Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home

With a spark from an igniter, the torch flame blazes into 800-degree life. Perilously close the flame, Kruske’s hands deftly melt glass rods to create a miniature piece of artwork. “I love this space, it’s so sunny...I can’t wait to come down here,” Kruske says. Her incendiary work space is the peaceful haven where she creates glass beads that incorporate cremation ash, allowing people from all over the country to keep a piece of their departed loved ones close to their heart. “It’s meditative,” Kruske says as she adds decoration to the bead. Cremation ash is a strange concept for many, and it is certainly not what she intended to end up doing when she began her jewelry journey 12 years ago. After seeing glass beads being made at an art show, she signed up for a glass bead class in Mt. Pleasant, MI. She continued practicing the art in her home and eventually began selling her glass bead jewelry at craft shows and specialty shops. Fate intervened eight years ago when one the mother of one of Kruske’s friends passed away. The friend requested that she use the cremation ash in a glass bead. Though the idea had never occurred to her, Kruske researched the process and began to make the bead. “It was really emotional for me, but in a good way,” Kruske says. After the first bead, word travelled and soon Kruske was doing the cremation beads exclusively. She currently has a display of her beads at Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home, as well as a thriving website. Ninety percent of her business comes from outside of Gladwin via the website, though she still enjoys working locally. “Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home has done a really great job of helping clients get in touch with me. I am grateful I get to work with them,” Kruske said. Through the website, www.lightwithinbeads.com, Kruske is able to work with people all around the country. The design process is collaborative, allowing Kruske to work with the client about color and shape. She once even matched the color of the bead to the eyes of a client’s father. The design process allows clients... (Gladwin County Record & Beaverton Clarion)