We built a community

apron by Gina

Let's look back to the very beginning of Blogland
a time when blogs were basic,
formatting sometimes went awry,
photographs were occasionally out of focus
but we were all learning together.

quilt by Tracy

Every day we would hang out
in each other's comment boxes,
enjoying Emma's new baby,
the fact that Ali was learning to knit,
Val was balancing work and home
and I had just started a new job.

basket by Val

Fast-forward five years...
we have developed in different ways
but we are all still here,
our friendship based on shared experience
and a respect for each others achievements.
It is a true community.

blanket by Lucy

And now out of that community
has come something truly extraordinary:
The Red Nose Day Dolls
a fundraising project
created by Emma and Ros...
and a list of craftswomen
that grows longer every day.

shawl by Annie

Red Nose Day dolls
Read all about them
Follow them on twitter
Donate to the project
Bid for them on eBay

clothes by Julie

They are raising money for Comic Relief
which works to transform lives in Africa
and closer to home in the UK.

But it is more than that...
this is a community of women
offering their time, their skills,
wanting to be part of a collaborative project.
I am in awe of what we created back then
with our blogs, our comments and emails,
our willingness to share our lives.

I'm so very proud of you all.

*****

images:
I have borrowed these images
from the Red Nose Day blog.
Emma and Ros, I hope you don't mind,
I would have preferred to ask permission
so let me know if there is a problem.