Back in early 2007 I was reeling from the loss of my Mom and then my oldest brother, blogging saved me from an even darker abyss I could have fallen in to. During that time another blogger had done a Valentine's Day post with a gift to win and asked her readers to do the same. I thought it was a cheery thing to do so I posted on my own blog about hers and then did one of my own. After that was over I began to think that this could be something not just for V-Day but a global type thing to bring even more bloggers together. Within a few weeks I was coming up with the premise, who could enter and named it One World One Heart. I chose that name because I wanted to really bring the International blogging community closer together and the heart part came from everyone sharing their hearts. I quickly did a blog post about it and tried to get the word out as I was going to do it almost right away. That year I had 85 people on board and when it was over I had such positive feed back and those wishing they'd known about it that I decided to do it annually. I decided to do a different logo for each year (the first year was rather lame as it was done lickety split).....I also thought each year I'd call the way got around from blog to blog forms of transportation. There was the Love Train and The Gypsy Caravan to name a couple...the final year (2010) was Flying on Wings. The main objective was to give bloggers a chance to meet other bloggers they wouldn't ordinarily meet and in the process offer up a "prize" for someone to win just for stopping by. The prizes or giveaways have always amazed me as some people really go all out....although being handmade was not a requirement many did, in fact, make them.
The second year there were about double the first, the third year there were about 400+ and the fourth year...well that was a banner year....there were 1,088 participants. In the fifth and final year there were 871. That 4th year we had 41 different countries represented. I was thrilled with the 85 the first year and never dreamed it would reach so many people and how it would touch people in the way it has. Many friendships have been forged through this event with one actual love connection.....people constantly let me know it's opened up their world more and that just thrills beyond words.
The blogging community has grown and grown with a diversity that is mind boggling....there is a relative smorgasbord of human beings that connect through this medium....and my hope was to reach as many as possible!
Though OWOH has ended (2011) I have created a NEW event to be held annually in its place. The new one (Our World Our Art) will celebrate the arts exclusively because the array of talented artisans out in blogland is astounding. I hope it will be as successful as OWOH...and with the enthusiasm I have received it should be.
I have been blessed with the most lovely comments and emails that I find it hard to absorb it all. I've always been more comfortable giving than receiving...but I am grateful beyond words. All the kindness I've been shown these last 5 years has a special place in my heart - when I have a bad day I just need tap in to that place and I am renewed.
2007 logo
2008 logo
2009 logo
2010 logo
2011 logo
OWOH was written up 2 different times in Artful Blogging magazine as well - Summer of 2008 and Summer of 2009. That was a real honor.
So there you have it.........the history of One World One Heart....and if you are reading this and you've been a part of it even once...I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED
