London: blogger meetups

LondonBloggers.jpg
(left to right: Jean, Lady Penelope, yours truly, Stuart, Natalie and Dick)

I was very excited to meet a few blogger friends while visiting the UK. The very first meeting, only two days after arriving in London, was with the amazing Natalie d’Arbeloff whose alter ego is Blaugustine. Natalie kindly invited me to her apartment, or flat as the English say, which turned out to be only a short bus ride away. Daughter, granddaughters and husband accompanied me, making sure I would not get lost, and after introductions went off to nearby Hampstead Heath in the meantime.

I felt awed to be there, yet right at home with Natalie chatting about our lives, our artmaking and printmaking, just picking up from our online friendship. It was fabulous to see her work on her walls, some of it so familiar from her blog, and to see her spacious attic studio above her flat, a romantic garrett studio, can you imagine!? I so enjoyed looking and touching the many artist books that Natalie has created, for nothing can compare to experiencing the real thing. Thank you, Natalie, for this time with you!

Two days later, Natalie and I met again at a charming tavern nearby for lunch, joined by several other mutual blogger-friends. How amazing to meet in person the beautiful Jean (Tasting Rhubarb) and Lady Penelope (twisted rib) plus Stuart (Hydragenic) and Dick (Patteran Pages). Such warm and wonderful people, even better in real life! Thank you all for coming to meet me, especially Dick who had to come from out of town and Jean who had to take time off from work just before a long business trip to China.

Meeting online friends is like meeting penpals in the olden days, hmm? More to come about some other bloggers that we met later on…

June 2, 2009 in Being an Artist, Blogging, Travel by Marja-Leena