A Matter of Trust

Deciding to entrust a stranger, like me, with your loved one's ashes is not something most people would do lightly. There will be lots of doubts and questions in your mind, for example:

• Is this a scam?

• Are the ashes actually going to be used?

• How do I know it's MY loved one I'll be getting back?

• Can this person be trusted?

• Are they going to get lost in the post?

• Will my loved one be treated with respect?

  
  

Having crafted memorial glass pieces for many years, I can assure you that none of these questions are unreasonable. Your concerns and apprehensions are completely valid, so allow me to address some of them and hopefully ease your mind.

So, no this isn't a scam. To be honest, making glass memorials is a bit of a niche occupation. It's definitely not the route to riches, and I don't have a large bag of fake ashes in a cupboard.

That wouldn't make sense anyway, as my customers send me the ashes.

"Fake ashes" don't react in glass the same way real ashes do. When I first began creating memorials, I was very hesitant about incorporating genuine ashes into glass. It's a challenging process—the ashes can release gas when heated, which can distort the glass and glassmaking itself can be somewhat of an art—so I was quite concerned. What if I made a mistake? So, I considered practicing with something else to begin with. I chose wood ashes since we had a log burner, which seemed practical. I can tell you that wood ash is very fine—you can't really see it well in the glass, and I think anyone would notice that it wasn't right. However, experimenting with wood ash gave me the confidence to proceed with using the actual ashes. I also had years of experience as a glassmaker so I was confident in my skill set.

Luckily, I seldom make errors with the glass nowadays, as I usually contemplate thoroughly what I am going to create before starting. If something unforeseen occurs, like the final color of the piece being incorrect, I always return anything I've made along with the final pieces at no additional charge. I don't wish to keep a memorial containing someone's ashes. It rightfully belongs to the family.

How can I be sure that my memorial contains my loved one's ashes?

It's straightforward—I only handle one commission at a time and never mix different orders in the same glass-making session. The ashes are carefully labelled, so I always know whose ashes I'm working with. As a small business, I am never overwhelmed by orders, and I am meticulous in my organisation. This one-at-a-time approach gives me the opportunity to craft each piece individually and treat all ashes, whether they belong to a person or a beloved pet, with dignity and respect. If requested by the family, I can even play the person's favourite music while creating the glass.

I'm worried about sending the ashes in the post though - have they ever been lost?

I have been creating memorial beads for many years, and I can recall only one instance where the ashes were lost in the mail. Fortunately, the family had additional ashes they were willing to send. There is a slight risk of loss. Unfortunately, I cannot control Royal Mail. However, I try to minimize this risk by providing a prepaid padded envelope for returning the ashes. I don't use Special Delivery for the return process because the Post Office doesn't insure cremated remains. However, if you prefer extra peace of mind, the package can be returned to me via Special Delivery for tracking.