Blogging Buddies and a Brave New World

On the twitter designTV chat this afternoon host Amy of ABCD Design posed a question – what was your favorite part of Blogfest (not including meeting friends)? She of course had to add that exclusion because it clearly would have been the overwhelming answer. It certainly is mine!!

Blogfest encompassed an incredible array of creative activities. Kravet set the bar high with this inaugural event. But I think all attendees would agree that meeting in real life, members of our online community, was by far the greatest outcome of these three days. Although many bemoan the impersonal aspect of our digital world, this event has proven that the power of social media can be an influential force for good. How else would (or even could) I possibly have connected with all these incredible creative people, scattered across the country.

So to end this week of indescribable togetherness and connectivity, let me introduce you to just a few of my companions during the event, many of whom you may know from our corner of the blogosphere.

At the initial lunch in the Hearst Tower, I connected with Leslie from The Kaleidoscope Partnership, Suysel and Anne of Tilton Fenwick, Faith Sheridan of Faith Sheridan Design, and Susan of Bridget Beari Designs.

Here is the gregarious Leslie again, in the middle, but this time with Carmen of The Decorating Diva on the left and Yvonne of Layers and Layers on the right.

Our table at the Architectural Digest breakfast included left to right, Suysel and Anne from Tilton Fenwick, Elizabeth from Pretty Pink Tulips, Rebecca of Rebecca Tier Soskin Design and Coryanne of Housewife Bliss.

At the other end of the table were Hilaire of Design Lines and Susan of Bridget Beari Designs.

At the Town & Country champagne reception, I clinked glasses with Meredith of Meredith Heron Designs and Traci of Traci Zeller Designs.

The party hosted by Amy of ABCD Designs, Jonathan Legate and Joss and Main was hopping!! Doesn’t everyone look fabulous?! From left, the soon-to-be-mother-of-a-daughter Gretchen Aubuchon, Kelley Moore, hostess Amy, Meredith Heron and Lisa of Decormentor.

Veronika and Tim of Modenus look like they’re enjoying themselves. Tim – last one for you!!

He didn’t seem any the worse for wear at the Traditional Home party the next night, here with Andie Day.

The kind folks at Traditional Home gifted us the beautiful Assouline Inspired Styles book. Amy and Tobi Fairley waited in line for David Easton to sign theirs.

Julieann of Create Girl, Erika of Radiant Republic and Stacy of Stacy Style and Dunes and Duchess were positively glowing. I’m not sure if it was the libations or something the charmingly naughty David Easton said!

Blogfest left everyone’s minds reeling – with infinite possibilities – of new ideas, new connections, new collaborations. This medium is still in its infancy and there are no rules – except to be appreciative and considerate – remembering to credit photographers and magazines, to be positive and constructive, to respect other’s opinions and work. I look forward to seeing what creativity is unleashed! And as I travel throughout the virtual universe online, I will have new places to visit and faces to put with twitter handles and blog posts that I read! It’s a brave new world out there – it’s good to have friends!!

 

28 thoughts on “Blogging Buddies and a Brave New World

  1. This was great!! How fun to see all the pretty smiling faces behind some of the blogs I already love and now I have a bunch of new names to go and check out..oh boy this IS turning into a full time gig, LOL. So much for my limiting myself to my “1 hour” in the morning and my “1 hour” in the evening!
    Great post…looks like you had a lot of fun and as you said the silver lining to me too in all this would be the social aspect and getting to meet so many nice people that you share commonality with.

  2. What a fantastic gathering. I has over 300 blogs that I regularly visit and I hate to say this, but I have not got any of those that you showed in your post on my daily ritual. How can I keep up with them all! I guess this should keep me busy this weekend. Glad I have a laptop that I can take outside and do this at the same time…I can’t believe I have so many new sites to visit. Thanks? Yes, many, many thanks for the introductions.

  3. I’ve enjoyed your Blog Fest
    posts….It truly is a joy to meet
    other bloggers. Looks like most
    of the bloggers at this gathering
    were design bloggers, so I only
    recognize a smattering, being more
    of a “life style” blogger, myself : )
    Fun fun times…..but where was YOUR
    picture??
    Have a wonderful weekend,
    xx Suzanne

  4. So great to see familiar faces, and fun to put new ones to names! And… is that a black and white Ann Cramer skirt I spy on Meredith?? LOVE. :)

    I’m having fun now, going through everyone’s Blogfest recaps and photos! xo

  5. You all are like rock stars to me. Matching faces with names was great fun. How I wish I could of been there; meeting, learning and laughing.

    Here’s to 2012!

    Thanks so much for the updates, I appreciate them. x Deb

  6. Dearest Q – your graciousness vies with your impeccable writing, style, and taste for the reasons you are my FIRST blog read of the day. Best, j.

  7. Stacy,
    I just enjoyed this post so much!!! Not only does it bring back the euphoric feeling of being there and meeting so many wonderful people, but it puts some names to faces I saw but did not meet!!!

    And, in answer to Suzanne’s question above….your pic will be on my Monday post! I promise, it will be my last one about Blogfest…there was so much good stuff, I had to give it all its on space.

    Happy weekend to you….what a week it was!
    xo Elizabeth

  8. what an amazing Blogfest must be…
    perhaps another year and I will attend..
    and I would think that connecting on a more personal level with some of the individuals that you’ve met through blogging has to be the best part..

    maureen

  9. All of our posts on BlogFest have been outstanding, it’s so neat to see that the inaugural event was such a success. And seeing all these photos is nifty, there is nothing like “names with faces,” even if it is the name of a blog in some instances.

    Thank you for sharing the fun with all of us,
    tp

  10. Looks like a great time – so fun seeing people outside of their blog : ) Thanks for reporting for us! I’m so sad I missed it, hopefully next year! x Kelly

  11. How fun for you! The event looks awesome. This weekend in Atlanta was the Foodie Blog Conference. I tried to get in on a food photography workshop to be held in France this Oct. but they only took the first 6 and I made the wait list. Darn! Isn’t it amazing how many connections are made through blogging?

  12. It looks like you had a great time. You’re right the best part of blogging is really getting to know so many great and creative people. I’m glad I met you via blogging and hope I meet you in person one day.

    Have a great week.

  13. What a special gathering…everyone looks so happy! Thank you so much for sharing, I feel like I was there…kind of!
    xo J~

  14. I agree with you, meeting other bloggers was so much fun! The “rules” to blogging make for a happy place in a crazy world. Loved meeting you! Will I see you Tuesday in Greenwich?

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