Many keepsakes need only a pinch or a teaspoon of ashes, so you can keep something close while the rest is buried, scattered or shared with family. Jewelry, glass, small urns, art and wind chimes all work with small amounts. Before you choose, ask each maker how much they need and what happens to anything they don't use.
Sometimes a family wants most of the ashes to rest in one place, together, and only a little kept close. Sometimes a portion has already been scattered or shared, and what's left is small: a sibling's share, a few spoonfuls set aside before a burial, or the ashes of a baby or a beloved pet. Either way, a small amount is often all that's needed for something lasting.
How little is enough?
Amounts vary by maker, but most small keepsakes fall into three rough sizes.
A pinch. Enough to fill a small chamber or be mixed into a single piece.
About a teaspoon. Enough to be worked into glass, clay or porcelain so the ashes become part of the object.
A tablespoon or more. Enough to fill a small container you can hold or keep on a shelf.
| Keepsake | Typical amount | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| Cremation jewelry (pendant, ring, locket) | A pinch | Worn every day |
| Memorial tattoo | A pinch, mixed into the ink | On the skin |
| Glass pendant or paperweight | About half a teaspoon to a tablespoon | Worn, or on a desk or shelf |
| Painting or ceramic glaze | About a teaspoon | On a wall or shelf |
| Porcelain wind chime | About a teaspoon (two for a double) | Outdoors, on a porch or in a garden |
| Mini keepsake urn | A few tablespoons to a cup | A shelf or bedside table |
A quarter cup of ashes is enough for several of these, which is why many families give each household its own keepsake and still keep most of the ashes together.
Setting a portion aside
If a burial or scattering is planned, it helps to set aside a little first, even if no one has decided on a keepsake yet. Once ashes are scattered or buried, they can't be gathered again.
- Ask your funeral home or crematory. Many will place a small portion in a separate container for you, often at no charge. It's worth asking before the ashes come home.
- Or do it yourselves. A few spoonfuls in a small, sealed jar, labeled with the person's name and the date, will keep indefinitely.
- Set aside a little more than you think. If several people may want something later, a quarter cup leaves room for everyone.
Questions to ask any maker
Before you send ashes anywhere, these questions are worth asking:
- How much do you need? And will they send a kit or container to make it easy?
- What happens to any ashes you don't use? Some makers return them; others use everything they receive. Either can be right, but you should know in advance.
- How do the ashes travel? In the United States, cremated remains must be mailed by USPS Priority Mail Express. Ask who provides the box and label, and who pays.
- How are the ashes held in the piece? Sealed inside a chamber, mixed into glass or ink, or fired into clay. Some people want to see them; others prefer not to.
- How long will it take? A few weeks to a few months is common for handmade work.
- Can more than one person order from the same ashes? If several family members want a keepsake, ask how to send one portion for all of them.
- What if it breaks or doesn't come out right? Ask whether they can remake it, and whether they would need more ashes.
How we answer those questions
We make porcelain wind chimes, so here are our own answers:
- How much: about a teaspoon for a single chime, two for a double.
- The kit: we send a small wooden spoon and a bag marked with a fill line, so there's nothing to measure.
- Unused ashes: we ask only for what one chime needs, and every bit of what you send becomes part of it.
- Shipping: we provide the USPS box and email a prepaid Priority Mail Express label when you're ready. Postage is on us both ways.
- In the piece: the ashes are fired into the porcelain, where they show softly on the inside of each form.
- Timing: about four to six weeks after the ashes arrive.
- If something goes wrong in the kiln: we'll ask for a little more and make it again.
See the chimes, or read how we make them.
Questions families ask
Is a pinch really enough?
For jewelry and tattoos, yes. Those pieces are designed around very small amounts. For glass, clay and porcelain, about a teaspoon is typical.
What if we've already scattered most of the ashes?
Even a few spoonfuls are enough for one or more small keepsakes. Ask each maker exactly how much they need before you divide what's left.
Can we order another keepsake later?
Yes, if some ashes are kept aside. That's one more reason to set aside a little extra in a sealed, labeled jar.
Do these work for a baby's or a pet's ashes?
Yes. Because they need so little, small keepsakes are often a good fit when there are only a few spoonfuls of ashes.
