FAQ's | Precious Keepsake

What is your turn around time?

Depending on the type of item you order, and when you send your in your inclusion, our turn around time is about 4-6 weeks.

We will of course keep you fully updated.

JEWELLERY and KEEPSAKE MOULDS

How much should I send in for ashes?

Don’t send it all in case it’s lost in the post, keep some behind incase we need to request more incase of a postage issue.

Adult and pet cremations ashes, roughly ¼ of a teaspoon for 1 piece. If you wish for several items, for family members, to be made ½ teaspoon would be ideal.

If you add the ashes sending kit to your order we will send you out a little pot, or, if you wish, you could send the ashes to us in a clean pot- be sure not to over fill as it could spill out when opened.

If sending a child or baby ashes, please only send a small amount, a pinch is perfect.

What happens to the ashes that aren’t used?

We promise to return any amount that is unused in the securely sealed pot they arrived in.

Can you combine ashes from two or more people, or pets?

Yes of course, if you wish to send the ashes separately please let us know so we can send separate pots in the sending kit. Or, they can be combined in a pot together.

What if the urn I have is sealed shut?

Please do not order if you are unable to access your loved one’s ashes due to family wishes and sealed containers/urns.

We are unable to cancel an order because an urn is sealed shut so please check first.

A crematorium or funeral home may be able to help you unseal an urn and take out the ashes needed and you may be able to order directly through them

How much hair or fur should I send?

Minimum length of an inch, the longer the better up to 10cm

If you wish to send us a picture beforehand you can do so we can say either too much or too little

How should I send in hair or fur?

•Tie the hair/fur with a little bit of cotton to keep it together and curl it into the pot or separate envelope

•Please don’t fold the hair in tinfoil, don’t use sticky tape/Post-It notes as the hair will kink or stick and be unsuitable for use

•Hair/fur from two or more people and pets can be combined, but please do let us know their names

How do I obtain hair/ fur?

With a comb, part the hair at the back of the head and pick up a very thin slice of hair to cut so as not to get a bald patch. Then cut a few of the strands at the root for short hair or 10cm for long hair.

You can send us some of your baby’s first curl or hair from the first haircut. If your child is having a haircut, ask the hairdresser to remove some hair as if they were doing a colour strand test (they will know what that means) instead of sending the split ends, it’s easier for us to work with if possible. The ideal length is between 2cm and 10cm (1-4″) but we can work with very short hair. If your child’s hair is white blonde, it may or may not be visible in the resin.

Stillborn baby hair

You can ask your midwife or the people who are caring for your baby before or after passing to gently snip some of your baby’s hair, making sure that they can take enough for you to send some for jewellery and are able to keep some back. They will often offer to do this for your memory box but it can help to remind them.

Fur

If your companion is with the vet after being put to sleep, you can ask them to take an amount for you. Show them this page if you like, so they know you need enough to keep back and enough to send us.

Horse hair

We can work with mane or tail but will only need a few short strands, the finer they are the easier they are to work with. 5cm is the ideal length.

If possible please ensure the hair is cleaned before sending to us

**Please remember not to send all you have incase it gets lost in the post

Before you send any to us please can you wash it and brush it out as it is not nice for us to handle dirty hair and if hair is received not clean then it may be returned and the cost deducted from your refund.

Any problems please call us and we will advise you.

For a horse no longer with you:-

If you are using hair from a horse no longer with you then send us hair at least 16 inches long and about the width of your ring finger, tie it tightly at one end with a rubber band, hair tie or thread. If this is a not possible then please call us and we can discuss options.

For an existing horse then:-

You will need a sharp pair of scissors, a rubber band or strong thread and a plastic bag.
First make sure that the tail is clean and do not use any show sheen or conditioners. Wash the hair thoroughly either before or after cutting. Comb out the tail completely to make sure there are no tangles.
With the tail in your hands, go to the end of the tail ( furthest from the dock), part the tail to expose the centre of the tail. select a small amount, about the width of your ring finger, tie it tightly with a rubber band, hair tie or thread.
Now holding the tied part in one hand, with the other follow the hair up the tail bone (dock), discarding as many short hairs as possible.
Cut the hair close to the tail bone. Be careful not to cut the horse.
Loosely coil the hair and place it in a plastic bag preferably a Zip lock bag for shipping.
Write your order reference number, name, address and phone number on the bag or on a piece of paper and put inside the bag.

Put the bag in an A5 or bigger envelope and send to us

Please also write your return address on the envelope when posting your hair so that if it does get lost in the post it can be returned to you by the Post Office.

Note that if insufficient postage is paid the parcel is held up by the Post Office. We have to pay the difference plus the Post Office charges an additional £1.00 fee and we will have to go the the main Post Office to collect it which in turn costs £1.20 parking plus £3.00 fuel. Therefore we will request a further payment from you for £5.20 BEFORE we make your bracelet
Please inform us if you require any unused hair to be returned to you with your completed order. Use the "comments" box when processing your order

How to Measure Your Wrist

Measure your wrist where you want to wear the bracelet preferably above the wrist bone and there are several ways to do this.

Use a fabric or plastic flexible tape measure to measure around your wrist making sure it is snug but not tight.

Wrap a piece of string or ribbon once around your wrist and make a mark across the string where it meets the other end. Remove the string and measure between the marks to find the circumference of your wrist.

Cut a strip of paper approximately 250mm long 20mm wide and wrap it around your wrist, it is a good idea to secure the paper with a piece of tape to get a better feel of the fit. Make a mark where it meets the other end. Remove the paper and measure between the marks to find the circumference of your wrist.

Take the measurement in millimetres (mm)

How much umbilical cord or placenta should I send?

An orange seed size amount is plenty of cord

Half a capsule of placenta powder

Cord or placenta from two or more babies should be sent in different labelled pots, please let us know their names.

Please do not send the cord clip, use a pair of scissors to carefully cut a little off for us

stillborn baby umbilical cord and placenta

It’s important that anything we work with doesn’t have formaldehyde or other chemicals in it, and that cord and placenta were frozen ASAP. It’s important that you please ask for this before they use chemicals because we would have to decline your order if they have which can be devastating, drying the piece would be harmful to you.

Once you have umbilical cord/placenta dried please follow the instructions above.

Don’t send it all in case it’s lost in the post or we need you to send more!

How much Breastmilk should I send?

Ideally if you can about 10ml but 5ml is fine- if you don’t have this please contact us to discuss.

Don’t send in all you have as it could get lost in the post

My breastmilk is older or got ruined in a power cut. Can I still use it?
Yes! As you milk will go through a preservation process and is not being consumed, almost any milk you have can be used, old, or fresh

What if my items sent get lost in the post?

We would suggest sending via special delivery at your own cost and you can then supply us with a tracking number if you wish to.

All responsibility for sending lies with you

There is always a risk of items getting lost in the post so please only send a portion of your elements (e.g. half a lock of hair) and keep the other half

It is your responsibility to check your account to make sure we have received it

****designate what you’re sending as “Jewellery Making Item” (you may struggle if you are too specific about what you’re sending)

What can I add to my piece?

Most things can be embedded one way or another. Common items are ash, placenta, breastmilk, material, flowers, gem stones, metal, pictures, …the list is endless! Please contact us to discuss

How fresh does the milk need to be, and can I use frozen milk?

Milk that’s been frozen is fine, and it doesn’t matter how long it has been in the freezer for. Breastmilk that has been kept in the fridge for around a week will be fine but no longer than this. If you suffer with low supply or struggle to express, I would recommend a silicon pump whilst feeding and adding it to a pot in the freezer until you have the 5ml required. Please contact me if you have less than 5ml, I am sure there is always something we can do.

Can you work with colostrum?

Absolutely! Although we would suggest giving that all to baby as it’s the best for them!

Can I cancel an order?

We get started on your order pretty quickly after it is placed to cut down on the amount of time you are waiting to receive your keepsake. If you need to cancel an order please get in touch as soon as possible and we will do our best to get that arranged. If we have already received your inclusions, it is likely we have already started and your order will not be able to be cancelled.

My ring doesn’t fit, what should I do?

We will always provide rings in the size stated by you.

We are more than happy to get the ring resized if we are able to do so. Please send us a message with instructions for the resize and we will get back to you with a quote.

Please be aware not every ring can be resized, and sometimes a new setting will need to be ordered.

My Items changed colour?

If you have a sudden change of colour in the first 6 months, please contact us as this should not happen

How should I look after my jewellery best?

There are certain precautions that you can make to keep your piece looking its best. Dry jewellery is happy jewellery. Ideally all jewellery should be removed for showering, sleeping, cooking, going to the gym, sunbathing, fake tanning etc.

We suggest giving it a gentle clean regularly with a soft toothbrush and washing up liquid. You can also use a jewellery cleaning cloth to remove any superficial scuffs on the metal but please don’t use this on the milk jewellery.

Do your charms fit Pandora bracelets?

Yes, all beads are made with a 5mm hole with a sterling silver bead core

How long until I receive my item

Some items may take 4-6 weeks due to the nature and time frame of preserving and also drying

CASTING

Is the material you use safe for my babies skin?

All our casts are made from a gentle, seaweed based, non-toxic substance called Alginate. This substance is the same as dentists use to make teeth impressions so is safe for the most precious of new skins. All of our alginate conforms to British Safety Standards (BS 4269 Pt.2:1991) and ISO 1563:1990.

We mix the Alginate powder with water to form a paste. The foot or hand is then placed into the paste and left until it sets. It doesn’t take long, approximately 30 - 60 seconds and is perfectly safe for you and your little ones.

What age can I have my baby’s hands or feet cast?

We can cast little ones of any age. The perfect time to capture a memory is now!

Babies can be cast from just 2 days old.

Toddlers are usually the trickiest to cast, as they are old enough to fidget, but still too young to understand that they need to stay still. For toddlers we would recommend doing a joint hand cast, where we can cast a hand hold of parent and child. Although slightly more expensive, this ensures a successful cast of your hands together.

What is the best time of day to take a cast of my baby/child?

The easiest time to take a cast is when the little one is relaxed, perhaps after or during feeding. We always try to ensure the environment is as comfortable as possible. Favourite toys or comforters can also help distract children and keep them occupied whilst being cast.

My baby is fidgety, can you still take a cast?

Even if they are wriggly we’ll still get a good mould. We just make sure they are comfortable, the process is very quick. You will never be able to tell how you baby will be on the day. Babies will wiggle their fingers and toes and will sometimes kick whilst a cast is being taken. If this happens on the day we can make a second casting of the foot on the day for free just so we can be sure things turn out perfectly.

Does it hurt to remove the mould?

The substance our moulds are made of remains flexible even when it’s set; all we need to do is pull very gently and the mould comes free.

Generally speaking, the alginate mould won't stick to your skin or your pet's fur, however, we do recommend lubricating hand with lotion or Vaseline, and the paw / hoof with a drop of olive oil, coconut oil or something similar that is safe to digest as animals love to lick!

Do you offer home visits for casting?

Yes we offer free home visits within a 2 mile radius from BN16. Contact us to find out what areas we currently cover and if you are outside we can work out our mileage charge.

If you can get to us that would be ideal incase of any product spillages!

What clothes are suitable for having a cast?

We supply a waterproof apron to keep you covered and clean during the process, but drips do happen! We make every effort to keep tidy, but as a precaution, please wear something you don’t mind getting messy. Also we suggest not wearing tight clothes on the area you are getting cast. Tights and socks will leave marks that will show up in your final piece.

How do you make babies stay still during the casting process?

We don’t! We just make sure they’re comfortable and even if they are wriggly we get a good mould. The process is very quick and we have little tricks to help us take that mould successfully.

How long does it take to receive my cast?

Casts are usually delivered within 4-6 weeks of the casting session. We will do our best to accommodate a quicker timeframe if needed.

Do you deliver the casts to my home?

We prefer for you to collect them so you can have a look and leave happy with them.

If this isn’t an option, we mostly we use Royal Mail Special Delivery which guarantees delivery the following day by 1pm.

If you are local to our clinic we may deliver them in person.

You will receive a text/email from us the day before to notify you that the package is on its way. For heavier packages we may use a reputable courier company.