Sunday, May 9, 2010

There Are Good People Out There In Blogland


This is a photo of myself, Maija Lepore and Trish Samsal. For the last ten plus years, I have gone to visit my in-laws in Mesa, Arizona. They live in a beautiful house on the golf course and it is always so wonderful to share time with them, to get taken care of by my second mom, and to watch the Arizona sunset. I have always wondered if this is where I would end up, as there are so many things I love about Arizona. The only problem...I am an "odd duck." I do not play golf and I do not play bridge. I like to play with beads and old paper. I am a bit unconventional, to say the least, and never felt that I would quite fit the mold in Mesa. 

Then I met Trish, who was working in the craft store that was owned by Domestic Bliss in Downtown Mesa. I fell in love with the store (in fact, I thought Trish owned it!).  Trish was teaching classes like encaustic painting and making large glitter Easter Eggs. They also offered sewing classes with exciting Sis Boom Bah and other fabrics. I was at home! She was patient and helpful while I buzzed around the store in a frenzy. I saw her at Silver Bella and I remember her handing my friend, Donna, and me some free things from her booth. So nice! When we visited this Christmas, she was again so helpful to Jud, Kat and me.  I remember walking down the street in Downtown Mesa..there was an antique mall and a store called Mystic Paper! I was dazzled! This was the kind of area I have dreamed of inhabiting!

I found blogland about the time I signed up for Silver Bella and again felt this wonderful sense of finding my kindred spirits. I left my comments on many blogs and a couple people were especially welcoming. Among these was Maija Lepore. Maija always seemed to answer my little notes and I was so touched. I had a class with her at Silver Bella and she was just like I imagined her in person. What you see is what you get. She is an honest, forthright, genuine, generous person. I got together with both Trish and Maija this year in Phoenix. We had lunch and Trish taught us a class in making tiny books. I had a wonderful time.

I have strong connections here in the Twin Cities but I am getting tired of the long winters. Someday I imagine I will be living in Mesa, or somewhere in that area. It is such a relief to know that there will be true community there for me.

Maija is having a giveaway when she hits 200 friends on her Google Connect. She is giving away the coolest apron from Olive Juice and Co. Go and check it out and become her friend. You won't regret it!

13 comments:

  1. Suz, you are so sweet. Thank you for your kind words. I love meeting great ladies like you. If do get to move here we will go to all my favorite spots! For now, when you come to visit, you always have a friend.
    Hugs, Tricia

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  2. I always say I am going to escape the Oklahoma winters by moving to Arizonia, I can only imagine how you daydream about it! What a great picture, I love Maija too.

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  3. Thank you for the lovely story Suz. You would be so welcome and loved here in AZ- you will find your forever home and you already have some forever friends here!
    oxox

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  4. Isn't blogging wonderful? No matter where you are, you can talk to people with a common interest.

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  5. Suz, it sounds like Mesa is a great place to live...and you already have good friends there...i know what you mean about the winters...they are tiresome for me too!!!

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  6. Wintertime doesn't quite seem as fun as it did in our childhood, does it? I've never been to Mesa, but with the picture you have just painted, it sounds like a nice place to spend some time....

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  7. Suz, Maija seems like a wonderful person. I frequent her blog and she ALWAYS emails a reply thanking me for stopping,etc. I would love to meet her someday. She's adorable on line and I imagine wonderful in person. Thanks for sharing about your friendship with these Arizona ladies. :)

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  8. Oh my goodness...I am thrilled that you stopped by my blog and left me such a sweet note! And I will be reading you opening line every day for the rest of forever...thinking that I don't look old enough to have 3 kids....I love you already!!

    If you move to Mesa....I will take you to lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant. I have lived here since '92 and I love it so much...let me know f you should pop down for another visit..

    Thank you again for your sweet comments and so nice to meet you!

    Xo Rebecca

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  9. Lovely reading about your special connections and friendships Suz. Blogland is a special place to link with like minded people.
    Mystic Paper ... what a fab name for a store!
    I have always wanted to visit AZ, I like your description of it and you certainly sound like my kinda gal :)!
    oxo

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  10. Hmmmmm.....Miss Suz, if you moved to Arizona, we could really be almost neighbors!! It's only a five hour drive or a one hour plane trip for me!! Something for me to look forward to!!!
    xxoo
    lynn

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  11. Blogging is such an amazing thing, isn't it? So glad you had a nice trip! Sounds beautiful there!

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  12. Hi Suz! I agree that Maija is just a wonderful friend and Tricia is so sweet and talented too! I had the opportunity of meeting them both first in Phoenix. Thanks for the kind words regarding my Nonno!

    Hugs!
    Sandy

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  13. OMG Suz...here I am finally catching up on blog posts, and see you were hanging out with these lovely ladies! How fun! I'm happy to say that Maija will be flying over to my house in 3 weeks! Can't wait to see her! Glad you got to make some artsy connections in AZ! It's funny how you can find "us fabulous girls" all over the place once you start digging around!(and where are you located?...come visit Buffalo!) hehe! Have a great day! xoxox natalea

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