Giving my heart a little of what it needs

The blogosphere is a strange old place and to this, like to many things, I am a relative newcomer. And I'm not even talking about being a blogger myself - I just mean as a blog reader. It's been not much more than a year or so since I first strayed into the magical world that is creative blogging.

I've always spent a fair bit on creative books. Even when I could barely afford them, I'd happily eat beans on toast for a month to do so. My husband never really understood this but I'm inspired (and always have been) by the words and images of other creative people and I take courage from observing others in their creative endeavours, as well as enjoying the results and success of those endeavours.

I clearly remember the moment I first made the connection from the printed word to the blogged word.... I bought a copy of The Creative License by Danny Gregory and after I'd read it from cover to cover, I typed a web address offered at the back of the book into my web browser and went to his blog, Everday Matters. And so it began.

It was a revelation. From there I followed links to other creative people on the web... And from those to others... My favourites list grew and grew! I lurked around (even when I didn't know that is what it's called) and I was thrilled by what I found. Creative individuals who shared their talents and their work, and the heartfelt ups and downs of their personal creative journeys, sincerely and generously. Who created online communities and offered one another encouragement and support. This is freedom of expression, well expressed, I thought. It was a revelation.

And then there was Etsy... Somewhere to buy the wonderful handmade arts and crafts that these people were making, affordably, and in support of each other. Again, I was hooked.

Somewhere along the winding routes I was taking in the blogosphere, I encountered these two women - Christine Mason Miller and Denise Lynette Andrade. I honestly don't remember if I found their Etsy shops or their blogs first. Or which one (as they are friends) led me to the other. But at first glance and first read, I was hooked. Hooked by their lovely words and images and hooked by the glimpses I was given into who they are.

I don't feel I know them, but I feel that - from what little I do know - I would like to know them. And I love their art - it is beautiful and heartfelt and it touches me.

So this month, a month when my heart is in need of a little extra looking after, is seeking reassurance, and ways to manifest what is important to it in my everyday, I have treated myself to something off my Etsy wishlist from each of them.

And now I see these items have been dispatched... And I feel just like a child on Christmas Eve... I can't wait to receive them. I am tingly with excitement and anticipation. And that's a little of what my heart needs too!