we've made a number of boxes for friends' ashes over the years. i always find it an honor, a time to reflect, and a time to appreciate the person and the relationship we had. the boxes and caskets below were all made in the last 7 years and i expect as time goes by to make a few more each year. our friends are getting older. click the photos to enlarge them.
the box at the top of this post was for the mother of a good friend; her daughter in law's box is in the photo above; both boxes are in stained butternut.
this one was for a good friend's mother; cherry and curly maple.
a matching pair ... the husband above in november; the wife, below, a few months later.
both in stained quartered cherry
and we knew them since the 70's
a friend for 43 years who passed on this past summer .. birdseye maple and steel; family effort; sam on metal; will on dovetails; dan on the box bottom, the lid, and finish
kit's mom; milk painted pine and douglas fir
my dad , a dancer, an engineer, a fisherman and a hunter; cherry and walnut
my mom; a mom and a quilter; various woods
there is a detailed post on box making with dimensions and step by step steps at this link
they've all been spur of the moment projects and i haven't varied the theme much
and often i get one of these
jump at the chance to make one if it comes your way. you won't regret it. it's wonderful thing to do.