Collecting MemoriesThe thrill of the hunt!
This is the fun part, collecting memories...your treasures!. Okay! Where do we start? Where do these paper memories come from? The answer is simple! ANYWHERE & EVERYWHERE! Think about it. Paper ephemera has been around for centuries. Check out some of our tips below to help get you started. C'mon, we'll help you find something! Why don't we start with the obvious? Pull out the yellow pages! Look up antique shop. Then, try antique malls. You can even try consignment shops. Chances are, if you live in a populated area, there will be many choices. Our advice? Visit them all! And don't forget about the flea markets. They are an excellent source for collecting memories. If you've never been to one before you are in for a nice surprised! Find a good one and check back often. Perhaps, you'll find a bundle of old letters...
Newspaper AdsNow, put down the phone book and go get the Sunday paper. Collecting memories can be as simple as flipping through the want ads. Search the following categories closely: garage sales, tag sales, antiques for sale, etc. There is a ton of sources here...a ton!Can you really expect to find valuable paper items at garage sales? What about tag sales or thrift stores? Okay! You may not find a copy of the Declaration of Independence, but you could find some pretty cool stuff! How about some classic old books for the kids? Or maybe, some advertising brochures from a local business that went out of business 25 years ago? Garage sales are fun! Who knows? Maybe you'll find some old letters from a WWII soldier to his family? It could happen! Grab your wallet full of dollar bills and a local map. Go see what your neighbor has!
Live Auctions
Or, perhaps
there is a local auction house in your area. Have you been to any real live antique auctions lately? They can be a thrill all by
themselves. Even if you don't win the item you are bidding on, you're sure to come away with a fantastic story (or
two) to share with your friends. (Talk about collecting memories!)
Speaking of auctions...who out there hasn't heard of Ebay auctions. by now. It is, by far, the most popular auction site on the internet. Ebay has it all! You can definitely add to your paper memories here! It's worth checking out!
The ProfessionalsOkay, you've searched through all of the above places and still haven't found what you're looking for yet! Let's take your search up a notch!Why not go to the professionals that deal specifically in paper ephemera...the ephemera dealers.themselves? Visit an antique trade show somewhere. By now, you've seen their ads many times at the local antique shops and flea markets. Don't be intimidated. The people that run these shops are an extremely friendly crowd to hang out with.
Memories are made of this...Okay that's it! That's everything, right? Wrong! You're forgetting about the most obvious place of all! Your own house! Or, better yet, finding some attic treasures at grandpa's house...he's older right?
Random Notes...Almost everyone we know, has at least one box...somewhere! It may be in a closet, the attic, the basement, a storage area, the garage, or most likely, all of the above! There are many memories in that box and there all yours to keep! And, you don't have to pay for them...you already did! Enjoy the thrill of the hunt...that's the fun part!
Our Advice? Well, yes! You need to go find your box and go through it. But, don't make it into a big job! Take your time! Be creative! Take some of those precious memories and preserve them...forever! Return from Collecting Memories to Home Page |
