Pet Memories in Glass

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Lucky Dog (Lucky Me)

Like most everyone, I have to work. I am “lucky” enough to work from home (Yay! No morning rush hour commute! Yay! No dressing up or ironing clothes! Boo, the office is always open and waiting with more to do every time I walk by. Boo, endless piles of yucky tasks that someone else did when I worked for a corporation that now I need to figure out and do).

But I am lucky, amazingly lucky. I have frequent, insisted upon breaks, demanded by my sweet old dog Winnie, whether it is convenient for me to stop what I am doing or not. She just pushes her way into my lap, sheds a few pounds of hair, starts her sweet gentle snoring, and snuggles in—as much as any 60-pound dog can snuggle across your lap!

No worrying on her part if the laptop goes sliding off, or doesn’t quite make it to the side table fast enough; she is here, now, in my lap, releasing that contented sigh of dog breath that actually makes me stop, smile and simply be in the moment enjoying the lapdog time.

I am also lucky in that Winnie most of the time shows me what she wants without being destructive. (I can always tell if I have been super busy and she feels ignored when I find her rooting around a trash can or chasing the cat.)

Pet Memories in Glass Winnie
“Play now mom, NOW!”

She grabs a toy, brings it to me, and does a play bow, sweetly asking for a bit of my time and just a tiny little tuggie moment. How can I resist??!!

Well, sometimes I must, but most days I listen to what she patiently explains to me she needs, (humans can be a bit dense) and realize that what she needs I need too, without even knowing it at the time.

So that is how I find myself right now, trying to work but luckily having an elderly dog with demanding snuggle needs. One handed typing is slow and difficult, but having my sweet old girl fall asleep on my lap is more than worth it!

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So God Made a Dog

I love this video I recently shared on my Facebook page….it says so many things about how they enrich our lives even when they are being naughty, or are sick, or just so stinkin’ full of energy at the wrong time! (The funny thing is, as I am loading this onto my site, my silly dog Winnie is snortin’ and snufflin’ and snorin’ to beat the band!)

Enjoy!

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20 Ways to Give Your Pet a Great Life

I recently came across this article and found it “Spot” on!! I hope you enjoy it also–and find inspiration, compassion, and deep joy in all you do with your dog!

These 20 essential facts all dog lovers must always keep in mind were written by DogHeirs. These life lessons are sometimes easy to forget in our hectic lives, but when you remember that you are your dog’s whole world, these 20 truths are unforgettable.

1. Don’t ignore me for too long. I may only live for 10 to 15 years. It seems like forever when you’re away from me and it hurts my heart when I don’t know where you are.

2. Take me to new places to meet friendly people and animals. I might be frightened of them at first, but if you hold my paw through these new experiences, I’ll learn to be more confident and trusting of others. I really do love to meet new friends.

3. Don’t throw me away when new family members arrive. They are my family too and I will love and protect them as much as I love and protect you.

4. Don’t get mad at me when I jump up. I love you so much and sometimes I can’t help getting excited and wanting to give you a hug.

5. Teach me new things. I love making you happy so teach me what you’d like me to do. Learning is great exercise and I love it just as much as a run at the park.

6. Don’t get frustrated and give up on me. I don’t understand your language, but I’m trying my best to learn. Give me time to understand what you want of me because all I want to do is please you.

7. Don’t take out your stress on me. No matter how your day went, I am always happy to see you and will do whatever I can to make your day better.

8. Give me comfort when I’m scared. I always feel better when I’m with you and it may just take a moment before I understand that new things wont hurt me.

9. No matter how busy you are, try to spend a little bit of quality time with me every day. This is truly what I look forward to the most and every minute means so much to me.

10. Don’t leave me outside when it’s too hot or too cold. I don’t have anywhere to go to stay cool or to keep warm and I don’t know how to escape if I’m in a desperate situation.

11. Don’t forget the little things that keep me healthy and happy. My paws hurt if my toenails are too long and I feel much better after my coat has been brushed free of mats. I could even get sick if my teeth are too dirty. It’s only minutes of your time, but it means so much to me.

12. Trust me. I trust you with all my heart, so please trust me too. You mean the world to me.

13. Don’t be angry with me for too long. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only you.

14. Talk to me. I may not understand your words, but I understand your tone and body language.

15. Always treat me with kindness. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it. The more you love me, the stronger our bond will be.

16. Please don’t hit me. Remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you because I love you. If I did something wrong, I didn’t mean to make you angry, so please help me understand how to not repeat it. I would much rather give you kisses.

17. Let me know whenever I’ve done something right. Nothing in the world makes me happier. I can tell when you’re pleased with me and if I know what I’ve done to make you smile, you can bet your life that I will try and do it again. And again, and again, and again…

18. Pay attention to me if I’m not being myself. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, please check to see if something might be bothering me. My heart may be getting old, I may be unwell, or I could even be in pain.

19. Take care of me when I get old, just as much as you cared for me when I was a puppy. When I was young, you spent so much time cuddling me and touching my soft fur. My fur might not be as soft and I am no longer small, but my love for you has only grown stronger.

20. Come with me on difficult journeys. I understand that it’s hard for you, but please stay with me until the very end. Everything is better, easier and safer for me if you are with me. Remember, I love you.

Source: DogHeirs.com

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Traveling with Cremains

While I mainly focus on glass pet cremation jewelry, I also create cremation jewelry with human cremains. I had a client whose lovely aunt had recently passed, and was going to be cremated. The client knew they wanted her ashes created into a custom cremation pendant by me; however, the ashes were in another country. It was a bit of a challenge getting the answers I needed to have the cremains delivered in time to my studio.  We ended up having to have the funeral home and crematory involved, as this was the most expeditious way of ensuring the timing of her memorial service and completion of the pendant coincided.

But it made me realize how difficult it would be for someone with zero knowledge of the rules and regulations of cremains transportation (and most probably already feeling overwhelmed, having to deal with their own shock, sadness, and grief) would go about learning this. Going to another country via air travel with a beloved’s ashes hopefully won’t happen to many of us with any frequency. But if you do find yourself in this situation, you can hopefully avoid the disappointment and frustration by reading this helpful article I came across from the TSA (Transportation Security Administration).

You should definitely check with the airline you are flying on for any special requirements or policies regarding the cremains before you leave for your flight. It would be heartbreaking to get to the terminal only to find out the container with the cremains is not TSA or specific airline approved, which can occur with metal, ceramic or stone containers.

When I Fly, Can I Bring My … Cremains?

“We understand how painful losing a loved one is and we treat crematory remains with respect. Some airlines do not allow cremated remains as checked baggage, so please check with your airline to learn more about possible restrictions.

Under no circumstances will a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) open a crematory container. To facilitate screening, we suggest that you purchase a temporary or permanent crematory container made of a lighter weight material, such as wood or plastic. If the container is made of a material that generates an opaque image, the TSO will not be able to clearly determine what is inside the container and the container will not be permitted. 

Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.”

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Cremation Urns

Glass Pet Cremation Jewelry
Glass Pet Cremation Jewelry
Cobalt Vessel

I truly enjoy making glass cremation jewelry for all the meaningful connection and personal memories they hold. But I only need a very small amount to use when creating them, which leaves much of the cremains to be kept in some sort of container, vessel, or urn.

Cremation urns are very personal connections with your loved one.  One of the challenges of cremation is choosing the size of the cremation urn. Since our pets (and family) all come in different sizes, and most often unaware of the volume of cremains returned, it can be a guessing game.

The staff at the crematorium of your choice should be able to guide you to the correct size, but the appearance, functionality, shape, price, and style will be a much more personal choice. Urn designs range from basic to custom, can be personalized or simple, sculptured like works of art, created in beautiful hardwoods or metals, such as brass or stainless steel, even ceramics, and many other options.  They can have laser etchings of the pet’s name, a cute photo of them, or their favorite toy—the possibilities are open.

When choosing the urn, you may also want to consider where the urn will be displayed. Is it going to be in a prominent place? Maybe you want keep it inside another box along with the pets tags, collar and other memories. Perhaps you just want to hold onto a small portion and spread the ashes in a significant place at a later time. Your family’s wishes need to be considered also. A beloved family pet has an attachment to each person in it, and each family member may have specific ideas of what they envision or want.

I know this very personal decision can be overwhelming and emotionally difficult at the time of passing, so be kind to yourself now, and allow yourself to think of how you would prefer to honor your pet before the time comes if you can. Your decision doesn’t have to be absolute and final, just a general idea; thinking about this now can save you and your family anguish and heartache later. And when that sad time does come, you will be better able to follow your heart and wishes.