These cremation urns range from glass pendants to green burial vessels. What I love about Artisurn (artist’s urns) is the idea of healing through beauty and ashes. Here are several different types of cremation urns – including pendants that hold ashes – which were created with love by artisans who specialize in memorial resting places.

“Green Burial Urn” image via Artisurn.com

“Handcrafted memorial vessels have personalities, just like people,” says Irina Jordon, who owns Artisurn (an online marketplace of handcrafted cremation urns). “Urns can be serious, playful, elegant, exuberant and much more. Memorial artisans pour their heart and soul into their pieces – and it shows. It has been a rewarding experience for me to work with such a talented group of artisans who have spent years perfecting their craft. I love each and every one of the cremation urns, pieces of jewelry and keepsakes that I showcase on Artisurn.com.”

Here, Irina describes what led her to create Artisurn – and why choosing a handcrafted cremation urn isn’t just about choosing a final resting place. I also included a list of different types of cremation urns, plus a link to her website. My personal favorite type of cremation urns are the Raku style burial urns – I include a photo of one below. The image on the right is a Scattering or Green Burial Sharing Urn.

A Final Resting Place of Beauty and Love

“I got the dreaded call in the middle of the night,” says Irina. “My mom told me my brother was a victim of a burglary in his apartment. He was only 22 years old. Since then, I’ve been haunted by memories of him and our times together. Last year I lost a close family friend unexpectedly and that triggered all the memories of my brother’s untimely and tragic passing. That was the final push that nudged me into launching Artisurn —my ode to my loved ones.”

This online marketplace for cremation urns was founded on the premise that everyone deserves lovingly handcrafted cremation urns, which help on a grieving journey. Irina wants people to celebrate the life of a loved one or beloved pet by finding a perfect one-of-a-kind memorial vessel they can proudly display in their homes or wear close to their hearts.

Cremation Jewelry Urns image via Irina Jordan

Urn pendants keep your loved one’s ashes close to your heart. Below is a list of different types of cremation urns from Artisurn’s website – and what surprised me about these handcrafted cremation urns is that your choices aren’t limited to urns. “You can have the ashes fused with glass to create unique glass jewelry and keepsakes,” says Irina. “You can pour a tiny amount of ashes into an urn pendant and keep it close. Pick memorial pieces that ‘speak’ to you and you and your family will treasure them forever as family heirlooms.”

Accepting death enriches your life. The reason I started this blog for dying people is because I believe acceptance and discussion about death can make life more valuable and sweet. Irina agrees, saying that death is part of our life cycle and as soon as people embrace it, they let go of their fears of death and have more enriching lives. “I am a big supporter of the ‘death acceptance’ movement and I encourage people to think about their final wishes,” says Irina. “It is truly empowering. I have taken care of my final wishes and I am still in my 30′s.”

Choosing a cremation urn helps you say good-bye. If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness, looking through cremation urns can be a way to acknowledge your life and prepare for death. It’s a way to take your power back and prepare for the end of your life – similar to thinking about ways to decorate your coffin.

Artisurn’s customers are from all ages and walks of life. “I got a call from a woman in her early 20′s whose husband, also in his early 20′s, had passed away unexpectedly while on a business trip in China,” says Irina, “While dealing with logistics of getting his body transported back to US to get it cremated, she spent countless hours looking for an urn that will match his personality. She came across our website, and one of the cremation urns from the Raku Style Urns Collection ‘spoke’ to her. This urn helped her on her grief journey while dealing with an unimaginable and unexpected loss.”

Different Types of Handcrafted Cremation Urns

Companion Cremation Urns can accommodate the cremated remains of two people, such as a husband and wife, and range in size from 300 to 400 cubic inches

Zen Cremation Urn, image via Artisurn.com

Individual Size Cremation Urns hold the ashes of one person. The Cremation Association of North America created an industry standard of 200 cubic inches, which equals about 6.8 pints. Individual urns vary from 110 to 220 cubic inches.

Sharing Cremation Urns are smaller, and are intended for sharing ashes among several different family members. Sharing urns come in a variety of sizes: small (up to 30 cubic inches), medium (up to 50 cubic inches), large (up to 70 cubic inches) and extra-large (up to 100 cubic inches). This urn can be used as a child or infant urn

Pet Urns comes in a variety of sizes: small (up to 30 cubic inches), medium (up to 50 cubic inches), large (up to 70 cubic inches) and extra-large (up to 100 cubic inches).

Keepsake Cremation Urns only a small portion of cremation ashes. A keepsake urns’ capacity varies from 3 cubic inches to 50 cubic inches. When an individual sized urn is used to place the ashes in their final location, keepsake urns are often used to keep a portion of the ashes close to home or given out for scattering.

Cremation Jewelry Urns are the smallest size of urns. These urns are really just specially designed jewelry that have an inner chamber to hold a tiny portion of cremation ashes. They are a great alternative to traditional cremation urns. Ashes can also be incorporated into cremation jewelry by fusing it with class or ceramics.

Irina Jordan, owner of Artisurn.com

“Handcrafted cremation urns are pieces of art,” says Irina. “They can tell stories of your loved one or beloved pet. Don’t let anyone make a choice of a final resting vessel for your loved one or for you if you are making your final wishes. The urn you pick will tell stories for generations to come about the person whose ashes are inside.”

If you have any questions or thoughts on these different types of handcrafted cremation urns, feel free to comment below or visit Irina on her Artisurn website.

Irina Jordan was born and raised in Russia and moved to the US when she was 22 years old. She is is the owner of ARTISURN — an online marketplace of handcrafted cremation urns, jewelry and keepsakes. Connector. Optimist. Avid reader.