and tweets that people share are so inspiring, as well as helpful with the wealth of knowledge and information out there. I am housebound due to chronic illness, so it is fantastic that there is such an amazing community of people on the web to share inspiration with!

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