Ultimate guide of Breast Milk Jewelry: Turning Liquid Gold into Timeless Art
Breast milk jewelry has gained attractiveness as a keepsake for mothers, especially those who have undergone breastfeeding. This provides mothers with a simple method for capturing the breastfeeding experience. This form of individual jewelry is unique and lets mothers combine a minute of love and tenderness with beauty and style, encapsulated in a stunning jewel. How much breast milk do you need, how long to breastfeed, concern over the process? Rest assured that this article tries to address most of the frequently asked questions and goes in-depth into breast milk jewelry.
What is Breast Milk Jewelry?
A breast milk jewelry is an artistic creation made from the left behind residue of breast milk from a mother. Jewelry of this type can see that mothers can store some of the breast milk in a pendant or a stone given to them and then personalized into a necklace, band, ring and many other.. These pieces can represent the love between a mother and her child and it is common to use these pieces in remembrance of the breastfeeding duration.
Breast Milk in Its Golden State
There are many reasons why the color of breast milk may differ from one mother to another. For instance, breast milk may be yellowish if it is colostrum, which is the first ‘milk’ produced after a woman gives birth and is yellow. Colostrum is often thick and yellow because of its high beta-carotene content. Unlike the early stages of lactation where the mature breast milk remains yellow in color, as the lactation cycle continues, the color can return to white or bluish. However, while making breast milk jewelry the color of silhouette breast milk jewelry may also change as the aesthetic appearance is improved or the color of breast milk jewelry is preserved into a dramatic blossom.
How Much Breast Milk is Required to Make Breast Milk Jewelry?
In order to create a set of earrings made from breast milk jewelry, for instance, it is usually sufficient to take only about 5-10 milliliters of milk (swallowing one or two tea spoons). Most of the breast milk jewelry will and can add this amount of milk for the most, rings, pendants, or earrings to be made in. Since the milk is coat with a resin material or such, the breast milk jewelry is invisible and only takes a little of milk.
Do Breast Milk Jewelry Get Stained With Time?
Made and cared for appropriately, one can enjoy breast milk jewelry for quite a number of years, but, just like every other type of jewelry, the way it is fashioned and maintained will determine its lifespan. Provided the making and preservation techniques have been properly adhered to, breast milk jewelry should withstand staining from discolouration. The goal of high-end preservation techniques and proper resin application is to avoid oxidation which may lead to color changes. Up to a point, the exposure to these contaminants creates a lifetime yellowing of the breast milk jewelry. Therefore, it becomes imperative to observe the maintenance practices as provided by the jeweler in order to retain the aesthetics of the work over an extended period.
Can You Wear Breast Milk Jewelry Everyday?
Yes, wearing breast milk jewelry every day is acceptable, however, the wearer should exercise a lot of care in the same way that is done with any other jewelry. The resin that aids in preserving the breast milk tokens is said to be hardy, but regular exposure to water as well as sweat, or any chemicals including lotion or even perfume could compromise the value with time. For people that will have it every day of their lives, they may postpone wearing it when engaging in activities like swimming and showering that involve contact with very harsh conditions.
How is it possible to form breast milk into “keepsake” jewelry?
Breast milk jewelry making is a detailed process that involves steps that need to be observed to ensure that the milk is kept and has been fitted into a beautiful artifact. Here’s a brief statement of how it’s done:
- Milk Collection: The first step of the process is the provision of samples of breast milk by the client which is normally around 5-10 ml and is sent to the jeweler.
- Milk Preservation: The breast milk is then preserved through a special technique that prevents contamination of the milk by removing the water content. Some jewelers will dry the milk while others may incorporate preservatives.
- Resin addition: After the breast milk has been preserved, it is added to the resin or other materials which make a stony or gem-like formation.
- Casting: The resin mixture is filled in the cavity of the molds fashioned like a bead, stone or pendant, which are allowed to set. Other accessories like glitters and colors and even gold leaf may be used as well.
- Mounting: The last step is the placement of the stone on the client’s choice of jewelry, be it a ring, necklace or bracelet, after the setting has dried.
- Finishing: Lastly, the surface of the piece is smoothened and in some cases an extra layer of resin is used to cover the piece for added protection and shine.
How to Ship Breast Milk for Jewelry?
The inverse of what people would assume, shipping breast milk for jewelry does not require a lot of skill… Here are the key points to be noted:
- Contact Your Jeweler: Each jeweler may have specific instructions for shipping breast milk. It is advisable to contact them first to find out their process.
- Storage and Collection: Collect necessary breast milk (ideally 5-10ml) in a sterile container. Some jewelers may provide a kit containing sterile bags or vials for milk accumulation.
- Freezing: If you are not able to ship the milk right away, it is best to place it in a sterile container and refreeze it.
- Packaging: To prevent leaks, breast milk should be double bagged in a ziploc bag and taped up in a padded envelope.
- Shipping: There are appropriate and reliable courier services available. However, make sure you inform them that you are sending breast milk for jewelry. The employment of courier services is common for most jewelers since the milk is required to be shipped overnight.
Can Breastmilk Jewelry Be Kept in Water?
Higher quality breastmilk jewelry should not be worn in water. The resin coating the milk and allowing the encasement to be submerged is somewhat water resistant. However, some hobbies such as swimming that are mainly water based may cause damage over time. The resin might turn foggy, and the milk might rehydrate and dry if moist conditions are frequent. So, in order to avoid any aesthetic loss, it is best to wear it while taking part in extreme sports or doing anything that will get it wet.
How to Store Breast Milk in Preparation for Making Jewelry?
If you are making breast milk jewelry at home or sending it for the jewelry making process with the intention of breast milk, then drying the milk is very important, and it comes with a basic instruction that it is not a business. This is an easy way to do it:
- Using a Desiccant: Place the breast milk in a desiccant, such as silica gel, to try and remove excess water. Depress the milk onto a plate or other flat surface, and then pour Six cg into a sealed jar with several silica gel bags. Over a few days, moisture will be drawn out.
- Dehydration and Drying Prepare microorganisms for microwave conduction at low temperatures around 100 °F or 37 °C. Spread out the milk evenly onto a baking sheet and keep it exposed to the air till it dries out completely. After such, the milk can be powdered to be used in making jewelry.
Where to Purchase Jewelry Made Out of Breast Milk
So, where should you go to buy breast milk jewelry? You can find a variety of reputable jewelers and even online shops that specialize in custom orders for breast milk jewelry. Here are some preferred alternatives:
- Etsy: Many artisans have practiced breast milk jewelry making and sell them through tru etsy. Reviews of the items as well as the styles can be compared to choose what suits one most.
- Mommy Milk Creations: One of the pioneers in breast milk jewelry, this company offers a variety of rings, pendants and bracelets that are made from preserved breastmilk.
- Beyond the Willow Tree: An establishment known for quality preservation, Beyond the Willow Tree has collaborated with nature enthusiasts and created beautiful designs.
- Breastmilk Jewelry by Lait de la Vie: This jeweler comes up with stunning samples and deploys designs fan full of such elegance.
How to Make Breast Milk Jewelry at Home
For the “do it yourself” fans, breast milk jewelry making is also possible at home. The steps include: Collect Breast Milk: Recommended starting volume is 5-10 ml of breast milk.
- Dry the Milk: Dehydrate Milk completely using a desiccant or low-heat dehydrator.
- Create a Powder: When all the moisture is removed, break the milk down into tiny bits.
- Mix with Resin: Blend the dewaxing powder of breast milk with a clear jewelry resin. Make sure there is no air in the mix by stirring it well.
- Pour into Molds: Pour the mixed substance into small shaped containers which will take the shape of the stone or the pendant. Allow the resin to set.
- Set in Jewelry: After the resin has cured, demold it and embed it in the pre-selected item of a jeweler frame ring pendant, bracelet.
- Polish: Remove the sharp edges by sanding and give a final coat of resin for gloss.
Making breast milk jewelry in the comfort of your own home is a great project for parents hence requires time and appropriate items to achieve a professional looking and durable result.
It’s of course impossible to turn back the time to those astonishing months when a little human being was growing up in your body, however it does not mean that you should forget about that beautiful period of your life. This is the end of this work. However, I feel it is appropriate to state that it is not the end but only another duplicate of the beginning. Once originated, memory keeps that image blurs on its surface.