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A View on 'Stuff' from a Professional Home Organizer

Ellen Goodwin, Artifcts
September 21, 2021

Just before the launch of Artifcts, I was introduced to Jennifer Singleterry, owner of Sort and Order, a home organization company based out of New Braunfels, Texas. As you might expect, we hit it off. She deals with stuff all day, and we at Artifcts want to help people to remember, record, and preserve the stories behind their stuff.  

We laughed over a shared frustration, too. I told her my brother in Wisconsin always quips that someday, if left to his own devices and he was forced to clean out the home our parents have lived in for over 40 years, he would just give it all away. That makes me cringe. But all the stories! Grandpa's clogs from Holland, the country barn painting Mom did in college, the vinyl records that are a part of my parents' youth and my own Christmas memories. Everything just gone?!  

Jennifer had a similar story to share of a son she worked with recently who hired her to help transition out of their family home of 60 years. As it turned out, the family's ‘stuff’ included war memorabilia dating back to the civil war, such as tintype photographs and well-preserved handwritten notes from the era. The project was rich with legacy and family history. Jennifer said she felt emotionally exhausted by the sense of loss because it was so hard to go through these items and appropriately manage them and often the sons felt the same way and defaulted to getting rid of it. 

She felt emotionally exhausted by the sense of loss. 

A week later I could not stop thinking about my conversation with Jennifer. She said she works regularly with women especially who tend to take on the role of the family "keeper." You know that person I bet in your own family. The person who not only knows the birthdays and anniversaries, but keeps track of family photos, brings people together over the holidays to remember the origins of favorite ornaments and recipes, and, in the end, manages who gets what when a loved one passes away. 

Women especially tend to take on the role of the family "keeper." 

My complete interview with Jennifer

I sat back down with Jennifer last week to unpack this a bit more and get her perspective on how Artifcts could help. We thought that everyone could learn and benefit from us sharing our interview notes. So, here we go!

Ellen Goodwin: Why did you get into the home organization business? 

Jennifer Singleterry: My first foray into this business started with the passing of my grandparents and then my mother. When you're in this process personally you realize the emotional toll it takes on those closest to the situation. The emotional and physical attachment to things and the weight that bears in going through them. Another component here is that a lot of families may not have that person who is equipped to take on a project of that scale. That's where we can come in and help lighten the load. As an impartial but considerate party it is easier for our team to go through and delineate what is precious and boil it down to just those items in question and then decide how we handle these items. 

Goodwin: Tell us about the typical project you take on.

Singleterry: (Laughing) I've never had a single project that is remotely similar to another! They are as individual as our fingerprints. Never the same chaos. Actually, it's not even usually chaos. Usually people just don't know what to do with the stuff. We work with a lot of garages, closets, and pantries - high turnover, daily use places, that need to accommodate change. I go in big picture, with the first priority being to clean it all out and then intentionally put things back in a manageable system. We cannot see our own things! We have to bring it to light. 

We cannot see our own things! We have to bring it to light.

Goodwin: Is there a typical client?

Singleterry: Yes and no. Really it's simply that someone has finally had enough of the inertia of not knowing what to do or how to do it with their own space and was referred to us while telling this tale of woe. Or they have just gotten overwhelmed with their situation and need someone to help. It's the feeling that made someone Google "home organizer" or "estate transition." You know this feeling on a project.  

Goodwin: You have an inside track to everything personal and mundane that we all keep (and maybe forget about!) in our homes, garages, etc. Has a client ever been surprised or excited maybe when you've discovered something they forgot about or thought was lost?

Singleterry: Every. Single. Time. A funny anomaly about humanity - we don't know what our “thing” is that contributes to the overwhelming situation. In every project it's been fun to see what a person's thing is. For one person, it was journals, 30 of them or more. Some journals had just one page used, in some none of the pages were used. For another person it was makeup and other beauty products, some in daily use, some for travel, some for special occasions. We had a whole box at the end and the woman said, "I had no idea I had this problem!" For another it was reusable bags, many with the original price tags still on them. There were more than 100 of them! 

The coolest thing that I have ever found was in an 80-year-old woman's closet. Her family was a founding family of New Braunfels. She asked me to pull down a box from the very top of the closet. Inside was the original bible from 1843 that was brought over on the boat with her family from Germany. It was in wonderful condition. It even had the family genealogy in it. I felt like we should have worn gloves to handle it! It should be in a museum, in a collection somewhere, kept safe, because what happens if the keeper isn't there to keep it anymore? 

In an 80-year-old woman's closet ... was the original bible from 1843 that was brought over on the boat with her family from Germany.

Goodwin: Some stuff really is just stuff. What happens to the stuff your clients decide not to keep?

Singleterry: We do our best to take things where they go, to give items another life. Some call it re-homing. We try to take women’s and children's clothing, bedding, and toys in good condition to the local women's crisis center. A lot of home goods, lumber, surplus hardware, and industrial items go to Habitat for Humanity, because they have the need and foot traffic to utilize it. Miscellaneous goods go to local charities. When an estate sale is part of the project, the majority goes through that avenue and then we work with a company that takes goods that did not sell to be sold onward from another location. If at the very end it's trash, unwearable, unsaleable, unusable... it goes to trash.

Goodwin: You know the story of Artifcts. How do you think Artifcts could help you in your work with your clients? 

Singleterry: Artifcts is invaluable. If I had known about this, even just weeks ago, I could have employed this system for good. Families have histories and members of a family can engage with that history together on Artifcts from anywhere. One sister has the desk, but here's the story, and all family members can see it.  

Artifcts gives objects another life. So often when I'm hired, especially if the person is deceased, the history is lost, the stories do not transfer with the items. This would literally be a way to continue the story, to carry on the life that they began. A person had a bond with an item and there was a story there - what did a postcard mean to be sent from someone far away and to be saved by the recipient? It's a piece of an experience, a bigger story. 

Artifcts gives objects another life... a way to continue the story, to carry on the life that they began.

< End of Interview >

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the stuff in your life, try Artifcting (start free here). You might find that by taking it one Artifct at a time, it is fun and rewarding to parse out the meaningful objects from the other stuff that might be crowding your garage, bedroom, closets, attic, and other convenient hiding places! If you need help getting started, explore our virtual and in-person Concierge Services. 

If you’re in the New Braunfels or surrounding area and likewise need help rescuing a chaotic space to clearing out an estate, contact Jennifer at jenn@sortandorder.life or call her directly at (830) 500-0142.

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© 2021 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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What’s Hiding Under Your Bed?

Pivot with us as we take a hard look at our bedrooms this month in our ongoing, “Around the House, With Artifcts” series. Is your bedroom your favorite space? The one you decorate with keepsakes, fun photos, and travel souvenirs?  

Or, is your bedroom a dumping ground of all the things you meant to put away but somehow never did?  Maybe it is somewhere in between? Filled with the items you love, and the stories and memories they evoke, with just enough clutter to make you shake your head and say, “not today.” 

Bedrooms weren’t always private spaces or even reflections of our personal identity. For most of history, shared beds and living spaces were common, but increasing urbanization and the influence of the Victorian era promoted privacy, according to the BBC. The Industrial Revolution enabled more people to have private rooms, a trend that continued with the post-World War II suburban boom which solidified the modern, personal bedroom as a standard part of life.  

So, where does that leave us? With the question that started this all, “What’s Hiding Under Your Bed?” And the close second, “What are you going to do with it?” Read on to get our tips for managing the clutter, while preserving the stories and memories that undoubtedly fill one of the most personal spaces in our homes.  

It Has Value, Either Heart Value or Financial Value 

One of our Artifcts members shared with us that as they were getting ready to move, they discovered a trove of silk-on-silk oriental rugs stashed under their bed. The rugs had been there “for years and years,” and had accumulated a good coating of dust.  

As our member said, “The irony is that we had spent several thousands of dollars purchasing area rugs for our home over the years when we had perfectly good, beautiful rugs waiting for their turn to shine.”  

We recognize that not everyone has a collection of oriental rugs stashed under their bed, but maybe you have something that has similar heart value or financial value. We’ve heard stories over the years of families finding long-forgotten artwork and antique maps, bins of greeting cards and letters, and more safely stashed away, yep, under the bed!  

If you have items of value hiding under your bed, we encourage you to take a moment this weekend and Artifct them. Include a short story or favorite memory, dimensions (if applicable), and attach any documentation (if available) that demonstrates the value to you.  

As for the oriental rugs, it turns out they finally got their turn to shine. Our member was proud to report that after Artifcting the rugs, he decided to display one as a wall-hanging for all to see. Not a bad find (or story!)  

 

Oriental carpet now ArtifctedArtifcts member @Matt Artifcted this carpet after discovering it under the bed. 

It’s Just “Stuff” 

Our co-founder @Heather likes to joke that if you look under her bed, chances are you are going to find a healthy dose of golden retriever fur (it never ends!) and stacks of paper, mail, and other odds and ends that she stuffed under there the last time she had company coming over. Relatable, no? 

If you’re dealing with more clutter than not hiding under your bed, take a moment this weekend to sort through what is what and then act. 

  • What needs to be filed away for safe keeping (or tax planning)? In the file cabinet it goes, or if you use a digital vault like Trustworthy, scan the documents, upload them to your vault, and then shred the physical copies.
  • What needs to be put away where it goes? Kid toys, pet toys, maybe even laundry (hello missing sock!).  
  • What can be recycled or trashed? Our list of 108 Object to Declutter from Your Home can help! 

Chances are you are now going to be left with the “stuff” that gives you pause. These items may be important to you, but they may not fit into one of the above categories, and that’s okay.  

If you are on the fence about parting with the item because you are worried about losing the memory or story behind it, take a moment to Artifct it, and then give yourself permission to let go of the item guilt-free knowing the memory and story are safely stored in Artifcts. 

If you are on the fence about parting with the item because you are worried about losing the memory or story behind it, take a moment to Artifct it...

If you aren’t ready to part with the item, set it aside in a bin or basket and come back to it later. Just don't put it back under the bed as out of sight is out of mind! Maybe a little time is all it takes to help you decide what to do with it.   

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Looking for additional tips to help you declutter regardless of which room it is? You might also enjoy:

How to Get Your Kids to Help Clear Out the Clutter 

Aspirational Clutter and Your Closets

Home Organizing Tips to Steal from Movers and Downsizers

© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Photos + Timelines Go Better Together

Love photos? You’re not alone! What’s not to love about the memories, smiles, and special firsts all frozen in time for a moment.  

With the ever-increasing ease of digital photography (hello smartphones!) we can capture all those moments and more. In fact, we capture a lot more. Worldwide, we take on average 5 BILLION photos a day, or approximately 57,000 photos per second. According to Photutorial, the average American alone takes 20 photos a day. 

What do you do with all the digital photos that accumulate at an ever-increasing speed?   

Do you post them to social media and wait for the comments and likes to roll in? (Our resident privacy expert recommends that you don't.) Or push them into whatever cloud or other storage device you prefer, and look back through them only for the occasional calendar, school project, or holiday card? Perhaps you send a few to lucky friends and family through one of those digital picture frames, like Aura 

We’d like to suggest a different approach—Artifct those special photos, the ones that capture something unique, memorable, or otherwise notable. What is more, when you Artifct them, they are automatically added to your Artifcts timeline, instantly creating a contextual history of all things you.  

Put Photo Timelines to Work for You! 

As you Artifct your photos, Artifcts creates your photo timeline automatically. Simply pick a photo, create a new Artifct, add a short story, a date (if known), save, and you’re done. Your Artifct will automatically be added to your timeline based on the date you entered.  

 

A snapshot in time of our co-founder Heather's photo timeline. 

Not sure of the date? We’ve got you covered. Your Artifct will be added to your timeline based on the date you created it; you can always go back later and edit should you remember the date or even the decade.  

Assuming you have created a few Artifcts already, you will find your timeline by  visiting your homepage  and choosing "My Artifcts." You'll see the timeline option marked with a yellow "New!" Want to view just your Artifcted photos on your timeline? Simply select Life's Moments > Photographs as the category while in timeline view and voilà! Your very own personal photo timeline. 

As you explore Artifcts timelines and think about your family photo history, test out the built-in timeline features, because you never know what may inspire you: 

  • Switch between annual and decade views. 
  • Flip your Artifcts from newest-to-oldest and oldest-to-newest. 
  • Drag and drop to move any Artifct to a different year. 
  • Add time period notes, per year, about key events, trips, or other firsts. 

Feeling overwhelmed with so many photos and not sure where to start? As part of Save Your Photos Month, we recommend you give yourself a goal. Pick a photo a day, or one a week. Spend five minutes creating and sharing the Artifcted photo with loved ones.  

We recommend you give yourself a goal. Pick a photo a day, or one a week...

Just think, if you Artifcted a photo a day for a month, you’d have 30 photos and stories that are preserved for generations to come. Bonus! You’d also have a timeline spanning 30 {days, weeks, months, years!}. All that context, and all those memories, safely documented to protect against all of life’s what ifs.  

Want to learn more? We have great  FAQs  about timelines and  a quick video  ready for you as well. 

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Our good friends and partners at The Photo Managers are once again hosting free virtual events all month long in honor of Save Your Photos Month. Click here to learn more and to register. 

© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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How to Artifct with Grandma and Grandpa

For many of us, summertime means time with extended family, maybe even “sleepaways” with Grandma and Grandpa. We should all be so lucky!

In the spirit of quality time together at any time of the year, we sat down this summer to interview a granddaughter-grandmother duo who have spent occasional Saturdays throughout the past couple of years Artifcting together. We wanted to learn why they took up Artifcting and any tips they have for other intergenerational pairs who plan to connect with each other through Artifcts.

In case you’re short on time, here was what they each wanted to be sure you knew: 

Granddaughter: I never spent time one on one with my grandma. We see each other a lot, she only lives 45 minutes away, but all of our gatherings involve my siblings and/or at least one of my parents, too. Plus, I was going away to college soon and knew I wouldn’t see her much for a while. 

Artifcts is easy to use, easy to share, which was critical. I knew my dad would love the Artifcts, too. He’s a big storyteller. The biggest surprise about Artifcting was that it totally changed how I think of my grandma, and I feel closer to her than ever.  

It was never a chore. I wanted to be with her. 

Grandma: No one can sit still these days, never mind exist without their cell phone.  

My granddaughter is funny and an artist, too. I’m always interested in what she’s doing. I didn’t think she was interested in my stories from the old days. But once I told her a story or two from living abroad in my 20s, she kept coming back to ask for more stories.  

It wasn’t my plan, but I started to give away items I had collected, too. Not just to her. I had her bring items to others because once I told the story, I knew who would enjoy it and would give it a good home. And you know what? Not once did they say to her that they didn’t want it. They loved the stories! 

You may also be interested in our ARTIcles by Artifcts about Swedish death cleaning

 
 
 
We're honored to participate once again in Grandparents Week - the largest online celebration and educational event for grandparents of its kind. Hosted by our partner, GrandparentsAcademy.com, this event showcases leading experts and resources for grandparents. Artifcts will be spotlighted in the GrandTech Showcase and delivering a walkthrough on how grandparents can use our solution to capture and share meaningful stories from their stuff.'

Tips for Artifcting with Your Grandparents

Above all else, don’t let the age difference get in the way. Fun fact: A 2006 study by researchers from Duke University and the University of Aarhus found that older respondents feel 20% younger than their actual age. So your grandparents may very well respond to you as though they are much younger than they are! 

But as far as true age goes, be mindful of how your respective ages might require a breath or two to (a) break down any awkwardness, (b) explain the purpose and process of Artifcts, and (c) find the right pace for your Artifcting together. Here are tips other grandchildren offered from their Artifcting experiences: 

1. Be ready. Create a few Artifcts for yourself before arriving.  

Use whatever device you plan to use when Artifcting with your grandma/grandpa to avoid any stress or delays in the process. (Artifcts note: We have a series of tips videos, too, if needed.) And if they want to Artifct on their own, share one of your unlimited Artifcts accounts with them and help them set it up.

Bring an Artifct That! Kit with you so you are not asking them for these supplies to support your Artifcting, and review our tips for taking photos of objects.

Also, if you know they plan to move or downsize, help them out by adding dimensions to their Artifcts, using helpful tags (e.g., #attic, #livingroom, #hallcloset), and filling in that ‘In the Future’ field too – does Grandpa want to sell this item, donate it, bequeath it?

2. Explain yourself! Share what Artifcts is, why you want to Artifct together, and how it will help them to share the memories and value behind all these objects with other family, friends, and potentially advisors (estate attorneys, insurance agents, wealth managers). 

3. Again, they may be older, but they were young once, too. One granddaughter said she felt like her grandma was a 20-year-old person in an 81-year-old body. Once they started to talk, the decades between them melted away. Talk with respect, listen with still greater respect, and remember they were your age once, too! 

4. Breaks are good for everyone. If you are creating Artifct after Artifct for grandma/grandpa, you’ll want a break. Eventually they will, too. It's hard to be “on” for so long and you’ll need to stretch your legs. Go for a walk, grab a coffee, or call it a day and come back again sometime soon. 

5. Hold those assumptions. Just because that portrait or vase has always been featured in a seemingly special location in their home doesn’t mean it’s what they value most. Start by asking about an object you are interested in. Then ask them to pick an item and see where it leads you both. 

6. Make sure they know you truly do want their stories. This is not homework. No one sent you. You are curious. Now, in reality, there may be details they aren’t comfortable sharing with you, and that’s okay. Avoid rushing them, embrace pauses, and let them take the lead. 

7. Ask first. Before you grab an object or take a picture, especially if they are in the picture, ask their permission so it’s clear this collaboration is on their own terms. Maybe they are more comfortable recording using their voice only instead of on video. Or maybe Grandma got all dolled up and is ready for her spotlight. Be respectful of their space and their person and ask first.  

8. Don’t argue. You may have heard the story told another way by your parents or another family member. Think of it as a difference of perspective. Record it faithfully. This may make for some fun conversation the next time the whole family is around the table as you parse through tall tales and family lore.

This is especially important if you are Artifcting with someone with any stage of cognitive decline. Let the conversation flow. Be an active, supportive listener, not a domineering guide. 

You may also be interested in these ARTIcles by Artifcts about dementia.

Tips for Artifcting with Your Grandkids

You didn’t think this was a one-way street, did you? Your grandkids may in fact have short attention spans and very narrow or different interests than your own. But this is your home, your life, so enjoy the element of surprise as you share never-before-heard stories that will capture their attention and imagination.

1. Gather a few objects in advance. If you have picked a few items you want to share, it will remove any hesitation to dive in once they arrive.  

2. Find a comfortable place. If you prefer to be in the living room, then guide them there from the get-go. Ideally your location has nice natural lighting so they can snap some nice pictures of the items and maybe even record you on video, too, if you’re game. 

3. Is anything off limits? Let them know if there are people or times of life you do not want to talk about. Conversely, if you want to talk about your parents, your career, your passion for {hobby}, let them know, and have photos, objects and other things on hand to guide the Artifcts conversation in that direction. 

4. Do you need any help with these objects? Perhaps you’ve decided to sell a collection, donate certain items, or pass keepsakes along to family members and friends. Make sure you note your intentions in each Artifcts’ ‘In the Future’ field. If your grandchild is of the appropriate age, maybe they can help get the ‘stuff’ where you want it to go next. If not, download your collection and choose the ‘Up Next Report’ to download and share with loved ones who can help you begin to downsize and/or declutter. 

5. Enjoy. Let them do the Artifcting, like your own very own biographer. That said, if you’d like to surprise loved ones with Artifcts after your grandchild has left, make sure they show you in the ins and outs of Artifcts so you feel comfortable Artifcting and sharing Artifcts from your own account and your own device.

Happy Artifcting!

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© 2025 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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