Keepsakes That Tell Our Stories
Objects have always been a way for people to carry memory and identity — tiny keepsakes that outlive us and tell our stories. Lately I’ve had a strong urge to dive deeper into what heritage and legacy mean, and what kinds of items truly stand the test of time in our cultural world.
For me, it always comes back to things that tell a story. I’ve inherited pieces from people I love, and when I hold them, I’m holding their memories too. At the same time, I think about the durability of these items — so many of them were made to last, unlike much of what we produce today.
Charm Bracelets
Charm bracelets have a long history. In ancient times, they were worn as protective amulets or symbols of faith. By the Victorian era, they became fashionable ways to commemorate milestones and relationships. Mid-20th century charm bracelets often doubled as souvenirs from travels, a way to wear your journey on your wrist.
I’ve inherited several charm bracelets from the women in my family, and they’re among my most cherished keepsakes. Each tiny charm marks a milestone or memory they wanted to preserve. As a child, I always longed for my own bracelet, and I’ve slowly started building one. Whenever I wear theirs, I feel inspired to continue that tradition and pass my own story along.
Patches and Pennants
Another form of storytelling through objects is patches and pennants.
Iron-on patches first appeared in the early 1900s, when embroiderers cut designs from leftover fabric and applied them to garments. By the 1930s, new adhesives made patches easy to apply with heat, and they became a popular way to display identity, affiliations, or places visited.
Pennants rose in popularity around the same time — felt flags from schools, sports teams, or travel destinations that were brought home as keepsakes. Together, they were a kind of “traveler’s badge,” proof of where you’d been.
I love this idea of a traveler’s suitcase covered in stickers and badges. That tradition has faded, but I’ve tried to reimagine it for myself. Over the last few years, I’ve collected vintage patches from places I’ve been and stitched them onto a classic L.L. Bean tote. People often ask me if I made it, and it always sparks conversation. The bag has become one of my favorite pieces — a living scrapbook that comes with me on errands and trips. And yes, I’ve already started planning the next one.
When I can’t find charms or patches, I keep an eye out for vintage travel pennants. These were especially popular in the mid-20th century, and I love hunting them down at antique stores. My husband and I have started gifting them to each other — he once found me one from Prescott, Arizona, where I grew up, and I found him one from Pennsylvania, where he’s from. I even discovered a 1930s New York City pennant that now hangs in my studio.
Souvenir Mugs
More recently, mugs have become another collectible category of their own. Collecting fine porcelain cups dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when pieces from makers like Sèvres or Meissen were seen as symbols of wealth. In the 1990s, illy launched its Art Collection, which elevated the modern coffee cup into a collectible object. Today, souvenir mugs are everywhere — everyday objects that tie ritual to memory.
As avid coffee drinkers, my husband and I have a growing collection. My latest favorite is from Oxford University, covered in the shields of its many colleges. Each sip feels like a memory from our trip.
Keeping the legacy
Whether it’s a bracelet, a patch, a pennant, or a mug, I love how these small objects act as vessels for memory. They remind me that even the tiniest keepsakes can carry legacy forward. Hopefully these trinkets will be around long enough to pass down to my children — and if not, at least they’ll make for an interesting estate sale one day.
