Babouche - Judy Zehr

"My grandmother had a thing for far flung, historic foot ware. She was particularly enchanted with Istanbul and any feet that might have landed on the Silk Road. Fortunately, she married my grandfather who also loved travel and had plenty of money, so their apartment was full of the most interesting shoe related activities. Thus began the shoe wars. Each visit we would cram our fingers into the small brass ashtrays shaped like a Moroccan babouche and have races. Or flatten our toes into the place card settings styled after a Japanese zori until the first one screamed in pain. Which leather, block printed slipper was Anatolian, which was Ottoman? What mule was more comfortable, the blue crocaded silk of the caric style, 14th century, or, the more Russian influenced, made from old Uzbek ikats? We broke into loud disagreements always settled by my grandmother's authoritative clap clap of two 15th century french wood and leather estivaus. Here is the babouche that I surreptitiously pocketed during my last visit. The shoe wars escalate!"

Judy Zehr

Sock Monkey - Ronald Gometz

"His name is Fred, the monkey. He was born (made) in 1951 by Ester Gometz (my grandmother) for my first birthday. Fred is made of socks and was at my side for the first few years of my life and, always nearby for the remainder. When I was young I rarely put him down. After becoming an adult, Fred was always part of my baggage as I moved around a lot. Fred was later adopted by Gator, Chris and, Sarah and was retired to the shelf as a vivid memento of my early childhood. Even to this day I consider Fred one of my dearest friends."

Ron Gometz

Door Portal - Katie Simpson

"I found this door portal (the looking glass that you peek through to see who's there.) It was on the street in NYC several years ago. When I look at this it transports me back to that time and space."

Katie Simpson

Antonia's Taler - Antonia Lindsey

“The silver pin on this flowered scarf was made from a coin in Nazi Germany, hammered and pierced to reveal a song bird. My mother wore it, singing through months of incarceration in a Russian prison during the occupation, after receiving this gift from her mother, Antonia, the church singer and resistor who refused to sing anymore in protest of orders from the Gestapo that sent their pastor off to the death camps. When I wear these symbols, I connect to the legacy of the song, or the silence it it’s place, the value of each person’s own statement in times of oppression.”

Antonia Lindsey

Cookie Jar - Sean Casey

"I got the cookie jar as a present from my mom many years ago (10?) I've always liked 'Pippen'. Irrepressibly optimistic and good natured. I'm not much into "things" or possessions, but it's travelled around with me through my several moves, so it's acquired some sentimental value, exudes optimism and comfort and, I enjoy looking at it, like a work of art or like family photos."

Sean Casey

Lion - o The Reminder - Amber Marie Oxford

"This piece is the only thing I have from one of the most influential and short lived women in my life. My Aunt was house bound from heart complications and diabetes and I had the pleasure of spending over a week with her one summer. As we stayed up late, she'd crochet and enchant me with tales of her childhood and my ancestry. She taught me what real beauty and strength is within myself and to never forget it. I was delighted when she gave me this lion, for her finished projects were few and far between from the operations and sicknesses she had. He reminds me of her, always."

Amber Marie Oxford

Juliette's Hot Pink Ribbon - Marianne Kempter

"My mother's European frugality is believed to have been a result of growing up during and, surviving the turbulence of WW2 France. During the 1960's she brought home from a brief employment an enormous quantity of hot pink ribbon on spools. Over the years she has utilized it for a multitude of purposes from the pretty to the practical. Now at 89 as her life winds down so do the spools, with only two remaining. Her name is Juliette, her legacy is forever entwined with this hot pink ribbon, in our hearts and memories."

Marianne Kempter