cardinal cremation urn

Birds of a Feather: Cardinal Cremation Urn

August 13, 2019 urngarden.com

Way back when we launched the urngarden.com site, we tried to focus on inspirational people and images that would lift us up out of the darkness and hopefully inspire others too.

My grandmother was one of the most impactful people in my life both personally and professionally, Our business name, Urn Garden came from her habit of creating memorial gardens when a loved one died. Back then, she lived on a large farm out in the country and she would dedicate a special planting on her property to honor that person. These spaces were tastefully arranged with flowers, shrubs, or statutory and did NOT look like a graveyard.

Later, she sold the farm, did a major downsize and moved to a condo in town, where she was closer to family and friends. She had a postage stamp size yard still full of flowers, but with more time on her hands, she started amassing a collection of bird figurines, that soon covered every surface in the house.

We joked about it, glad that it was inanimate objects, and not cats, so we christened her place “The Fowl House”. On one visit, as I sat on the couch in her front room, I started counting the birds within sight. I stopped at 100. It had become an obsession.

Bird & Butterfly Cremation Urns for ashes

That’s how we came up with the Bird and Butterfly collection of cremation urns (she liked butterflies, too) because of how bird crazy she was. She believed that if you loved it, you better put a bird on it.

Cardinal cremation urn for ashes — Cardinal Adult Cremation Urn

Cardinals were probably her favorite, and the Cardinal on Dogwood urn for ashes is a tribute to her. This urn is so beautiful and the old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Recently, this style has been copied by imposters, so just know that when you buy from us, know that it’s the original design created by Americans that care about your family, and we can offer professional engraving services as well.

For years my grandparents were members of the Silver Eagles and went to conventions and made many friends from around the country. Soaring Free Eagle Cremation Urn is another style that we launched to honor that history.

My dear grandmother peacefully died in her sleep three years ago and at her memorial service we put that bird collection out for the guests to take as a keepsake. We were surprised at the turn out, many came from out of town, but she had made a huge impact on others lives as well. I miss her every day. I was lucky enough to inherit a few pieces of her jewelry, one favorite is a chunky turquoise bracelet that I wear when I want to feel the weight of her presence. Before she died, she had made a quilt that I sleep with every night and it feels like a hug. I miss holding hands with her and her gentle loving spirit.

As I’m typing this, a cardinal is perched on a dogwood branch, right outside my window. I can’t tell if it’s a male or female, but that bird is super chirpy this morning. Maybe that’s a sign?

Anyway, imagine my surprise, when I received a handwritten thank you not from a client. This is a rare and welcome gift, as I consider the act of writing a thank you note a dying art. This came from the heartland of America, so that gives me hope. This family in Kansas had recently held a memorial service for their mom who was also known as a sister, aunt, grandmother, cousin, and friend.

small cardinal cremation urn for ashes — Small Cardinal Keepsake Urn for Ashes

The cardinal must have meant something to their family as well, because in addition to ordering the cardinal cremation urn, they created a funeral program which featured a poem with a picture of a cardinal. Not gonna lie, I was so touched by not only the gesture, but the poem really spoke to me and I felt myself even get a little misty as I read the words. They reminded me so much of dear Etta, my grandmother. I want to share them with you, too and hope it brings you comfort.

Red Feathered Soul

When you’re lost or feeling down,

Don’t despair, just look around

God made me red so you would see,

I still exist outside your memory.

I make my visits in bright daylight,

You’ll hear my son in distant flight,

My cardinal song is a call to you,

To tell you that I miss you too.

I am everywhere and finally free,

Like love you cannot touch or see,

You’ll see me in the trees and skies,

I didn’t leave, love never dies.

Elle Bee

Urns for Mothers, Beauty from the Ashes

May 3, 2019 Kim Stacey

In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re going to look at cremation urns for mothers. And, in the process, I’d like to skirt gracefully around the edges of that oh-so-complex relationship we have with our mothers. It doesn’t seem to matter who you are – and what type of mother you had – the connection we have to ‘mom’ is a life-long one. We’ve written before about some of the memorial urn styles that families have selected for mom and you can read about that too.

Types of Mothers
Psychologists argue there are different types of mothers. Some say there are five types: the perfectionist; the unpredictable mom, the mother who strives to be a child’s best friend; the self-centered “me-first” mom, and that ideal of motherhood, the “complete” mother. Others claim there are ten or fifteen different types of mothers. No matter the number – or the names given to them – there’s no denying our mothers pay a very part in preparing us for adulthood.

A Bit about Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, albeit on different days of the year. In Afghanistan, as in other areas in the Middle East, it’s celebrated in March; in Luxemburg, the importance of motherhood is acknowledged in June. (Source: ChartsBin.com) Here in the United States (and dozens of other nations) it always falls on the second Sunday in May – this year; the date is May 12th and whether you celebrate the day or not–its arrival is sure to stir up memories and emotions.

Usually, families gather together to acknowledge and celebrate the mother who spent years raising us. We toast to her health and happiness, kiss her on the cheek, and we may even have arrived with a small gift. Or maybe we send flowers. But, when Mom is gone – as mine has been for the past 30 years – Mother’s Day isn’t the same. We struggle to find meaningful ways to do those things we always did: show mom how much we love and appreciate her presence in our lives. This Mother’s Day, it may be appropriate – and personally healing – to select the perfect cremation urn for mother. Let’s take a closer look.

Consider the charming Mom Urn Necklace. Made of durable stainless steel, it measures 1-1/4? L x 3/4? W x 1/4?; comes with a 22? chain and microfiber jewelry pouch.

The next two cremation urns for mothers include the image of a cardinal. If you’re not already aware, the cardinal is deeply symbolic. Many believe cardinals are messengers from someone who has died. Certainly, the male’s brilliant cardinal red color, and (to Christians) is symbolic of the blood of Christ, And red is symbolic of steadfast faith and love.

Cardinal on Dogwood Flower Urn

This full-size adult cardinal cremation urn is classically styled, and features the image of a cardinal sitting on the branch of a dogwood tree. Like the cardinal, the dogwood is also a symbol for Christians: “It is said that the wood of the dogwood tree is the hardest and that it was chosen to be used in the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.”(Source:hunker.com.) It’s a very popular urn and the reviews we’ve received are heartwarming.

Just last month, Kayla wrote “The loss of my grandma was very sudden and we were not prepared for all of the decisions you have to make when someone leaves us. Urn Garden made one of the hardest decisions into one of the easiest. The urn is absolutely stunning. The engraving looks phenomenal and the quality is top notch for an incredibly affordable price. Thank you so much. She would have absolutely loved it.”

These same customers appreciate the Jeweled Cardinal Keepsake Urn. Beautifully detailed, this diminutive keepsake urn (it’s just 3” high) is a gorgeous tribute to mother.

If the symbolism of the Cardinal isn’t a ‘good fit” with the memories you hold of “Mom”, consider the Hummingbird Mini-Urn for Ashes. It’s a bit larger than the previous keepsake urn, measuring 5″ x 3-1/2″.

Hummingbirds are believed by many to o be messengers between deceased and the living. And in Native American cultures, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck and joy” (Source: wootandhammy.com.)

Siesta Key Beach Cremation Urn

Ocean beach cremation urn for ashes — Siesta Key Ocean Beach Urn

If your mom loved the ocean, then Siesta Key Beach Urn is the perfect full-sized cremation urn to honor her memory. It stands almost 11” high, and the colors are deep and rich. Like the earlier full-sized urn, this cremation urn can be engraved, personalizing your memorial.

Honor Your Relationship with Mother

My mother died 30 years ago. I have only 3 pictures of her, and my memories of her are very mixed. So, next time, I’d l like to explore the ways we can honor our deceased mothers on Mother’s Day while, at the same time, dealing with the emotions – love, grief, anger, loneliness – raised each year by holidays such as this.

As I said earlier, my mother died almost 30 years ago. Still, every Mother’s Day, I think of her – and take time to make a list of all the wonderful attributes she instilled in me. Why dwell on the negatives? If she were still alive, I’d like share this (albeit short) list with her:

1. You taught me to love the history and power of words.
2. You showed me how the act of writing can heal emotional wounds.
3. You shared your love of gardening with me – a gift I still enjoy.
4. Through contrasting behavior, you showed me how to be a compassionate, caring, attentive mother.

This Mother’s Day, why not write your own “gratitude” list? If your mother is still alive, share it with her. If, as in my case, she’s no longer alive; simply speak the words aloud. In doing so, you acknowledge her gifts to you; and energize your on-going relationship with (the memories of) your mother.

4 Beautiful Symbolic Urns That Bring Peace and Rest to The Soul

April 2, 2019 urngarden.com

When families are faced with shopping for an urn to store a loved ones ashes, it’s usually a pretty dark day. With all the choices that are available to buy online these days it can quickly become very overwhelming. At Urn Garden, we don’t carry every urn on the planet. Based on our years of experience, and listening to our customer’s feedback, we’ve curated a collection of cremation urns for both humans and pets that families use to create touching memorials that create a sense of peace and calm during a highly emotional time.

Here’s a few of our top picks for creating “beauty from the ashes”, to quote a biblical passage. For us, it’s about rising above the storm to find the sunshine.

beautiful beach and cardinal urns for ashes

CARDINAL CREMATION URN

Several of our cremation urn choices are nature themes. The late Dr. Wayne Dyer said “becoming an instrument of peace is easy to do when you return to the natural world”, and many of our friends and families find comfort in the appearance of the cardinal after a death occurs.

The mini jeweled cardinal is a sweet little keepsake that can be purchased separate from the large urn. The top lifts to reveal a small storage chamber that holds a bit of ashes or lock of hair. Here’s a close up.

The companion piece to this ensemble is the adult size cardinal urn with the scarlet red cardinal perched on a branch of blooming dogwood flowers. The dogwood has spiritual connotations and by now everyone knows the significance of a cardinal sighting after death. It means a loved one is near.

Ocean Beach Themed Cremation Urns

For some people, the solution to calm the chaos is take a walk on the beach. In our fast paced, crowded, noisy world, returning to nature can quiet the mind and nourish the spirit. Sand and surf is the best medicine for those that love the salt life. Ocean waves can melt the anxiousness away.

We call this beach themed urn Santa Rosa, it’s made out of metal and can be engraved with up to three lines of engraving if you want. Beautiful ocean sunset, white sand. Peace.

Eagle Urn, Wings of Freedom

We’re circling back to birds, we’ve got quite a collection ranging from owls, bluebirds, hummingbird and more, but the most powerful of the flock and the one that resonates with our families is the eagle.

eagle cremation urn for ashes — Wings of Freedom Eagle Urn

Beautiful wing span over beautiful blue skyline and snow capped mountain range. We go into more detail on the qualities and characteristics of the powerful eagle on this recent post The Eagle Always Wins, Even at the Funeral.

Sunset Eagle is the traditional vase shape and features a symbolic sunset with rich colors and imagery. Also a full size adult urn, this has the threaded lid and is suitable for display or burial.

Heart Shaped Urns

Heart shaped urns are often used when a smaller container is needed for a smaller amount of ashes. People often buy these small sized urns when the families plan to divide and share some of the ashes. The hearts are perfect for this.

Made from metal with a glossy finish, the hearts are a secure way to store ashes, lock of hair or fur. They usually come with a stand and storage case.

Sold with the stand, they can be elevated or lay flat. Color choices are purple, cobalt blue, green, red.

The hearts engrave beautifully and are suitable for display or burial.

Need help? Visit us.

Buy Urns for Seasons of Life, Birds, Butterfly, Sunflowers

September 2, 2015 urngarden.com

Summer is winding down. The hummingbirds are fueling up for the journey south and the monarch butterflies are busy too. As the days get shorter, the leaves are in the early stages of turning color. All these changes tend to make me wistful. So sad to see the summer go. So many of our clients have had busy summers, dealing with family drama, illness, moves and the changing seasons of life.

Over the years, we’ve been working with artists to capture those moments that remind us that the spirit lives in the power of nature. Cremation urns that double as works of art and honor the essence of our loved one. Pottery and ceramic is a great medium and we’re so lucky to work with a couple of husband and wife teams that collaborate to create beautiful memorials. We love to showcase American artists and some of our current favorite creations are:

Sunflower Sculpture Urn.

What I love about it: Sunflower kissed by a monarch butterfly? Yes! This urn is a 3D sculpture that can be hung from the wall.

It’s a new concept that is beautifully crafted and hand painted.

This couple also does an amazing bass urn that can be wall mounted or placed on an easel.

Dragonfly Urn

It’s no secret that we’re crazy for Raku pottery and the urns and burial jars that a local husband and wife team create here in the Ozarks are also popular choices for the families we serve. They specialize in natural themes that resonate with our clients using dragonflies, feathers, and ferns that are hand carved into the clay and then fired to create amazing works of art.

Dragonflies are considered elements of wind and water and as a spirit animal, it signifies change. We’ve also adapted this tiny creature as a design element in cremation jewelry to represent peace, strength, and harmony.

This past year, we’ve seen an influx of the urn pendants coming our of China that copy existing styles. Urn Garden carries many pendants that are made by talented American jewelers that concept the original high quality designs and then precision craft memorials with love and care that can be worn close to your heart and last a lifetime.

Urns With Cardinals and Hummingbirds

Birds, butterflies, and flower urns for ashes are recurring themes at Urn Garden. We’ve dedicated a whole category in our catalog to them. The crimson Cardinal has spiritual meaning for many and seem to show up when you are missing a loved one. Based on that theory we took a snow white urn and painted a bright red Cardinal perched on a branch of blooming dogwood flowers.

So elegant and this style is gender neutral.

Mother of pearl Hummingbirds that shimmer on an adult size urn, or a miniature size fish, owl, or butterfly sculpture that holds a tiny bit of ashes to create a personalized memorial.

So many choices that don’t have to be difficult. Have something special in mind? We can help you create the perfect memorial.

Cardinal Cremation Urn, Symbol of Strength and Faith

June 26, 2015 urngarden.com

It’s not unusual to look for signs from a loved one after he or she dies. These symbols not only bring a feeling of hope, but a sense of peace and renewal. It’s a popular notion that cardinals are often seen as messengers from our loved ones. Just their presence symbolizes a myriad of ideals, thoughts and feelings.

The cardinal cremation urn was inspired by this bright little bird. Hand painted crimson feathers on a glossy snow white vase, our little bird is perched on a branch with blooming dogwood flowers, which also have spiritual connotations combine to make a the perfect memorial for your loved one. While this one is a full size adult style, a matching mini urn is also available to store smaller portions of cremated ash.

There are a couple of sculpture style keepsake urns also for family members that want a small remembrance.

cardinal keepsake urn for ashes — Cardinal Keepsake Urn for Ashes

A cardinal’s bright red markings and authoritative call are only a few of its strong attributes.

Cardinal Characteristics

To learn about the message a cardinal delivers, you need to first understand more about the messenger itself:

Color: One of the obvious qualities of a cardinal is its red color, which symbolizes faith, power, importance and vitality. This reminds us that we are an important component in the circle of life. For Christians, red symbolizes the “blood of Christ,” as well as the hope we received from His resurrection. In the Catholic church, the cardinal red color is worn by the highest priests of the same name.
Sounds: Albeit loud, a cardinal’s song or call is crisp and precise, making sure its message is clear. Female and male cardinals sing together and seem to communicate well with each other.
Mating and parenting: A cardinal’s mating and parenting characteristics are symbolic of the dedication and duty they show toward their mates and offspring. Unlike many in the animal kingdom, cardinals are largely monogamous and mate for life.
Health: Finally, a cardinal’s health symbolizes its strength, vitality and self-preservation. This bird’s spirit shows us that we can find the strength within ourselves to win the fight.

A Sign From the Afterlife?

While this may be perceived from several different viewpoints, some believe cardinals are sent here with messages from our loved ones who have died, wherever they may be. Each message is personal and unique, and can typically only understood by the receiver. A red cardinal is said to provide a safe avenue into the realm of personal power and perseverance, two strengths often sought after when a loved one passes away.

If cardinals aren’t your style, we can help you create a beautiful presentation at the funeral or memorial service with an alternate choice that is more representative of your style. Shop the site to see all the choices or call for help.