Precious Memories - Keepsakes

02/10/2026

Already hooked?!

What did we all make of the first episode of Celebrity Traitors?

Richard E Grant… honestly, what is he like? Saying he was a Traitor almost straight away — I couldn’t believe it!

And Ross Kemp… jumpy or what? The man looks like he could take on anyone, yet he was getting suspicious because someone touched his arm!

I think we’re in for an absolute cracker of a series.

Who else watched it? Who are you suspicious of already?

01/10/2026

Pets are such a huge part of our lives, so why should keepsakes just be about people?

These are just a few examples of my students’ work — from 2-D horses, cats and dogs to 3-D dogs.

It’s lovely seeing the different animals people choose to create and how much of their character can come through in a keepsake.

2-D is suitable for some pets, while 3-D works better for others, and it’s about understanding which technique is going to capture that particular animal best.

Whether you’re starting out and want to learn how to create keepsakes of pets, or you already work in an industry where pets are a big part of what you do, it’s a really lovely skill to have.

This is something I’m really passionate about teaching, because I know how much these pieces can mean to the person receiving them.

Because for someone who has lost a much-loved pet, having something that reminds them of them can mean so much.

If you’re interested in learning more about creating pet keepsakes, speak to me about attending a course.

30/09/2026

Love The Celebrity Traitors - who is looking forward to it?

The Traitors are soon to be revealed! 🏰

30/09/2026

From tiny toes to a professional 3D foot cast…

But here’s the part you might not expect — you can learn how to do this yourself in just 2 days.

I’ve been creating these for over 20 years, and now I teach you exactly how to do it professionally, hands-on and with the benefit of all those years of experience.

Want to turn this skill into something you can offer professionally?

My 2-day training could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Message me for the next training date.

30/09/2026

Two-Day One-to-One Baby Casting Course

Thinking about learning baby hand and foot casting?

My two-day course is completely one-to-one, so it’s just you and me, learning hands-on.

Day 1 — a newborn baby, literally just days old.

Day 2 — an older baby, giving you the chance to work with different ages and different challenges.

You’ll learn the whole process, from taking the casts through to sanding, airbrushing and framing, with me guiding you every step of the way.

I’ve been doing this professionally for over 20 years, and I’ll share the techniques and little tips I’ve learnt along the way.

And it doesn’t end when you leave. You’ll have ongoing support from me, discounts on supplies, and if you want to take your skills further, there’s also a Day 3 which can be booked at a later date.

Only a couple of spaces left for 2026.

If you’ve been thinking about it, get in touch.

DM me for the details.

29/09/2026

When you can no longer hold them… you can hold onto a piece of them.

Recently, I had the privilege of teaching a lovely mum & daughter the art of pet casting, so they can offer this incredibly special service to families with beloved pets — both living pets and those who have sadly passed.

We went through memorial pet casting in detail, because casting a pet who has passed is very different from casting a live dog. It requires different techniques, patience, care and, above all, sensitivity.

Because to some, it may just be a paw…

But to a grieving family, it can be everything.

A little impression of a much-loved companion.
A precious pet keepsake to hold.
Something tangible to treasure when they’re no longer here.

Not just a casting.
A memory. A connection. A piece of them to keep forever.


::

25/09/2026

Day 2 of training… and today we swapped tiny fingers and toes for paws! 🐾

If Day 1 was all about baby casting, today was a completely different challenge — pet casting.

And of course, my amazing model Pickle was back to help me out. My followers will know that Pickle is one of my favourite models, and she was absolutely brilliant for my students today.

Neither of them had done pet casting before, so there was a lot to take in.

The techniques are different, the materials are different, and there’s a whole new level of responsibility when you’re working with a much-loved pet — whether they’re still here with us or you’re creating a memorial for a pet who has sadly passed away.

Pet memorial work can be incredibly emotional and, if I’m honest, there’s a lot of pressure to get it right.

When someone is trusting you to create a keepsake of their beloved pet, you want to know that you’ve captured those little details that make it their pet. And you want to create something that can hopefully bring them comfort when they need it most.

So today wasn’t just about putting a paw into a mould and hoping for the best.

My students learnt about the different materials and techniques, how to work carefully with paws, how to create the cast and how to capture as much detail as possible.

Then came the next stage — sanding and finishing the casts properly before moving on to colour.

And then we got the airbrush out!

They learnt how colour can completely transform a plain cast and how to build it up carefully to create a realistic finish.

That’s a LOT to learn in one day!

And just like yesterday, I want my students to understand the why behind what they’re doing, not just copy what I do.

Why we use different materials.
Why the technique matters.
Why detail matters.
Why you need patience.
Why finishing is so important.
And why, when you’re creating a memorial piece, the little things really do matter.

And they absolutely smashed it.

They created some beautiful paw keepsakes today, and I’m genuinely so proud of how much they managed to take on in such a short space of time.

And Pickle? Well, she was pawsome!

Lots of treats were involved, my students absolutely loved her, and she was such a good girl throughout the whole day. I think she may have enjoyed the training just as much as they did!

Yesterday it was tiny fingers and toes.

Today it was paws.

Two completely different types of casting, two very different challenges, and SO much learnt over these two days.

And I think this is what I love about what I do with Precious Memories. It’s not just about teaching someone how to make a cast. It’s about giving them the skills and confidence to create something that can become incredibly meaningful to another family.

A huge thank you to Pickle for being such a brilliant model as always — and to my students for throwing themselves into everything and working so hard.

I’m really proud of what they achieved over these two days, and I can’t wait to see what they go on to create with everything they’ve learnt.

And now I think Pickle and I both deserve a rest!

24/09/2026

Day 1 of 2 of training with my student mum and daughter… and today was all about baby casting.

Neither had ever made a baby cast before, so there were definitely a few nerves this morning — especially when they discovered their little model was just 8 weeks old!

Thankfully, we had the most chilled-out little baby in Rocco, and his lovely mum Leila, who were both absolute stars.

Baby casting can look deceptively simple, but there is so much more to it than putting a baby’s hand or foot into a mould.

Today they learnt about correct water-to-alginate ratios, timings, positioning, safety and how to work with such tiny fingers and toes.

Then came the plaster work — and this is where technique really matters. Getting it right means you don’t lose those precious little fingertips and you end up with a detailed, beautiful cast that actually captures the tiny features you’re trying to preserve.

And this is exactly why my training is about much more than simply showing someone how to make a cast.

My students learn the why behind what they are doing.

Why the ratios matter.
Why positioning matters.
Why safety comes first.
Why you never rush a baby.
Why the plaster technique is so important.
And why the whole experience matters just as much as the finished piece.

Leila shared with us that she’d previously had an experience elsewhere that she found very disappointing, including a visit to Mothercare which felt very much like a quick in-and-out service.

That really matters to me.

When a parent brings their baby to you for a keepsake, they’re trusting you with something incredibly precious. It shouldn’t feel rushed. There should be time to explain, reassure, make sure everyone is comfortable and, most importantly, make it a lovely experience.

Then came the big reveal…

And just look at those casts!

The same baby. The same tiny hands. Yet look at how different the finished results can be depending on technique.

After Leila’s previous experience, I think you’ll agree these turned out pretty beautifully!

A huge thank you to Leila for trusting my students and allowing them to practise with your gorgeous boy. And thank you to Rocco for being such a perfect little model.

I think my students went into today feeling a little nervous… and finished it feeling a whole lot more confident!

And tomorrow? We swap tiny fingers and toes for paws!

Day 2 is all about pets, casting and airbrushing — so we’re going from baby models to furry ones. 🐾

I think we’re in for another interesting day!