I think you're great

Wednesday was a tough day for me - nothing terrible, just one of those days. So that night I treated myself to a visit to blogland - as it turns out, there were giveaways galore, with links sending me off to places I'd never visited before. I had fun entering the giveaways (and some of the prizes were just amazingly generous), but after a while I realised that what I enjoyed most was reading the wonderful compliments being shared, and contributing some of my own.

I think this is one of the most appealing aspects of craft blogs and bloggers - a generosity of spirit, and a willingness to share ideas, knowledge and especially praise. Until recently, I've felt uncomfortable commenting on other people's posts, wondering why they'd want feedback from some random person they've never met, but I'm learning how valuable those comments can be ... so today I want to say to you, craft bloggers of the world...

I think you're great.

And a special "you're great" to a few of the people who led me to join the blog club -

Jodie of Ric Rac fame - thank you for being warm, funny, self-deprecating and incredibly clever - on your blog and in person (I was the person who was already sitting waiting for your talk on Saturday at Stitches and Craft when you walked in, and who finally worked up the courage to speak to you an hour or so later - thank for being so friendly, and putting up with my awkward attempt to tell you you're my craft hero!).

Pip - of the blog/shop/book(s) Meet me at Mikes - thank you for inspiring me with your energy, your incredible breadth of interests, and for promoting - in your blog and through Make and Meaning - inclusiveness and friendliness in blogland.

Steph - a lovely francophile who makes truly lovely things (first discovered via the network - building Kootoyoo with this "my creative space") - I love your blog and am amazed at how much you've done in such a short time! I'm so grateful to you for following my comment back to my blog (in the midst of dealing with 200+ comments!) and becoming my first follower - just the motivation I needed to keep writing when I was wondering why I'd started this blog...

There are many more inspiring people I could mention - but right now, I'm going to try and take some of my new-found blog confidence back to my "real world", and spend some time telling my family and friends how great they are too.

Have a great day!

Edit: sorry about the strange font size changes at the end of the post - blogger refuses to let me fix this!