Losing someone you love is hard. You are not alone.

We know that you are not reading this with joy. Although there is no cure for grief, we hope we can provide you with a source of comfort.

My husband and I have created glass sculptures for over a decade. We are professionally trained and hold Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees in the art of glassblowing. We are professional artists; we create our own work, teach and demonstrate. A few years ago, a client reached out and asked if we could make her a sculpture infused with her father's and brother's ashes. We were hesitant to be trusted with such a task, but decided to try. She was so moved by the sculpture that we created for her that the project ended up being one of the most memorable sculpture that we have completed.

Following that, some of our friends and family members asked us to create memorial pieces for them with cremation ashes of cherished pets and loved ones. The process is bittersweet, as we feel the grief of our clients but see how art can make a difference.

We created this business to extend this service to others beyond our family and friends. We see how it helps to have a physical object to serve as a special token, a reminder, and a visual presence of those lost.

Ashes, when infused into molten glass, result in a beautiful glowing streak. You may find comfort in holding a piece of art, or incorporating a memorial object into your own unique ritual, such as lighting a luminary on a holiday or special occasion.

We understand that this process may seem strange! We appreciate that you are considering trusting us with it. Please contact us if you have any questions.

With sympathy and gratitude,

Process

Step by Step

Each memorial is handmade and 100% unique. Here is the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Choose Your Memorial

Visit our online shop and choose the memorial that you would like us to create. We are happy to create more than one memorial for you. This is a nice option if you would like multiple members of your family to have their own piece of art. When you are ready, place your order.

Step 2: we will send you a collection Kit

After we receive your order, we will send you a collection kit in the mail. Your collection kit will include a tightly-sealing jar in which to place the ashes, along with easy instructions. We will need only about a teaspoon of ashes to make your memorial. If you are uncomfortable handling the ashes yourself, we encourage you to enlist the help of a close friend or family member. Once your ashes are packed in our provided kit, you will need to ship the kit to us via USPS Priority Mail Express. The cost of shipping the package back to us will be approximately $27, and you will need to pay for shipping at your local post office. The USPS states that Priority Mail Express is the only legal method of mailing loose cremains.

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Step 3: creating your memorial

We work on only one memorial at a time, and we abide by the standards of care, quality and respect. The process starts with a gather of molten glass, which is then rolled in your ashes. More glass is gathered on top of the ashes, encasing them permanently. Once the ashes are encased in the glass, they cannot be removed. The molten glass is then sculpted into your chosen object. Each piece of art is handmade without the use of molds, and will vary from the exact objects pictured.

Step 4: packing and shipping

After your memorial is complete, it will be carefully packed and shipped back to you. The entire process from receiving the ashes at our studio to you receiving your memorial usually takes approximately four to six weeks. If you have a specific timeline in mind, please contact us.

Answers

to your questions and concerns

I'm nervous about handling and mailing ashes.

We will send you a collection kit that includes a small jar. You will need to remove only about a teaspoon of ashes from your container and place them in the jar. Then simply place the jar inside the padded envelope and take it to the post office. If you are uncomfortable handling the ashes yourself, we suggest enlisting the help of a close friend or family member to assist you.

How long will it take to receive my memorial?

We estimate a timeline of five weeks for you to receive your memorial, from the time that we have received your collection kit at our studio. We create each memorial by hand, one at a time, and we take our time to sculpt with care. If your memorial is completed sooner, we will not wait to ship it to you. If you have a specific timeline in mind, please contact us.

How will I know that the ashes are infused in the memorial?

When ashes are infused into hot glass, it creates a permanent, silver streak, typically with some bubbles. The streak of cremation ashes will be visible in the glass art.

Yes, we can use cremains from more than one person or pet. There are two ways to do this. You can combine the ashes together, and we can apply them as one. Or, in the case of the cairns, we can create each stone with separate ashes. You can tell us your preference in the “additional information” box that pops up after clicking “add to cart.”

Can you use cremains from more than one person or pet in a single sculpture?

We have created hundreds of memorial sculptures, and we have yet to break one during the creation process. However, we recognize that glassblowing does involve some level of risk. If a mistake is made during the process, it is likely that we would be able to correct it. If the piece is broken beyond repair, we would let you know. You could choose to receive a refund, or allow us another try at making it. Each sculpture takes only a teaspoon of ashes. If you wished for us to remake the item and needed to ship more ashes, we would cover the cost of shipping the second collection kit back to us. Again, we have not had this scenario happen before.

What happens if you make a mistake while making a sculpture?

All of our memorials are tightly packed and double-boxed. It is rare that a piece is broken during shipping. Unfortunately, we cannot control the treatment of boxes by USPS, UPS, and FedEx. In the rare and unfortunate case of a piece being damaged during shipping, we would ask that you send us an image of the piece. We will remake the memorial for you at no charge. If additional ashes are required to remake it, we will cover the cost of sending the second kit.

What happens if a piece is damaged during shipping?

Yes, we ship to Canada regularly. If you would like us to ship to a country outside of the United States or Canada, please contact us via email with your mailing address and desired items, and we can estimate the shipping cost for you.