The Masterpiece in all its glory (picture: Alan Charlton)
When I first started blogging, I wasn’t really sure where it would lead or what to expect. I was originally inspired by Hedvig Murray, a permaculture practitioner I met on a course about seven years ago. I thought that I would share information relating to my Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design and maybe keep in touch with other like-minded people. Well, I did that… and we made a blanket known as “The Masterpiece” to represent my permaculture diploma (thanks to all those of you who contributed all those years ago – I’m still sitting on it every day as I work and blog). I think I’ll put together the story of the blanket in a post soon because so many of you weren’t around for it… and I also want to include the story as a chapter in one of my planned books.
Anyway, I finished my diploma, but by that time the blog had become a record of all sorts of stuff that I do and a place where I had met and made friends with amazing, talented, enthusiastic people from around the world. And this is really what I hadn’t expected – that my blog would become one aspect of a community; that I would follow other blogs; that I would write to, Skype and even meet fellow bloggers face-to-face. That we would send each other gifts, that we would swap our creations, that we would share ideas and give support, and that we would feel part of a safe and caring ‘space’ were all totally unexpected outcomes.
The time and effort invested in blogging is always worthwhile. At one point I thought that I might have to give up replying to comments, but what’s the fun in that? The comments and responses make a blog the dynamic and responsive space that it is – if I just wanted to tell you stuff I’d write a book or set up an ordinary web site. Both have their place, but they serve different purposes. And so, the blog carries on and people continue to be immensely kind.
Not long ago I gained a new reader, Patricia. She came to the blog via a personal recommendation… actually someone who I know through permaculture and who was there when I did my diploma presentation with the blanket. I hope that she’s going to write a guest blog post soon and stimulate some discussion but in the mean time we’ve communicated by email and via the blog. Anyway, the other day I mentioned that I thought I’d get myself a new notebook and make a start on writing one of those books I have in mind. Immediately Patricia said she had just the thing and today I received this:
With this explanation:
Oh, I’m so touched. What a wonderful gift – what wonderful history. Thank you, Patricia, I hope that one day we can meet up and talk fabric and yarn ans sustainability over tea and cake.
So, that sums up my experience of blogging – you really are my kind* of people – thank you all for being here.
-oOo-
* According to the OED, ‘kind’ has several meanings, including:
A natural quality, property, or characteristic; a distinctive feature of a person or thing
and
A class, sort, or type of people or things
and
the people with whom a specific individual has a great deal in common
and, my favourite
Having or showing a benevolent, friendly, or warm-hearted nature or disposition; ready to assist, or show consideration for, others; sympathetic, obliging, considerate.
The Snail of Happiness 
coppicelearner
/ December 29, 2017That notebook is gorgeous! And I loved hearing it’s story. Betty’s mother was right about the fabric lasting! I would love to hear the blanket story too.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 29, 2017The fabric is older than both me and Jon!
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Patricia Collins
/ December 30, 2017That makes me feel like a fossil!
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Wild Daffodil
/ December 29, 2017You put it all so beautifully Jan. Blogging sits so perfectly within a Permaculture way of living. Love the fabric, book and story that goes with it.
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Ann Pole
/ December 29, 2017A lovely story and a beautiful sketchbook.
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nanacathy2
/ December 29, 2017Oh my such a beautiful post and a wonderful notebook with a terrific back story. You will love writing in it for one of your books. The very best of luck with this next phase in your life. Who needs Michael Gove anyway?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 29, 2017I’d much rather have a lovely notebook!
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uphilldowndale
/ December 29, 2017Blogging has always given me more than I’ve put in and I’ve had great fun with fellow bloggers, I’ve even met a couple.
I became obsessed with old curtains on our trip around Orkney and Northern Scotland
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 29, 2017Oh, what lovely pictures of windows and doors… and I rather like the tatty curtains!
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Patricia Collins
/ December 30, 2017Love your photos.
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uphilldowndale
/ December 30, 2017Thank you…
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katechiconi
/ December 30, 2017Having been around at the commencement of the Masterpiece, I feel it’s a tale well worth retelling and filling out with more detail. I also like the idea that all those squares are in daily practical use as well as having a more formal role. Dual purpose is *so* permaculture! Like you, I enjoy and am encouraged by my blogging community, and I find the idea of doing without it quite terrifying. Friends are friends, no matter how we met them or how far in distance or lifestyle they are. I’m looking forward to discovering what your plans are for Snailing Happily into the future.
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arlingwoman
/ December 30, 2017My experience–starting to do one thing with the blog, then having it expand–seems similar to yours. It has been lovely meeting so many people, hearing about their projects, crafts, and lives, and yes, joining a community. What a tale your new notebook tells!
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KerryCan
/ December 30, 2017You’ve captured so well this aspect of blogging that non-bloggers just can’t begin to understand–how we end up having real, true friends via our commitment to the community!
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Patricia Collins
/ December 30, 2017Thank you for sharing the story and thanks to you all for your kind comments. I’m currently working on an even older textile – a quilt made by the Canadian Red Cross for bombed out Britains, but more of that another time.
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Patricia Collins
/ December 30, 2017sorry should read, ‘Britons’.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ December 30, 2017It is indeed an interesting and caring virtual community, I consider myself lucky to have found you all, too 🙂 Like Kate said, Happy Snailing…
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Claire
/ December 31, 2017I love that story, thanks for sharing it! Long live the power of blogging, bridging like-minded people across countries and continents. Happy new year!!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 31, 2017And a very happy new year to you! Thank you for being part of the community.
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insearchofitall
/ December 31, 2017I like the last definition of kind as well. It’s also what I have discovered here in the blogging community and you are correct, those who don’t blog won’t understand. The gifts are just a tiny part of it. It’s the gifting to others and connections that are the best part. Having others that share your enthusiasm for the things you do makes it come to life. Happy New Year.
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Born To Organize
/ January 1, 2018What a terrific story! I love all the life in that length of material, the sharing of draperies back and forth, the shortening and then the return of the drapes. And now you have a journal. Serendipity!
I think your title sums up the blogging experience for many of us: My kind of people. Happy new year, Jan!
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Laurie Graves
/ January 2, 2018Hear, hear! So glad to be part of a blogging community. New friends, many stories. I feel enriched by it all. Lovely notebook!
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quietwatercraft
/ January 3, 2018I’ve found exactly the same thing! I wasn’t sure what I expected when I started my blog, but it certainly wasn’t to find a yarny family all over the world. What a wonderful side effect 🙂
The notebook is gorgeous, and how fab to have such a story behind it.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 3, 2018It is interesting what the “yields” of blogging turn out to be. I have met such lovely people.
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