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My semitranslucent, plastic purple bin measures roughly 10 inches by 12 inches. I chose it because it was easy to spot and distinguish from my other storage bins. Already 20 years old, I’ve transported the bin to homes in six US states; it sits quietly, minding its own business in my dark attic. 

What’s in the bin? Hard to remember most days.  

If I were to lose it or Mother Nature were to destroy it, I’d feel the pain of curiosity about my loss, but I wouldn’t be able to quantify that loss. And in all honesty, I’d get over it a lot faster than I did the destruction of a beautiful handmade piece of pottery I purchased in New Mexico when a shelf fell and crushed it. 

Pulling down my purple bin from the attic, and peeking inside, I rediscover the mishmash of my life: old cards, letters, and postcards; graduation cords, metals, and diplomas; “Collectors'” coins and stamps of dubious real value (Do you have any of these collections?), and the like. Hidden within, however, are also irreplaceable notes from my daughter and husband, my parents and siblings; my first passport with visas from Sweden and the Czech Republic FULL of memories; my baby book, largely empty, but containing information that I know is only recorded within its pages.

I’d wager you have stuff like this, too. (Unless it’s STILL at your parents’ house???) It’s the ‘stuff’ we each keep and tote with us through life because of the memories it holds, life changing to the mere, “It made me smile” and even, “Oh, the nostalgia!”

Will you Artifct your purple bin? 

Personally, I’ve Artifcted only a few items in my purple bin, tagging each #purplebin. Think of this as a digital shoebox.

I really do love to travel so I Artifcted that first passport. I also Artifcted some foreign currency I’ve been holding onto and the stories of my travels through South Sudan, Haiti, and other places less often traveled. And I Artifcted particularly special cards and letters, each made meaningful by some combination of who it was from, the occasion, and the message shared.  

I know the contents of my purple bin would almost certainly never create conflict in my family. In fact, I’d be okay with recycling nearly everything in it, no harm done. 

But for all of you reading this, I’ll ask you (and myself) this: What if we’re wrong?  And do not say you won't care, because you'll be dead. We're sure you don't reallllly want to do that to your loved ones, create unnecessary conflict and make the grieving process that much worse, that is.

Take another look inside your purple bin. Could the contents mean more than you know to others in your life? If there’s any doubt at all, Artifct that, share with them now, or indicate “In the future” who should have the items so you can pass down stories and memories, not just things. 

Beware the purple bin: It is off limits to decluttering and downsizing

My mom had a purple bin. It was a cardboard box in the back of the closet in the den. It was full of school papers, artwork and similar from my siblings and me. When I was maybe 10 years old, I went through it and divided its contents among my siblings without my mother’s permission.  

None of us really wanted any of it and so we threw most of it away. But it’s only now, as a parent myself, that I realize that among the many mistakes I made in that scenario, a big one was the assumption that my mother saved it all for us to have someday when we were older. Maybe, maybe not. 

Looking in my own purple bin, I know that I have saved so many things from my daughter for my own memories and happiness. Pure love and kindness are written all over each of them. Isn’t that enough reason to keep them? 

Yes, it's enough. 

It is enough that the contents of the purple bin are special to you. We humans are tactile creatures. For most of us, to varying degrees, tangible items provide reassurance and peace of mind. The items also fill in our memory gaps, “Oh, yeah, that’s right, we went to Disney World when I was seven and I was so excited to convert my allowance into Disney dollars. But, ugh, do you remember how hot it was?” 

We should all take care and give space (and grace) for the purple bin. 

What's in your purple bin?

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© 2024 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dear Readers,

As we approach 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.  

Ellen and I created Artifcts to change our relationship with ‘stuff’ and lighten the financial and emotional burden that so often surrounds the stuff we keep and even the stuff we let go. Our goal as founders is to enable you to not only to capture, preserve, and share the histories, stories, and memories behind your most cherished objects, but to also discover (or maybe even rediscover) the joy and human connection that go hand in hand with the items that make us, well, us!  

This year has been one of great growth for Artifcts—we've doubled our membership base, including members across the United States and in 12 other 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!  

As we’ve grown, we’ve remained true to our core and our mission, placing 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. Our patent (yes, we received our first patent last month!) is proof of all this and reinforces it—our patent protects the very cornerstone of our technology and provides a launch pad for the innovation we've dreamed of for years.  

We’ve also pushed head-long into the brain health arena this past year, winning the Massachusetts eHealth Insitute’s Healthy Aging Pitch Competition, and embarking on a year-long pilot study with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. We hope to validate that Artifcts and the process of Artifcting can be a powerful screening tool for brain health so we can flip the script, reduce the fear, and start the conversations sooner about dementia and its prevention and treatment.  

We’ve traveled the country during the past year on our quest to understand and transform the world of ‘stuff.’ We’ve spoken with experts at AARP; presented at genealogy, LongeviTech, AgeTech, photo management, and downsizing conferences; and learned from and shared with experts in the estate planning and insurance space who are eager to harness the power of Artifcts.   

We’ve also received some much-deserved recognition, beginning in May when the State of Texas recognized Artifcts as an Innovator in Aging. That was quickly followed by an award from  Family Tree Magazine naming Artifcts as one of the best genealogy tech tools of 2023. Ellen and I were also honored to be featured in a mini documentary from Voice of America, and to contribute chapters to the National Aging in Place Council’s book on Difficult Aging in Place Conversations. Bottom line, the word is getting out. ‘Stuff’ and legacy matter, and we are leading the charge here at Artifcts.  

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 carefully researched and designed new product features, publication of our spring webinar series schedule, and announcements of new partnerships spanning brain health, end of life, moving and decluttering and beyond as we transform our relationships with ‘stuff’ together.  

We’ll be starting the New Year with a bang at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with our friends at the AARP AgeTech Collaborative. To say we’re excited is an understatement.  

With that, Ellen and I invite you to join us in a virtual toast as we say, “Cheers to 2024!” May it delight and surprise us in all that we do.   

Happy Artifcting, 

Heather

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© 2023 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

With a plethora of digital media outlets, influencer-promoted blogs, and industry-specific publications at our fingertips, what did our readers enjoy most from ARTIcles by Artifcts during 2023? We dove into the data to learn more and consider what’s next in ARTIcles by Artifcts for 2024. 

Data can still be a bit like reading tea leaves, but we emerged from the numbers with a few insights: you value structured approaches to consider new issues and behaviors, enjoy focusing on ‘stuff’ problems—great news, because we're a company focused on ‘stuff’—and appreciate tips and ‘how to’s.’ Within these three broad insights, you may be surprised by the variety of topics that broke through to capture your attention and deserve spots on the top 10 list of ARTIcles by Artifcts for 2023.

#10

Before You Thin Out That Stuffed Animal Collection, Consider What Scientists Have to Say

Why do we have and keep so many stuffed animals to start with? It turns out, this is exactly the right question to be asking as we mark the start of May - Mental Health Month. 
  
In a recent decluttering spree with my daughter, I found myself unexpectedly sentimental over so many she was ready to part with because I not only remembered when and from whom she got each, but I could picture her toting them around with her, cuddling them on car trips … Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “How to Artifct Childhood Mementos.”

#9 

What is a Family Keeper, and Why Should I Care?

Have you heard of a “family keeper?” We meet so many through Artifcts that we discuss them quite often and with deep fondness. But it’s only recently that we discovered there’s more than one definition for a family keeper, and the definition you know may influence how you interact with the keeper in your family, too.  

In Artifcts parlance, a family keeper is a positive, warm concept. A person becomes the family keeper by default or by choice ... Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “I’m the Family Keeper! What Do I Do with It All?”

#8 

How to Artifct Family Heirlooms and History

Often genealogists and/or the "family keepers" find themselves on lonely hunts for the details of the near to distant past that help them piece together their family history. If you truly seek to preserve memories and keep the family history alive, the scattered facts, photos, and memories locked into family trees and timelines or behind paywalls might be your best tools and your biggest hurdles.  

Here are a few of our favorite combos of photos, video, and audio for a family history experience that will stand the test of time and engage ... Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “How to Share Genealogy Stories with Non-Genealogists.”

#7

How Swedish Death Cleaning Helps You During a Move 

The new show streaming on Peacock, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, has returned author Margareta Magnusson’s concept of “Swedish death cleaning” to the headlines. The idea she outlined in her book is deceptively simple: Continuously organize and declutter your home to reduce the burden on loved ones of sifting through hundreds of objects to decide what is significant and should be kept, and what needs to move on out, “to make the later years of our lives as comfortable and stress-free as possible.” 
  
Artifcting is a means to continuously and easily … Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in the first story on this topic from Artifcts, published in early 2022, “The Joys of Swedish Death Cleaning.”

#6

Could You and Should You Part with a Family Photo?

I’ll admit I’m a sucker for click-bait news headlines like the recent one, 'I sold a family heirloom to pay for my wedding - guests are now refusing to attend'. Basically, the eldest son in a family inherited a valuable family heirloom and decided to sell it in order to fund a lavish destination wedding. His reasoning? “I'm not much for big family traditions, so although it's a nice thing to have, I'm not massively attached to it. I have plenty of other good memories of my father and I don't need a fancy heirloom to remember him by ...” Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “Interrogation Techniques for Photos: What is this Old Photo?” 

#5

How to Artifct That Photo

One month from now, you’ll remember the outlines of the day when you took that photo because it rained hard, you and the kids got lost, and you packed only one of the camp chairs. One year from now it might become a generic, “We went camping at Eagle’s Nest last year.” And a decade from now it could be, “We used to camp a lot.” Which story do you want to hear? Which tells you more about the moment, the people, and the colorful, painful, humorous facts of life? … Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “Photos & Stories Go Better Together: A Conversation with the CEO of The Photo Managers.”  

#4

How Two Sisters Overcame the Guilt to Lighten the Load of Family Heirlooms

Up until a few years ago, Rachel Donnelly, founder and CEO of AfterLight, and her family owned their old family home that had been in their family since 1890. Imagine the history those walls could tell! This home, in Eastern Tennessee, was where Rachel’s great-grandparents lived, where her grandmother was born, and where her mother was raised.   
  
After Rachel’s mother died, the family made the difficult decision to sell this beloved … Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “From Rare Art to Family Heirlooms: Tips from a Master as You Consider Selling Your ‘Stuff.’”

#3

What Should You Do with Old Scrapbooks?

Scrapbooking is more than a hobby. It’s a time-consuming, big-hearted passion and nearly infinite outlet for creativity. These works of art visualize people’s stories. 

The thing is, scrapbooks also take up space and collect dust. They feature people no longer in our lives. They can raise more questions than answers with the items they feature. And then, the physical reality – they fall apart. Read on for more on scrapbooking dilemmas and … Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “Keepsake Boxes, Remembrance Boxes, Memento Boxes: Boxes Abound!”

#2

Decluttering for Dementia

If you’ve ever needed a better reason to stick to or create a resolution to declutter your home, this one might do it: It’s good for your brain. And we’ve seen it firsthand.   

In today’s piece for ARTIcles by Artifcts, we talk openly about facing a loved one’s dementia diagnosis, and how, maybe to your surprise, decluttering can help.  

Dementia is heartbreaking, terrifying, and, so far, irreversible. Even if a loved one is in many ways themself, we know the disease is slowly changing them and shortening their life. I know. I have a loved one who is among … Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “Decluttering for Dementia: Paper Clutter.”

#1

Swedish Death Cleaning a Marriage

Yep, you read that right. If you can Swedish Death Clean a home, why not a marriage? Marriages are a lot like homes. You build them up over time, fill them with memories, histories, and yes, even ‘stuff.’ Mementos from the newly wed days, important firsts and milestones, travel mementos, kid art, photographs, and the list goes on and on. It’s amazing just how much stuff accumulates over time.   

Over the course of our lives, we are apt to move at least 11 times … Read the full ARTIcles story.

You may also be interested in, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Appraisals but were Afraid to Ask.” 

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With the top 10 locked in for 2023, we wish you well and will see you again in 2024 for more ARTIcles that will offer you fresh takes and perspective on all matters 'stuff.' Stay tuned!

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If you'd like to suggest a topic for future ARTIcles, please write to us at Editor@Artifcts.com.

© 2023 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Why an “accidental” gift list? The list sort of crept up on us. We've met such amazing people as we’ve been building Artifcts and they offer equally amazing products and services, so suddenly you have a gift list. Besides, while we hope Artifcts is among the gifts you are giving this year, we know it cannot be the ONLY. 🙂

Our list could easily be dozens long, but we decided to choose just a few across a spectrum of products and services that we think is reflective of the wonderfully diverse Arti Community.

With no further ado, our 2023 list:

(We receive no referral fees from this list.)

Artifcts Pairs Beautifully with These Gifts

Having just written out this gift list, we admit, an Artifcts membership pairs beautifully with each of these gifts.

• • • If you are going to pay to frame it or pop it in an archival box, you should really Artifct it so you remember where you got it, what it even is, and can also attach the receipt and certificate of authenticity.  
    • If you are on the move or decluttering, Artifcts is the ultimate app to help save the memories so you can lighten the load and move forward.  
    • If you are digging into family history and genealogy, share it with the ease and privacy of a digital Artifct so that even the youngest generation will be interested in tuning in!
    • If you love the picture, remember, a photo can’t talk – we can animate them in creepy ways, but one generation removed the story will be lost and two generations removed you won’t know who is in the photo. Besides, no one is going to look through 10s of 1000s of photos. Artifct the photos (and family documents!) that matter most and the stories that make the moment captured. Artifcts Concierge Services can help, too - people love having someone there to share their stories with and family is not always available or skilled to help. 

If you'd like to suggest a topic for future ARTIcles, please write to us at Editor@Artifcts.com.

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© 2023 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

I went from a “company” everyone knew by its initials alone, “CIA,” to a made-up composite word people loved to pronounce with a French twist, “Knoema,” to one that is spelled informally without the second a, “Artifcts.”

You may wonder, perhaps with a hint of exasperation, why, oh, why do companies deliberately misspell their names?

Trends in naming come and go. For a while you saw 'x' replacing letters, like Spanx. You’ve also seen the small first letter theme, like eBay or iTunes, matching the brand name with its means of distribution, as in e-electronic or i-Internet 

You likely know many companies that have opted, like Artifcts, to exclude or replace vowels, e.g., Flickr, Lyft, Tumblr, Sweepr, and Swype. Even conferences have gotten in on the game; THRIV and HLTH come to mind.

We asked Maureen Longoria, Co-founder and CEO of LivNow Relocation, another startup from the AARP AgeTech Collaborative, about her brand’s missing vowel. “That’s kind of a funny story. We started out as Live Now Relocation. We soon realized people were calling us ‘LIVE’ like ‘a live concert’ rather than ‘LIVE’ like ‘I’m living my best life'. We dropped the ‘e’ and combined the words to become LivNow, because we want to help people live their best lives by helping them get to a senior living community.” 

There are a myriad of other reasons for unconventional spellings, too, including: 

• • • Appeal and intrigue to the curious, playful, imaginative, and young/young-at-heart 
    • Securing and enforcing a trademark 
    • Reinforcing the brand, and this is where Artifcts especially shines. 

The Missing ‘A’ of Artifcts 

Choosing the name Artifcts was an intentional element of our strategy back in the winter of 2020/2021 to reinforce our brand feel and purpose, serving as the lighthouse for all we do: artifacts (aka ‘stuff’). 

Artifcts also rolls off the tongue when verb-ified, helping us to emphasize this is not just a product, it’s a way of life. We are Artifcting daily. It’s in our hearts, homes, and habits. Artifcts make our lives richer, more connected-more meaningful, and set ourselves up for less-burdened futures. 

Unique Brand Names Can Also Be Uniquely Problematic 

We went in eyes wide open to the challenges our brand name would create, although we admittedly thought we could tackle them a bit faster than has proven viable. Chief among those is the disregard of Google for startups and anything outside the norm, including brand names.

Simply stated, Google hates us.

Google insists on autocorrecting the spelling of our name. And this need not be the case! Crunchbase plays nicely; you can easily look us up there. Someday, when everyone knows and loves us already, Google will rethink its anti-startup ways.

Until then we have no choice but to bid on Google Ad Words for our own trademarked brand name or rely on people clicking, “Search instead for Artifcts.” I do this anyway, every day, all day for my searches for other companies, people, and more, so it’s second nature to me. But not all people are so vigilant. Why can’t Google learn faster?!

We humans naturally, mentally autocorrect.

Without a second thought, our brains fill in the rejected 'a.' Thinking 'Artifacts' still grounds you to our core concept of ‘stuff,’ but it can also mean that you suddenly find yourself thinking, “Wait, what letter was missing?”

We know the feeling.

And we’re leaning in to celebrate our rejected ‘a’ and help anyone who maybe can’t remember. Enjoy this playful surprise from all of us at Artifcts, A-r-t-i-f-c-t-s. 

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© 2023 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Before you say, “Books can talk. Just get the audio version,” that’s not what we mean. We’re talking about the meaning of each book to you.  

Artifcts co-founder Ellen Goodwin found herself staring up at all her books on the wall and mulling over an article she'd read about decluttering that perplexed and offended her. Are books really trophies of a sort, signifying pride in having traveled through the paper universes held by our shelves? That was what the blog’s author suggested. Clearly this is not how Artifcts co-founder Heather Nickerson feels, since books were a whole category of objects she wishes her mother could have Artifcted.

Arguably, if this Gallup poll from December 2021 is correct, and people are reading their way through fewer books, maybe we are buying them just for show. But couldn't it also be a sign we're aspiring to read more? Certainly, in the old days, personal libraries were more commonly curated as symbols of wealth and knowledge, worldliness, too. Most people could barely afford one book in the original days of the printing press when each run was small, leather binding and embossed impressions expensive, and hand illustrations an art and a luxury.

Today books are cheap to produce, even making self-publishing an obtainable reality for many. Few books in and of themselves are likely valuable, unless you’re a bibliophile and rare books and unique signed copies are your passion. If you add up every book in your collection then, sure, they were expensive, but reselling through secondhand bookstores will get you only pennies on the dollar. 

Maybe then our bookshelves today send different and more practical messages. What do your books say about you or to you?   

The next time you dust off your shelves or undertake a bit of reorganization—rainbow order, by genre then author, alphabetical by title, or some other schema—or maybe find a way to fit in "just one more," take a fresh look at your collection. Pick one book to Artifct because it holds special significance through the scenes it sets, the messages imparted, the journeys undertaken, or maybe something more personal, like the “who” that gave it to you. Share the Artifct with the world—we've shared a few, tagged #realbooksarebest—or a friend to inspire their next read and learn a bit more about you!

Happy Artifcting!

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© 2023 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.