about us
“Ashes to art, with you forever.”
At Remains To Be Seen, each ornament is handcrafted with care and reverence, using a unique blend of plaster and your loved one’s ashes. The result is a personal memorial—subtle, beautiful, and full of emotional depth.
What began as a deeply personal project after the loss of my brother, then my mother, Remains To Be Seen has become a way for me to help others find comfort. These keepsakes are created to honour life, memory, and the unbreakable connection that continues after the loss of a loved one.
Each piece is individually made in preselected shaped moulds. The flecks of colour, different textures, and gentle variations in tone are not flaws—they’re individual fragments of a life lived and loved.
How it works
Every memorial is individually made with thoughtful care.
Through a gentle process, we transform your loved one’s ashes into a unique ornament that serves as a lasting tribute. From carefully blending the ashes into our custom plaster mix, to shaping, drying, and finishing by hand, every step is guided by care.
Depending on your chosen piece, it will be displayed on a handcrafted wooden base or tied with a leather cord for hanging. For a personal touch, you may also add a plaque (on certain designs), engraved with a name, date, or short message. Any ashes not used in the process are always returned with your finished memorial.
You Supply us the Ashes
Once your order is received and paid for we will send you a kit with a small labelled bag for you to put a specified amount of ashes into depending on your order.
Please see full details about this process in FAQs.
Mixing the Ashes
The supplied cremation ashes (up to 15grams / 1 tablespoon per ornament) is carefully added and softly blended into our specialised plaster mix. Each order is produced individually. Please rest assured that we take great care to ensure all areas and equipment used in the manufacturing process are thoroughly cleaned between every order.
Moulding, Drying & Finishing
The combined mix is now gently poured into your chosen shaped mould and let to set and naturally dry for approximately 2 weeks. Once it is dry the stone is softly sanded and then mounted on a handcrafted wooden board which is fitted with a sawtooth hanger and labelled on the back side. If you have chosen one of the string hung designs we then tie the leather string onto it.
Personalised
We can organise and provide a small, engraved personalised plaque to be adhered to most of the wooden board orders if you require. This is an extra cost to your order. There are details of costs, colours and fonts available on Our Collection page and you choose these once you have added your preferred design to your shopping cart.
Any unused ashes are returned with your finished piece.
Custom Crafted Protective Packaging
We only require a very small amount of ashes, and any that are not used will be returned to you with your completed ornament. Our priority is to handle each step with the utmost care, dignity, and respect.
Once we receive your confirmed order and payment we will send you out a kit containing a labelled sealable bag, measuring spoon, instructions, and a return pre-paid, addressed courier bag.
Please use the plastic spoon provided to put 2 full scoops (equivalent to 1 Tbls or 15 grams) of ashes into the black snap lock bag, securely snap lock closed and place into the bubble wrap bag and seal closed. Place it into the enclosed post paid courier bag and post from a NZPost shop to activate tracking.
All wooden board pieces come with an attached claw tooth wall hanger, an optional identification label or card, and an authenticity logo tag. Each finished piece will come in a robust custom designed box. (With the exception of the extra Small Love Token Hearts, which are placed in a pre-made small square box). This is a safe and respectful way to send to you after we create your remembrance piece. Your box can be kept to use again if you want to take your piece with you anywhere.
