A new year, a new word

 

Happy New Year! We made it…together.  Another year behind us, a brand new one ahead.

Oh, the bright and beautiful possibilities!

It’s that time again, for setting our intentions, making our own personal creative goals and exploring new ways of being in the world. For the last few years, we’ve joined collective energy with our dear friend Ali Edwards through her One Little Word tradition. Way back when, at the start of our One Word Project, it was Ali that inspired us and proved that indeed, One Little Word could make a really Big difference in our creative journeys.

Today, we kick off this month of beginnings with YOUR word. We did it last year, just like this; asking YOU to celebrate YOUR word all month long for the One Word Project, in honor of One Little Word. YOUR word. Share it with us here in the comments and in our OWP Flickr group and who knows, YOUR word might be featured here!

So, as we start, share with us…what word do YOU choose to begin 2012?

a celebration of light and color

"There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."  ~Edith Wharton

Tis the season for lights and color. And when you combine to two? Magic happens!

The golden glow of candle light, radiant ornaments, moonlight, subtle sparkles, twinkle lights.

Whether you choose fantastic focus or a brilliant bokeh, today, illuminate us with all the light and color that you've captured this holiday.

love, light and being together

You know how everything is better when you're together? That's obviously the way we feel about things here at Shutter Sisters! That's why I would like to personally invite you to join in the fun this year as we Picture the Holidays.

Many of you might know of the Picture Series I have taught over at Big Picture Classes for the past year and a half. Many old friends and new ones too have gathered to spend some creative photo fun together in these classes. With every prompt and with each class my hope was to inspire people to see the world around them with a brand new perspective. My other hope was to bring people together; to learn, shoot, and share a space where like-minded, like-hearted women could gather in the name of creativity!

Keeping all that in mind, I would like to give you all a personal invitation to join us this year to experience Picture the Holidays. I am delighted to announce our partnership with Paper Coterie for this years versionof Picture the Holidays! I would love for you to participate in the daily photo prompts (that will come right to your inbox) as well as join the conversation in our private Facebook group.

If you are in need of a way to slow down enough to actually enjoy your holiday season (and who isn't?) then this experience is exactly what you need! All you need to do is sign up at Paper Coterie on thePIcture the Holidays homepage to "become a member". This gives you a membership at Paper Coterie AND enrolls you in the Picture the Holidays "Prompt Me" experience. If you've taken Picture the Holidays already last year, you're invited to do it again! If you're already a member at Paper Coterie, you still need to fill in the "become a member" prompt with your current member information and you'll be enrolled for the prompts. Upon becoming a memeber you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to get into the facebook group if you'd like to join us there too! The prompts for Picture the Holidays are complimentary. I hope by offering the 31 daily prompts to EVERYONE we can start our own Holiday Revolution and take back this Season! It's time to remember what it's all about; love,, light and being together!

At the end of 31 days of inspiration and imagery, you will be invited to create a photo book of your very own featuring the photos YOU took during your December. The book is optional, but encouraged. It's a perfect gift to afford yourself for reclaiming your Holiday season! And it was designed specifically for Picture the Holidays which makes it extra special.

So, what are you waiting for? Click over to Paper Coterie and pre-registerby becoming a member. Oh, and if you register before 11/23 you are entered to win an Epiphanie Bag too! YAY!

Join us and come December 1, we will be on our photo path to enjoying the Holidays together! I cannot wait to begin!

How do you enjoy your Holiday? What helps you slow down and savor?

sisterhood and dreaming

photo by our Target cheerleader and photographer, Chris Sneddon

i've been thinking a lot lately about dreams. In fact, my head has been spinning with them.

Camp SS, reignited my dreaminess….. I feel like my dreams have taken on a whole new life. And the best part .... I am no longer dreaming alone. What I discovered at camp is the power of sisterhood. I have never really experienced anything like it. Suddenly something I thought I didn't need, has become something I can't live without.

I witnessed Camp Sisterhood in so many ways….. 

• I watched as Tracey, Jen and Myriam took the power of their sisterhood and made all kinds of magic. Honestly, you could feel their collective energy. It was beautiful.
• I watched friendships form amongst strangers….big and awesome friendships…. It was beautiful.
• I watched blood sisters share the Camp experience together and admittedly felt a little ache inside…. a little sister longing…. It was beautiful.
• I listened to women share their deepest of deep feelings…. their fears and insecurities… they put them all out there. And as they shared, I felt the deepest connection with them. It was beautiful.
• I discovered that sisterhood is powerful. That when women come together, HUGE things can happen. And my oh my, It was beautiful!

Even the littlest of things become important….in the 'sisterhood'…..

I just have to share a camp side story….

I was so determined to get to Target while in the U.S. We do not have Target in Canada, and I really wanted to go. I mentioned it to Xanthe….and she was completely on board. (no Target's in the UK, either) 
But there were a few obstacles in our way.

We didn't have a car....and even if we did, there was no way I was driving. So we needed a car and a driver.

Camp was busy. There were really only tiny windows of time that all of us could make it work.
We had to time our trip, just right.

But, we were determined not to let these obstacles get in our way.

Chris was completely up for it….and willing to taxi us. Have I thanked you for that Chris? I couldn't believe Chris was willing to take us to Target! She has one right across the street from her house. (seriously, so jealous of Chris. Can you imagine?). Paige had a car and she generously offered it to us. Thank you Paige.

Mission Target, became a bit of camp buzz. As I would move about camp, many lovelies would ask… 'did you get to Target? Seriously, you don't have a Target? You gotta get to Target!!' 

We were on a mission…..

Day one went by, no Target, Day 2… no Target…. Then, oh my gosh…. two lovely sisters came to me….with a Target gift card, the afternoon of day 2. It was the sweetest thing. I just could not believe it. Thank you Jen and Brit. You two are both so darn lovely! Target, had to happen!! After all, I could not use my gift card at home. Right?!

And so, as the days progressed, the urgency to get to Target grew stronger, and, finally, a window for Target-time opened! Oh no… no car!! Paige's car was out and about! What? Seriously.... NO!!? Enter.... beautiful Laura!! She's like, 'I can drive you to Target?' I felt terrible, that this sweet woman would have to leave the wonderful 'camp-bubble' to drive us to Target. But, we had to get there!! And so….off we went! Laura as the driver, Chris as the navigator and photographer….Xanthe and I in the back, bursting to get there!!  

We laughed and skipped and oo'ed and awed.....Oh my gosh… watching Xanthe's Target experience was so much fun! Chris followed along with her PEN, taking photos. Laura, gave us her best Target shopping advice. Xanthe bought the cutest 'jumper'...EVER...and tons of American candy to take home to her beautiful boys. I found several fabulous treasures, including a lovely sweater jumper. Thank you Jen and Brit.

It was a sisterhood moment, FOR SURE! The Target dream became a reality…a lovely camp memory. It all happened because of the sisterhood…cheering us on. I realize now, dreams, both big and small, are so much better when shared with sisters.

Today, I am so grateful to sit here…. now part of a sisterhood… a part of something, I had no idea I was missing.
Here's to shared dreams and sisterhood.

This sisterhood thing is all so new to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you experienced the sisterhood? Are you longing for it? Have you been part of a sisterhood moment, that has left you wanting more or maybe completely changed? Share with us today.

 It's Friday!!! Hello Canvas is thrilled to celebrate our sisterhood by giving away another free canvas via thier facebook page! Go upload a sisterly photo for your chance to win!

Getting Creative

Fall seems to be turning to winter sooner than it usually does, from the early snow storms in the east to the earlier than normal rain here in Southern California. We had rain off and on Friday through Sunday and I really needed to get outside, even if just for a little bit.  There was a brief break in the clouds and I remembered my rubber duckies that I had been holding onto since last spring for days just like these.  I grabbed my 11 yr. old son, he grabbed the ducks and off we went to find the perfect puddle to set them free in.  Not only did I get some camera time in, my son and I had some good old fashioned outdoor fun, and for that I am grateful. 

How about you? What do you when the weather doesn't want to cooperate? Today, show us how you work with the weather in your neck of the woods.