Meri's Charm Bracelet

"It may sound unlikely, but actually stumbling upon the fabulous Charmco website-while researching vintage jewelry, at the time a new passion—ignited my desire to build my own “bespoke" bracelet! As a journalist, I am drawn to the intimate storytelling aspect of these pieces. In my case, I started with a vintage Star of David and a small hamsa, both gifts from my husband that reflect the Jewish religion central to our family’s life. I added charms I had designed years ago and had made in Jerusalem to represent our commitment to Zionism, Jewish peoplehood and archaeology. I found my husband’s Phi Beta Kappa key from college and it seemed very 1950s to include (though we met at college in the 1980s and weren’t together until the 90s.) I discovered an old engine-turned heart among my late mother’s belongings. What I love best is that it contains a mysterious engraving on the back: “From R to J 12-21-58”. Who was R and what exactly happened on that date (when she was still in college; it was several years before she met my late father). Not even her college roommates have any idea! I’ll have to write a short story about that some day. Having grown up at the beach, I added a seashell; the vintage fish reminds me of a favorite necklace I wore as a child in the 70s; that’s also when I fell in love with Snoopy. My family gave me the challah since I bake it weekly for Shabbat; my husband was very excited to give me the King Charles Cavalier charm to represent our dog Leo, whom I really didn’t want but with whom I’m now obsessed. Perhaps the most meaningful of all is the vintage book with four pages, perfect for this proud MOF (mom-of-four); I had it engraved with my children’s names and dates-of-birth. Maybe one day, years from now, I’ll take the book apart so each of my kids can give their page to a daughter (or granddaughter) to start their own vintage charm bracelet. "