When people find out that we can work miracles to preserve and restore even very badly damaged family portraits and other important family history items, a personal connection happens almost immediately. And more often than not, I immediately get told about the family stories, emotions, connections attached to those objects which the family history refers to as “memory triggers.” I really do like hearing those stories told with so much emotion!

I think it was at one of the famous Halloween parties of an artist and friend Tracy Beeler that I was introduced to and sat next to for a long chat, Jane RUSSELL. She was understandably a bit standoffish at first but then quickly engaged, as she learned more about what we do, to discuss with me some her collectibles that were dear to her and the related stories. I’m sure she had lots of interesting stories to tell, given her illustrious career (her favorite co-star was Bob Hope) but she told the stories of her heirlooms and collectibles as if they were irreplaceable parts of her life.

I can’t say I had a relationship with Jane Russell without being misunderstood, but that evening’s chat started us on a “relationship” that I enjoyed very much as we connected a few times and had warm discussions about preserving keepsakes that meant a lot to her. After returning to her an especially dear item, she said to me, “Scott, you are the Magic!” She was very engaging and enjoyable… I’d say even sweet… even if she was reported as describing herself at 79 years old in a 2003 interview, “These days, I am a teetotal, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded, conservative Christian bigot, but not a racist.”

Jane Russell was still “breaking necks” when she was 80

We routinely travel throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and the Thousand Oaks and Santa Barbara areas to visit personally and consult with people who have questions and perhaps need a pick up and delivery service. Call our office to discuss your questions: Scott M. Haskins and Virginia Panizzon Art Conservators 805 564 3438 (Gena Dillon, Office Manager) faclofficemanger@gmail.com

Damaged treasured family history items and heirlooms is heartbreaking because it can usually be prevented. But caution is tossed to the wind when items that seem unimportant and worthless to one person, can be the most precious property to someone else! It doesn’t have anything to do with the financial value. Its all about the memories, your family heritage and the emotional attachments that would make loosing a keepsake heartbreaking. I’ve heard of people being mad at someone else a whole lifetime for throwing out a treasured “memory trigger” of a family! You can keep these items safe!! Here’s the tip (lol)… identify the person who doesn’t care about keepsakes and family history AND DON”T LET THEM NEAR THE TREASURED ITEMS!!

The first step towards saving your family history items and heirlooms is to organize them. It will also help you to remember what is important to you and your family. It is possible that what was important to you when you were just married, is different now that you are 20 years older.

Practically ripped in half by packers, movers and storage guy who “knew-it-all.”

Collectibles are loved for the monetary, cultural, artistic, and, most importantly, sentimental value. So, the need is to organize them and prepare them so that you can rescue them in case of an emergency is good energy.

A Good Tip: Keep the phone numbers handy of local emergency management and the insurance company. And what about your pets?

Here’s another tip: Don’t keep essential collectibles in the basement or attic (where water gathers or it gets too hot!).

Do you still need some more practical ideas on How To Save Your Stuff From A Disaster?

On Amazon, get your guidebook to have complete instructions on preserving and saving your family history, heirlooms, and collectibles easily and economically.

This purchase of the most popular preservation manual for home use also includes continuing education preservation tips via email (requires separate registration but is free).

We routinely travel throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and the Thousand Oaks and Santa Barbara areas to visit personally and consult with people who have questions and perhaps need a pick up and delivery service. Call our office to discuss your questions: Scott M. Haskins and Virginia Panizzon Art Conservators 805 564 3438 (Gena Dillon, Office Manager) faclofficemanger@gmail.com