I Need Friends That Have Everything

I've decided to go public.

I mean there may actually be people out there that don't know.

My name is Susan and I'm a C.E.C. 
Certifiable Ephemera Collector

Underneath, I am a simple woman with simple needs. My idea of having a great day would not involve going through dumpsters, or finding containers for more "stuff." Sitting under a tree beside a river sounds lovely.

But work makes simplicity a challenge. Many things that others think of as trash are used as part of my art process and even sometimes as part of the finished art piece.

So what? Every profession has it's little quirks.

- Lawyers need to keep extra shirts and ties at the office.
- Executive Assistants need to schlep around attached to every communication device known to man.
- Moms need to keep cheerios and band-aids in their purses. And don't forget the wet-wipes.
- Teachers need extra pencils and stick-on stars.
- Maintenance men; lightbulbs.

You see where this is going.

My professional "stuff" just takes up more space than others.

But clearly it's important that I keep . . .

   "stuff" - old wrapping paper and twine, beads, hooks from broken jewelry and lingerie, extra bits of lace, old photos from Aunt Millie's attic, discarded hang tags, buttons - you name it - lying around.

And because

1. I use these items
2. or I might need them at some point and
3. just finding them tends to give me wonderful ideas
4. therefore of course I accumulate them.

And that in itself flies in the face of even the concept of simplicity. Things just go downhill from there, even before we mix in the effects of the magpie gene.

It's true. One of the reasons I miss Colorado is because I don't have access to tumbleweed - the all-purpose ephemera - in Virginia. So yes I'm still a C.E.C. no matter what other state I'm in.

If you're an Ephemera Collector who just May be Certifiable, tell me your story in the comments section and you will be rewarded.

If you're in another profession which demands that you stash certain things in your purse, pocket, desk drawer or wherever, tell me about that too. I promise to commiserate.

In the meantime . . .

Don't throw that out!      
           Artists need everything...or a friend that has everything.

Comments

[Laura Ricci]

Humm. My husband qualifies. He has been getting better and the 12-step work he's doing is having some effect.
He can see the beauty in rusty junk no other person on earth sees. "Honey, look at this! It's the intake manifold from a 1965 Chevelle type A [ed. note - details may or may not be correct. Once you've seen one auto part, you've seen 'em all, in my book.]
Yesterday he came home with the crazed eyes of an alcoholic back from a tour of a distillery. Garage sale season has begun.
As a bribe, he brought me two items from my garage sale shopping list (I keep one for him so he can be on the lookout for things I actually have a use for instead of someone else's junk) and then called one of his collecting buddies about an outboard motor the fellow had that my husband would return to pick up for him if he wanted it.
I can hardly wait for high season for garage sales to begin.

[Marianne Jameson]

I'm laughing so hard I can't see the keys. Have you been spying on me or talking to my virtual assistant?

[Joanne Armstriad]

Oh dear. I do share this magpie gene thing. Before today I've been undiagnosed.

And here I thought I was the only one with the button fetish. And lace too. Ditto dried flowers, ribbon and containers. Will it contain something? I need it.

Sometimes I make these bits into pillows and wall hangings but often I just admire them. I bet there are millions more out there who should have this CEC designation hanging on their front door.

[Marty Weil]

Fun post. I guess I qualify...since I write and report on ephemera on a daily basis. I, too, see the value of everyday objects, especially for art's sake. Great post.