Cairn Ceramics began from a sacred request. In 2022, as she neared the end of her life, our beloved friend Kristin asked Todd, a lifelong ceramicist, to create sacred objects infused with her ashes, to be shared with her friends and family. Kristin requested tsatsas—small votive sculptures used in Tibetan Buddhism to honor beloved teachers and loved ones by blending their remains with clay, creating blessed memorials that keep their spirit present.

Todd carefully infused Kristin’s cremains into porcelain, crafting vibrant, colorful pieces in yellow, blue, green, and more—capturing her love of color and life. Her friends across the country received these deeply personal gifts, each one a tangible way to keep Kristin close.

We brought these pieces, along with handcrafted beads to her memorial service. Friends and family were able to order a custom piece in honor of our dear Kristin. Crafting these pieces brought her even closer to our hearts. This experience led us to creating Cairn Ceramics so that we could share this work with others – crafting lasting pieces infused with love and memory.