vitrifiedstudio

To order, you first need to determine the urn size needed. I cannot accurately guess this. See the section on Urn Size for more info. After you decide on the urn size, I suggest starting at our main etsy page https://www.etsy.com/shop/vitrifiedstudio
and using the shop section tool to filter the shop. Select the general urn size and lid type within the shop sections, then select a listing that is similar to what you like. Any of the details can be changed during ordering by writing in a note (like clay or glaze color, fonts, stamps, text layout, and gold or extra text upgrades). I suggest you write "match listing photo front" or "front and back", and then write in the changes. See the extra photos within the listing for option examples.

Ash volume does vary, so I cannot prediction your ash volume. Please either measure the ashes in cubic inches using a ruler (length x width x height) or ask the crematorium or vet for a size recommendation. All sizes and urn size recommendations by pre-cremation weight are shown in the item description page of each listing, but these are not as accurate as what you can measure. Exterior dimensions as well as interior volume is listed in the item description/ details page. All of the pieces are handmade without a form or mold, so my sizes can vary slightly beyond what is listed. My clays all have different shrinkage rates and shrink in different ways so cannot exact with my dimensions.

For urn design examples please visit the many listings in my etsy shop, my website gallery at www.vitrifiedstudio.com (press the + for details), my instagram page @vitrifiedstudio, and there is a photo within the listing with examples It is easiest to find a similar example to what you like, and go from there. Feel free to convo me as you are designing your urn. I have a design tool on my website to preview your layout.
Coupon Codes/ Flash Sales: I often run flash sales, they always expire at midnight pacific time. You have to order during the flash sale to get the discount. Only one discount per order. message me for a code if you wanted to buy more than one urn.

Custom items cannot be returned. I will remake the urns for any mistakes or breakage during shipping, but the design details cannot be altered. The remake will match the original details of order. Blemishes can be a part of the handmade results and not a reason for remake, see the section on blemishes below. If you want to have the urn remade and change the item details, I have a coupon code that I can offer you. Customers pay for the return shipping on any urns that they send back to me. As the urns are fully handmade, and the ordering process is difficult, sometimes mistakes are made. Please contact me to discuss. I do not offer any remakes or discounts to customers that give negative reviews, please contact me first with any issues.

It is tricky to do custom, handmade pottery. The clay process has many steps, and cannot be fully controlled. We have made over 20,000 urns, but there is always a chance for blemishes, and unpredictable results. You might see lines on the clay which are throwing rings, from my hands shaping the clay. The vintage letterpress stamps are impressed into the clay by hand, causing uneven depth and extra marks. We do all of the layout by eye, so things are not perfectly centered. Glazing is done by hand, and the glazes move in the firing, leaving small drips or variations in surface The drying/ firing process alters the clay, rim warping, and small surface cracks on the underside from shrinkage. Blemishes are not a cause for return or remake.

The shipping tab of each listing lists my production time, and I have various shipping speed options to choose from. Generally we do the transactions in the order that they are received, and usually the orders sit in queue until they get to the top of our production stack. We send a check in message before we do the final stamping, usually it is sent up to 1 week before your order is set to ship. Please send us a convo if you need to reach us sooner. We have an upgrade add-on listing for RUSH orders, this will put your order at the top of our production schedule. RUSH orders are made in closer to 1 week time, I suggest pairing that option with express shipping when you purchase the urn. Delays can occur, working with clay is unpredictable.

Packaging: We usually have a very good success rate with shipping the pottery. Generally we ship the urns tightly packed in starch peanuts.The peanuts we use can dissolve in water, and the boxes and paper are recyclable.
Customs Charges: For international customers, your own countries post office may charge a duty fee/ customs tax/ import fee. We cannot predict how much this will be, but it can be significant. Some countries require etsy to have you pay this during check out, and you will see a line item for it, and other countries will charge you for it when you pick it up at the post office. Please keep an eye on the tracking, if you do not pick up the item, the post office may return the item to us.

The urns are available with cork lids or ceramic lids, as seen in the listings. The cork lids generally fit snug, although we modify them to the shape of the urn opening. The ceramic lids fit loosely on top of the urn and will need sealed into place after you add the ashes to secure it. We recommend putting the ashes in a small bag within the urn. We include a tube of silicone sealant to all USA and Canada addresses when the ceramic lid urns are purchased. It is a clear silicone sealant that is thick to apply, dries clear, and is easy to clean up and wipe excess of the urn. Customers also have used epoxy, wax, or even museum wax (as a removable sealant). We can ship the urn directly to the funeral home or crematorium if you would like.

Cancellations for custom orders are accepted within 48 hours of ordering. We can issue a full refund and cancellation at your request if you contact us within 48 hours. After that we can offer you store credit for ready made items in our etsy shop if you choose to cancel the order. The store credit will need to be used within the time frame of the custom order that you had purchased.
If you are ordering a custom urn, please check with the crematorium to see if they will be giving you a wooden box with your ashes, as that is the main reason people attempt to cancel the custom urns. Those wood boxes are very hard to open, and many places provide them for free. Please let them know you are getting a custom urn made.

Our etsy shop has evolved from the very first urns I have made, being turned into listings and more customers placing orders. The designs have all evolved over time, with customers being inspired by other customer urns. I photograph many of the completed urns and make new listings, gallery posts and instagram posts from these photos. I usually share my favorites from each batch, often just 1 or 2 urns, sometimes up to 5 urns and many customers are proud to see their custom urn shared. If you do not want your urn to be photographed and shared, please let me know when you order. I am happy to not photograph it at all.