Lost Treasures

No, this post isn’t about some newly-discovered painting or recently unearthed archaeological discovery — which would be nice since my word for the year is EXPLORATION. Nope. This post is about another kind of treasure, much closer to home, but definitely lost. I’m talking about those precious little art supplies we all need from time to time, and which we use from time to time, but which we so often forget where we put in between those times.

For me, the first FLO — Frequently Lost Object — was a white charcoal pencil. I bought one, used it in a project, loved it, and put it… somewhere! The next time I needed a white charcoal pencil, I searched high and low, and finally gave in, went to Amazon, and ordered another. Sad to say, the same thing happened, so the next time, I bought a pack of two. And then, when I lost both of those, I ordered a four-pack.

By this point, it was becoming apparent that I needed a safe place for white charcoal pencils. Imagine my husband’s surprise one morning when he opened the top drawer of the dresser — his drawer, I should point out — and found a pack of white charcoal pencils. “What are these doing here?” he asked. I explained my dilemma, and so, for a time, I knew exactly where to turn when I needed a white charcoal pencil.

All too soon, though, I’d lost the remaining three, and where all of these pencils have ended up is anybody’s guess! Of course, we also moved, I bought a nice 12-pack of white charcoal pencils, and right now I couldn’t tell you where a single one is! I thought I had one tucked away in my desktop supply mug, but I don’t see any white charcoal lurking there. I suspect they might be in my “charcoal drawing” box, but, if not, I can always order another dozen from Amazon.

I don’t know what it is about white charcoal pencils that gives me such fits, but worse still is the fact that there are other little supplies I frequently misplace — a nice-sounding word meaning “lose”.

Only a few days ago I had to order a jar of Miskit — liquid frisket — because I have “misplaced” both my old jar and the awesome liquid frisket pen I bought over the summer. Oh, well. Things happen.

Then, soon after ordering the Miskit, I realized I’d also lost the eraser I needed to successfully remove liquid frisket when working on art projects. Yes, I ordered a new one.

I always do seem to have trouble with erasers. I lose kneaded erasers all the time. I also tend to “misplace” handy little tools like hole punchers, and somehow, so help me, I manage to frequently “misplace” palette knives.

Palette knives? Seriously? How does anyone lose a palette knife? I not only manage to lose one, I manage to lose entire sets!

I think now that the New Year is here, maybe it’s time for me to do a little EXPLORATION, starting here in my art studio. I think I need to dig through every box and bin, search every drawer and shelf, and see what little lost treasures I might find.

When I do, I’m putting them in a special box. I’ll mark it FLO in BIG CAPITAL LETTERS, and I’ll find a special place to keep it. Then, the next time I go searching for a white charcoal pencil or any other missing supply, I’ll know where to look because I’ll always have what I need in my box of lost treasures. That’s another trick, you see. Never buy one of anything when it comes to art supplies. Always buy an extra.

WHAT LITTLE THINGS DO YOU OFTEN LOSE? WHERE DO YOU FIND THEM?