When a loved one passes on, it is only natural to have a keepsake close by to be reminded of their positive presence they once held.
Davenport Memorial Glass does just this — by creating custom, stunning glass pieces that are filled with a loved one’s ashes.
The most popular are the pet paws — which are small enough for you to carry a piece of your beloved cat or dog with you wherever you go.
“Our goal is to physically capture a moment, to create a keepsake that brings back a memory,” creator, Cameron Davenport pens on their website. “Nothing will compare to the time spent with your loved one, but we hope to aid in treasuring them and remembering the precious time you had together.”
Davenport also creates glass art without the addition of ashes.
While the ancient art has been around for hundreds of years — Davenport uses classic techniques combined with modern methods to create stunning pieces.
“I started blowing glass back in 2003,” said Davenport to Bored Panda.
“After many years of struggling, I finally took a class from an artist by the name of Phil Siegel. That’s when everything changed. I started focusing more on the art, and less on the function. Working harder to make it clean and uniform rather than just sellable.”
“About 10 years ago I lost a good friend. I was given a small spoonful of his ashes that I had just set on my bookshelf for a number of years.”
“One day it came to me, and I decided to make him into a marble. There were quite a few friends that thought this was a neat idea and asked me to make them some memorial glass as well. It sort of just snowballed after that.”
With a secret, special technique — Cameron has spent years perfecting infusing ashes with its glass counterpart.
“The ashes put a lot of stress into the glass while working with it, making it very difficult to work with,” he shared. “I’ve had many glass artists contact me and ask how I do it. I’d be up for teaching a class one day.”
Many of Cameron’s clients are in the grieving process — so he makes sure he takes time to connect with his customers, often listening to the background behind their requests.
“One of the hardest parts about my job is hearing stories bout S.I.D.S. It absolutely eats me up inside. I get a ton of sad emails and often need to take breaks from reading,” he said.
That being said — there is a silver lining, according to Cameron.
“One of my favorite parts about my job are the smiles and tears I receive from my clients,” he shared. “They love the work I do for them and the meaning behind it. As each day goes on, I become more and more grateful for the people in my life and the time I get to spend with them. Doing this type of work really highlights the love in my life. I look forward to many more years of spreading joy and comfort through memorial glass.”
NOW WATCH: Sweden Actually Turns It’s Garbage Into Energy | Save The World