Family Tree

Although this blog is about mourning, it's also about remembering. Time eventually separates us all, but there are ways to keep the sentiments alive and part of our daily lives.

Soul Peaces creates some gorgeous custom lockets that allow you to turn your precious family photos into keepsake jewelry. These handcrafted pieces are both delicate yet rough, modern yet antiquated. They're made from a variety of materials, from recycled sterling silver and brass to semi-precious gems - even unexpected yet completely appropriate materials like worn leather in this photo book below:

I also adore this Family Tree piece, a silver branch with leaves to represent each member. What a charming way to keep your family close to your heart!

My Boy Builds Coffins

Coffins should be made by someone who respects the process. They should not be anonymous nor mass produced.

I love Simple Pine Boxes, a blog by a "box maker" who promotes the concept of honestly, simplicity and connection.

Change Is in The Air!

Sally the Mod Baby Chick by Lizix26

Apologies for the recent decline in posts. I've been working on converting this blog into a website, and I'm very excited about it.

I began this blog with the hopes of highlighting ways to remember that are both traditional and modern. As a culture, it seems we've lost our way when it comes to honoring our loved ones. I love the sentiments of Victorian mourning culture, but today those rituals are no longer truly authentic to who we are today. It's time to reconsider how we remember, and approach the subject with love and joy.

The Modern Mourner website will feature artists and crafters who can help us reconnect with those we've lost. The Modern Mourner is also a celebration of sentimentality, and cherishing those items we have today. We live in a disposable culture, and I hope that we can learn to repurpose everyday items into meaningful objects of remembrance - discarded T-shirts can become a quilt; a man's dress shirt can be transformed into a dress for a young girl; a box of old costume jewelry can be reimagined into something unique and contemporary.

The Modern Mourner website will offer services for those who'd like to transform their inherited items into handmade, precious mementos. We'll also have a section for Sympathy Gifts, as well as options for those currently experiencing loss. In the year that I've had this blog, it's apparent that there's a great need for alternatives to what's out there.

Above all I'd like offer my gratitude to all the artists I've featured over this last year - their work has inspired me, and I hope to pass it on and make it accessible. Please keep posted for more details soon!