Tiny Treasures

The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart. ~ Author Unknown

I have an affinity for tiny treasures.

I guess it all started with my grandparents. Every year on my birthday they would give me something that was picked out with great care, especially for me: a piece of jade jewelry… an intricate charm for my charm bracelet… a porcelain figurine… a leather, gold trimmed first edition of a classic novel… the diamond earrings that my grandmother first got her ears pierced with… stationary embossed with my name. Just two weeks ago they gave me my great grandfather’s camera. What make these things treasures had nothing to do with their monetary value. They are treasures to me because whenever I look at them sitting on my bookshelf or hold them in my hands, I feel loved. With each item I fall back in time, just for a little while, and smile at the memory. Others might not be able to look at these same things and see the value and preciousness that I feel in my heart, but I know they feel this way about something in their life.

You treasure the sweet smile that emerges across your daughter’s face every time you read that book she loves to her.

You treasure the fragrance of the herbs you keep on your windowsill.

You treasure the note your husband left on the dining room table for you before he left for work.

You treasure the sound of the rain as it hits your roof.

You treasure the set of salt and pepper shakers you and your sweetie acquired on your last trip together.

You treasure the fact that kissing salt and pepper shakers is something you now collect.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that even if you don’t treasure tiny objects, you treasure something in your life that others don’t always see the value in. In some ways, isn’t that why you are a photographer, so you can capture those special moments and be able to treasure them always?

Today let us into your world and share something you treasure…

Picture and words courtesy of honorary sister / guest blogger Jade Sheldon of Flickr fame.

Comments

[Marcie]

Tiny treasures. It's exactly what I thought when I photographed this little guy:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1234

[CDScott]

May seem trite, but my tiny treasures are getting bigger everyday.

http://courtneysablogger.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-just-isnt-long-enough.html

[Juju]

Some of my most treasured objects are my books. I received my first "grown-up" book of poetry when I was 10--the Modern Library edition of Robert Frost poems. The others are first editions of important American and Irish authors. My heart is so happy to have them near me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juju-b/4565442487/in/set-72157623751166344/

[humbird]

Tiny treasures. Sitting on the porch and watching the elaborate mid-air dances, the challenges, 'friendships', sibling rivalry, courtships, the confrontational, the curious and bold. Allen, Rufus, Anna and sometimes a few other visitors.

http://humbirdhum.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/prepared-for-flight-2/

http://humbirdhum.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/the-approach/

[georgia]

oh, i really really enjoyed this post! so sweet.

and thank you for reminding/prompting me to write about one of my little treasures on my blog... something i've been meaning to write about for a while.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2010/07/see-things-like-treasures-abound.html

the treasure part is about half-way down the post.

[Michel]

i didn't think I had too many "treasures" any more. I to used to cherish little treasures when I was young. Now my treasures mostly include photographs of memories of my travels. I do treasure this lovey though. something about her.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michelfeist/4815548862/

[cigi]

Lovely post. Maybe it's because I've been in the process of paring down my material possessions, but I find I'm becoming more apt to notice and appreciate the tiny treasures found in nature:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/194365/

[sarah]

its a cliche of course, but this is what I treasure the most: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorelinesphotography/4804041310/in/set-72157624468073890/

[Jill]

An old picture of a little tableau I stumbled upon in my nine year-old's bedroom. A hamster, his cheeseburger and a warning sign...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23113159@N03/4815633509/

[joey]

This is my husband's treasure, but my heart skips a beat each time I see it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/4815658349/

Can you guess what he's holding?

[xanthe]

oh jade, what a lovely post, congrats. you are the tiny treasures queen!...

....and you're right, treasures are everywhere, you just have to open your eyes to them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4815037674/

[DorkyMum]

I treasure solitude, quiet moments of reflection, and my own company, but I don't get a lot of it these days! Parenting will do that to you..

I took this shot with a small degree of envy for the figure sitting reading.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4814540045/

[Jeanne]

I value time away in nature, capturing the little things...

http://2days2hours.blogspot.com/2010/07/lake-placid-in-pics.html

[Vanessa]

i love this post!
i treasure this very last remaining square from a very special photobooth strip of old: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4798344279/

[Liz]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/4769746139/

[Trude]

So many things! Project 365 has especially helped me to see the little treasures around me. Like my dad's old Nikon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/4769688105/

[cynthia]

I treasure all the things made by my boys. My "treasure pile" is getting out of hand. Today, they each made a puppet & put on a show for me. What a treat it was!

http://apictureintime.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/puppet-show/

[Bootise King]

Oh my goodness, I love it when my feelings are put into words, that last phrase about isn't that why you are a photographer...pure perfection!