One thing that Pinterest or Instagram or Facebook have in common, is people’s interest and passion for collecting images and sharing. As if the entire world has not gone far enough into this 2 dimensional experience; we’re now being coaxed into the world of image sharing as if it’s an art in itself. This has brought out the “creative” in even the most “un-creative” and that’s a good thing. But this trend has perhaps taken away from the really authentic activity that is not modern, nor, technological, nor chic, for that matter.  It is just human.

Its called Collecting.  Yes, I know; who knew this idea would be so, well, novel?

Collections:  Remember those? When you had to find a number of colored rocks to line up on your desk at school.  Or perhaps you just wanted to make sure you had every bazooka comic that you opened as you blew bubbles with your friends; or even baseball cards; before they were so valuable that only the experts can afford to collect them.  What about Barbie Collections, or rubber band balls and all those lovely “old school” things that used to tell us about our history and our culture. Seashells on the beach, are still  fascinating to children; that’s some comfort. But, in truth, we’be stopped thinking about real time objects and can only stand back and watch the experts do the work.  (Not so bad for interior designers) or photograph everything we see. But, what have we lost?  When objects (three-dimensional ones) are gathered into a thematic ensembles, they were worth sharing about.  They were experiences. A find on a back road or an attic or backyard garbage heap.  Once discovered, you can’t help but tell about it;  there’s a story attached that might actually be more then 136 characters.

We’ll share about our friend Bridget, a jewelry designer.  She almost never met an object that didn’t fascinate her.  And visiting her home,  several months ago I had to take out my camera as I was not sure that she had ever shared some of her collections, so, I share one here that was lined up against the wall fo her loft, atop a beautiful chest.

Here, you can see a unique set of objects under glass, as if the 20th century has been put away, and is ready for a closer look.  I think you’ll enjoy it, and so I provide this collection that is something to share about.

We admit we love Pinterest, and Instagram, but the names say it all:  no time to really stop, look closer, and consider.  They are designed for the fast talking and overly technical who have not yet discovered the sheer pleasure of seeing except to “snap it” and then “share it” within a matter of seconds.  Well, I suppose, that’s not so terrible, but once those of us who remember real collecting are gone, what will there be left?

We wish you, happy sharing, with your own “real time” objects.