The Fleur de Lis symbol has appeared on countless coats of arms, flags, architecture, and remains an enduring symbol of France and New Orleans.  The Fleur de Lis literally means “lily flower” and the symbol is a stylized interpretation of a lily.  Urn Garden has modernized the famous French icon into a piece of memorial jewelry.

For less than $200 one of our customers was able to create an Irish themed keepsake collection for their loved one.

Celtic Starburst keepsake cremation urn

Our metal Celtic keepsake urns are sculpted and cast using the ancient lost wax method, then hand painted and trimmed in Celtic knots and brilliant Austrian crystals, which some believe have a power of their own.

Irish Spirit Celtic Cross Keepsake Urn

In addition to the keepsake urns, they selected one of our new styles of cremation keepsake rings.

Celtic Knot Cremation Ash Ring

The Celtic Knot memorial ring jewelry has a secure threaded enclosure to store ashes, lock of hair, or sand from a favorite  beach.

Carrie Marie Maurer

Age 29, of Conowingo, MD, died suddenly February 17, 2010 as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident.

Born in Havre de Grace, MD on June 18, 1980, Carrie was the daughter of Kenneth and Janet Marie Maurer. She was a 1998 graduate of Rising Sun High School where she was a cheerleader for four years. Carrie was employed at AAA in Newark, DE where she was a roadside service assistant. Carrie loved children and was “Aunt Carrie” to many children. An avid Philadephia Eagles fan, Carrie’s greatest joy, however, was spending time with friends and family and will always be remembered for her generosity and loyalty. She will be dearly missed.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Carrie. RIP

Our Gold Ribbon Heart keepsake urn pendant has a chamber inside which families can use to preserve the ashes of their loved one, lock of hair, or other small loving memento. Created in high quality gold plating and studded with crystals, our urn jewelry has a secure threaded lid, and includes tools to fill and seal the urn necklace.

This style of cremation urn jewelry is also available in 14K yellow gold, 14K white gold, and sterling silver.

Gold Ribbon Urn Necklace

Other styles of cremation jewelry:

Red Heart Urn Necklace

Gold Puff Heart Urn Necklace

Early examples of mourning  jewelry were found in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Black and white enameled heads or skulls were often set into both rings and brooches and worn to signify a period of mourning after the death of a loved one.

memento mori

The Death’s Head motif (skull) was still used on mourning rings as late as the 17th century. A ring presented after the execution of King Charles I in 1649 shows a portrait of Charles I on one side and a skull and a crown on the other. Inside the inscription reads, “The glory of England has departed.”

The presentation of mourning rings was a status symbol in the 17th and 18th centuries. The wealthy specified the ring design and quantity to be made in their wills.

Samuel Pepys, English diarist and naval official (1633-1703) willed that 129 mourning rings be given away at his funeral.

Either he had a large family or a huge ego.

skull ring memento mori

Urn Garden is pleased to launch a contemporary line of urn rings, inspired by Victorian mourning jewelry.

Keepsake Cremation Urn Ring

Some families like to scatter ashes from way up high, this lady is releasing a keepsake amount of cremated ashes from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Or this undisclosed location:

We prefer to keep it on the down low, whether spreading ashes on the ground or over the water:

U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Gabriel Hernandez

If you plan to spread the ashes on the ground, a shallow trench or groove can be dug in the soil or sand where the ashes can be placed. This process can be personalized by drawing out the person’s name or a heart shaped trench. Add candles or luminaries around the trench to create a spiritual ambiance and can be later used as a keepsake for those that attend.  Wildflower seeds and  tree plantings are another way to personalize the event. At the end of the ceremony, participants can either rake over the remains in the trench, or have the water from the ocean sweep the remains out to sea while family and friends join hands and remember the individual’s life.

The most common method of scattering ashes is known as “casting” , which is basically tossing the ashes into the wind.  Let’s talk about the WIND.  Consider wind direction and try to cast down to prevent “blow-back”.  The dense nature of human ashes combined with a fine powder forms a whitish-gray cloud when it becomes airborne.

Some families want to release the ashes all at once, and others want to spread the ashes as a group, each member taking a turn scattering the remains.

This family opted to split the ashes in individual envelopes, some DIY-ers use paper cups.   Your family funeral director can make this process much easier if you need assistance or have questions regarding this process.

Scattering tubes and biodegradable scattering urns are also available.

Our Mother of Pearl urn represents the June birthstone and is available in two sizes for adults and pets.

Or if the symbol of the rose is more your style, we have several urns in the rose theme, including a 14K gold Sweetheart Rose urn necklace.

Need help making a selection?  Call toll free for personalized service.

Thank you for letting us serve you.

Today’s jewelry show features mourning jewelry from the Victorian age.

Ruby & Diamond Skull Mourning Ring

Vintage Mourning Jewelry

Plaited hair woven into the eternity/infinity symbol..serpent style! These styles are very collectible and I recently talked with a funeral director in Ohio who collects the hair art. Would the community come out for an exhibit on Memento Mori….at the funeral home?

And then we have the modern designs that blend the ancient symbols of circles, wings and feathers and leaves the skulls and scales in the past:

Eternity Urn Necklace

Infinity Urn Pendant

Winged Urn Necklace

There’s not many choices for urn bracelets, so it’s exciting when a new style becomes available for families that want it. We’ve been working this week on our new collection of urn jewelry, bracelets and matching urn pendants.

Eternity Urn Bracelet

The circle is an ancient symbol of Eternity. Beaded leather and 14 K yellow gold combine for a contemporary urn bracelet design. Our urn jewelry blends the simplicity of the Eternity symbol that discreetly holds a trace of cremation ash, lock of hair, or other small loving memento. Comes with full instructions and necessary tools for filling. Available in sterling silver, and 14K gold.

Eternity Urn Necklace