Grief, Creativity, and the Honor of Memorial Jewelry
Grief is a funny, frustrating, deeply personal thing. There is no one-size-fits-all way to feel it, process it, or move through it. It comes in waves—sometimes a slow, steady tide, sometimes a crashing storm. We all walk our own path through it, and no two journeys look the same.
Recently, a very dear friend asked me to make memorial jewelry for her, a request that stands as one of the greatest honors I've had as a creative. The idea of turning loss into something tangible, something that could be carried close, was deeply moving. I looked into the legalities surrounding jewelry made with ashes and, of course, offered to create something meaningful for her.
I started with one piece, crafted with care and intention, but as we all know, grief ripples outward. It touches so many people in so many ways. As I worked, I found myself thinking of others who were also mourning. I created additional pieces that, to me, captured the essence of their connection to the person they lost, honoring their unique grief journeys.
When it came time to make my friend’s necklace, I approached it the way I would if I were making it for myself—imagining what I would need, what would bring comfort, what would feel right in the midst of such loss. It turned into an emotional process. There was a lot of crying, so much that at times I struggled to see what I was doing. But in the end, it became an art piece I am truly proud of, a piece that I hope does justice to the love and memory it represents.
Memorial jewelry is not something I will list on my website, because it’s not just a product—it’s a deeply personal creation, unique to each person and their grief. But if you ever need something made to honor a loved one or a beloved pet, please reach out to me. It would be my honor to create something meaningful for you.