Shutter Sisters

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My best friend of many years was here visiting from Alaska last month.  I’ve known her since I was in the 3rd grade.  We grew up on the same street, only 3 house apart.  Even though she went to a private school and I went to public school, we were inseperable and were together everyday after school.  When it was time for high school, she moved away, but not so far that we didn’t spend most of our weekends together.  It wasn’t until she married and moved to Alaska that that all changed.  She may have been thousands of miles away, but our friendship was permanent. 

Last month, on her way to Colorado for her daughter’s wedding, she made a detour to California to see me.  It had been ten years since we had last been together.  I cherished every minute of the week we had together and before I knew it, it was over and she was off to Colorado.  After she had gone, I went through all the photos I took while she was here and wanted her to have something to remember our time together, so using some of the photos I had taken using Instagram, I first made a collage using the Diptic app. Then, using the Sincerely Ink app, I used the collage to make a postcard.  I sent one to her as well as myself.  I don’t know when I’m going to see her again but until then, I have this postcard.  It sits on my desk where I see it every time I sit down at my computer and apparently, it’s where she keeps hers, too.  We may live in a digital world, but thanks to apps like Sincerely Ink, I’m rediscovering ‘snail mail’, and that’s a good thing!

Speaking of snail mail, who wouldn’t want to receive one of these gorgeous necklaces in their mailbox from the lovely Stacy De La Rosa of Bella Wish?!  Stacy has graciously offered to give one away to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment here no later than midnight Wednesday, Sept. 26th!  Stacy’s also giving our readers who wish to purchase a necklace a 10% discount.  Promo code: ShutterSisters10

UPDATE: Congrats to Shari Sherman!  You’re the lucky winner of the the gorgeous necklace!!

Comments

  1. What a beautiful way to celebrate a memory! I'm going to have to check out those apps!
    And – I just love that sweet necklace…:-)!!!

  4. I'm definitely checking out those apps.
    What a gorgeous necklace; I'd love to wear it and show it off to all my students so they'd want one too!

  5. Oh, what a great post! I will take a look at those apps, sound interesting.
    Love the idea of making print and cherish memories.

    And that necklace looks gorgeous!

  7. My husband sends his 93 year old mother a postcard every couple of weeks. She absolutely loves and looks forward to seeing them. We use postagram, another great app.

  8. What a cool necklace! My guy friend photographer is always jealous of women photographers because he says we have a natural eye for composition that most men lack. Makes me proud to be an amateur photographer with an edge!

  11. What a gorgeous memory the two of you now have to share, and you both have the picture to cherish forever!
    I love the necklace, thanks Stacy for doing a giveaway! 🙂

  15. Love the necklace because it's true — I shoot like a girl, because I am one! 🙂

    What a great way to use your Instagram photos. Love it!

  17. Such a neat idea! My best childhood friend recently moved back home after being gone for 15 years. It's been so great to reconnect and now our kids get to grow up together.
    Love that necklace!

  20. My new iPhone arrives next week so I'll add those suggestions to the long list of apps I've created. Thanks.

  21. What a lovely necklace… I'd LOVE to win one! And thanks for the app recommendation. Sounds like a wonderful time ith your friend and a very special relationship! Love, Michelle

  27. love this necklace – I wore my fight like a girl tshirt throughout my journey with Breast Cancer last year – I will check out your page and see what other goodies you have – I am glad for the discount code to purchase one of these necklaces – photography was what kept me sane and happy throughout my journey

  30. Wonderful picture postcard. Thanks for sharing the names of the apps you used for your card, recommendations of apps are the best.

    Cute necklace, the hand stamped letters are lovely.

  34. Thanks for the Sincerely ink app mention…had never heard of it! Can't wait to try it out!!!

  35. Thank you for the beautiful story about your best friend. My bestie lives faraway from me and I miss her so much everyday we talk twice a week and see each other every couple of years but I'm now going to go and look at these apps to send her weekly updates of the family 🙂

  36. I too had a best friend back in the 60's. She lived next door to me and we were inseparable. At the end of grade 8 my family moved from Ontario to Nova Scotia as my parents were needed to help with their aging parents. We lost touch, and sadly, unlike you, we didn't keep in touch. I thought of her every March 1st on her birthday, and wondered how she and her family were. The good news – we reconnected on Facebook – almost 50 years later!! We still haven't seen each other in person, but we do write! I love your postcard idea, a wonderful way to send our thoughts to loved ones!

    I also love the necklace – I belong to a large photography group and I know the ladies would love it to. Please put my name in the hat! Thanks!

  39. Love your post. Old friends are the best, aren't they? Your postcard is such a great way to remember. And that necklace is adorable. Thanks for the chance to win.

  40. Love snail mail and with our images even better. What a wonderful story of friendship! Celebrate that indeed.

    And what a sweet necklace. Thank you for the opportunity!

  41. I'd love to win a necklace!
    What a lovely idea to be able to send postcards from you phone! So nice to catch up with old friends- In fact last week I caught up with my bestie from primary school- we've known each other for 36 years! We don't do it often, but so lovely to have that long time connection.

  42. what a generous offer — I'd love to win one.

    I love that you and your friend have had such a close bond all these years. I used to write letters all the time. When my mom was dying and after her death, I couldn't write anyone for a long time. Last year I started writing letters again. And just recently I ordered myself a bunch of postcards with my photos on them to use for sending quick notes in the mail to friends.

  43. I just love stories like this. I think it's wonderful that through life changes,you both are so close. This necklace is awesome and would be a treasure to own!

  47. Love, love, love Stacy and her jewelry is just fab! 🙂 Thanks for the apps too, I've been wanting to start snail-mailing far away friends again. Have an awesome kind of day!

  51. I have a friend like that. We worked together when we were younger. She moved to New Brunswick and I moved to Cold Lake Alberta. Now 38 years later we still get together when we can. I live in Seattle and she lives in Calgary. Love that girl!

  57. I just downloaded Sincerely Yours app:) Thanks for that! And thanks for the opportunity to win that beautiful necklace. I would wear it with pride….

  63. That is a nice memory to have. Although I do not communicate with childhood friends….well, except occasionally on Facebook, the memories of our time together are so sweet. Thanks for sharing.

    On a different note. I love this necklace. I would like for every female in my family to have one. I will have to purchase them as gifts….perhaps for Christmas. What a fabulous message to send to my niece. This necklace would be perfect for her because she is highly involved in sports while maintaining honor roll status in school.

    Subrena