The Modern Mourner

The Modern Mourner was begun by a crafty lady in the Bay Area when she lost her mother and knit an urn cozy to capture her warmth.

Now her project has grown to offer unique products from a collection of vendors — everything from sympathy cards that sprout into wildflowers to “living urns” and an array of repurposed objects.  The blog highlights specific projects from affiliated artists.

I asked Shirley of the Modern Mourner to share her inspiration, and here’s what she said:

“The Modern Mourner came about when I realized how designed-deprived death is. We have so many wonderful options when it comes to weddings, so why not funerals? At first, it may seem that design is the least important factor when it comes to death. In the face of overwhelming grief, does design really matter? My answer is YES. After all, important life transitions are celebrated with art. Death requires compassionate, heartfelt art that compensates for the absence of someone who’s died.

“As a culture, it seems there is so much that’s wrong with the way we mourn. Bringing design options is the little corner I’ve chosen, and I hope that I can bring alternatives to those who feel uninspired by current funeral industry offerings. My design preferences tend toward handmade, Etsy-inspired items, kind of a throwback to 19th century domestic arts. But I encourage everyone to find an aesthetic that’s meaningful to them, and to never settle for something that doesn’t truly honor your memories.”

We at SevenPonds couldn’t agree more!

Embroidery from the Modern Mourner blog.

An urn cozy from the Modern Mourner blog. Can I advance order one pls?