Friday, May 22, 2009
Cremation Urn Memorials
A cremation memorial erected indoors can include memorial textile art, photographs, memorial paintings, sculpture and many other types of keepsakes and mementos of the deceased. Perhaps a shelf or table in a specific location will serve as a small altar, and objects and images that were special to the departed can be displayed together to give a sacred place the memory of the special person. When erecting a memorial inside with a handcrafted funeral urn as the centerpiece, a lot of creativity can be used and expressed. The location and how you arrange the items to serve as the memorial objects can be done in almost limitless possibilities. Weather and the elements do not come into question here, and fragile items can be used along with any other items you can think of.
Outdoor cremation memorials with a one of a kind cremation urn as the centerpiece have to be a little more secure and the items placed there must be able to withstand the elements. Metal art urns or stone cremation urns may be more suitable to outdoor memorial shrines. These materials are sturdier and have a better chance of surviving the elements and weather. If a covered area is being used, a little more flexibility is possible, but you still want to use sturdy materials for the objects you display. Selecting an outdoor memorial site is also a great way to allow others who may want to visit it to be able to have some quiet time with their memories of the deceased.
There are many objects that can be used in conjunction with the creation urn to honor the memory of the departed. Memorial glass is beautiful and can incorporate some of the ashes of the departed in the artwork itself. Memorial textile art is a great way to include items and objects from the life of the dearly departed. Photos, jewelry or other trinkets can be sewn into a quilt or blanket and preserved for a long time in this way. Memorial jewelry can be custom made to specifications and given out to friends or family of the deceased, or displayed as part of the memorial itself. A custom painted portrait or other painting can be created to honor the deceased, and displayed along with the shrine.
Creating a cremation memorial with a hand made funeral urn as the centerpiece is a great way to move through the process of grieving in a creative and healthy manner. Memorial objects such as jewelry, art, photographs and paintings can be used to complete the memorial. This can be a healing process for the people creating it, and can be a great way to honor the departed loved one.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Fine Memorial Art
These days it is very common to memorialize a departed friend or family member in a creative way that celebrates the life they lived and the gifts they imparted to all of the wonderful people that surrounded them. No longer is the grave marker or tombstone the only object to stand as a memorial to the existence of a special person. These days there are many ways to memorialize a departed loved one including hand crafted funeral urns, beautiful memorial jewelry, hand made memorial textile art, memorial glass art and also custom commissioned memorial paintings.
Hand made art urns are one of the most common items to be created in memory of a special person, especially if the individual has selected cremation as a funeral option. Of course the custom cremation urn is an important item, but there can also be hand made urns that compliment the main urn and they can be distributed to members of the family and close friends to take home so that they may erect their own memorials. Oftentimes, bits of the cremated remains will be used in the creation process, allowing for the creation of elegant swirls among the glass of the urn itself.
Hand made memorial jewelry is becoming quite popular and offers a lasting and beautiful reminder of a loved one to be worn at any time. Necklaces, bracelets, rings and any number of custom made memorial jewelry can be created to reflect the personality and life of a person who is to be celebrated and memorialized. Many times a photograph can be combined with gold, silver and stones to create a unique, one of a kind locket with the person’s image enshrined within.
A custom made memorial quilt is a beautiful option, and personal items of any kind can be included and used as part of the creation process. Pictures, jewelry, trinkets or articles of clothing are good examples of items that can be sewn in or otherwise attached to a quilt or other hand crafted bit of textile art.
Of course, there is nothing to compare with having a custom commissioned memorial portrait of a departed loved one painted in memoriam of a departed loved one. This can be created with the person’s life in mind and be a true memorial to the life they lived. The medium of paint offers infinite possibilities when it comes to the content of the image.
In general, all of these options are just ways of using fine art to celebrate the process of grieving the loss of a departed loved one. Art has the potential to heal and celebrate simultaneously, and is often one of the best ways to assist loved ones who have suffered a deep loss to remember their friend or relative in a beautiful, creative and unique way.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Memorial Shrines
Celebrating the life of a departed loved one can be a beautifully enriching and healing process when done with creativity and a desire to honor the many ways your cherished friend or family member touched your life. Whether you are choosing a traditional casket and cemetery burial or opting for cremation or another alternative burial ceremony, this time of healing can be strengthened tremendously by artistic memorial objects and rituals.
Of course, typically if one opts for cremation, the creation of some type of memorial shrine is generally expected, but that does not mean a small shrine of some kind cannot be tastefully created for a departed loved one is resting at a cemetery. There are many creative options for both types of shrines and many choices for memorial objects and keepsakes so decorate a shrine to a departed loved one.
If there is a funeral urn or cremation urn holding the remains, this may serve as the centerpiece of a memorial altar to a dear friend or beloved family member. A hand made cremation urn or one of a kind art urn are great choices for the centerpiece, and other keepsakes and memorial items may be displayed around it. If the departed loved one is a pet, then a wide array of pet urns, dog urns and cat urns are also available.
If a more traditional casket burial was done, then perhaps the centerpiece of a memorial shrine could be a photo or painting of the individual. A nicely framed favorite family photo, or a custom made portrait or other piece of memorial painting might be used as the centerpiece of the display. Other items may be placed on or around this to round out a small altar dedicated to the memory of someone truly cherished.
Other art objects may be obtained, such as memorial textile art. This could serve as a fine covering for the surface you intend to erect your shrine upon, or displayed on the wall behind the memorial area. Keepsakes and items that were personal and important such as photographs, buttons and jewelry can be sewn right into a memorial quilt for a personal touch.
Memorial jewelry can be displayed around a memorial shrine, and perhaps worn on special occasions if not regularly. Beautiful, one of a kind pendant, pins, rings, and other jewelry items are available and custom designed to honor the passing of a dear friend or relative. Matching sets can be made for different members of the friends or family left behind, forever allowing them to share the bond represented by matching memorial jewelry.
Memorial glass items are ideal for using in a well created shrine or tastefully designed memorial altar. If cremation was chosen, some little bit of cremated remains can be used in the creation of memorial glass, creating a swirling, colorful texture and style to the pattern of the glasswork itself. This truly personalized touch makes any type of memorial glass item truly a special keepsake that will remind the person who sees it of the wonderful memories of a departed friend or family member.
However you choose to decorate a memorial shrine or dedicate an altar to a departed loved one, this sacred space will forever remind you of the love you shared with a special person, and help you to move gracefully through the grieving process. A memorial shrine or altar is a great way to honor the memory of someone you cared about.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Funeral Traditions
There are many different methods of disposing of the remains of a person, whether you are considering it for yourself at some future point or are in the unfortunate position of making arrangements for a loved one. However you choose to deal with the mortal remains of a departed person, it is a difficult job and not too pleasant to think about, but it must be done.
At many times throughout history different methods of disposing of lost loved ones remains have been prevalent, from the flaming boats of a Viking funeral to the tall platforms erected by some tribes of native peoples. The Egyptians mummified and preserved bodies along with other tribes and cultures in other parts of the world, and other people used funeral pyres to consume the departed in flames of purification.
For a long time, however, the traditional method of accomplishing this necessary task is the traditional casket burial in a cemetery. For many people this is just an honored tradition, but many people now are making plans that include cremation memorials, and becoming very creative with the way they depart this world. A cremation memorial can be a creative and loving way to celebrate the life of a departed friend or loved one, and there are as many options involved as you can create in your imagination.
You may choose to have your remains encased in a hand made cremation urn, or perhaps divided into several funeral urns or art urns and given to multiple family members. Perhaps a portion of remains can be kept in a one of a kind urn while the rest is allowed to be distributed freely from your favorite scenic overlook or be spread in your favorite part of the local wilderness. Perhaps there is a field you spent time meditating in, or patch of favorite hiking trail that you became attached to. These are all great choices for letting go of a portion of yours or a loved ones remains.
Cremation urns can be custom made, and can be made from many materials such as metal cremation urns, wood funeral urns, ceramic urns, glass cremation urns and many others as well as pet urns, dog urns and cat urns. Bits of the cremated remains can be swirled into the custom made glass cremation urns, preserving a bit of a loved one into the artwork for all time. This would be a truly lovely way to remember an important person.
Many, many options are open for the erection of a shrine or altar dedicated to a passed friend or beloved family member. The hand made funeral urn can be the centerpiece of this display with family photos, memorial jewelry, memorial textile art and other keepsakes around the custom made urn, and it can be as big or small as you want it to be. It can even be erected outside, if the proper materials and precautions are taken to preserve the objects displayed in the shrine.
Choosing a cremation memorial is a creative and beautiful way to face a difficult subject. With a growing population it is also perhaps a more environmentally friendly way to go as well. Cemeteries take up tremendous amounts of space, and often in crowded areas, although the upside is that they are quiet places of reflection generally filled with trees and wildlife. However, cremation memorials offer the same sanctuary without having to purchase space in a public facility.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Handmade Urns and Vases as Holiday Gifts
Looking for a truly unique gift idea for that hard to buy for friend or family member on you holiday shopping list? How about a beautiful, one of a kind, handmade urn or vase? Choosing a beautiful piece of artwork that is also functional and attractive is a great way to surprise the person that has everything.
One of the best places to find artisan hand crafted urns, vases, receptacles and other types of functional art is right here in North Carolina. Funeral urns, pet urns, decorative urns and a whole lot more are all available from this reputable source of incredible and fascinating artworks.
No need to wait until the unfortunate instance of a loved one passing away to enjoy the wide selection of art, because a lovely art urn or container from this amazing little company is just the thing for any occasion. Collecting artwork from some of the best and most skilled artisans and craftspeople from all over western
Why spend your precious and valuable holiday time fighting the mobs and masses at the local retail shopping mall or crawling all over the stores of any city to find all the gifts for all the people on you extensive holiday shopping list. Wouldn’t it be easier and more pleasant to do the shopping from the comfort of you own home?
Urns and vases, jars and containers, custom made holiday keepsakes, memorial artwork or jewelry and more are available from the these wonderful folks. Reputable and knowledgeable, the kind folks at this wonderful organization take very seriously the immense responsibility of offering unique, one of a kind works of art for many occasions. Cremation urns, pet urns and funeral urns are not the only thing these beautiful works of art are good for. A nice addition to the décor of any fine household, these artisan pieces are breathtaking works of wonder, hand crafted in professional studios and made with all the love and care you would expect such an important gift to have been made with.
Textile are and jewelry are available, as well as wood, metal, ceramic and glass works to please very sense and taste, every style and flavor. The artisans that craft these lovely vessels are some of the best in their fields, with years of practice at their chosen art form. Rest easy knowing that the gift you have chosen for that very special someone is a one of a kind, an original made to order with all the love and pride that a craftsman can infuse into his or her special creation.
Easy ordering and excellent customer service go hand-in-hand, as a representative for the company walks you through everything you need in the ordering and selection process. Don’t settle for a boring run of the mill gift when you can truly give a gift that will last a lifetime and show how much you really care. A one of a kind, handmade decorative object of art is the ideal gift for anyone this holiday season. Make the holidays a one of a kind experience for you and everyone on your list.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Cremation Urns: And choices to Make
When looking for the right cremation urn it is important to bring the departed's character, hobbies, and other life aspects into consideration. You want to pick an urn the is suited for the individual. Nowadays there are several materials urns can be made out of, there are choices beyond earthenware or porcelain, such as hand crafted wooden urns, uniques blow glass urns and even sculpted metal urns. Along with all the “new” materials that urns are being made from there an almost infinite amount of customs designs that can be crafted to suite the personality or the individual. With this in mind, when picking a funeral urn for the departed the material and design can says a lot about the persons life. For instance, if the recently passed loved one was a carpenter who loved to do wood working then it would be fitting to choose a custom designed wooden urn. Or, if the departed was an admirer of the arts then perhaps a custom blown glass urn would be more suiting.
One of the many benefits of decorative cremation urns is the ability to travel with the remains from one location to the next. In today’s housing market people find themselves moving to new towns for one reason or another more and more often. And when this occurs, visiting a memorial can be quite difficult if you had to move a few hours away. With custom made art urns that is no longer a problem. The urns can be safely packed and moved from one town to the next. Another benefit of choosing to go with an urn instead of a burial is, if more then one person wants to have some of the remains it is now possible for the happen. The remains of the departed can be divided into smaller companion decorative urns the are designed top match the primary funeral urn.
Whatever decision you make, it’s going to be a hard one. But know there are wonderful ways to carry on the memories of the departed with a custom made urn. There are several options for cremation urns that are out there. With all these options come the ability to match up the urn with the character, the essence, of the departed. A custom made art urn can be created in a style and using materials that are personalized to reflect the person being memorialized. This is not an easy job but now it is available. Look on-line or use other resources to help you find companies or individual artists that specialize in memorial urns. May this help you to find the right urn for you loved one.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Passing of a Pet
Have you ever lost a pet that you loved more then anything you can think of? I’m sure many of you reading this have. I have. And, when it happened to me I knew I didn’t want to just bury him in the back yard. Burying them in the back yard is not always an option anyway, particularly if you live in a city or you plan to move in the future. I wanted the passing of my beloved friend to be honored and remembered, something special and more thoughtful then a hole in the yard. So what can you do to make their passing special? There are pet cemeteries but they can be quite costly. And, should you move to a new town traveling back to see your loved one can be time consuming. However, there are other options. I think pet urns are a wonderful solution to this dilemma. Today, cremation is becoming more and more of a viable and exceptable way to celebrate one's passing. With a cremation urn a family can take there beloved animal friend from one place to the other with ease. With unique pet urns, you have several more options as to where you place the remains of your loved one.
Cremation urns have come a long way since the days of porcelain jars. Now a days, urns are being made of sculpted wood, blown glass, hand crafted ceramic, fabricated metals and other materials. You no longer have to get an urn that looks like any other vessel at an everyday store. Instead you can get one of a kind art urns. Something that expresses the unique character on your loved one. These beautiful, one of kind urns are truly art. They can be placed on your mantle with distinction, something pleasurable to look at. Also, urns can be place outside should you care to have some kind of alter or memorial area in your yard. With decorative cremations urns you have the ability to move the urn to where you want as many times as you need to.
I found one of the interesting options to be glass. With blown glass urns the ashes of you loved one can actually be used in the glass. This would also the remains to always be with you. There would be no worrying about spilling or moisture. The essence would always be safe and preserved in the glass itself. With the blown glass option you can also do keepsakes such as “paper weights” beads, pendents and other items. This way if several people wanted to have something to remember the passed loved one it would be easy to give them all pendants with some of the remains captured in the glass.
In the end it is still a hard decision. Whether you choose to have a burial in the back yard, or at a pet cemetery, or in a funeral urn on your mantle the choices are out there. Personally, I like the artists cremation urns. The blown glass is really something else. No one has to know what is in it. To causal friends that come over it is just another piece of beautiful art in my home. But to me and my family it is a memorial to our passed friend I’m glad there are options because what is right for one family is not always right for another.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Indoor Cremation Memorials
When a loved one passes away who was close to us, we may often be left with the unfortunate task of making the arrangements for a funeral. This difficult task is often made easier when arrangements and decisions are made ahead of time, so the wishes of the departed are known in advance, and can be carried out in the manner of their choosing. Many options for the loved ones remains are available to us these days, and lately, cremation memorials have become a popular alternative to traditional casket burials. 25% of Americans are now choosing cremation over traditional cemetery burials.
Although it is a very difficult thing to have to think about at the time of the passing of a friend or family member, but the unfortunate truth is that cemeteries are becoming increasingly more expensive, and as land becomes rarer and more valuable, they are less and less practical. They use up a tremendous amount of space, require constant care and maintenance and cause friends and family to travel sometimes a great distance to visit the grave of a loved one.
One benefit of cremation memorials that many folks take advantage of, is the opportunity to divide the cremated remains up amongst many smaller companion decorative urns, custom designed to match the primary funeral urn. Family and friends who would like to make their own private cremation memorials can do so, and have the person they loved so much with them always.
A small shrine dedicated to celebrating the life of the departed can be constructed in the home, with the remains enshrined inside a one of a kind handmade funeral urn. Indoor memorials offer the most versatility, since you need not worry about rain, snow, sun or the elements. A glass cremation urn, wood cremation urn or ceramic cremation urn, as well as sturdier materials such as stone and metal are all appropriate materials for indoor shrines.
Creating an indoor cremation memorial also offers the chance to set other memorial objects and personal keepsakes around the art urn centerpiece. Photographs, possessions and trinkets that belonged to the honored friend or family member are appropriate items to place here. Textile memorial art, such as a custom made memorial quilt can be created in the loved one’s honor in many sizes. Larger quilts can be displayed on a wall behind the shrine, and smaller quilted squares can but put out in an album or displayed next to the decorative cremation urn. A piece of memorial jewelry, or a hand made memorial book or album are also great items to include in or around a cremation memorial.
There are many resources for finding beautiful memorial objects, both online and in traditional shops. Always be sure you are buying from a reputable company such as Shine On Brightly. The western
A tastefully arranged cremation memorial can be a far more personalized and beautiful way to celebrate the life of a special person, or even a special animal friend. An indoor or outdoor cremation memorial using a one of a kind cremation urn or decorative funeral urn as the centerpiece can be truly lovely. A custom made art urn can be created in a style and using materials that are personalized to reflect something about the person being memorialized.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Creating an Outdoor Cremation Memorial
Most of the time, when we choose to cremate a departed loved one, if a memorial is to be erected it is a small one set up inside the home. A photo of the friend or relative is often placed next to a decorative cremation urn, set up on a mantle or special shelf somewhere in the house. Perhaps some special keepsake that the person found precious in life may be displayed with the memorial as well.
Indoor cremation memorials also offer the chance to place other memorial objects and keepsakes around the decorative art urns. Photographs or trinkets belonging to the honored person are great items to place here. Memorial textile art, such as a custom made memorial quilt can be displayed somewhere within the shrine. Various sizes are available, from large wall hanging to small quilted squares. A piece of memorial jewelry, or hand made memorial books and text in an album are also great additions to an indoor cremation memorial.
However, if you want to create a shrine outdoors, you can be just as creative, but you will need to use a metal cremation urn or stone cremation urn to withstand the elements. Things like photographs or delicate items will need to be protected somehow. A nice outdoor memorial can be a very special place, and can also be more easily accessible to others friends and family who may want to visit with the departed. If room permits and the time is available to do it, an outdoor cremation memorial can be truly wonderful.
An out of the way spot can be selected in the yard, and a small altar erected. A miniature gazebo with flowers and a bench or seats can create a peaceful environment for friends and family to sit and reflect. A custom made cremation urn as the centerpiece of the memorial is appropriate if made from the right materials. If the memorial is covered in this way, a slightly more delicate material can make the decorative cremation urn.
Perhaps there is a special tree in the yard somewhere that may serve as the location of a memorial. If the location of the memorial is to be exposed like this, then a sturdy cremation urn, or perhaps even a burial urn designed to be placed in the ground is appropriate, to survive for a long time in the sun and the rain.
A great thing about a cremation memorial of any kind is the fact that it is so versatile. The shrine can be rearranged, changed, dismantled or moved with relative ease. In many cases, the cremated remains are divided into smaller, matching hand made cremation urns. These smaller versions of the main decorative urn are then distributed to friends and family who wish to create their own personal memorial to the departed.
Another option is to have the remains incorporated into a beautiful, one of a kind memorial glass keepsake. A small amount of the cremated remains are introduced into the molten glass, allowing it so swirl and create lovely patterns in the colored glass. The cremation urn that holds the remains of the dearly departed can even be made in this way. Small pendants of beautiful art glass can be given to those who wish to have a lasting reminder of the friend or family member.
There are many options for memorial objects, and many places to find them. Always make sure you are dealing with a reputable website when shopping online. Ensure that the folks creating these works of art take the responsibility of creating memorial objects seriously. A good example is Shine On Brightly. Their selection of hand crafted memorial objects are hand made in the studios of artists local to western North Carolina. These artisans are dedicated to making art that aids in the healing process.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Pet Cremation Memorials
Most people who have a pet, or who have had one in the past, have experienced the close personal relationship one can develop with an animal companion. Animals show us unconditional love and loyalty, and stick by us through things a lot of human friends could not or would not. These beings are a lot more than just a novelty kept around the house for show, or a security system designed to keep burglars away. These creatures become friends, teachers, guardians and members of the family.
When a beloved pet dies, it can sometimes be nearly as traumatic as losing a human friend or family member. It’s hard for someone who has never held such a close bond with an animal friend to understand how very true this really is. However hard to imagine it may be for some, it is true nonetheless, and a healthy grieving process is just as essential for the passing of a well-loved animal as it is for a beloved human friend. Some type of pet memorial is often appropriate for this purpose.
For those who feel this kind of bond with a pet, there are many common ways to celebrate the life of a passed pet. A simple burial, often in a yard or in the woods, is the probably the most common. Often this will be accompanied by a small ceremony which gives folks a chance to grieve, much the same way a traditional funeral serves to help people to say goodbye to friends and family.
Another way is to have the pet stuffed by a taxidermist, creating a lifelong memorial of the pet itself. Many people would not be able to handle such a constant reminder, but for some it gives them comfort.
Cremation is quickly gaining popularity as a way to memorialize a pet. A small shrine erected in the home with a beautiful, hand-made cremation urn and a photograph of the pet is a nice way to remember an animal friend. A memorial of this kind can be taken anywhere, and set up inside or outside the home. A unique pet urn can be custom created or selected to reflect the animal it safeguards.
Another option is to have the pet cremated, and have the remains incorporated into a beautiful, one of a kind memorial glass keepsake. A small amount of the cremated remains are introduced into the molten glass, allowing it so swirl and create lovely patterns in the colored glass.
The artists who create such unique works of art are aware of the awesome responsibility they accept when creating hand made decorative urns, cremation urns, memorial jewelry, or memorial objects of any type. Each piece is made by hand in an artists studio by some of the best artisans working anywhere today. Memorial objects created this way are crafted with the deepest respect and intentions. Art created in this way is guaranteed to be made in such a manner that honors the intention of the person creating the memorial, and honors the bond they shared with a special person.
There are many options for memorial objects, and many places to find them. Always make sure you are dealing with a reputable professional dealer, who take the responsibility of creating memorial objects seriously. A good example is Shine On Brightly. Their selection of masterfully crafted decorative cremation urns, textile memorial art, memorial jewelry and other memorial objects are hand made in the studios of artists local to western North Carolina who are dedicated to making art that aids in the healing process while celebrating the lives of those closest to us.