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Etsy Pets: Pet Memorials


Story by urns Published on July 9, 2008 in This Handmade Life	Photo by urns

My passion for clay has taken me down many roads in the 12 years I've been throwing. Most of my experience has been in creating functional pottery (dinnerware, vases, bowls, etc.), but every once in a while I would receive a request to make an funeral urn. Each time I sat at my wheel to make one I was flooded with ideas and inspiration; creating something so meaningful gave a deeper meaning to my work. When I would return to making functional-ware I would miss the satisfaction of creating something that was so much more than an object. So I decided to take it on full time. I love it. Etsy has given me the opportunity to directly connect with families looking for a one of a kind vessel with which to honor their loved ones. The Etsy community has responded well and I've learned so much about how we can celebrate and honor a person's life when they pass. I'd never heard of the blazing Viking funerals or having ashes cast into hundreds of resin pendants for everyone in attendance. My favorite idea for a send off was to have a bit of ash put into hundreds of helium balloons which are released for one last trip around the world.

Pet urns are my favorite to create because I usually hear so much about the pet. In most cases, “pet” just doesn't seem like the right word. "Soul mate" — those are the words I hear most often to describe this little life that has been right at their sides through good times and bad. I have two stories of families that recently lost pets that had been with them for 14 years.

The first came to me as an Alchemy request by fury716. This urn was so special because I was able to inscribe the cat's name on the bottom before it was fired in the kiln.

Fury716 writes,

“I adopted Genji. In 2004, we all moved to Japan. The military required us to get him re-vaccinated, despite my apprehensions. A few months later, we noticed a lump at the injection site. This was the start of two years of surgeries. Finally, in late June, we began palliative care…and I realized I would have to make some tough decisions. I decided I would want him cremated and that I would want a special container, not mass produced. I wanted warmth not seen in mass-produced items. And I wanted something unique too and having purchased all kinds of cool stuff on Etsy, I figured that would be a good place to start.

It was intuition about what shape and color was "right." As far as the conscious part of the selection process, I was drawn to the shape I chose because it reminded me of the details I had studied in college of churches and castles, spires and domes. The pieces had a substance, serenity and gravitas, a bit of monumentality to them. I found the right shape and I chose the cobalt glaze because I'm drawn to deep colors, and the cobalt is such an elegant and soothing color. It's a color I often see in the twilight skies here or in some of the colors of the sea of Japan. Additionally, one of the collars that Genji wore was orange (it was one of our favorite ones on him) and it would make a nice contrast when I set up his memorial.”

The second story that I have to share with you is one that I think of every time I sit to make pet urns. Fellow Etsy seller, DantesSpirit first contacted me to reserve an urn for her 14 and a half year old Akita, Dante. She knew the day was approaching that they would no long be together. Throughout this process we shared stories and pictures.

I could feel, even through an email, the love she had for Dante and what a special dog she was. A few days later I received a convo that read “I lost Dante-Inu yesterday morning. She decided she wanted to go then, and as usual, she did things her way.” My heart was heavy all day and it still brings tears to my eyes. She allowed me access to her live journal. The following passage is always with me as I throw. DantesSpirit writes: “I have a craving. One that will never, ever be satisfied. I want to scritch Dante's head, right between her ears. I want to do this so badly, that my fingers started twitching.”

I am a true Etsy addict and love to see “Etsy transactions” in my inbox, but for me it is always bittersweet.

Tags	animals, burials, ceremonies, ceremony, death, Etsy Pets, funerals, pets, remembrance, urns, video

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35 comments Login to add your own!

July 9, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.

mudpuppy

Wow such an awesome idea for an article. My beloved studio assistant Konnie has bone cancer so i've been thinking about this a lot lately :( Such a timely post, thank you! ~M

July 9, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.

dogties

How interesting.
Thanks for sharing.

July 9, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.

MagpieCollections

very touching indeed..i have 2 lost dogs wen i was a kid, it can be a heart wrenching experience.thank you for sharing

July 9, 2008 at 12:57 p.m.

futurowoman

This brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful article. <3

July 9, 2008 at 1:07 p.m.

GREENWOODSTUDIO

What a great story! Your doing the good work urns :-)

July 9, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.

briarpatch1977

I started tearing up when I read this article. My cat, J.D., is not too far from leaving me and this article jumped out at me. It made me aware, suddenly, that I'm going to one day have to make arrangements for my beloved cat. I had simply thought of just burying him on the old homestead but now, I'm thinking of going this way. I've decided to favorite you so I can keep your shop on hand for when that time comes. Thank you for making such beautiful forever homes for pets. I'll be in touch, I'm sure.

July 9, 2008 at 1:13 p.m.

TJTDesign

I started to tear when I read the article as well. To many of us, our pets are our lives. I can't even think about when that final day comes for my beloved Otis. The urns are a wonderful idea to honor your pet in such a beautiful way. I loved this story and the artist is amazing!

July 9, 2008 at 1:31 p.m.

topsyturvydesign

Beautiful article urns!
I had to go hug/kiss my kitten, Boudicca(who looks a lot like Genji) after reading this one.
Your vessels are lovely tributes to the animal children in our lives...

July 9, 2008 at 1:34 p.m.

urns

Thank you all for all the wonderful comments. I love what I do and it means so much that you appreciate it too. Here is a link to my youtube video of a pet urn in the making.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MUUF7...

July 9, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.

time2cre8

That's a lovely article and also a lovely service you provide for the extended members of our families. Wolf (DantesSpirit) is a member of the Etsy BeadWeavers, and our hearts were all breaking for her when she lost Dante. It's nice that you were able to create an urn worthy of such a beloved pet and that you were able to do your bit to help Wolf through her loss.

:-)

July 9, 2008 at 2:07 p.m.

Vanessa

I added the video to the article! So amazing to watch you throw.

July 9, 2008 at 2:28 p.m.

luckigrrl

I couldn't finish reading this, because I am a wimpy softie, but I do appreciate the subject matter. it's nice to know that there are some great options out there when that sorrowful time comes!

July 9, 2008 at 3:11 p.m.

urns

Thanks so much for everything Vanessa!

July 9, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.

gemmafactrix

Oh, goodness. This article made me all teary.

July 9, 2008 at 4:38 p.m.

sandcookies

Very sweet! Having lost a few 'best friends' over the last 30 years I can totally appreciate this article and the urns!

July 9, 2008 at 6:04 p.m.

sparrowsfood

great store

July 9, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

DantesSpirit

I couldn't have said what you have about my Dante-Inu and I any better.

Thank you, from the depths of my heart.

July 9, 2008 at 7:48 p.m.

hobbledehoy

what a beautiful article.

July 9, 2008 at 8:07 p.m.

urns

Thank you DanteSpirit. I think of you every day. Friends from afar.

July 9, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.

LittlePies

This made me cry. What an absolutely beautiful article. Thank you so much for sharing.

July 9, 2008 at 8:51 p.m.

arosebyname

Made me very teary-eyed and that quote from Wolf about Dante has really stuck with me as well! Our EBW hearts break for her...
Anna

July 9, 2008 at 9:54 p.m.

moxieandmojo

What an awesome video! Truly mesmerizing. I think this is a wonderful idea and so beautiful and classy. :)

July 10, 2008 at 1:27 a.m.

dollproject

Very touching. And beautiful work.

July 10, 2008 at 4:03 a.m.

luckycoloryellow

Beautiful article.

July 10, 2008 at 12:33 p.m.

AbbydonKrafts

My dog is 15 years old and has cancer. She takes Prednisone daily so that she can walk. I'm dreading the final day. She's been with me since she was 6 months old. I intend on having her cremated. I will favorite you so that I can get one of your urns after I've saved up for it.

July 10, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.

BlackStar

beautiful article.

July 10, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.

GretchenFisher

I found my dearest a few months ago, a dog must have taken his life. (He is my avatar.) I know a little bit about ceramics, and knew that I wanted something for him that was either raku or salt fired, and found it one day on etsy (BadCatArt, ironically). I then took the extra step for his memorial alter and had a photo manipulation of him done (by bunny). I'll never forget him, and think of him often, but it was nice knowing that there was something here on etsy that could help me gift him into his afterlife.....
Your work is beautiful, urns, and know that so many of us appreciate what you do!

July 10, 2008 at 2:57 p.m.

mvegan5

Very sweet, beautiful work, check out these pet memorial creations by members of Etsy for Animals: Artists Helping Animals http://www.etsy.com/search_results.ph... ;0)

July 10, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.