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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.
