Memorial Beads - Made From Cremation Ash

I have been working on this special blog post for a while.  These beads are made from the cremation ash from our first family pet, Bailey - a beautiful black lab.  

Ash infused with: pale aqua, cobalt, black and black.

I heard about this process well over a year ago and I was immediately interested in making them.  Because the beads are made from something so special as the ashes of our loved ones who are no longer with us, I wanted to research it in detail before I attempted making any beads with cremation ash, also called cremains.  I decided I wanted to make these most unique and special beads for myself and others.

So what are these exactly and how are they made?  Only a small amount of cremation ash is actually needed to create several beads.  The ash is infused or layered in the glass and the beads can be made into any shape and almost any color can be used.  Some colors work better than others.  The beads are annealed for durability as all my beads are.  Some may decide they want their beads made into jewelry while others may just like to carry them in a pocket or keepsake.

Cremation beads are one of the more popular ways to remember a pet or family member while also bringing comfort to the survivors.  I think they are a beautiful way to honor a loved one's memory.

Update to this blog post August 8, 2013:
Here are more photos of memorial beads that I have made since my original blog post.  I think they are beautiful beads and this is just a sample of colors and shapes that I can create. These are all pendants but there are many options available.  If you are interested in having a bead made from the ash of your pet or loved one, please contact me.  I would be honored to do this for you.

Update to this blog post October 1, 2013:

Recently created memorial beads:

Silvered glass is difficult to capture in a photograph so I'm showing two views of this pendant hoping you will get a good idea of the beautiful colors in the main focal bead.  I had a very special experience making this memorial pendant for a very special person, who I feel gave me more than I could ever have given her in return with this bead.  Each component has a special meaning and all but the pearls contain cremains.

More cremains beads:

The top half of this bead is more pink than shows in the photo.

Update to this blog post November 17, 2013:

Recently created memorial beads:

As I make more memorial beads I like to add them so you can see all the different combinations as well as how they are used.

This set has one larger focal bead for a pendant and a matched pair for earrings.

This teal set is a matched pair for earrings.

Purple pendant on a leather cord

A small sample bead testing a request for a green color.

A small sample bead testing a request for a red color.

Same red but sometimes it can be tricky to photograph so I use a few different backgrounds and lighting.

A small sample bead testing a request for a red color.

Update to this blog post April 9, 2014:

Recently created memorial beads:

As I make more and more of these beads I like to keep updating this post so everything related to Cremains/Memorial Beads is all in one spot.  I continue to be honored to make these special beads for others who are working through their loss of pet, friend, or family member.

It's easy to see that prior beads have caught the eye of my newer customers and influenced their requests for what they would like in their own cremains beads.

Notice the unique components in the dangles.

Side 1.

Side 2.

One of my favorites.

Update to this blog post June 18, 2014:

Recently created memorial beads:

Stars and Moon Pendant

Side 1 - Celestial, tab shape

Side 2 - Celestial, tab shape

Side 1 - Celestial, long tab shape

Side 2 - Celestial, long tab shape

Side 1 - Celestial, tab shape with dichroic

Side 2 - Celestial, tab shape with dichroic

View 1 - Cosmic Swirl

View 2 - Cosmic Swirl

View 3 - Cosmic Swirl

View 1 - Cosmic Swirl, bi-cone shape

View 2 - Cosmic Swirl, bi-cone shape

View 3 - Cosmic Swirl, bi-cone shape

Side 1 - Celestial, tab shape

Side 2 - Celestial, tab shape

Side 1 - Celestial, large, long, tab shape 

Side 2 - Celestial, large, long, tab shape

View 1 - Spiritual Swirl, deep blue

View 2 - Spiritual Swirl, deep blue

View 3 - Spiritual Swirl, deep blue

Thanks for reading my blog!!!  I appreciate your interest in my life of beads.

Chris

Contact me: chrissandersonbeads@gmail.com - to make an appointment to see my beads and jewelry at my home studio.
Follow my life of Lampworking: http://beadsbychrissanderson.blogspot.com
Purchase my beads and Jewelry: http://www.artfire.com/users/BeadsByChris
Finished Jewelry sold on site at:  
1. Mermaid's Bite 472 5th Ave. South, Naples, FL 34102
2. SALVATORE CAPELLI SALON 4105 Chapel Drive in the Levis Commons open air mall in Perrysburg

Loose beads (sets and focals) sold on site at:
1. The Bead Boutique 2015 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912
Just for fun: Facebook: Glass Lampwork beads and Jewelry by Chris Sanderson (Remember to click on the "like" button for updates)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Glass-Lampwork-beads-and-Jewelry-by-Chris-Sanderson/175334185825493

Bracelets & A Few More Earrings

I thought it would be appropriate to start this post with a bracelet that would go with all the sea glass earrings in my last post.  This is one of my favorite bracelets and may still be fore sale at Mermaid's Bite Gallery in Naples, Florida as of this post.

I incorporated wood beads, seeds, assorted small glass beads and little glass chips with my handmade glass beads to fill in the natural design.

Multi-Colored Sea Glass Bracelet - all sterling silver findings.

Multi-Colored Sea Glass Bracelet - all sterling silver findings.

Multi-Colored Sea Glass Bracelet - all sterling silver findings.

The next bracelet was also on display at the gallery in Naples and may still be available.  Most of my handmade beads used in this bracelet have a black base and the decoration is made using CIM retired French Blue http://www.creationismessy.com/color.aspx?id=10, Effetre Light and Dark Turquoise, Opal Yellow and Double Helix Silvered glass.  I have used most of these same colors in the smaller accent beads as well and added assorted decorative beads to fill out the Cha Cha Style.  Good thing I stocked up on French Blue before they retired it as it's always been one of my favorite colors to use.  It will be a sad day when I run out!!!

Blue & Black Cha Cha Style Bracelet - all sterling silver findings.

Blue & Black Cha Cha Style Bracelet - all sterling silver findings.

Blue & Black Cha Cha Style Bracelet - all sterling silver findings.

I have a few more photos of some earrings that didn't get included in the last post so I am going to add them on here.

This pair of black and orange spiral earrings were made as a gift.  

Harley Davidson Color Earrings - all sterling silver wire and findings.

This next pair has been sold.  These are changeable earrings!!!!  You know how I love changeable jewelry in tandem with my beads!!!  I got these earrings from the same artist, Gregg Burgard, that makes the changeable bail pendants that I love to use with my beads!!!  I only purchased one pair of these changeable earrings to try them and see what my customers thought and so far so good - this pair sold very quickly!!!

Burgard Changeable Earrings With 2 Post Sizes.

That's it for this post.  I may even get one more blog post up yet today.  It will feel good to get all caught up but my torch is calling me and on top of that, I had some new glass delivered yesterday and that is also hard to resist.  Check back to see what won out.......

Still Catching Up - Earrings

After dealing with some very frustrating issues with my FL internet service, I finally am on line long enough to create a blog post!!! 

Let's start by catching up with all the earrings I made prior to my shows and open house.  Some of these are sold and some are still for sale though my studio or at The Mermaids Bite on 5th Ave. in Naples Florida!  

Vibrant Yellow Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Emerald Green Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Soft Pink Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Gray Blue Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Rose Brown Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Pale Violet Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Light Aqua Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Electric Blue Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Pale Aqua Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Aqua Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Soft Denim Blue Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Lavender Sea Glass Earrings - All Sterling Silver

 

 

I am often asked if these beads are really glass or if they are beach glass that I have made into a bead.  These are my own beads, made the same way I make all my other beads but I etch them at the end to give them that frosty sea glass look.  When I took some of these to the Mermaids Bite Gallery last month I found out that sea glass is also called Mermaid's tears. So I may change the name of these to Mermaid's tear earrings as I kind of like that better!  We will see how it catches on.

Here are a few more that are also etched and customers often think they are clay.  These are also glass but the etching process makes them have this wonderful texture and I think they sometimes look like the striations in Arizona rock. 

Etched Desert Fire Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Etched Desert Blue Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Etched Desert Purple Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Etched Desert Purple Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Here are a few more earrings to finish up this post.  I hope you enjoy looking at them and thank you so much for stopping by to read about my beads!!!!

Garden Purple Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Commando Green & Black Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Garden Purple Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Black Stingray Coiled Earrings - All Sterling Silver

Silvered Green Coiled Earrings - All Sterling Silver