Shutter Sisters

placekeepers: another bel kai necklace for the capture collection (giveaway!)

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There’s almost nothing quite so steadfast as beachgrass. It digs in deep to keep beaches from washing away, holding its place through hurricanes, blizzards, and seasonal sleep. On its own a blade of beachgrass is unspectacular but together, in vast schools, they glimmer like a thousand mackerel, swishing through salt air just the same — as one entity.

We don’t pay these things enough thanks — these proud and plain and useful elements of ourselves that keep life from washing away. They are placekeepers. They do the humble work of rooting magical things.

I’m delighted to share with you my Bel Kai Designs necklace, the newest treat added to the Capture Collection of Shutter Sisters photographic jewelery. To celebrate, we’re giving one away today. Comment here by midnight PST to be eligible. Tell me this: what helps you keep your place in this life?

Comments

  8. Definitely my son! All I need to hear is that one little word "muuuummmmmmeeeeeeeee" LOL

  10. my husband keeps me from flying away or sinking down.

    my kids keep me coming back for more.

    my writing keeps me alive, and

    my photos help me see everything anew

  15. My husband – he is always there for me, in good times and bad times (as stereotype as this may sound).

  16. Keeping faith in myself – that despite all that I hope for and want to achieve… who I am in this very moment right now, is enough.

  17. My husband…..no matter what's going on in my life he is always standing by my side!! AND my kids whenever I'm down and wondering why do I do this to myself I just think about my three wonderful kids and the world makes since.

  20. There are 2 things that keep me centered in life. My husband and art. I don't feel "normal" unless I get the art out. Whether it is taking pictures, painting or rearranging a room, I have to do something creative. And my husband, no matter how bad the day is or how badly I want to cry because of things that are going wrong, just hearing his voice brings me back from the edge.

  26. My family keeps me focused on what's important. More specifically my mother helps me keep my place in this world. She is my touchstone and my best friend.

  40. the beauty of the nature around us, a sunny day, the strength that I can find within myself, and all the people who love me.

  48. the dance.

    thank you, kate and shutter sisters for this exquisite offering. what beautiful artistry…the images, the prose, the necklace. gracias.

  49. My mother keeps me grounded..at 25 I can honestly say she is my best friend, and has been all my life. She has been through so much pain and heartbreak yet she still enjoys life and takes it for what it is. She is the person I talk to when I need a reality check, advice, or just a really good laugh. She keeps my place in this world and I can only dream I could do as much for my children.

  51. my daughters keep my feet on the ground, but also make me feel light as air. they are sweet, funny , serious, energetic and beautiful.

  54. Amazingly beautiful necklace.
    What keeps my place in life is to be present. I always try and cherish every moment for what it is and not get swayed by what's next, what happened yesterday or the many what ifs.

  56. Those little moments when God does something to make you laugh and remind you that he loves you always.

  57. I've recently uprooted myself after spending the first 35 years of my life surrounded with family and friends and familiarity with my land. As I'm settling into this new place, I'm realizing that these people and places from home still ground me without tethering me – knowing I have this strong connection to where I'm from is finally giving me the freedom to explore who I can become.

  60. Usually my Inner dialogue with Self. We talk, argue, decide then run it by real people… So it is probably the real people that really ground me.

    Beautiful piece. I <3 it.

  61. my secrets. if i get a little obsessive about how life SHOULD be, my secrets are the embarrassing, humbling moments or parts of myself that i think of that remind me that i'm resoundingly imperfect, and not everything can, or will, go according to plan.

  62. Daily meditation and creative expression. I wouldn't survive without these two things. Reading/learning is a close runner-up!

  64. My girls keep me here and, oddly enough, make me want to keep it all together. My husband tries to keep me from floating away. And, a good run.

  65. My Jim…. He has kept me from losing myself in the daily ins and outs of life, work and myself. Without him in my life, I would literally be a wreck. He's my rock, my sound of reason and my best friend.

  67. Oddly enough doesn't sound right. I mean that for all the chaos and stress and tears they cause, their forthright honesty, their joy in the most mundane and their unconditional acceptance makes me want to keep it all together and to be their roots.

  74. my adult son helps keep me in my place. When my mother died, I came very close to leaving this life as well but it was only because of my son that I chose to remain in my place on this earth.

  77. good lord lady you are GORGEOUS!!! that photo of you in the hammock is amazing!!!

    love your creation. i too have a special connection to beach grass, my happy place.

    XO
    kristin

  80. There are 3 people in my world who fill my soul. Two of them are stuffed full of innocence and constantly asking questions. The third loves me for everything I am and everything I'm not.

  81. Believe it or not it's my job. The relationships that form there are like no others I found in my life!

  82. My two children who I love more than I could ever imagine. And sitting in my den looking through pictures on my computer of my kids growing up and the things we have done as a family.

  85. The hope that this will happen everyday:

    I watched my second sunrise here this morning. I love sunrises and sunsets (sunsets more) because they are a bordertime. The lines (albeit fuzzy) between night and day. It’s as if for these moments, the entire earth stands still with held breath and then release a long satisfied puff of air once the sun crests or disappears. I like sunsets more because they use a more diverse palette of color. And they feel more peaceful. Like the earth is relaxing after a long day of intense light and color and movement and sound. I can feel a sigh of peace at a sunset. Sunrises are blessings. Sunsets are grace.

    Sunrise over the Monterey bay starts with a diffuse red/orange light behind the hills to the north east. The bay itself is shrouded and edges softened by the marine layer that is so low it looks more like the train of a bridal gown, running all lace and filigree across the water, than funeral dressing. The marine layer, though visible only on the water, is still in the air, softening the hills’ outlines so that the red/orange light, which is now turning more orange/yellow, doesn’t seem to have a locus. As time passes, the light behind the hills intensifies and begins to gather at one loose point. On our side of the hills, it is still misty and grey and dark, as if the light is gathering its strength behind the hills and won’t release itself to the bay until it can leap out in full force. The outline of the hills are sharpened as the light goes hot and white behind them. Their edges now have a fierce white line along their spines like Andy Goldsworthy’s piece with the raw sheep’s wool running along a stone wall when the light hit it. Will it happen now?

    Now?

    Now?

    The light, still only behind the hill barrier, gets more and more focused. More and more intense. Rays of stunning white/orange shoot up into the sky. But still no release. The white line along the ridge gets so bright, you almost swear it’s the sun’s rim somehow expanded over the entire horizon. But no.

    Everything is holding its breath (even the sea lions are quiet).

    And then.

    And then.

    And then.

    The whiteness contracts to a pinpoint, and the sun appears, spilling light into the bay like an avalanche. And just like that, the bay turns from a dead grey to molten silver, the air and sky go a bright grey/white. There are no other colors: only white, intense grey, and silver. Birds take wing and fly, dark specks, straight into the sun.

    This silver/white phase lasts a while. Then it transitions to soft and muted blues like a Japanese painting of hills and water. The marine layer (which is ever present) is almost invisible and still softening lines and focus. There are pinpricks of dark blue fishing boats clustered on the light blue bay. The hills behind are layered in light and dark blues. The blue phase gets lighter and lighter until a few hours later, in almost an instant, the full range of colors apparent: the bay, a deep blue; hills, gold/brown and green; etc . . .

    But for that morning moment, in the silver/white and blues stage, the world is pretty monochromatic. As if God is mixing his hues on the palette for the day.

  90. Cooking keeps me grounded. Planning, shopping, chopping, preparing (with love) and feeding people. Brings me back to my centre.

  92. My husband is my rock, the one that helps me with everything and anything. And my two boys, well they are the icing on my cake!

  104. That time each morning, the 10 to 15 minutes before the alarm goes off, because I am already awake and I can just lay there in the warm bed and just breathe. Usually the husband and kid along with the dogs and cat are all piled in the bed as well… and all I can hear is the deep breath of everyone else being asleep and it is just so peaceful.

  120. Nature reminds me to be hear now. It is a comfort to me to see the trees growing and the flowers blooming through the seasons of life. Your blog is a joy. Thanks for all you do!

  130. Like many others here, it is my family that keeps me in place. Without them I would be lost.

    Yet another beautiful Bel Kai Collection necklace…I still can't decide which one I want the most:)

  132. My husband def keeps me grounded.

    I found my purpose in life through the birth of our daughter…motherhood. She is everything to me. Everything. I can't wait till I have a whole gaggle of children surrounding at my feet. Can't wait!

    Beautiful pic. Makes me want to go lay in a hommoc on a beautiful summer day. The necklace is beautiful!

  139. My mom. She is my best friend and 1/2 of my support system.
    My boyfriend. The extent of his love amazes me and I can't imagine life without him…the other 1/2 of my support system.
    My alone time to reflect and think.
    Any creative expression I do myself and any creative expression I see from others.

  142. Certainly my husband and four boys keep me grounded, but seeing them through my lens helps me remember how precious it all is. Very cool necklace!

  143. Being outside helps bring me peace and helps me remember I really do have a place in the world.

    My husband helps keep my mind in place by helping me lose it once in a while (in a good way, mostly).

    My friends and family back home help me remember that even when I feel slightly out of place in my adopted country, I will always have home and comfort and sanity and insanity and love with them.

  144. I used to think that I needed solid, ordinary things to keep me rooted. But, it is just the opposite. I need the risk, the dare, the uncertainty to remember that I am present in this life, in my own skin.

  148. vanilla frozen yogurt topped with blueberries. Always the end to my most hectic days. One bite and I am instantly back in that, "Oooooh yeaaaa. Riiiiight" state of mind 🙂

  149. My family has always been what has grounded me in this life. And my love for learning. Thanks for all you contribute to us all!

  154. Everyday I feel blessed to be able to look upon water to the West, mountains to the North and trees all around me. Proud, beautiful and strong, they ground me and are my place keepers in the city where I live.

  155. Family — husband, parents, siblings, niece and nephew — are a motivation. And photography gives me a creative outlet that I really, really treasure. Seeing my growth there has helped, too.

  159. what helps me keep my place in this life?
    memories stoked in thanks, recognizing God's provision in each
    entangled because they've been recalled and drawn upon in the presence of the newer ones,
    and the newer ones are laid and settled with the faith of the previous

  166. What keeps me grounded is religion. It's so important to me, and it reminds me that I can wake up and look forward to creating something meaningful every day. It makes us realize there's more to life than the facts. The little things count too, that's why we have photography, to capture them 🙂

  168. My husband, he gives me enough space to do what I need to or want to but as soon as I seem to get lost he brings me back and centers me.

  170. Grace and restoration; and trips to the ocean that remind me of just how little I am, in the grand scheme of things, and how absolutely great He is. Perspective!

  175. My meditation practice, best friends, and the sea are what currently anchors me.

    Your new necklace is gorgeous…I'm sure it would help to ground me too! 🙂 thanks

  176. gorgeous necklace! thanks for a chance at the giveaway!

    my husband and our dog (our little family) hold me together. in the meantime, here's what i'm telling myself now: focus on your present with dreams for the future so your past is one you want to tell : )

  180. Maybe I need to rethink things…but my first instinct was to say photography as it slows me down, gives me reason to pause, and reminds me to look for the joy in my beautiful chaos.

  182. absolutely my faith in God and acceptance of Jesus as my Savior – without him, nothing else matters!

  183. As far back as I can remember, books and reading have been a bedrock for me. I treasure the peacefulness of losing myself in a good book. Whatever is going on around me, I emerge from reading calmer and refreshed.

  185. Many things keep me grounded in this life. My family and precious 6 month old nephew, my friends, my faith, and my awareness of people and places in this world that are hurting. These things help me to remember why I am here and what my purpose is in this life. To love, to have compassion for others, and to do what is right when no one else will.

    This is a beautiful necklace! Thanks for the opportunity to possible win it! 🙂

  187. Right now? Salty air, the sound of waves, Tillamook chocolate and peanut butter ice cream, a good mattress, the kids kissing the baby through my belly.