Carbon Copies: I write dead people Nov 11 2008
44 comments Latest by Claudieko
This gets a 10 for creepy and a 10 for clever.

The creepy part
This is a 240 pencil set made from the carbon of a cremated human. Each pencil is foil stamped with the name of the deceased.
The clever part
Only one pencil can be removed at a time. You sharpen the pencil by putting it back in the box. The shavings then occupy the space of the used pencils. Over time the pencil box fills with sharpenings — turning the box into a new urn (it’s filled with the shavings which are made from the cremation).
Designed by Nadine Jarvis. Linked via Marc Ecko.
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44 comments so far
json 11 Nov 08
Lol
alx 11 Nov 08
thats gross
Braxo 11 Nov 08
Not for people who chew on their pencils obviously.
Ali 11 Nov 08
The shavings are not from the cremation.. the shavings is wood. The carbon center is from cremation
Scott 11 Nov 08
Ok, yes, this is clever. It also falls into the category of “just because we can, doesn’t mean we should” category.
This is just wrong, on so many levels.
Scott Meinzer 11 Nov 08
Where do I sign up?
I mean to buy it, not be killed and have people write with my ashes. :|
JD 11 Nov 08
JF would so do this with JSJ .
Mimo 11 Nov 08
Disgusting
Robert 11 Nov 08
alright, hippies… time to put your money where your mouth is with this recycling hoopla.
Jay 12 Nov 08
Reincarnated… as a pencil? Not for me – that’s for sure.
Luis 12 Nov 08
Where do I sign up to become a pencil?
Luis II 12 Nov 08
Would you say that the very act of them selling this makes them pencil pushers?
Rhiannon 12 Nov 08
I think it’d be great where it’s apt. My boyfriend is an artist – his preferred medium is pencil. I’d do this in a heartbeat. It’d be a nice tribute. But since the carbon middle is what’s him and the wood around it isn’t, I doubt I’d actually use any of the pencils.
Though, I think I might be a little biased since I work at a crematory. :)
Arthur Ave 12 Nov 08
I saw this on CSI !
someone 12 Nov 08
Clever, tasteless, pointless.
p-daddy 12 Nov 08
I’d like to pre-order one with my Boss’s ashes.
Do they have a “pencil-making” policy that allows this?
Robert 12 Nov 08
When I die, I’d rather have my stomach acid be used to make a batter that powers some sex toy.
Kristine 12 Nov 08
Some people have too much time on their hands. Who invented this?
Chris 12 Nov 08
Can you get a set of different colours?
Andrew 12 Nov 08
Sick.
Don Schenck 12 Nov 08
Who is to say if this is write or wrong??
:)
bff 12 Nov 08
want!
Aaron 12 Nov 08
Robert, you win at the Internet.
theresa 12 Nov 08
I’m a pencil artist by passion and a designer by trade. A co-worker forwarded this to me with saying its to be “my next pencil”... while I hope this is not in fact my NEXT pencil, I wouldn’t mind getting a set of pencils made from my ashes when I die. Since we don’t know where we go afterwards anyway, I wouldn’t mind being inside the pencil that helps create future pieces of art. :)
Visalia Wordsmith 12 Nov 08
Ah, the endless (if sometimes unbridled) ingenuity of the species known as Homo Sapiens Sapiens! Perhaps it will help to defuse our societal aversion to our own personal end by demystifying death a little more.
Josh A. 12 Nov 08
@Braxo LOL .
@Ali I really hope the pencils are just wood, but this seems to say otherwise:And, no, this isn’t sick. Everyone has experienced the grief of losing a family member/friend, we all know what it’s like, so we should all be able to lighten up a little. Personally, I don’t think it’s particularly pleasant, but it is clever, and Braxo’s comment was funny.
Tony Buser 12 Nov 08
Soylent Pencil is people!
Ozyank 13 Nov 08
Hmmm…my mother, who was 85 when she died back in August, would probably only be able to write about the trip she took to Mexico 25 years ago.
Grace 13 Nov 08
I would ABSOLUTELY do this…I’m a writer, and if I ever happen to find myself a protege, I could give them these and have them write things.
A lovely way to be remembered, IMHO .
Don Schenck 13 Nov 08
My wife told me she thinks this is a great idea.
She buys a stack of tablets and I’m gonna start watching my back.
Zach 13 Nov 08
Found in the stationary section right next to the horsey-gluesticks.
Mel 13 Nov 08
Agree with Scott.
Chan 13 Nov 08
I do not wish to become a bunch on miniature golf pencils
Anne 13 Nov 08
I actually really like that idea. I’d mostly wonder if one could write well with it.
There’s many ways of grieving—doesn’t all need to be the coffin-in-a-graveyard burial. (Besides this pencil idea, I’m quite fond of the older tradition of a burning boat.) While maybe I’d prefer myself to be donated to a few med students, this wouldn’t be all that bad either. As long as it’s donated to a really good artist or writer!!!
Rain 13 Nov 08
I think a lot of whether or not I would want this done to me would revolve around a strong stipulation for the uses I would be put to.
Teresa 13 Nov 08
@Anne My mother want to go out that way. I told her she better pay for archery lessons, since I wouldn’t want the flaming arrows to go awry. I think she saw First Knight one too many times.
I would make pencils from my cremains in a heartbeat. I’m all for being creative with my remains. Being buried is boring.
Aurora 13 Nov 08
How can they prevent you from removing all the pencils at once and sharpening them in a normal sharpener?
tphd 13 Nov 08
hottt pink, plz.
and use my nipples for erasers.
do it now.
Dweezie 14 Nov 08
I now have a new post-humus goal. I used to want to be chucked whole into the Chesapeake Bay, but this is much more fitting. I really can’t think of a better way for my loved ones to honor my memory than by turning me into writing or art, both of which I will have spent my life loving.
LOL @tphd
M Fox 14 Nov 08
I scored 1310 on my SATs back in the 80’s – maybe they could give future test takers my pencils for good luck! LOL !
An alternate idea, which is still carbon-based, is to have the ashes made into a gemstone.
alex 14 Nov 08
all i can say is awesome
Sebhelyesfarku 15 Nov 08
Where can I buy soaps?
Max 15 Nov 08
Wow. Time to sign up as a pencil, might as well be useful after I died.
Claudieko 18 Nov 08
Strangely awesome.
Comments are closed