Organizing collectibles, old photos, boxes of old letters and documents, old books from loved ones past on can be a daunting and mind spinning experience. Where do you start? What is your goal? Well, those aren’t really the right questions to ask.

One of my great pleasures since 1978 has been to work on the enormously popular and historical items within the collection of the Historical Department of the LDS Church. One of the oral history researchers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons) was in my lab this week interviewing me about the art conservation and restoration work I’ve done for the history department of the Church History Museum over the decades. We discussed my book, How To Save Your Stuff and Ann Marie thought you would be interested, as she was, in this quick tip about how to avoid confusion when getting organized. The video is less than 2 minutes.

Questions? Call Scott Haskins 805 564 4348
Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate at 805 895 5121

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I was featured as an expert speaker this last week at the Laguna Arts Festival Lecture series (http://bit.ly/pVVE6C)where I spoke about general things to think about when protecting and saving collectibles, artwork etc. We talked about protecting and saving items from

• storage problems, http://saveyourstuffblog.com/damaged-art/poor-storaged-causes-damaged-paintings/
• taking precautions when shipping, http://www.saveyourstuff.com/blog/save-your-stuff/do-you-pack-and-ship-art-work-and-fragile-items/
• aging and falling apart, http://saveyourstuffblog.com/water-damage/liquid-stain-on-lithograph-of-a-woman-by-henri-matisse/
• floods and landslides, http://saveyourstuffblog.com/water-damage/plains-indians-encampment-water-damage-in-garage/
• fires, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lCx-xg4BMYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lCx-xg4BMY
• … and earthquakes; One of the things I talked about was having good hanging hardware on paintings and using Museum Wax to anchor the painting to the wall. http://saveyourstuffblog.com/earthquake/538/

Well, yesterday, someone’s disaster walked through my front door. A valuable vintage painting’s wire broke and the oil painting on canvas hit the edge of a table and here’s what you get… a 6 inch x 18 inch “L” shapped rip and flaking paint.

Damaged caused when the oil painting's hanging wire broke

The reverse side of the painting with the rip, caused by the hanging wire breaking

Remember, the weakest link in the chain is the one that breaks and causes the damage. The parts that ALL NEED TO BE REMEMBERED for hanging an oil painting on the wall are:

• Quality and large eye hangers that hold the wire.
• Thick wire, preferable plastic coated
• Nail in wall hits a stud. If not, use a multi nail hanger made for drywall.
• Use the largest hanger possible
• Use Museum Wax in the lower two corners to anchor the painting against the wall and so it won’t “jump” off the hook when things start to shake.

“Overkill” is the operative word here. Remember, you are designing this to withstand an earthquake… or your grandkids! You do the math; be a good curator of your collection or mishaps like the one in the photo above are $4,300.00 to fix perfect.

Questions” Call Scott at 805 564 3438

Art appraisal questions? Call Richard at 805 895 5121

Also see http://www.fineartconservationlab.com

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Hey y’all. I’m planning to promote an UV Blacklight package for collectors and I have a phone script I need to test. Can I talk to you on the phone? It’ll take a few minutes. Call me at 805 570 4140 or email me your phone number at best_artdoc@yahoo.com. I don’t need to be your “real life” friend. I’ll talk to anyone who wants to chat. It should be a very interesting chat if you like art and collecting. Thanks. TTYS

Immanent Earthquake in CA?

Neil Cavuto thinks that an expert can predict an earthquake, for the first time, and in the article link at the end of this article, he lays out the reasons.

Washington and Oregon is being warned of a 9.0… but all of California is part of the “Ring of Fire.”

What can you do to prepare?! Well, here’s a hint: More people are damaged in an earthquake by stuff that’s flying around in the air rather than a building falling on them.

What could become a projectile in your home or office? Collectibles, glassware, figurines and ceramics, artwork, heirlooms, memorabilia?

Anchor these items down! See this quick video…

www.freeearthquakeinfo.org/museum-wax-package

We’ll send you out your purchase immediately!

Here’s Cavuto’s comments:

http://fxn.ws/gCgnyD

The house didn't fall... but did the flying vase hit anyone?

Everyone thinks, when they imagine an earthquake, that some building is going to fall on them. But this isn’t usually the case! The Japanese Earthquake today makes our blood run cold for the devastation… but what does this earthquake news teach us about our potential for a “situation” where we live? This article addresses a niche expertise that you will NOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE and is of extreme importance. We do not write about health and safety issues, building structural problems, economic matters etc.

But we do talk about something that is IMPERATIVE for your personal safety! When people imagine an earthquake, they think that some building is going to fall on them, but it is far more likely that the cremation urn on the mantle will fly off and hit someone!

What do you cherish and fear losing in the next earthquake? Heirlooms, crystal, collectibles, family history, intellectual property? What items of value would impact your business continuity and how would these items, flying around in an earthquake, affect personal safety?!

Here is an earthquake fact: Notice in the photos of the earthquake damage that you see on the news and/or the Internet that not all homes, building etc are completely destroyed. Yes, there is an epicenter that gets hit hard. But not even all the  buildings in the critical area get hit hard… and there are millions of people in the surrounding areas that are “just” rattled. Not only could something flying around the room be dangerous, losing treasure family/personal items and be heartbreaking. IT ALWAYS PAYS TO PREPARE in order to:

1. Keep things from flying around in the air during the earthquake for personal safety
2. Protect important historical items
3. Save financially valuable items
4. Protect and save emotionally valuable items
5. Know ahead of time what will impact your home of business if you lose it.

Surprisingly, an easy, fast, do-it-yourself anchoring technique can save you in all of these five needs of being protected mentioned above… in all of these problem areas… this will help you BIG TIME! http://www.tipsforartcollectors.org/museumwax-package

Japanese vase makes a flying projectile during an earthquake

A recent news video on earthquakes stated that seismologist experts record over 27,000 earthquakes in the US each year! (most barely detectable but an indication of potential).

Even if you are safe after an earthquake, broken items like glassware, crystal, collectibles, ceramics can make it hazardous to move around and get things done. Not only will these broken items of value would impact your business continuity and personal safety… you will be anxious to talk to insurance adjuster later. So,

• Prepare ahead of time with an inventory of emotional, historical and financially valuable items
• Take photos
• Make copies of documents of ownership, authentication, appraisals etc.. and…
• Keep your copies in another city!

Scott M. Haskins has worked in both Europe and the U.S. as a professional conservator since 1975. He has years of experience planning for and responding after earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, mold, fire and everyday home accidents and is the author of “How to Save Your Stuff from a Disaster,” (http://www.saveyourstuffblog.com) a non-technical book with instructions on how to protect and save important documents, photos and other items not covered by insurance He wrote a booklet on “How To Respond After an Earthquake” of which the Bank of America Corporation distributed over 500,000 through their Human Resource Depts after the Northridge Earthquake.

Call for interview at 805 564 3438 or

e-mail at best_artdoc@yahoo.com

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The picture hook gave away when the office building shook. It could have been avoided in a couple of ways.

Here’s a comment from a reader who expresses a common misconception that could really hurt you in the end:

Scott,
I’m researching into earthquakes and disaster management for my Masters… and came across this site… How could you believe that the people hit by the earthquake in Chile could care about picture frames getting damaged or vases chipped… as if they own a camera to protect photos?! … Where is the information about how people can donate to help those whose lives have been ruined and have nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat?
Tim

"I should have taken Scott's advice and used Museum Wax to anchor down my collectibles!!!"

Actually, I cut his rant short but you get the idea… So, here are some points I’d like to be crystal clear for you…cause I really do care what you take away from this website:
1. Tim, not everybody that lives outside the US or in a poor country is dirt poor with not even enough money to buy a camera. Your attitude is so Americano Ignoramus! For instance, China has one of the lowest per capita income levels for workers in the world and yet, more than 10% of the country is affluent. Let’s see, 10% of 1.6 billion is… wow, 160 million people! (OK, now I feel better… on to what’s important to learn…)
2. Statistically, while there are some that suffer the full brunt of devastation in an earthquake, hurricane or tornado, there is 90% of the people in outlying areas that only get shook up, sustain some damage but survive very nicely. In other words, if a natural disaster hits your area full on, chances are, you will not be obliterated but you may lose cherished, treasured items you were not prepared to protect. These unprepared people will loose keepsakes, heirlooms, collectibles, family history and have moderate insurance claims. Most of this damage can be avoided, with preparation/preparedness. (for instance see “Quake Wax” at top of page)

3. Does stuff fly around when an earthquake or hurricane strikes? Anchoring down ceramics, frames, artwork in preparations for the “shake up” will keep them from flying around when the moment comes: that means better safety for you!
4. This article, like all the other information on this blog focuses ONLY on my expertise: the niche of emergency preparedness that you will NOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE: the protection and saving of collectibles, artwork, heirlooms, family history, art related business assets. (see my book in “Products” in the side bar on this page)
5. There are LOTS of websites about emergency preparedness (health, home, information backup, federal, city and state programs) and donating to causes on the internet. Those areas are NOT my expertise.
6. I will be listing soon the organizations I recommend for giving/donating. Stay plugged into our website by being update automatically when we post an article by CLICKING NOW on the RSS feed.

Here’s a quick video testimonial you may enjoy:

Click on this link NOW for more info http://saveyourstuffblog.com/museum-wax-package/

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If you see a thumbs down, Tim may have returned to the website!

Conservation/restoration questions? Appraisal questions? Insurance claim questions? Call toll free 888 704 7757

Two deep dents on the bottom of the painting

To keep these damages from happening, do not lean anything on the painting. Cover front and back with card box, or place in a cardboard mirror box. Do not store where the temperature gets too hot or too cold, or where it gets humid or moldy.

When you have a damaged painting, your home owner’s insurance policy may help you pay for it, and may even pay you for lost value. For more information about this, go to www.insurancepersonalpropertyassessments.com or call us at 805 564 3438

For great stories, videos and tips see www.tipsforartcollectors.org (Free downloads, sign up for blog updates)

Questions about preserving collectibles, letters, certificates photos? www.saveyourstuffblog.com (Free downloads, sign up for blog updates)

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Conservation questions? Go to www.fineartconservationlab.com

Appraisal questions? www.faclappraisals.com