From À LA MODEST
For this Mother’s Day (birthday, Christmas, or any other day), if you’ve got a breastfeeding mama that you would like to give a gift to, surprise her with something meaningful and dear to her: her own Breast Milk in a keepsake that is designed to last a very long time and possibly even passed down to her daughter.
Last month, I put up an April Fool’s blog post where I had people believe that I was making jewelry out of bodily fluids and body parts. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! Although the rest was baloney, my latest jewelry creation is actually made of human breast Milk.
I’ve always been fascinated with organic material, which has been the primary theme of most of my jewelry work. Now that I am breastfeeding, it made sense to me to create out of something so precious and momentary as mother’s milk.
My daughter is six months old and is far from weaning from breastfeeding, but already, I know I am going to miss being her main source of food and comfort. A few months ago I didn’t quite think like this at all! Like many nursing moms, I had a very rocky beginning with a traumatizing infection out of it that almost killed me if not for medical intervention. Since getting physically sick after 2 months of exclusive breastfeeding, I switched to exclusive pumping and stayed doing that for over a month. Though nursing was a nightmare, I had high hopes to get my daughter back to breast. She finally did at four months! Since then, I didn’t think I would enjoy and even love breastfeeding this much.
Wearing my ❤️ on my sleeve. #baby #mama #motherhood #selfie #mommy
I was interested in a keepsake for myself but soon found out that I, along with many other mothers of the lower to middle class, cannot afford such exorbitant prices on such specialized jewelry. Since I already make jewelry out of organic material, I thought I’d take on the challenge of creating jewelry out of my own milk. The pieces I find online from websites that appear to be reputable (I say “appear” because I can’t really vouch for them) have prices that range from $100-$500 for one item. A lot of them also take at least a month to be made, and many customers have complained not ever receiving their orders. Being an Etsy seller, I wanted to use the platform to introduce that I make jewelry out of organic material without selling directly on Etsy due to their policy against selling bodily fluids. I think that being on Etsy has given me credibility as someone who will fulfill orders and will do so in a timely manner.
I have mothers (or fathers) send to me their breast milk through the mail, and I make a stone out of it for use as a pendant or a charm. I currently make necklaces, earrings, and soon rings and bracelets.
Why want a keepsake?
It’s an excellent gift for mothers who are going through weaning or for those who may not be able to conceive or produce milk in the future again. I’ve made a breast milk necklace for a mom whom after having five children was told by her doctor to stop having more children because of her health. Another friend of mine is going through a rare uterine disease that will potentially eliminate future possibility of having children right after her first baby was born, and I made a necklace for her too. Even when a mother is not going through any breastfeeding issues at all, a keepsake is nice to have, wear proudly, or even to pass along as a family heirloom.
My Breast Milk Jewelry Creation/Preservation Process
Making Breast Milk Jewelry is a very tricky process. Most artisans’ process of preserving and fashioning human breast milk into stone is proprietary, and that’s why you do not see instructions on DIY breast milk jewelry floating around the Web. Inevitably mold and discoloration are bound to happen, with many organic materials, if you do not preserve them correctly. As a wife of a mold and multiple chemical sensitive husband, it’s important to me and my family that what I make will not affect anyone handling this jewelry. It hasn’t been easy, and I’ve had to resort to using some chemicals applied in the outdoors, to preserve my creations. Another thing that’s tricky about human breast milk in particular is that it is very different in properties as cow’s milk. Experimenting on animal breast milk will not yield the same result as working on human breast milk. The proteins are different and so is the amount of proteins necessary to be extracted from animal milk to make dairy products such as cheese and plastic. Human milk is a totally different… animal! I’ve had to use up so much of my own liquid gold to find a way to successfully make jewelry out of it.
Pricing & Time frame
I keep my prices very low by combining my pieces with alloys and stainless steel alongside genuine sterling silver (and soon gold). I make sure to specify that in the description of each item I sell. I coat every material that is made of metal alloy with a glossy seal that is designed to prevent tarnishing for a very, very long time. Stainless steel on the other hand is affordable and will never tarnish, making it an excellent alternative to silver. My materials are mostly hypoallergenic, and I also offer non-metal options for those who are completely allergic to any kind of metal. I used to not wear any metals on my body, especially not when I was sleeping, as it attracts unwanted EMFs (energy). However, certain metals, such as silver and gold, I’ve learned have great healing properties in themselves when worn close to the body.
My time frame is very quick, unlike others that take weeks or even months to complete. I tell people to allow me about a week to complete and send their jewelry after I receive their breast milk in the mail. In some cases, including expedited orders for holidays and an occasion such as Mother’s Day, I can and will complete orders in less than a week.
How to package / send breast milk through mail
I only ask about 2 tsps of breast milk per pendant secured in a double zip loc bag. No need for ice packs or any other special handling. Breast milk has amazing sustaining qualities! I can work with either fresh or previously frozen milk. More detailed instructions are available once an order is placed. You can view my frequently asked questions (FAQs) for more info.
You can visit me at http://yourbreastmilkjewelry.com OR http://iamstarchild.com
Instagram: @starchildcraft
COUPON: For Mother’s Day, you can get free shipping worldwide on any amount you buy! Just use coupon “mothersday” til 5/14.
QUESTION:
Do you have someone who might appreciate being given this keepsake gift of breast milk jewelry this Mother’s Day or for any other occasion? Do you own one yourself? What do you think of jewelry made of human milk—creepy, gross, or a fantastic idea?
