California-based artist Merry Coor has been making glass beads since 2000, but in 2013,  after a couple asked her to incorporate their departed friend's ashes into a bead, she realized that her medium could serve a different purpose. “I felt it was one of the most important beads I had ever made in my life, and I’ve made thousands of beads over the years,” she writes on her site. Now, Coor specializes in Ash Beads, wearable pendants made using cremation ash. 

"It was 80 degrees in my studio that day, but I had the chills the entire time I made their bead" she said.

“I put only my best energy into each bead,” Coor describes. She only creates when she is in a good mood, centered, and focused. “I take making beads with ashes very seriously and begin each bead with the utmost respect.” She melts rods of glass until they form spheres, then distributes their ashes on its surface in spirals. Afterwards, she encases her pieces in a transparent layer of clear glass.  The bead is ethereal, it looks like the heavens, infinite universe, or planet earth. 

“It gives me great purpose and pleasure to make these beads for you,” she tells her customers. “I hope that the beads give you comfort, and help with your grief.”

Ash Beads allow you to have your loved one close to you and are a tangible memory of your loved one. Whether you wear your bead or keep it tucked away, the ash inside is perfectly preserved inside of high quality glass. Every bead is handmade with care and respect. They can be comforting, they can be freeing. Ash beads are there for you when you need a touch stone, or a talisman and they can be given as gifts and shared with others.

You can find her work at www.Ashbeads.com    

For more information, you can contact her at: merry@ashbeads.com  or by phone 707-616-8808.