The First 3rd Degree of Separation!!!

This is very exciting!!  Thanks to my friend Kelly in Santa Barbara (see image #8, as well as her response from November's posts, entitled Coffee and Weddings), who was inspired to pass the project on to her friends, and some of those friends to their friends....well I have reached my first, 3rd degree of separation!  Here's how it went... 1. I shared the project with Kelly.  2. Kelly shared it with her friend Kelly.  3.  That Kelly shared it with her friend Rhonda!  Thanks so much to all three, their support and encouragement, as well as sharing the stories of how they know each other!  The collection of these stories remains a very big part of this project and what makes it so special to me!  Please continue to share!  I will include all 3 letters so you can trace the connections...

1st Degree

Hi Friends,

In this email you'll see a beautiful and inspriation letter written by my girlfriend, Melanie -- many of you may know her from our wedding and the incredible job she did photographing and designing our invitations and programs. Melanie is embarking on an admirable journey over the next year to eliminate her personal debt by providing beautiful, low cost prints of many of her beloved photographs. Please read on for her explanation of her project and how you may choose to participate.

I first met Melanie when we worked together at Starbucks in Santa Barbara. We began working there within two weeks of each other; with our matching Starbucks uniforms and our long, blonde hair pulled back in ponytails many customers mistook one of us for the other. We got a kick out of that, and quickly formed a connection. We worked together for two years, but it wasn't until I quit the store that our friendship really began to develop, and it wasn't until the year she spent by my side helping me brainstorm and plan many elements of my wedding that I began to think of her as one of my very best friends. Not only did we wile away the hours hand-making wedding invitations, addressing envelopes, editing photographs and working with color, layout and design, we made time for happy hours and dinner out and coffees downtown. We shared many a good bottle of wine and for awhile were each other's frequent date to the movies. When Will and I moved it was Melanie who packed boxes until well past midnight and then appeared on our doorstep before sunrise the next morning -- coffees in hand -- ready to help unload the U-haul truck. Melanie is one of the most selfless, giving, inspirational and talented people I've ever had the privelege to know, and her friendship means so much to me. I love her dearly... and wish her all the luck in the world with this admirable project.

Kelly S.

2nd Degree

Hi Everyone!
This is a special project from a friend of a friend of mine. I have many friends named Kelly and one of the Kelly's (from Santa Barbara) is a friend that I met through Tim's school. Her son and Tim were in Kindergarten together and she and I have kept in touch and get the kids together when our schedules allow.

When I met Kelly she was also a single mom so right away we had something in common... besides our name. Just this year she got married and I was fortunate enough to be invited and attend her beautiful wedding. She is an amazing person and an incredible mom. I get inspired by her creativity and her interactions with Isaac and enjoy spending time with them both whenever we have the chance.

I met Kelly's friend Melanie when I was at her bridal shower and her wedding. She designed amazing wedding invitations and all the printed items at the wedding were her original creations as well. I had no idea she was also a photographer until I got this email from Kelly. After reading Melanie's story below, I was impressed with her idea for this project and definitely wanted to help out. I ordered several of her prints right away and almost forgot to send off the story which was the most important part...It was always my intention but time just kept getting away from me.

So here it is...my story to send....and you will be able to read Melanie's story as well as my friend Kelly's story about Melanie as well.

There's more...I got the pictures in the mail yesterday from Melanie. Let me tell you....they are even better than the PDF document can detail. Incredible quality and each one is personally autographed and individually wrapped for protection as well. I'm am even more impressed with her now too. She has incredible quality photos, integrity for her work and quick turnaround time with her complete dedication to her project.

I have to say....for $2 each print....WHAT A BARGAIN! I ordered about 8 of them and planned to put them on the front of a blank piece of card stock and make my own greeting cards. Now, I may have to get more so I can make greeting cards and have some of them framed too. They are very nice and I think it's a great way to put the very talents she gained to use by getting her project off the ground. Very creative!

I can assure you they are of great quality and you will be more than pleased if you decide to purchase some of them for yourself.

Thanks!
Have a great day and a Happy New year!

Kelly H.

3rd Degree

Hello,
This is extremely long to read though very interesting. To condense things - I know Kelly H. (the one I rec’d this from) by her doing volunteer work through me for Guide Dogs of America. Only met her once when she came to a GDA event with her kids – but very fun-loving and always doing things for others (being jailed to raise funds for charity, creating food baskets for the needy, helping GDA – those are things from my limited knowledge of her). Now she is passing on this email to help a friend of a friend get out of debt. In a hope not to lose your interest, I’m going to give you the link to Melanie’s site where you can meet her grandma, learn Melanie’s story, and view her unique photos which she’s selling. It’s a very creative idea to use her talents (photography).  http://debt-freeby30.blogspot.com  I’ve ordered several myself that I plan to make into greeting cards.
Mark – I’m sending this to you because several pics are from Coeur d’Alene, she was in the press there & had an event at the Calypsos Coffee Co. Thought that might be of interest.
Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Rhonda