A B.C. artist is using her skills as a glass flame worker to provide those who have lost loved ones with a unique opportunity to keep their memories close.

From her backyard shed turned glass work studio, Langford91裸聊视频檚 Kimberly Anne Reid carefully hand sculpts delicate glass jewelry, incorporating a small amount of cremated remains in each piece. The result is a one-of-a-kind peice of art which literally lets people keep their loved ones close to their heart.

91裸聊视频淚 always wanted to help people, but I was not really specific with that and never envisioned glass being a way to help people,91裸聊视频� Reid said. 91裸聊视频淏ut these memorial pieces are very healing, and it is amazing to just be able to help people and give them these beautiful pieces. People are drawn to them, and they get into conversations with others.91裸聊视频�

Originally from Amherst, N.S., Reid first developed an interest in glass work during her self-described 91裸聊视频渉ippy91裸聊视频� years. Eager to make things she could share with her family more easily than pipes, she pivoted to jewelry, starting to build her skills at NSCAD University, but mostly by teaching herself and settling on Vancouver Island in 2001.

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Specializing in the use of 91裸聊视频渉ard glass91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� known properly as borosilicate glass or commonly as Pyrex glass 91裸聊视频� rather than the 91裸聊视频渟oft glass91裸聊视频� more common in glass art. The result is a more durable piece of art, at the cost of more effort in its creation.

Incorporating cremated remains first came at the request of one of her roommates after the passing of their great-grandmother.

91裸聊视频漇he was kind of the anchor for the family,91裸聊视频� said Reid. 91裸聊视频淚 was later invited to a wedding reception where all the people I made pieces for were in attendance, and everyone had a different story about what their piece meant to them, and I was just so touched and moved by the way everybody wore them for different reasons.91裸聊视频�

Reid took a break from work specifically incorporating cremated remains, adding silver smithing to her roster of skills, but now she is refocusing her business Mystic Glass Creations on cremation keepsakes, and plans on growing with this new direction.

91裸聊视频淭he more I do these cremation pieces, the more I feel like it is my calling.91裸聊视频�

Once the business is up and running, Reid plans on taking a bit of a step back from producing pieces, and instead focusing on designing them. While she will continue to produce some of the glass work, her vision is to partner with other local artists to produce pieces based on her designs.

91裸聊视频淚t will be people who are already specialized in fine jewelry making,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 great because I can also support other artisans from the West Coast.91裸聊视频�

While Reid is in the process of an eventual re-brand, potentially in partnership with funeral homes and vets, her work is available through her website mysticglasscreations.com.

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justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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