I too have knick knacks that came from my grandmother's homes. Their only value to me is that the remind me of these people who are no longer living on this earth.

One of my grandmothers collected sets of dessert plates plus a cup and saucer. When we would go to her home for dinner, dessert and coffee was an expected part of the meal, and I loved that she would serve on these unmatched plates. While she always set the right cup and saucer together, you had no guarantee that your plate would match your cup. I had such fun appreciating the different colors and designs and trying to pick out my favorite.

These days the collection I have sits in my china hutch, and I never think to use it-- even for special family meals. I guess I ought to start doing that.