gathering

I love this time of year.  Gatherings of friends, family and food.  A coming together of hearts centered around tables set with so much to be thankful for. Warmth in spirit and light.  That is what this image makes me feel. A beautiful memory of a cold autumn evening spent warm inside with friends.  Sharing a bounty of food lovingly prepared.  Glasses toasted and emptied, bellies full, friends lingering in the glow of home. The good stuff.

Today let's celebrate the beauty of gatherings.

• Something served with love.

• The beauty before, during and after.

• The people, the sweets, the eats, the setting, the love.

• And even after all is done,  the beauty found in the remains of the day.

Happy gathering everyone... CHEERS!

thankful

  

 Thankful - adjective: feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative  

There are 7 us, friends since high school, some of us friends since grade school.  Some of us have kept in touch throughout the years while some of us haven't seen each other since we were in school.  Last summer we reconnected at our high school reunion and like we had never been apart, we picked up right where we had left off.  We'll stay in touch this time, we promised.  It seemed important that we keep that promise, and we have.

Last weekend, after much planning and schedule arranging, we managed to get a much needed girl's weekend away together.  Finally we had a chance to be together for more than just a couple of hours to really get to know each other again and cement the bond of friendship.  Between us we've experienced marriage, divorce, breast cancer, loss and love found.  Souls were bared, a few tears were shed but the laughter was endless.  Our hearts broke wide open, our love spilling out to embrace each of us.

I think our reconnection has occured all these years later for a reason.  The universe has brought us together again to love and nurture each other.  To quote the beautiful and wise Jen Lemen, one of the most powerful things that can happen to you is being seen for who you really are and loved deeply at the same time. I feel safe and loved and accepted by these women and for that, I am deeply thankful.

On this, the week of Thanksgiving, share with what it is to be thankful, either with a photo or your words and know that we here at Shutter Sisters are thankful for you.

Snap Happy

I grew up playing cars and wrestling with my brother. And secretly wished for a sister. Naturally, I've collected and kept a number of girlfriends by my side; however, I can't say I know exactly what it feels like to have a sister. But these girls come close. Jen Lemen and Tracey Clark. "So how did you meet these Shutter Sisters?" people ask me in real life.

"I met them online," I say. And I smile because it sounds a little bit crazy to admit that you've discovered and embraced a big handful of kindred spirits – sisters – in the wide-open space of the internet. I never would have believed it to be true. But it is. And for that, I am truly grateful.

We'd like to share a great big thank you to those of you who joined us (in person and in spirit) for our Shutter Sisters Snap Happy Hour on November 11 in New York to celebrate the launch of our book, Expressive Photography. Thanks to Focal Press for their eager support and to Marriott for graciously hosting us at the super swanky VIVID Lounge at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel. It was such a treat to just relax, soak in the light of night, and spend real-life quality time with people who click. Let's figure out a way to do this more often.

Published

I anxiously tapped my fingers. Would this be the day? Would my watched pot boil? Would my very own issue of Artful Blogging finally be in the mail?

You see, not only would I be published in the magazine, but there was a deeper part of my soul reaching print this chilly fall season. The I Am Enough Collaborative darn near changed my life.

About 9 months ago, in the heart of my own ‘artist’s winter’ I picked up my camera. I was in a dark place artistically. I was burnt out, I was feeding myself lie after lie and pretty much had self-convinced this weary heart that I would never be, enough. The images that came from that day you can now see on page 104 of Artful Blogging’s fall/winter edition.

Those photos would have never seen print if the care of a dear friend hadn’t felt something when I shared them with her. Later Tracey would ask if I minded sharing a bit of myself with her amazing collaboration, I am Enough. With timid hands, I began to type and in no time had written my own powerful declaration. I am indeed enough! What an amazing place I had gotten to. From rain to sun. From darkness to light.

So late summer when Tracey contacted me about interest in including my images in the upcoming publication - I nearly fell off my chair. Tears began to form, as I found myself overwhelmed with joy and pride. I was able to be a part of something bigger and better than what I could have imagined. I was able to share my sorrow and my joy with others and now the news was spreading. Humbled and honored I said my best “yes!” without sounding every bit as eager as I was.

I kept in mind that sometime this fall I would get my own copy of the magazine. After a week or so of an empty mailbox, I began to busy myself with other things. Wouldn’t you know that darn pot boiled on a day I least expected it. The kids had been grouchy and yogurt was drying to my youngster's carseat. The day felt all wrong and my attitude didn’t help a bit.

Then with my boys still in the car I let out a squeal. It was here, it was here! Secured in plastic with a paper that read: “Congratulations on being published in Artful Blogging...” Published. Published. Published. The words weren’t any less exciting after the 14th phone call I made exclaiming such.

To this day the beautiful issue sits by my computer. The absolute honor of being a part of such an amazing experience, amongst so many other artists I admire and adore...words aren’t enough.

I can’t wait to see the vast places this collaboration goes, and the hearts it will reach. I know I am forever changed.

Photo and words courtesy of Honorary Sister/Guest Blogger Angie Warren, founder of The Creative Mama.

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Note from Tracey: If you would like to share your own story with the I am Enough Collaborative, consider this your official invitation. Or if you want to follow along and soak up the goodness on Facebook or Twitter or join us at Flickr, you can do that as well. It's your call. I'm just glad to have you! And today, you are invited to share yourself and your enoughness here in the comments.

THIS moment

As we head into the busy holiday season it is ever more essential to remember where you are, right in this moment. It is easy to get swept away in our to-dos and our giving to others. Remember, YOU are a gift and your life is one too if you only stop to notice it. Give yourself with this sacred and creative time to dive deep and discover that to live the life of your dreams, you need not look any further than the life right at your fingertips.

In my own life these days, there has been a big shift happening. It all recently came to a boil when a crisis emerged in my marriage right before my 12th anniversary just a few weeks ago, and significant events started to unfold… or maybe it started when I committed to my dream about creating the wishstudio and life began aligning as I showed up to take hold of my dreams… or maybe it began when I became a mother, expanding my life exponentially after a long fallow season. These are some things I will share with you.

What really matters though, is what I can tell you now from where I stand in this very moment through all the twist and turns of my journey, that none of it really matters (gasp!) yet it is all greatly significant. With open eyes, a wide open heart and immeasurable support and love from the kindred community I've found right here, I've come to see my life through an entirely new lens – one that is steeped in compassion, love and a deep sense of acceptance and gratitude.

This, has truly freed me. It means I can let go of regret because all of it was part of seeing me into this moment. I can let go of expectations and see the abundance of my life as it is. I can embrace the possibilities, because this clarity and love is what really makes magic happen in our lives!  I can show you.

I will share with you the tales and gems of my experiences as well as offer you encouragement to find the joy that exists in your own life through creative practices and compassionate acceptance. Together we will take some measured and meaningful steps, and hand in hand along the way I know you will discover how we truly have the ability to love our lives (the one here at our fingertips!) as we ultimately learn to better love ourselves.

I am honored to give away a place in my 5-week e-course THIS moment: all you have is all you need (November 15th – December 16th 2010)! Please leave a comment on this post sharing one thing you see in this very moment that is extraordinary in your life!  If you would like to go ahead and register, early bird registration is available now through November 5th. I would love for you to join what I know is going to be an amazing journey!

Image, words, and giveaway courtesy of the lovely and talented Mindy Tsonas, creator of WishStudio.

And congratulations to Felicia for winning a place in Mindy's THIS moment e-course!