I am so excited and thrilled to introduce to you my interview with The Handprintlady. I am in love with this shop and I know you will be too once you see the lovely, unique and personalized keepsakes she offers. Please welcome Monica Lasich of The Handprintlady! She is a stay at home mother of six children. Monica is a professional ceramist and ceramic instructor. She has been doing baby handprint and footprints since 1997 when she opened a "make and paint your own ceramic" store in Southern California.
BUTTERFLY PLAQUE
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/75637655/hand-and-footprint-butterfly-plaque-by |
How did you get started doing hand print ceramic keepsakes?
I closed the big studio so I could stay home with the kids, but kept on doing the baby handprints and footprints because I love them so much. In addition to the traditional hand/footprint ornaments and plaques, I expanded my catalog to offer hand/footprint frames, vases, wind-chimes, and garden stepping stones. All custom made, in every shape and color, with your custom personalization. I don't just do babies either; I do kids, moms, dads, pets, and grandmas!
I closed the big studio so I could stay home with the kids, but kept on doing the baby handprints and footprints because I love them so much. In addition to the traditional hand/footprint ornaments and plaques, I expanded my catalog to offer hand/footprint frames, vases, wind-chimes, and garden stepping stones. All custom made, in every shape and color, with your custom personalization. I don't just do babies either; I do kids, moms, dads, pets, and grandmas!
What is your favorite product that you offer?
My favorite product has to be the "Eternity Plaque" which is both the mom and dad, with baby's handprints inside mom's and dad's hands. It's big and beautiful. My other favorite is Stoneware Stepping Stones. I love seeing mine everyday I walk in and out of my house. I have one for my kids I made in 2001, I just wash them off and they are good as new.
ETERNITY PLAQUE
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/74877314/mommy-and-daddy-and-me-ceramic-handprint |
STEPPING STONE
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/61392828/ceramic-handprintfootprint-garden |
What was your inspiration behind the Prints by Mail Kit?
After hundreds of requests from across the country, I experimented and tested for a year, and came up with my new Prints by Mail Kit! I had sisters who live far away who were having babies, and my husband's family started having babies and they live on the East Coast, so I HAD to figure out a way to make my baby hand/footprint plaques by mail. I now have a mess-free and goof-proof method, and it is all inclusive so it is very easy for you to do.
Could you go into detail about how the process works for those of us that are not in your area?
I send special mold material to you. You make the mold by just smooshing your child's hand/foot in the material. Then you send it back to me in a pre-addressed, prepaid envelope I included. You don't even have to go to the post office. I then take the 2 dimensional mold and cast it and sculpt it into a 3 dimensional hand or foot that can then be used over and over to make any number of items. Approximately 6 weeks later (or sooner) I send you back your beautiful plaque/ornament/windchime/vase/frame/stepping stone by USPS priority mail. The beauty of the method is that with flat rate shipping, I can send several items to you for the same cost as one piece. I sent 6 garden stepping stones (heavy) to my dad in one box for the same price as sending one! Perfect for making presents for grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, etc. I do keep the molds up to one year, so if you want to reorder you can. I've already gotten re-orders for those who loved their pieces so much they wanted more!
I send special mold material to you. You make the mold by just smooshing your child's hand/foot in the material. Then you send it back to me in a pre-addressed, prepaid envelope I included. You don't even have to go to the post office. I then take the 2 dimensional mold and cast it and sculpt it into a 3 dimensional hand or foot that can then be used over and over to make any number of items. Approximately 6 weeks later (or sooner) I send you back your beautiful plaque/ornament/windchime/vase/frame/stepping stone by USPS priority mail. The beauty of the method is that with flat rate shipping, I can send several items to you for the same cost as one piece. I sent 6 garden stepping stones (heavy) to my dad in one box for the same price as sending one! Perfect for making presents for grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, etc. I do keep the molds up to one year, so if you want to reorder you can. I've already gotten re-orders for those who loved their pieces so much they wanted more!
SANDPRINT PLAQUE
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/61393529/sandprint-child-handfootprint-plaque |
3D OUTPRINT
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/62480938/3d-outprint-hand-and-foot-plaque-small |
How is your work different from the ordinary clay molds we buy at the store and do ourselves?
I think my work is different because I use my background and training to do some out-of-the-ordinary takes on the traditional. I have some plaques in BLACK clay drying as we speak (I've also done terra cotta) and I also mix my own glazes (I make a matte glaze for those who like a different look), and I even fabricate my own clay cutters (I'm probably the only person with a drill press on my back patio here in Irvine). My latest and greatest is my 3D OUTPRINTS. The hands and feet come OUT and the texture is incredible! My trademark is my Sandprints with real sand and seashells from the beach; I am the only one in the world that does them this way.
I think my work is different because I use my background and training to do some out-of-the-ordinary takes on the traditional. I have some plaques in BLACK clay drying as we speak (I've also done terra cotta) and I also mix my own glazes (I make a matte glaze for those who like a different look), and I even fabricate my own clay cutters (I'm probably the only person with a drill press on my back patio here in Irvine). My latest and greatest is my 3D OUTPRINTS. The hands and feet come OUT and the texture is incredible! My trademark is my Sandprints with real sand and seashells from the beach; I am the only one in the world that does them this way.
PET PAW PRINT PLAQUE
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/73666051/pet-pawprint-plaque |
It was a pleasure getting to know Monica and her shop! She is a true inspiration to me and I love all her hand crafted beautiful heirloom keepsake clay prints. Keep in touch with Monica (The Handprintlady) below:
Blog: http://handprintlady.blogspot.com
Etsy Shop: http://handprintlady.etsy.com
Website: http://handprintlady.com
Follow on: Facebook
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/handprintlady
Have a great weekend!
4 comments:
I love the sandprints!
Amazing idea and so nicely made. Thanks for sharing!
What a fabulous keepsake! Thanks for letting me know about it.
Wonderful ceramic baby hand prints. I have one just like it for my son when he was born. These are great keepsakes and mementos. Thanks for sharing.
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