Two Weeks In

I've taken a bit of a break from blogging, to be honest I've just been too busy what with the Twinkles, Christmas, work and Breast Milk Keepsakes. I thought it was about time I updated you with what's been happening, well with Breast Milk Keepsakes anyway. 

Pure breast milk dove embedded
 in resin with a navy background
 set in a gold plated 25mm
 pendant £40.00

I launched Breast Milk Keepsakes on the 1^st January 2013. I’d been dabbling about with the website for weeks, now feeling brave and full of hope I hit the publish button. I bet you can guess what the first thing I did was……Yes I Googled the website. Did it come up? NO! A little disappointed but unperturbed I logged into Facebook and set up a page for Breast Milk Keepsakes. To celebrate launching my new business I offered 10% discount for the first week. The internet is amazing, somehow lots of lovely ladies discovered the Facebook page and took advantage of the promotion and the orders started to come in.

It was also in this first week that I was approached by a freelance journalist who wanted to interview me about the business. We arranged a chat so I could learn more about the process. With mentions of The Sun, The Daily Mail and well known women’s mags I soon realised that this was going to be a bigger story than I intended. I would have loved to have given a positive story about breastfeeding but as I’m currently breastfeeding 23 month old twins Spud and Sprout, I feared the worst. Breastfeeding sadly is controversial and it carries a stigma so deciding that there’s more than enough negative press linked to breastfeeding I declined the interview.

I was also contacted by Kate who blogs at Life, love and living with boys. She’d heard about Breast Milk Keepsakes and wanted to write a blog post about it. Kate wrote a lovely post and I'm very grateful. You can read Kate’s post here.

One 10mm & two 6mm breast milk
 star beads embedded in resin with
 a purple background set in a
vintage copper 25mm pendant.
£45.00

Now I must admit it was a little strange the first time that an envelope containing breast milk landed on the doormat. It was my first unofficial order, I carefully opened it and there it was 30ml of breast milk double bagged and carefully labelled. Of course everyone’s breast milk is different, I knew this, it’s tailored to your own baby or in my case babies, but up until now I’d only ever seen my own breast milk. I was a little shocked to see thick creamy milk, mine in comparison is watery and kind of green looking (after further research I realise this is the foremilk and to get creamier milk it’s best to express in the evening or after baby has fed). I felt a little envious of the mummy that created milk with such substance. I placed the milk in the fridge on the especially cleared shelf and closed the door. Five minute later I was back excited and eager to start creating. It was a proud moment when I carefully took the completed breast milk pendant and placed it in the gift box. I took one last look then closed the lid.

As the orders began to come in so did the money. I was able to order some more supplies, gift boxes, leaflets and the well needed resin. I contacted a local wood artist to commission maple pendants and tiny wooden boxes perfect for baby’s memory box. Several ladies requested breast milk charms for charm and Pandora bracelets so I’ve ordered more supplies and I await them eagerly.

It’s been a busy two weeks. I’d like to thank those of you that have ‘liked’ and shared Breast Milk Keepsakes Facebook page, for all your support and kind comments. I’d especially like to thank those of you that have entrusted me with your breast milk.

Many thanks

Claire aka Twinkle Mummy  x