So, I was debating whether I wanted to write a blog post on this topic. On one hand, it seems (to me) like such a private and sensitive thing, and also I don’t want to appear to be using this very cool experience as way to get publicity. Yet on the other hand, I am so incredibly proud, humbled, and grateful to have been a part of this, that sharing about it won out. And if I can’t share these kinds of things on my own blog, why should I even have one, right?
A little over a month ago, a post showed up on Regretsy.com which told the story of a young man Wash and his wife Tashi, who have been battling brain cancer that he’d been diagnosed with over two years ago. It’s a tear-jerker of a story and you should totally click over and read it.
Tashi reached out to the Regretsy community (which is a powerful mofo, lemme tell you), in search of an urn for Wash’s eventual cremains. Specifically, an urn in the shape of the Doctor Who TARDIS. A dying man’s wish.
My first reaction to the request was, wow, this is right up my alley. In fact, I had made, just a few months prior, a Tardis Urn for another family. But my next thought was, of course, No, I’m sure with Regretsy on the case, they’ll get someone amazing to do this in like 2 seconds. (I have issues with judging my self worth and that of my work, in case you were wondering. )
It’s funny, the little things..but within the day, I got a message through Etsy from a person I didn’t even know, asking if I’d seen the Regretsy post, and encouraging me to offer my work. I was blown away. That was all the prompting I needed, and I sat down and wrote an email including pictures and specs to April Winchell aka Helen Killer at Regretsy.
Within a few hours, I got a reply from April, and then another reply:
Well, needless to say, I was thrilled to be corresponding with April, ‘cuz she’s, like, a celebrity. An internet demigod. I thought it was pretty cool. Especially seeing that she thought my work merited 4 exclamation points. *squeee*
After that, three weeks went by, and I didn’t hear anything else. I was a little disappointed, because that certainly meant that they chose someone else to make the urn, which wasn’t too surprising, being that the whole of the Internet seemed to have come out to support Wash and Tashi.
But then! On April 5th, I got a short email from April asking if I was still interested, plus a forwarded email from Tashi, in which said: … ‘When Wash saw Rebekka’s email though and her work he was just captivated. “That’s it! That one!”‘
Of course, I immediately replied YES. And I got to work on it that very day.
Two days later Regretsy posted an update on the urn search, which mentioned me.
Again – coolest. thing. EVER. My name on a blog, that I myself read??? Awesome.
I corresponded with Tashi, who is just about the sweetest gal out there. And her blog, Learning to Hope…jeez…your heart just goes out to them.
I was able to get the urn finished in just about 2 weeks (it would have been less time, but Seattle Pottery Supply is still being lame about keeping my glaze in stock…so frustrating. But the folks at The Potter’s Shack in Portland are awesome, FYI).
I really think it’s the best Tardis I’ve made to date.
Wash requested some special custom details, which I did my very best to apply.
A small chemical equation (oxygen –> gold), a reference to Watchmen. And written inside the lid, the words As you wish.
The urn arrived to Wash and Tashi’s place yesterday and they’ve blogged about receiving it. And I think this picture right here is the one that just hits home for me:
Wash with his Tardis
So, thank you Wash and Tashi, for letting me be a part of this. You are amazing.
Hopefully they’ll be a fun little souvenir of the evening.
