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Every-so-often I bring you an interview
and giveaway with one of Clean's sponsors. It's a great opportunity to
discover a new small businesses and also a friendly reminder that there
are alternatives to the mass-produced products, big-box stores, and the
status-quo.
Each sponsor is carefully hand-picked and their interviews never cease to inspire me. Enjoy!
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Today I'm honored to introduce you to Carrie of Pixie Printz. Her story truly touched my heart. Read on to hear her story, and to enter her giveaway for some precious jewelery!
What is your company and how long have you been in business?
I am the proud owner of Pixie Printz, a fingerprint jewelry and
keepsake business. I started my business two years ago May 1.
Well, it's not so much inspiration as much as it was a reaction.
In August 2009 my then 18 month old daughter was diagnosed with a very
aggressive, solid tumor cancer called Neuroblastoma. In April 2010 we
learned that not only was her cancer not responding to any treatment,
but it was actually spreading.
My husband and I then decided we would
trust God and chose quality of life over quantity and took her home with
no further treatment. At that time she was given 2-3 months left to
live. This fit the profile not only of her cancer, but of her experience
as well so we began planning her memorial.
I knew I wanted fingerprint
jewelry and so I started looking for it. I found that it was beyond my
means and became frustrated that in the situation I was in, I couldn't
afford the one thing that would mean the most to me because it was so
very expensive.
One year later I began Pixie Printz, named for my
daughters favorite Disney character, Tinkerbell.
Leiryn (pronounced
Leer-in) just celebrated her 5th birthday and is currently a thriving
preschooler. She still is riddled with cancer, but the cancer hasn't
grown or spread since we stopped treatment almost 3 years ago.
When I started Pixie Printz, I also founded a non-profit called
Imprints of the Heart. We work with hospices, funeral homes and
hospitals to provide Pixie Printz keepsakes at no cost for families that
are facing the loss of a child or have recently lost a child. I feel as
though no parent facing this kind of loss should have to weigh their
wants against what's affordable.
Because each Pixie Printz fingerprint
keepsake is made with the touch of a finger each family not only is provided with something that captures their child's touch and the most
unique part of them, they are able to participate in the making of these
keepsakes as well so each piece will forever hold that memory.
What else should we know?
The silver used to make each keepsake is made from recycled silver
particles. They combine these particles with an organic binder and
water to make a pure silver clay. This is how each print is captured by
touch. It is then hand engraved and refined then fired in a kiln.
In
addition to fingerprints I also make keepsakes using a hand or
footprint, a signature, a kiss, a drawing, and for some a paw print.
Each piece is handcrafted form start to finish by myself along with
three other moms. We all bring our kiddos to the studio and work while
they play or do school work.
Pixie Printz is offering one lucky reader their choice of a charm or a pendant, depending on the
number of prints they would like to capture.
(A charm will hold 2-3
prints, and a pendant can hold up to 5.) Choose from heart, circle, teardrop (or
raindrop as I was corrected by a 7 yr. old, lol), flower, or dog tag. (The shapes are shown here.)
To enter simply leave a comment on this post. I'll close comments and select one winner next week.
The comments are now closed. The winner is Tokarz who said:
"So good…"
And if that weren't enough, enjoy 10% off of your Pixie Printz order, use coupon code "LO2013" between today and May 20, 2013.
What a wonderful family and business. Thank you for what you do…the service you provide is so valuable.
What a lovely idea! I would certainly enjoy wearing my daughter’s sweet fingerprint, but this could also be a great idea for a gift to grandmama!
What a story! And such a special business.
Oh my, how dear! How lucky I am to learn about this family and their craft,
Oh, just so, so beautiful and meaningful! Thank you for sharing the story and giveaway!
Truly touching. I keep this in mind, loevly things.
beautiful story and beautiful business she has created! love! thank you for sharing her story!
Beautiful!
Sooo lovely 🙂
Women are so inventive these days. I would love to win this.
What a beautiful idea! I love that she does it for free for families too!
what an incredible story. thank you so much for sharing, and for the giveaway.
Remarkable little five year old miracle! The imprints bring tears to my eyes. So very touching. What a gift to give a parent.
Beautiful…I would love to have something with each of my childrens prints on it.
What a lovely service to offer people.
What a most beautiful and well captured story…
A wonderful story, and I love that she followed her inspiration and created what she was looking for herself.
I am an oncology therapist that worked with a 6 year old while she battled her own brain tumor (she ultimately died). I had contacted the non-profit that hired me to work with her to see if we could take her finger prints for her parents and make a piece of jewelry for them, she died before I had the chance. You are doing blessed work in the world (and I am planning to pass your name on to Lucy’s Love Bus…the non-profit that I work with that provides holistic therapies to children with cancer)….
Yes! count me in…what Mom wouldn’t want a piece of jewelry with her children’s prints?? I’d love to wear one of your pieces with my three children’s prints on it!
Beautiful family inside and out.
Wow…..
I have been following your company for over a year now. I think your work is so inspirational that I have ordered gift certificates as unique baby shower gifts and promote your company even though I have not had the opportunity to own one of your pieces. I would be honored to receive a piece of yours after the week I just had where my 4 year old had his 6th brain surgery on Tuesday. Keep up the work you are an angel!!
What an inspiration you and your company are. I got choked up reading about your little miracle.
This is wonderful!
Thanks Katie. You are wonderful and brave <3 🙂
A truly beautiful story, and an amazing business.
What a wonderful non profit!
wow! That certainly is an incredible thing to wear!
How lovely that you figured out how to bring it to us.
THanks for sharing
What an amazing gift you are to the world! I am a grief and loss therapist and I will pass your company name along to my patients. I wish I knew about your company when we lost our daughter. What a love filled keepsake. Thank you for the opportunity to win a charm to honor my kids.
I am currently in the whirl of tests and hospital visits for my 7 year old. I am inspired to read the story behind the business and how mamas create such heartfelt gifts that respond and heal.
Carrie, your story is amazing and beautiful, and the keepsakes are DIVINE! If only Pixie Printz were here in Australia….. Much love xx
What an incredible story. Yay for Leiryn, and for you for doing something so beautiful and meaningful for other parents during a time of great pain.
This is amazing. A girlfriend at work had something similar she bought through her funeral home. When I looked into it the price was way beyond our means. Glad to see someone offer an alternative and personally what I think it a more beautiful alternative. Handmade making it all the more precious! Thanks for the work you do with your non profit too. Really a wonderful idea! Glad to hear your daughter is thriving too! Blessings.
As someone who works with cancer patients, I will echo the value of holding something in your hand that has been touched by a loved one. Wonderful.
What a beautiful story! It truly brought a tear to my eye.
amazing, amazing work. thank you for sharing.
Wow, such beautiful work created by such a beautiful soul
Awesome business!! What a great idea!
What an inspiring story! And the jewelry is beautiful.
Having met Carrie at a Pixie Printz event, I can say that she is a lovely lady with a beautiful heart!
A woman truly doing an Angel’s Work. Thank you for being in the world. I am also blown away by the trust that comes from these parent’s heart. They are an inspiration to the way I live my life. I send so many blessings and prayers to all connected. And will think of them often.
Carrie, What an amazing company you have started. I love that you will provide them free of charge to the people who may need them the most. You have an amazing and generous spirit.
What a wonderful idea. I’d love to win.
What a wonderful woman! Bless your heart~
that’s some lovely jewelery and a touching story!
What a sweet idea. Thanks for sharing!
So inspiring and what a unique way to bring meaningful jewelry to parents and help those who need it most. As a Latent Print Examiner (Forensic Scientist), I look at fingerprints everyday and understand the uniqueness that is imprinted on your beautiful jewelry. I’d definitely like to replace my three name pendants with your fingerprint pendants!
So cool!
So good…
what a wonderful idea!
wow, how special! it must feel great to think about all the pieces of treasured jewelry you’ve made for people!
Everything is just so beautiful!
Oh my. What a story, and what a business. Her work is so lovely.
Thank you for this lovely giveaway…& perhaps even more importantly – thank you for sharing this lovely, amazing family & business with us! What a gift they are sharing with the world… & such an inspiration too!
Many Blessings+*+*+*
Oh my gosh was I glad to read your muse is thriving! I can’t fathom how dificult of a time that was for you. Your jewelry is beautiful and I love how special the fingerprints make it.
Your business is wonderful, and reading your story brought tears to my eyes. I think I will get a charm to capture this time with my son and daughter. They’re so very special to me. I think it’s wonderful that there are moms finding a way to work and keep there kids close.
That brought tears to my eyes. How can you not fall in love with a business founded on such purpose and intention. Beautiful.
Such amazing jewelry! Would be such a family treasure. . .
Beautiful story. And what a kind, generous company to offer up the jewelry to families dealing with a loss. Thank you for sharing with us.