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Exclusive articles, interviews, and insights covering downsizing & decluttering, genealogy, photos and other media, aging well, travel, and more. We’re here to help you capture the big little moments and stories to bring meaning and order to all of life’s collections and memories for generations.
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Meet Mercedes the Alpaca – She’ll Make You Smile

Hello Arti Community! 

It's Ellen here, co-founder of Artifcts. We emailed you all a few weeks ago when Heather and I first discovered Fracture and promised to reveal the rest of the story of our first experience printing photos to glass. More specifically, I shared that I had chosen a hilarious print for my first photo to glass purchase, and I hope this one does not disappoint.

I’ve never been a massive collector. Too much stuff stresses me out. (And it means more to dust!) 

But I’ve always been someone who likes to weave friends and family into my family’s home via artwork they’ve created, heirlooms I’ve inherited, or mementos from travels together. If those things include pops of color, even better. 

Well, about a month ago, a friend of mine who is on an epic 3-month RV road trip with her two dogs shared with me a story about Mercedes the alpaca. I was having a rough morning, so opening up her note to see Mercedes staring at me left me with no choice but to laugh. How could I not?

Photo: B Hardie.

Fast forward to wanting to choose that first photo on glass with Fracture and having a blank space on the wall in my master bathroom, I knew JUST the photo to choose. For anyone thinking it’s crazy to decorate a bathroom, I ask “Why?” How many times do you see in tv shows and movies characters standing in front of a bathroom mirror psyching themselves up for a big game or meeting? Any room in your house can be inspiring, even the bathroom.

And, really, look at Mercedes. She’s hilarious. And my friend’s story comparing herself to Mercedes makes this pic still funnier. I’ll see the pic, laugh, think of my friend, and prepare for my day. A triple win.

_______________

If you’ll indulge me just one more moment of your time, I want to share with you all that I’ll departing Artifcts at the end of this month. I’ll remain co-founder always and ardent Artifcter, too. But, as this is my final ARTIcles story for you all, I want to say thank you. Thank you for reading our blog, sharing your stories, and celebrating the growth of Artifcts with us. It’s been a joy to write for you, inspire you and be inspired by you, and swap Artifcts with you, too. (Never shared an Artifct with me? Please do! I’m @Egoody.)

I hope you find bursts of Mercedes-esque joy in your own lives every day. Let the ‘stuff’ you surround yourself with bring you happiness and connect you with all whom you love.

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Everything You Need to Know Before Heading to Your First Estate Sale 

Estate sales truly are about the thrill of the hunt for so many. The unique and unexpected finds, like that one cool item that's kind of kitsch and adds a pop of surprise to an otherwise sophisticated room. Or a fun element like an old brooch or cocktail ring paired with a nice outfit already in your closet. Other finds may be years and even decades in the making, alerts set for the item with every known estate sale, auction, and re-sell shop globally. 

If you’ve never been to an estate sale, you might feel a bit intimidated. You might feel like everyone knows the ins and outs, and you’ll be at a disadvantage both in terms of getting the items you are seeking and naming the right price.  

While there are practically “pro” estate sales shoppers out there in the world, most are curious folks out for some unexpected finds. Grab a friend and read our article to help ease you in and find joy in the hunt. You may even walk away with a story or two to share at your next party.

Finding an Estate Sale and Your “It” Item

Pop onto EstateSales.net, or your preferred estate sales website, to set a search radius (in miles) for how far from a location you’d like to be notified about upcoming estate sales. Some people like to stick close to home, and others love nothing more than a road trip for a great find. 

Then you can start browsing upcoming sales in a way that was not possible years ago. Why? Because now many estate sales are hybrid, showcasing a catalog of items that are auctioned online and other items that will be available only in-person the day of the sale. The online catalog is your “personal thrifting assistant,” according to Marika Clemow, Senior Vice President of Auction Technology Group, boosting your confidence and helping you scope your goals. 

While we’re all familiar with the expression, “Go big, or go home,” you might want to set that aside when it comes to estate sales and instead start small and focused. Set alerts and bookmark items of interest.  

Now, the “day of” experience. You’re lucky, because the most irksome of estate sales attributes is transforming – the line! Traditionally you had to show up hours before the sale, add your name to a list, and wait in line, creating stress for you, subjecting you to poor weather, and often irking the neighbors. But things are changing! Agents who run their sales through EstateSales.net can now allow you to reserve your spot in line and be notified when it’s your turn. It’s just like when you get on the waitlist at a restaurant. That’s a major victory for all. 

Once inside, what do you do? Very likely you make a beeline for the priority items you’ve scoped out online ahead of time. But if you’re just showing up unexpectedly or to be surprised, lovely, meander and enjoy.  

Unlike a museum, you’re encouraged to touch and inspect the items. And you’re certainly encouraged to ask questions. Whomever is working at the estate sale should be well versed in the provenance and backstories of interesting items. If you’re lucky, they’ve Artifcted them and you can simply scan the Artifcts QR code to learn more and take that story home with you.

Who’s Shopping Estate Sales?

Estate sales generally have a little something for everyone. We’re lumping buyers into four categories to give you a feel for the type of people you’ll encounter and how who is shopping can affect the mood and dynamic at a sale. 

The curious, #TreasureHunter. These shoppers enjoy the estate sale for the surprise finds and niche wins. It’s not about turning a profit. They are more inclined to negotiate, amicably browse, share their experience, and preserve stories, too. (Ahem, Artifct those finds!)

framed picture of Mary Duryee

Local history rescued by a discerning shopper! Artifcts member @ChristineVisser published an Artifct over the summer featuring a print of a famous local person picked up at an estate sale. CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW THE ARTIFCT.

Value seekers, #BudgetConscious. Thrifting means saving money on life essentials —e.g., clothes, tools, appliances, holiday decorations, furnishings and more—by choosing well-made and good condition secondhand items. The bonus with estate sales, of course, is the abundant variety, cataloged for easy browsing. Hard to say that about most in-person consignment stores never mind thrift stores! 

The curators and collectors, #CuratedNotCluttered. Still on the enjoyment and story side of the equation but with extensive research and knowledge and a very specific items or set of items on their target list. They will not deviate. They will look at the details to authenticate items. They will not be so inclined to negotiate with other buyers and will be prepared to drive a hard bargain with the sellers.  

The flippers and hustlers, #TurnAProfit. Check out Reddit and you’ll find an abundance of complaints about this type of shopper for everything from vinyl albums and games to sporting goods. They may “hoard” items so they can assess the resale value on the spot, frustrating other shoppers behind them in line. But beware – outside of exceptionally bad behavior, a sale is a sale is a sale.

Uniting these four types of estate sales shoppers? Unlike people who may exclusively take their search online through the likes of Everything but the House, estate sales enthusiasts still love the tactile world of retail. To see, touch, learn in objects’ native environments, with the opportunity to ask questions is part of the experience they seek.

Who are Estate Sales Agents?

It’s worth taking a moment to discuss the person behind the curtain, so to speak. Who are the estate sales agents behind the businesses running these sales? According to a 2024 survey by EstateSales.net, 68% of estate sales business owners are over the age of 55. They've moved on to their 2nd or 3rd careers and bring with them incredible life experience.

But a new generation of owners is coming on the scene, too. A generation prioritizing mission driven work and ideally work that supports a more sustainable, earth friendly future. If nothing else, estate sales are certainly all that.

We talk about re-homing items we Artifct all the time to avoid landfills and waste, like in our story, “Who Wants This Rocking Chair?” Estate sales support sustainability, providing the means to upcycle and recycle remainders as second and third lines of defense. And they are working! Check out trends in estate cleanouts that we covered in, “Insider’s Look at What It Means to Clean Out an Estate.”

Not Ready for an Estate Sale? Try Virtual Sales and Auctions

If you’re not ready or able to show up in-person at an estate sale, we understand. The same channels through which people re-sell “pre-loved” items in lieu of or sometimes in addition to estate sales can become your testing ground for setting up alerts for items of interest to you and only buying what you’re truly seeking.

Check out these in-person and online retailers where you can browse and set alerts for items of interest.

Listed in alphabetical order.

GENERAL HOME GOODS  

      • Auction Ninja, “The hunt starts here,” auctionninja.com  
      • Bidrush, "Local downsizing & estate online auctions,” go.bidrush.com 
      • Ebay, "Things. People. Love.," ebay.com 
      • EstateSales.net, “Find estate sales, tag sales, and auctions,” estatesales.net 
      • Etsy, "Global marketplace for unique and creative goods," etsy.com 
      • Facebook marketplace, buy and sell locally and nationwide, www.facebook.com/marketplace
      • LiveAuctioneers, "Let's go treasure hunting: auctions for one-of-a-kind art, antiques & luxury goods," liveauctioneers.com  
      • OfferUp, "The simpler way to buy and sell locally," offerup.com    
      • Whatnot, "The live shopping marketplace," whatnot.com

LUXURY AND OTHER HIGHER END GOODS AND COLLECTIBLES 

      • 1stDibs, "The most beautiful things on earth: Antique and modern furniture, jewelry, fashion, & art," 1stdibs.com 
      • Auction houses, such as Bonhams, Doyle, Heritage Auctions, and Nye & Company 
      • Chairish, www.chairish.com
      • Poshmark, "Buy, sell, and discover fashion, home decor, beauty, and more," poshmark.com  
      • The RealReal, "Where luxury is yours to define," therealreal.com 
      • Specialty antiques and collectibles dealers (too numerous to list - search online based on your item)

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Oldies-But-Goodies: Summer Reading List from the Artifcts Archives

If you're anything like us, you probably have your favorite newsletters piling up in your inboxes all week, all month, all quarter long. We know how great they are, loaded with useful information, new research, fun tips and more, but the days can be so full. And we want to devote our attention to them, so we save them and wait until we have more time. Is summer that time for you?

If ARTIcles by Artifcts is new to you or piling up from your busy days and months, we’ve compiled a few of our favorites from over the years into your next summer reading list, perfect for your next roadtrip, airplane ride, or other adventure over your summer holidays.

While creating this list made us a bit nostalgic, it also reminded us why we’re here – helping us all to transform our relationships to our ‘stuff’ and to each other, one memory, one story, one Artifct at a time. Enjoy!  

Artifcts Co-founder Heather Nickerson’s Summer Reading List 

USE ARTIFCTS TIMELINES TO ENRICH YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

Have you tried keeping track of your family history? Although I'm a 12th generation Nickerson, I am allergic to genealogy apps or any type of software that makes me feel like I’m embarking on a senior thesis project. Artifcts Timelines however are a (nice cool summer) breeze. Read now -->

A FAMILY HISTORY IN FIVE ARTIFCTS 

When push comes to shove, could you tell your life story in five Artifcts? Which Artifcts would you choose? I’m not sure I could, which is why I love this piece. Read now --> 

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH STUFF: THE SANDWICH GENERATION

These days I'm feeling more like a panini than a sandwich, trying to plan for yet another move with all our 'stuff' while working full time at Artifcts. This one speaks to all of us who are trying to juggle kids, parents, four-legged dependents, and our jobs, and not always in that order. Read now --> 

A VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITY OF KEEPING UP WITH ALL MY DIGITAL PHOTOS 

Guilty as charged. This will be mandatory reading for EVERY family member this summer as I refuse to pay for yet another upgrade to our Apple storage plan. Read now -->

15 DECLUTTERING TARGETS FOR ARTIFCTERS

It's actionable, and as my youngest used to say, “Chop, chop!” I think my father is secretly looking forward to a couple of extra helping hands this summer as we tackle the basement with this list in hand. Read now -->

Artifcts Co-founder Ellen Goodwin’s Summer Reading List 

SOUNDS OF SUMMER – VINYL EDITION 

Music is magical. We use it to teach. We use it to celebrate and recover. We even use it to reconnect with loved ones who have been robbed of so much by dementia, but the powerful memories of music bring them joy. What music would make your ‘best of’ cut? Read now -->

FROM RARE ART TO FAMILY HEIRLOOMS: TIPS FROM A MASTER AS YOU CONSIDER SELLING YOUR ‘STUFF’ 

Too often we are our own worst enemies, procrastinating, inflating expectations, and worse when it comes to downsizing and decluttering objects we own. We've taken to heart the perspective and truths that Antiques Roadshow host Lark Mason shared with us from his decades of experience working with families as they auctioned away pieces of their family history. Read now -->

FIVE LESSONS FROM ARTIFCTING WITH MY MOTHER (+ The Epilogue!) 

Artifcting is about connection, one on one, in groups, as communities. This story comes from the heart, offering guidelines to make the most of your time Artifcting with your loved ones. Read now --> 

PINT-SIZED PERSPECTIVE ON DECLUTTERING & MOVING 

It can be hard to be 5, 6, or 7, or any age under 18 really. So little control over nearly everything! This article is about bringing kids into the decluttering and downsizing game to give them back some control as you prepare to move. Don’t miss a more recent article on this theme from our friend Matt Paxton, too. Read now --> 

HOW TO TAKE PICTURES OF OBJECTS AT HOME 

The team at Artifcts wants to support you as much as possible, every step of the way. So when our members ask us for tips—like how to take nice pictures of ‘stuff’—we do everything we can to respond and help. Aesthetics matter! Details matter! If you want to level up from our at-home advice, we collected photo tips from a pro, too. Read now -->

We wish you all the best over these summer months. Happy reading, happy Artifcting!

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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What I’ve Learned In 400 Artifcts

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

During a virtual webinar of #longevitech (meaning, longevity technology) thought leaders in the early days of Artifcts, I was invited to present Artifcts to the group. As always, talking about Artifcts brings out stories and connection, breaking down barriers in a group of strangers as we all recognize that emotional pull to the objects we’ve collected over the course of our lives.

At the end of this particular event, one of the participants asked me for a follow up call. I would casually describe this person as a “highflyer” for their frequent appearances on the conference circuit as well as in mainstream print and broadcast media.

I was delighted. I thought perhaps they were interested in helping Artifcts break into the media spotlight, a huge challenge for a startup. 

No, it turns out that they had a different objective, an objective to reshape our vision for Artifcts.

“You have built a brilliant product that focuses on a critical gap no one else is addressing and will be hard pressed to address with the integrity and thoughtfulness that you have done. But you talk about it all wrong.”

That was one hell of a way to start the conversation. They continued:

“Never again tell that story about the first Artifct ever created. It diminishes and confuses the value of what you created.” 

The Story of the First Artifct

When we were first building Artifcts, we invited a small group of trusted allies and friends to try us out. They were our beta group.

The beta member who created the first Artifct gave us a shock. He Artifcted a living, breathing cat: Princesa. He and his wife had adopted Princesa off the streets of Sao Paolo, Brazil, and now she enjoys total reign inside their new home back in the United States.

“While we chatted with [her fosters], she walked off to explore. After about 15 minutes we went looking for her and found her lying in a sunbeam, asleep in our home office. We decided that she had chosen to adopt us,” recalled Charles in his Artifct.

Never had we imagined that living creatures, human or otherwise, would be Artifcted. We were focused on solving our original problem: the inanimate ‘stuff’ in our homes and what its value is to us.

Princesa the Artifct, however, lines up beautifully with Artifcts and why we took out that second 'a' in “artifacts.” We are redefining artifacts from conventional objects of absolute financial and/or historical value that may belong in museums to items of meaning and value to you. In this process, yes, we can easily Artifct items of financial value, collectibles, fine art, and more, but we can also capture the ordinary and sentimental items that represent important pieces of our life stories, our legacy.

Princesa is a story of compassion and warmth and speaks volumes about the person who created the Artifct in her honor. We like to think of her as the Arti Cat.

What Do I Personally Artifct?

True enough, no cat Artifcts for me. I would say that I Artifct the 'stuff' that I care most about, truly has a great story, or I want to be sure stands out from the rest of my 'stuff' for my family so they know what it means to me. My Artifcts are a roadmap for my loved ones.

My top 5 Artifcts categories: 

I smiled when I looked to see what my top 5 categories were, because there are no surprises here. I cherish moments, invest a lot of time and energy decorating our home, and am certainly a lover of books (especially REAL books, not digital). My top 5 Artifcts categories are:

      1. Life moments, with “photographs” and “life’s firsts” my most popular topics 
      2. Home, which is dominated by recipes and holiday ‘stuff’ 
      3. Art, with kid art far and away the top subcategory I’ve used 
      4. Textiles, and here apparel was my top subcategory. I said, “Really?” Sure enough, hats, t-shirts, Halloween costumes and more are all represented.
      5. Books and other print media, with a fair balance between fiction and non-fiction and a dash of signed editions, too.

My top 5 Artifcts tags: 

Since you can create custom tags and add as many as you want to each Artifct, tags are both practical for easy sorting and personalized reflections of why things you Artifct are important to you. My top 5 Artifcts tags are:

      1. #Violet, my daughter. Enough said. 
      2. #ArtifctsVideo, but rarely do I record a video to tell a story. Instead, I am almost always adding a video from my phone that I recorded at an event—family gathering, concert, swim meet, etc.—that relates to the Artifcted story. 
      3. #WorkLife, because it’s good to see how far you’ve come, what you’ve done, easily share that with others, and lessen the burden of keeping all those mementos. I don’t even have an office to display them in! 
      4. #Decor, as I mentioned, I put a lot of energy and thought into our home with authentic personally meaningful items to make it warm, inviting, and comfortable. 
      5. #Christmas, because no matter your religion, it’s a time of year when people are a little bit kinder, have an excuse to be a bit merrier, and we take a breath to enjoy more time together.

My 5 favorite Artifcts: 

Favorite is probably relative to my mood. But the ones that pop first to mind as I write this article are these:

      1. Aquamarine Ring. I have no heirloom jewelry to pass down to my daughter, so through a bit of adventure, I bought a ring to pass down to her one day. I Artifcted the crazy story of my trip to Brazil and included the receipt and appraisal in the Artifct, too.
      2. Coqui frog. On a trip with my co-founder Heather and her daugthter, hiking in the rain forest of Puerto Rico, my daughter picked up a whisteling coqui frog keychain. The Artifct includes a video proving that she had learned how to whistle just like the frog.
      3. Ice Skating in Russia. Russia was never a country I imagined visiting once, nevermind half a dozen times. So finding myself ice skating there was surreal. One of my colleagues even captured a video of me on the ice, my Wisconsin roots serving me well.
      4. Muriel the Welder. My great-aunt didn't think people were interested in her stories. She was 97 years old when I flew to Arizona to Artifct with her and I learned she was a Rosie the Riveter during World War II. Such a powerful combination of personal, family, and world history in one little Artifct of a photo of her welding, the goggles she wore, and a video of her telling me all about it. 
      5. Petra 2023. I wish everyone could visit each of the Wonders of the World. Petra was worth the 12+ hour bus ride, and then some. I'll never forget it.

Interesting aside: As I wrote about those favorite five, I realized there are two themes among those Artifcts. First, every one of them is tied to travel. And second, all but one includes a video. I think you can learn a lot about yourself simply by looking at WHAT you choose to Artifct.

I think you can learn a lot about yourself simply by looking at WHAT you choose to Artifct. - Ellen Goodwin, co-founder, Artifcts

What I've Learned in 400 Artifcts

Why I am sharing all this with you?

Earlier this year I passed an arbitrary threshold of 400 personal Artifcts. My 400th Artifct was a special Christmas present from my daughter: the vinyl version of Adele 21, “I remember you playing this album in the car when I was little,” she said, as I unwrapped it Christmas morning. 

In full disclosure, I never expected to have so many Artifcts. Like my critic who told me to never again speak of Princesa if I wanted insurance companies, financial planners, and estate attorneys to take me seriously, I had a narrow “let’s get started somewhere” vision of Artifcts. To me, Artifcts was first and foremost about capturing items of significant financial value or that were family heirlooms. And I don’t have many of either.

But Artifcting is as much a stress release and therapeutic benefit to me now as anything else. I love that I’ve captured these great moments in my life AND digitally organized it all for myself and my loved ones in case I get hit by a bus, so to speak. It’s connection, peace of mind, and a creative outlet.

Looking inside my Artifcts collection, several life themes emerge:

      • I’m reconnecting with people through my Artifcts. Sometimes I’ll go months even years without talking with someone. We’re both busy, geography has divided us, life has happened, but that has not diminished their importance to me. Sometimes I no sooner create an Artifct than realize I must share it with So-And-So, they’ll love the memory, they’ll laugh, they’ll feel better. I’m not demanding any time from them either. I can share it, and they’ll see it when they see it, like a surprise gift in the waiting.
      • Maybe I am funny. Lately, other professionals in my sphere keep remarking that I’m funny. Come to think of it, even at the car dealership last week, the guy who insisted on calling me “young lady” (really, I’m not young), also said I was funny. But as a kid, I’m not sure my family ever thought I was funny. Now when I re-read Artifcts I’ve created, I realize I tend to tell stories as they are, no holding back any of the color, and they are funny. Sometimes it’s more like “you have to laugh or cry” but funny all the same.
      • Appreciation for life. I’m far from perfect; I make mistakes and try to learn quickly from them. I hit roadblocks like cancer. I come through it all seeing so clearly what a great life I’ve had. Maybe a bit predictable and boring according to some, but I love my family, community, amazing people I’ve met, and world travels and petite road trips. I’ll take it all with gratitude. 

I challenge you all to take a look at your Artifcts collection as it grows and see what themes emerge. 

_______________

Artifcting has so many benefits in life. Which of those benefits are most important to you is personal. And you may discover, like I did, that the benefit you care about most changes over time, too.

As always, we love to hear your stories and hope you’ll write to us (Editor@Artifcts.com) to share what Artifcts and the act of Artifcting means to you. We’d love to share with the broader Arti Community in future editions of ARTIcles by Artifcts.

Happy Artifcting!

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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What Should I Artifct First?

We get questions every day from people wondering what they should Artifct first. There’s no right answer, because the things you collect, accumulate, and inherit are as diverse as is the content of the world’s most amazing estate sale or flea market (or Grandmas' closet).

Of course, we do try to help inspire you. Our Artifct That! Kits include our top 5 inspiration questions based on years of Artifcting and 1,000s of Artifcts. We also have more than two dozen free downloadable inspiration checklists to help you get started. And we often write about different approaches to get started Artifcting or for those who thing, “But I’m not sentimental.”

Today we’re sharing fun and thoughtful starter prompts in a series of lists to help anyone create their first Artifct or their 100th Artifct—whether it's sentimental, quirky, or just a favorite item with a cool backstory. Because the fact is the stuff we keep, and the mere act of taking seconds to Artifct that, can tell others more about us than the most formal and thoughtful of interviews or workbooks.

🧠 Memory-Based Prompts

      • What’s the oldest thing you own—and why do you still have it? 
      • Tell the story of a gift you’ll never forget (yes, even if you accidentally lost the item). 
      • What item reminds you most of someone you’ve loved and lost? 
      • What’s something you’d want your great-grandchildren to know you owned?

😂 Light & Fun Prompts 

      • What’s the weirdest item in your junk drawer, and why is it still there? No cheating. Go open it and Artifct that!
      • What’s your favorite T-shirt or mug—and what’s the story behind it? 
      • What’s something silly you brought home from a vacation? 
      • Ever “accidentally” kept something you weren’t supposed to? 

🎶 Music, Pop Culture, and Hobbies 

      • What’s the first concert or event you ever went to? Do you still have the ticket or merch? 
      • Share an item related to your favorite movie, book, or band. 
      • What hobby item (camera, sewing machine, old bike) has the most history for you? 
      • What game, toy, or gadget meant the world to you growing up?

🏠 Everyday Meaning 

      • What’s one kitchen tool or recipe card you couldn’t live without? 
      • Is there a piece of furniture in your home with a backstory? 
      • What’s an item in your garage, attic, or basement you keep moving but can’t throw away?

💼 Work & Milestones

      • What item represents a proud work moment or accomplishment? 
      • Choose something from a graduation, award, or “big day.” 
      • What’s the story behind your first paycheck or ID badge?

Fun fact: #worklife is one of the founders of Artifcts top tags!

You can print or email these prompts to use during family events or even as part of an Artifcts-based journaling project.

Happy Artifcting!

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Cheers to 2025!

Dear Readers,  

As we begin the New Year, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support, encouragement, and feedback, whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or are just joining. I also want to share more about our exciting new pilot study on brain health with a major US university and some of the fun things 2025 has in store for our Artifcts community.  

Ellen and I created Artifcts to change the conversation around ‘stuff’ and to help us all preserve what matters most, whether that be the history and documentation behind great grandma’s wedding ring or the oh-so-funny video snippet of your loved one explaining the story behind a cherished photo. Here at Artifcts, we believe that family lore is just as important as the actual, factual stories, and that each of us is in our own way our family’s keeper.  

This year has been one of great growth for Artifcts—we've doubled our membership base, including members across the United States and in over a dozen countries and counting. More members have created more Artifcts, and some of our members have even out-Artifcted Ellen and me, which is no easy feat considering we each have 300+ Artifcts!  

Even as we’ve grown, we’ve remained true to our core, putting you, your data privacy, and your security first and foremost in all that we do. We know you place a great deal of trust in us as you create your Artifcts and it’s important to reaffirm that we’ve got your back, always. We’ll be rolling out enhanced security features in 2025 and exploring technologies to help protect unique content you create here at Artifcts beyond our existing copyright policies. 

We’ve also pushed headlong into the brain health arena this past year, embarking on a pilot study with the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Chan Medical School. We hope to prove that Artifcts and the process of Artifcting serve as a powerful screening tool for brain health. We’ve already had our first tranche of participants complete the required steps in the study, and our partners at UMass will begin analyzing the first sets of data early this year. We still have limited space available in the study so, if you are 65 or older and interested in participating, click here to learn more about the study and to sign up. Each of us can play an important role in ultimately preventing and/or slowing the advancement of cognitive decline due to dementia.  

We’ve also received some much-deserved recognition, beginning in February when Time Magazine named Artifcts as one of the top seven tools to help with decluttering. That was quickly followed by the Mom’s Choice Gold Award and an award from Family Tree Magazine naming Artifcts as one of the best genealogy tech tools of 2024. Ellen and I were also honored to be selected to participate in MassChallenge, the largest non-equity-based business accelerator program in the world. Bottom line, the word is getting out: ‘Stuff’ and legacy matter, and Artifcts is leading the charge.

Word is getting out: 'Stuff’ and legacy matter, and Artifcts is leading the charge.  

As for the here and now, the Artifcts team is hard at work ensuring Artifcts is where you need it, when you need it. Stay tuned for a couple of carefully researched and designed new product features in the first half of 2025, publication of our spring “Evenings with Artifcts” series schedule, and announcements of new partnerships spanning organizing and decluttering, estate planning, insurance, and beyond as we transform our relationships with ‘stuff’ together.  

With that, Ellen and I invite you to join us in a virtual toast as we say, “Cheers to 2025!” May it be a year of great growth and great fun.   

Happy Artifcting, 

Heather

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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