Glass Sculptures Preserve Loved Ones’ Remains

Glass Sculptures Preserve Loved Ones’ Remains FARM HOME Miscellaneous A California glass blowing business offers a way to keep the memory of a loved one close Memory Glass® encases a tiny amount of the ashes from 1/8th to 1/4th teaspoon in colorful glass pendants touchstones or globes The thin white line of ashes embeds into the glass when heated to 2 000-F degrees and can be shaped into swirls ribbons and other patterns in a variety of colors “People either love the idea or don’t ” notes Nick Savage owner of the California company which started in 2001 The seed for it was planted when his father Craig Savage received a clear glass-blown keepsake with his best friend’s ashes in 1995 He treasured it and saw the potential for a business When Nick graduated from college he entrusted his son with the idea “At the very beginning we thought we’d hire glassblowers ” Savage recalls “But we realized the sensitivity of dealing with someone’s ashes It’s a huge trust issue and we need to have control over everything ” So Savage and his business partner took classes to learn the skill and set up the company to make Memory Glass pieces It’s grown by leaps and bounds as each year more and more people currently close to 50 percent choose cremation over burial “Our service is available from nearly 2 000 funeral homes in all 50 states and we have representation in Canada the UK and Australia ” Savage says Clients can order through funeral homes or contact Memory Glass directly and request a Welcome Kit that contains a sterilized vial and details how to place an order All orders are carefully tracked and remaining ashes are returned Savage emphasizes “The most important thing we have is our security procedure ” he says Clients also like the color and style choices starting with the pendants at $225 to large orbs at $500 About 20 percent of business is from pet owners who have had their beloved animals cremated “They have a pendant made and never take it off Or they hang it from the rearview mirror because their dog liked to ride in the car ” Savage notes Savage adds that the business has a patent on a new service – laser-engraving fingerprints paw prints or nose prints on pendants and orbs It gives an option to customers who choose burial instead of cremation In addition Savage notes that soil can be used like ashes in a sculpture to commemorate a farm burial plot or favorite vacation spot Memory Glass options information and a video of the process can be found on the business’s website Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Nick Savage 325 Rutherford St Suite E Goleta Calif 93117 ph 866 488-4554; www memoryglass com; info@memoryglass com

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