September 12, 2011

I’ve discovered the addictive joy of Pinterest

Day 255 of Vintage 365


 

While Pinterest is by no means a hushed secret any more (it’s already been hailed as one of the 50 best websites of 2011 by Time Magazine), it wasn't until about a month or so ago that I began using it.

Last spring a very dear friend sent me an invite, which I accepted at the time, but for various reasons I wasn't able to devote the time needed then to properly explore the site and all it had to offer back then.

Jump ahead to this past August – after continually seeing mention after mention of Pinterest online – I decided it was high time I go see what everyone was buzzing about.

At its heart Pinterest is a giant online inspiration board. Members find (or "Pin") images (of just about anything you can imagine) online and then bookmark them to their Pinterest accounts.

Pinterest combines the practicality of an online bookmarking service with the seek-and-discover fun of StumbleUpon.com (a site that I was a major user of a few years back).

Users create categories (called boards) within their account and then organize the images they've saved however they desire. Members can (and most do) re-pin items that fellow Pinterest users have added to their boards. This makes for some wonderful communal sharing of fantastic photos (you can also comment on any and all images you - or other Pinterest members add).

This site is easy-as-pie to get the hang of, and let me tell you, highly (ridiculously) addictive!



 

I've already created more than 60 boards and have hundreds upon hundreds of pins (which you can see a sampling of in the screen shot above), all created in the span of about a month.

Now granted, I've mildly obsessed with Pinterest at the moment and won't usually be devoting anywhere near as much time as I did recently to it, but I definitely see this being a site that I'm going to use in the long run. It allows me to quickly create a virtual inspiration board that I can refer back to any time, use images I've pined for blog posts, and even turn into a wish list of sorts.

As you might expect, I've already started adding oodles of great vintage related images, which I’ve organized into different boards such as The Crazy Thirties, Fantastic Forties, Fabulous Fifties, Fantasy Vintage Wardrobe, Vintage home decor, Hollywood Past, and Vintage in a Modern World (amongst many others).

If you've not jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon yet, I highly recommend you do. It is a fabulous replacement (or supplement, as the case may be) for a host of bookmarking, wish list, and photo saving sites that quickly and easily allows you to corral all of the images and sites you find online and want to remember into one super handy-dandy spot.

For my Chronically Vintage readers who are already fellow Pinterest users, I'd love to see your boards and follow you there. You can find me (probably spending far too much time) on Pinterest under the username Vintage Blog (natch! :) ).

It's been a long time since a new communal website really captured my attention, but I can definitely say that Pinterest has and I couldn't be happier about it! Smile

*PS*

Please feel free to pin anything you'd like from my posts here on Chronically Vintage. The more image sharing on Pinterest, the merrier! 


7 comments:

  1. As a follower of your boards I can attest to the amazing collection of beautiful pictures you have. It is hard for me not to repin every single one! Wonderful inspiration.

    Thanks doll,
    The Glamorous Housewife

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  2. I am just starting to branch out on Pinterest and follow some boards, so far I've only used it to 'remember' things I'm inspired by, but it's been invaluable for that alone so far!

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  3. Thankyou for the suggestion - I am also going to suggest it to my girls, as their real pinboards are overcrowded - and this way I won't step on the pins in my bare feet!

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  4. Just had a look and I do like your Fabulous Fifties board, particularly the Ray-Bans advert! I love all of the old magazines and adverts. Just wish style was like that nowadays. Emma x

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  5. ohhhhhhhhhhhhh....love love love your boards!! following:))

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  6. Hi Jessica

    I am also in love with Pinterest. I am away from home at the moment with less computer time than usual, but when I get the chance, I just know that I will love looking at your Pinterest boards, just as I love reading your blog.

    Hugs,

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  7. As I already told you, though I just discovered your blog, I can already tell that it is going to be one of my absolute faves. I am going back through your old posts (as I have time)...I want to get in on the whole vintage year!!

    Anyhow, I just got involved in Pinterest about a week and a half ago. You are right, it is completely addictive. But, really, it is so practical. I've been bookmarking pages for years...or downloading things to my computer...or trying to keep a log of where I find all the recipes I want to try. Now, I dont' have to do that...I can just pin it. I've pinned a couple of your things and am following a few of your boards. With it being harvest season and having to deal with my apple, late-harvest peach, and prune-plum trees, I just haven't had the time to be on the computer more. I want to look at all the boards you have, but, obviously, that will take some time.

    Anyhow, you have a totally awesome blog! You are a girl after my own heart. Only thing is, when I was your age, I was into MODERN everything. It wasn't until I hit 45 that I had an appreciation for the beauty of vintage.

    Sorry for the rambling comment.

    Hugs,
    Patti

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