Mums Who Juggle

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

Black Eyed Peas is blasting out on the radio, as I sit in the kitchen writing this with my youngest daughter who is eating baked beans for lunch. No-one could ever describe life at the Hickmott home as normal. This morning began with Savana throwing up (so no need to call the office to say I can’t come in), a list of emails to do, laundry, tidy the house, food shopping and completion required on a proposal for a huge corporate company to which I am visiting the head office after the weekend. To say I have learnt to juggle is an understatement, but would I change my life?– quite simply “no”.

Since I became a mum 7 years ago, I was in the fortunate position to stay at home when my daughter Bailey was born. However, I was not one to sit and twiddle my thumbs, so taught myself to create 3d casts. At the time, it was for family and friends but as time passed, my hobby became a business, which today exceeds all expectations. I am constantly asked “how on earth do you do it?”, I do not have any magical answers, it is sheer hard work requiring endless amounts of energy, and I have certainly learnt to juggle my time as a mum, wife and business owner. But in summary I would say some of the key aspects are:-

Time – Management:- As a mum I ensure that I have quality time with my girls and work just has to wait. There have been times when plans have changed, but I have always talked things through with my girls and at 3 and 7 they are incredibly supportive. When I first began creating casts the nature of the job allowed me to do this with the girls around and this is a significant factor in why so many mums are now joining the company. Without fail they go to bed by 7 pm every evening and are brilliant at doing so. Routine was key and from an early age I have never had any problems at bedtime with them. I then know I have time to do my emails and telephone calls and have a glass of wine!

Support:- Having a good support network is key, sharing taking and collecting the girls from school with my husband and other mums. Within the company, they have my support as well as the support for each other.

Multi-tasking – I am often doing 3 or 4 things at the same time without realising it. The moment you become a mum you learnt to adapt often using one arm as you carry your baby in the other. Buy the shopping, whilst confirming a booking on my mobile, and watching your child does not run off to the sweet aisle. Being able to adapt naturally has helped me to juggle my daily life.

Flexibility:- Throughout life I have always had an open mind and when you become a mum your life is turned upside down. The ability to adapt in different situations is so important and I love the fact that I am now in a position where I can offer a job which offers flexibility for others.

Work :- No matter how good the deal, there are always cons. These include being constantly busy and telling myself there is only so much time in a day, so set myself realistic targets. I remain very grounded and take each day as it comes knowing that without a certain amount of self- belief, the business would not be where it is today. Against all odds in the current climate, I am thriving and feel very honoured to now be in a position where I can offer an attainable low cost entrance fee back into work helping a large group of frustrated mums to find a way out from a mundane job, encouraging them to build on their creative skills in a job working around their family.

Products Offered by Precious Memories:-

Head Office based in Aylesbury which creates unique keepsakes for adults and children including:-

3D Casts of hands or feet in various luxury materials in frames or with mounts

 2D Impressions of hands or feet set in beautiful frames with client photographs

Unique silver jewellery set with imprints from adult or child fingerprints, footprints or drawings

These are sold, produced and delivered by a network of franchised mums operating across the UK.

Current positions available within the company:-

Jewellery Makers £100 plus VAT wendypw@preciuos-memories.co.uk

Jewellery Agents £150 plus VAT contact janu@precious-memories.co.uk

2D Impressions £1000 plus VAT (half amount paid up front other half in commissions) info@precious-memories.co.uk

3D Cast Artist – £1250 plus VAT (half amount paid up front other half in commissions) info@precious-memories.co.uk

http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

info@precious-memories.co.uk

telephone 01296 399280

Job Opportunities with Precious Memories for 2011

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

Job Opportunities for 2011




JEWELLERY MAKERS


Joining Fee is £100 plus VAT

• Role is to be involved with making Jewellery & Keepsakes


• Materials and Training Provided


• £rate given per product produced

Recruiting in the East Midlands ONLY

JEWELLERY AGENTS


Joining Fee – £150 plus VAT

Supplied with:-


• Materials and Training


• Marketing Collateral


• Web Presence


• Samples


• £ commission based salary


• Recruiting throughout the UK

Immediate areas needed to cover, Manchester, Nottingham, Norwich, Worcester, Lincoln, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire

 2D IMPRESSION FRANCHISE


£1,000 plus VAT paid in 2 parts.

Supplied with:-


• On-going Training


• Materials


• Frames


• Web Presence


• Exclusive Territory


• Opportunity to also be a jewellery/keepsake agent


• £ commission based salary

Immediate areas needed to cover Nottingham, Oxford, Liverpool, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire






3D CAST FRANCHISE


£1,250 plus VAT paid in 2 parts.

Supplied with:-


• On-going Training


• Materials


• Frames


• Web Presence


• Exclusive Territory with a £ commission based salary


• Also eligible to be a jewellery/keepsake agent


Immediate areas needed to cover, Norwich, Oxford, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Derbyshire


IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EITHER 2D OR 3D POSITIONS PLEASE EMAIL laural@precious-memories.co.uk

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A FINGERPRINT AGENT PLEASE EMAIL janu@precious-memories.co.uk

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A JEWELLERY MAKER PLEASE EMAIL alisons@precious-memories.co.uk

* Please note that all funds paid to join are non-refundable.

Happy 1st Anniversary to me

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

I cannot believe I have reached this milestone of my first anniversary since opening my Precious Memories studio in sunny (snowy) Huddersfield so I thought I would do a little blog to tell you how things have gone.

It’s hard to believe it was a year ago that I was waiting for my first client to turn up – 5 week old Tess Ledgard – with owner and trainer Glenda Hickmott at my studio. I had been shown how to roll the clay, take impressions….but I chickened out and allowed Glenda to do the impression whilst I watched!! Ha ha

How things have changed, fast forward a year, 144 casts later and I am thrilled, and honoured, to now be Operations Director the company, responsibly for training our new mums as they come on board in both 2D impressions and 3D casts. I work closely with Glenda and our hard work is paying off – we now have 13 locations across the UK offering our fab products with two more due to open in January 2011! We have exceptionally exciting and big plans for 2011 which will see Precious Memories moving forward but I won’t kiss and tell, you’ll just have to wait and see!

I love and adore my job. I love dealing with the clients that come to me, the thought that I am creating this beautiful handmade product they will have on their wall for years to come still amazes me. So far I have come across sleepy babies (who don’t stir whilst having their cast done), screamers (who scream blue murder whilst it is being done), gigglers (who just laugh either at me singing to them or the sensation of the alginate setting) and nonchalant babies who couldn’t care less! After starting with 2D impressions and progressing to 3D framed casts, I now offer the full range of luxury 3D items, from solid bronze through to clear resin, and our 2D casts have seen MANY MANY ex-Kindercast customers coming through the doors to have replicas done of their originals once more babies arrive in their families.

My favourite cast – hard to say because sometimes it’s not about the cast, it’s about the relationship between me and the client – there are some truly lovely mothers out there.
Worst moment – when opened a 3D cast to find all 5 fingers missing and the hand detached from the wrist – thank god for taking duplicate copies!!!
Funniest moment – chasing Glenda’s alsation around her kitchen whilst trying to hold the bag of alginate on his paw to get a 3D cast. Amazingly it came out perfectly!!

I have heard stories of absolute heartbreak and stories of pure miraculous joy. I have been pooed on, sicked on and had my hair pulled more times than I care to remember (I am generally talking about the children, not their parents!!). This job is not just about ‘taking a cast’ it is truly about creating a ‘precious memory’ and I love it. Here’s to the next year.

Taking & Making My First 3D Hand and Foot Casts

Desperately seeking something creative outside of my role as Mum and office worker I came across Precious Memories, a company where I can work at my own pace, expand my skills and aspirations beyond my office role AND learn a craft.

For me the process has started with taking and making 3D Casts; this is NOT like making the plaster of paris statuettes you made when you were little, and for anyone who is tempted to buy a ‘Do It Yourself’ kit, then I urge you to think again. I am still in the very early stages of my training and so far have encountered the joys and frustrations of what I know will eventually become a polished, well made final product. However, at the moment I would say that like me, my product is pretty raw and my casts have been casualties of missing fingers, thumbs and toes, with a fair few unexplained lumps and bumps thrown in for good measure. There’s a lot to think about and squeeze into a small window of time as things set to form the one off mould.

Everything is a bit of a mystery until you unpeel the alginate to reveal your efforts…a point at which I stop breathing just in case I snap anything off, but at the same time I am completely amazed by the tiniest details it captures; from nails and creases, down to perfect little fingerprints.

It’s not an exact science, but with each mould and cast I do, I get that little bit better and that little bit wiser. If only there were more hours in the day to practice!

My next steps are learning how to finish and prep my work for framing…it’s all starting to come together nicely.

This is what I am aiming to create!

 

If you are interested in having your little ones casts done or purchase some fantastic finger print jewellery then please visit the Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

………AND don’t forget to enter the competition below for your chance to win Bramble Bunny!!