Everlasting Castings

#Marchmeetthemaker Day 19 - "Dream collaboration". This one is for my daughter, Liberty, who is obsessed with K-Pop sensation @bts.bighitofficial . If only I could cast their hands 👐 Maybe auction them for charity? I hear they are coming to London in June. I'd need a helper, of course... #bts #dreambig #makeithappen #btsarmy ... #btsconcert #btsv #btsloveyourself #btslondon #btsspeakyourself #bangtansonyeondan #unicef
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 18 - "Mistake or lesson". It's busy running your own home business. But rather than working ad hoc and saying yes to everything, I've learnt to schedule work & rest days. But I can always make time for a slice of cake from my favourite @earthnaturalfoods ☕
#letthemeatcake #bonechina #teacups... #tulips #putyourfeetup #worklifebalance #takeabreak #timefortea
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 17 - "What I'm working on". Been playing around with this idea. Key or jewellery holder?
#keyholder #cuppedhands

#Marchmeetthemaker Day 16 - "Workspace". These are the before and after shots of my garden studio where we make and pack the frames and casting kits. The casting work and training is done in my kitchen/living room.
Thank you @hanging_babylon for my gorgeous studio garden🌷🌿🐛🦋💕
Thank you Joanne Hawker Design & Illustration for setting this challenge!
... #beforeandafter #workspace #gardenstudio #trainingday #kitchentable @ Everlasting Castings
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day15 - "Motivation/goals". My main motivation was to get out of finance and work from home. Spending time with so many babies means I can spend time with my own (these two are 18 and 14 now!). My main goal is to help other parents run their own casting business from home too.
#worklifebalance #motivation... #goals #no9to5 #familytime #workfromhome
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 14 - "How I learnt". I got into belly casting by just giving it a go after convincing an artist friend to do mine. This photo was one of my first casts. I then went on a baby casting course and honed my skills over the years through trial, error and perseverance. Fast forward to now and I am the one training people to do what I absolutely love.
#bellycasting #pregnant #babycastingtraining ... #workfromhome @ Everlasting Castings
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 13 - "Photography". I've only ever taken photos on my phone as it's always around and requires no set up! Good light is the main thing. So I try to take my photos outside on a hazy day or in my studio as it has skylights and is warm and dry in winter. This photo was a lucky indoor one with my daughter's (much less wrinkly!) hand modelling for me.
#babyfeet #photography #scrunchedtoes ... #babycasting
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 12 - "Hands at work". Revealing the cast - the best part of the job!
#thebigreveal #nobubbles #carefullydoesit... #myfirstvideo
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 11 "Reducing waste". We do get through quite a lot of cardboard and Eco packing peanuts to ensure our frames and kits arrive in perfect condition. But we recycle all of our cardboard and even let little visitors have a play. 📦👶📦
#packingpeanuts #packaging ... #recycle #reducewaste #reducereuserecycle #littlevisitor #cardboard #box
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 10 - "You". Caster, trainer, website designer, photographer, stock controller, packer, bookkeeper, marketer & product developer are some of my many roles running a small business. As well as being housekeeper and Mum to two teenagers 😬. I have help with the framing. I make time for family and friends and the odd holiday and I just started going to the gym - let's hope it lasts! 🤹
#iwearmanyhats ... #smallbusiness #workfromhome #lovemyjob #mumtoteenagers #jugglinglife
📷 @herewegoloobyloo
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 9 - "Story behind the name". Fifteen years ago there were only a handful of casting companies so I had an easy time picking a name. It did involve a lengthy 'brainstorming' session though and a lot of shouting. It's much harder these days to think of something unique and memorable! If you are just starting out, don't forget to check Google and all social media first before picking a name.
#everlastingcastings #brainstorming... #companylogo #15years #15thanniversary
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 8 - "Product range". I started with just belly casting kits back in 2004. I've added a few ranges and discontinued a few since then. Now my main focus is home casting kits, frames (especially to other baby casters), training courses & casting days. The "Find Your Local Caster" facility is popular too. So if you are a caster, messsge me to be added to my approved casters list or enquire about our frames.
#wesellframes #frames #training... #course #babycasting #bellycasting #kits
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 7 - "Less glam side". Shaving and sanding the casts flat for framing is by far the least glam part of the job. The plaster dust makes my hands so dry so I get through loads of #handcream!
#plaster #dust #notsoglam... #shaving #grater #sandpaper #caudalie #bubblewrap
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 6 - "Full or part-time" When I first started Everlasting Castings, my work was a bit ad hoc so I had a part-time job too. The flexibility of working from home was great when my kids were little. I made the leap to running it full time over a decade ago now. Daily tasks involve anything from packing orders to updating the website or running baby casting training courses. But FINALLY I don't work at weekends. Although, if I get invited to a friend's kid's birthday, I'm quite likely to bring along some clay for a cheeky little handprint!

#Marchmeetthemaker Day 5 - "Detail or close up". There is such variation in babies' feet. I just love these little #wrinkles.
#wrinkledsoles #wrinkledfeet #scrunchedtoes... #gold #details
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 4 - "Tools & Materials". I like to get everything laid out before a day of training or casting. It just makes the day run so much smoother. Lots of pots, tubs, jugs and bowls. #toolsofthetrade #casting #getorganised

#Marchmeetthemaker Day 3 "Flatlay"
#hardwood #chevrons #mounts... #glitter #babyfeet #babyhands #flatlay #flatlays #flatlaystyle #mixitup #rollit
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#Marchmeetthemaker Day 2 – “How you started”. I'd been working in IT for way too long. So, when I got pregnant, I decided a change was needed. Just by chance an artist friend who had done a face cast of me for one of her exhibitions was in town. "You did my face", I said. "Let's cast my (now huge) belly!" She did. Other pregnant friends then asked how to get it done and I said I'd have a go. A diy kit, website & baby castings were a natural progression and Everlasting Casting...s was born. This image is a glass cast of that original first belly cast, my belly button included!
#pregnantbellycast #bellybutton #glasscast #howistarted
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