A Symbol between Sisters

It is with great pleasure that we introduce the exclusive Shutter Sisters flash bulb necklace. Affectionately created in collaboration with the amazingly talented and equally lovely ladies of Blue Poppy Jewelry this exclusive piece was designed by them, for us as a tangible symbol of our sisterhood. Our passion for photography as well as our regard for one another as creative equals bring us together in a soulful community that resonates through every post, every comment, every link and every single photograph that has been shared among us here at Shutter Sisters.

We will be making these necklaces available for purchase through our soon-coming Shutter Sisters Shop (see below)  and will be debuting (and selling) the necklace at BlogHer on Saturday during the Blogger's Swap Meet.  The flash bulb necklace will be sold for $52 with a percentage of every sale going to the relief efforts fund started by Jen and Odette whose stories and plight are near and dear to many of our hearts. Sisterhood and a good cause. Nothing could be sweeter.

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BIG NEWS! We've opened a store!!

To purchase an Exclusive Shutter Sisters Flash Bulb Necklace please visit our store.

the value of a sand dollar

Barefoot time along the edge of the ocean has a way of temporarily clearing out the human-made clutter I've managed to accumulate on this earth... a calendar full of tasks, shopping lists, a dishwasher to unload, library books to return, a computer desktop littered with documents, drawers stuffed with clothes I no longer wear.  But at the beach, the simplicity of sand, sea and sky is a welcome setting.  It sort of pushes me to let go and seek out the true currency of the earth.

Why don't you stop your day for just a moment and step outside.  Seek and shoot a small treasure made by Mother Nature and share it in the comments or tell us about a special place that keeps you grounded.

One Sweet Shot - July 2008

Some images need no words. Like my OSS pick for today. When I saw this shot by the lovely and talented Meryl in our Flickr Pool (and check out her blog too at My Bit of Earth)  I was overwhelmed with purest and most vibrant  joy.

Here's hoping the rest of these glorious links bring you plenty of sunshine on this fine One Sweet Shot Sunday as well.

Kelly is honoring this shot at Toneybabies and this one from a good friend

Tracy is honoring this shot by redrobinland

Nicky Thomas is honoring this shot from hiphappyhay

Camera Shy Momma is honoring this shot from luckysnap

Natala is honoring both this one from hiphappyhay and this one from work2snap

Emma is honoring this shot at her site barebonephoto

WendySue is honoring this shot from Joy Unexpected

Steph/Lawyer Mama is honoring this shot by Emily

Meryl at My Bit of Earth is honoring this shot by luckysnap

Dr Lyn is honoring this shot from Jersey Girl

Stephanie is honoring this shot by my 3 peas

Lindy is honoring this shot by Pink Sherbert Photography

and Joelle is honoring this shot by Pink Orchid Too.

Many thanks everyone for playing along this month. Now, get to clickin' and have a grand day.

cover shot

"Far below lay the fields green with wheat, the flat pastures grazed by horses, the darker greens of the woods." - Richard Adams, Watership Down

I'm currently reading a book called Watership Down. It was written in 1972 and somewhat of a classic (I've been meaning to read it for years). If you haven't read it, it's a fictional story about a group of rabbits roaming around the English countryside and much of the story includes detailed descriptions from the rabbits' viewpoints. It's a beautifully written book but to tell you the truth, it tends to put me to sleep quicker than most books. It's not that it's boring, but it is written in a very soft, soothing way that makes my eyes want to close. The next thing I know I'm dreaming about bunnies.

As I was editing the above photo, I immediately thought of this book. Everything about it fits perfectly with the story; the wheat (good for munching), the angle of the photo (low to the ground like a rabbit), the soft, muted colors (much like the storyline). It could be the new cover of Watership Down. I was thinking that might be a fun little project for anyone looking for a some photographic inspiration. You could choose a book and then go out and shoot the new cover. Or you could go through old photos and match it up with a book you've read. If you decide to try it leave a link to your photo and then tell us which book it belongs to. I'm curious to see what you come up with!

The Happiness of Now

Hope is the mask of fear; trust is the face of courage, her friend had said.  Now she could see it was true. 

She decided to stop hoping for things to go well in the future and to begin trusting instead.  Wasn’t she herself the one who had said, Everything was unfolding exactly as it should?  You can rest now and wait?  Another friend had said it would be hard, but today she decided it would be easy.  Why not?  Who could hold her back from this knowing except for her own self?

She took a deep breath and tried to imagine now.  The now that was happening while she held in the breath and then let it go again.  The now that was holding her and keeping her in perfect love and care.  The now that she had first discovered in Africa, but that was here, too, right here in the kindness of her very own breath.  She would not have to go anywhere else to find it ever again.  It could not be contained in a person or a place or an experience or a moment.  It would remain right here, right now, in her very own soul, the place where she had been reborn, the place where she could rest and wait for the very next breath to take her into the happiness of now, her truest, kindest home.

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Sweet traveling mercies to you as you find your way to the happiness of now, the kindness of home.  This space this morning is for you to say whatever you'd like about what's hard, what's sweet, what's easy, what's deep about that amazing journey.  Your images from your soul travels are as always, most welcome.