By Sharmini Angela
When Melisa Kam was on holiday in New Zealand three years ago, she had a hand and feet sculpture done of her nine-day-old daughter, Nicolette David. It became a special gift and cherished memento for her.
The 31-year-old mother then signed up for a few classes before returning home to start her own outfit called Little Prints, specialising in this artform.
"I just love the idea of creating something as a keepsake for mothers," she says from her home office in Puchong. "Parents now have the opportunity to capture those precious little hands and feet in exquisite detail in either gold or silver stone sculptures."
Her workshop in her house is strewn with all sorts of hand and feet sculptures and even pregnant belly casting.
"Seeing the excitement of the parents when they collect their products continues to be gratifying," says David Ramadass, her husband and business partner.
Melisa explains that the casting process takes a day. She uses a non-toxic claylike substance for the sculpture.
First, and impression of the hand or foot is made in the soft clay which is easy to shape. The impression is removed and set aside for a while before being filled with a liquefied stone powder and left to harden for seven hours.
The clay impression is then removed and the stone sculpture cleaned. This may take two hours to complete.
David then sandpapers the sculpture before leaving it to bake under the sun for 10 days to achieve durability. When dry, it is coated with three layers of paint, allowing it to dry in-between coats.
It takes three weeks to complete a sculpture. Parents have option to frame or place the sculpture on a plaque.
The prices for the frames, custom-made from New Zealand imported pine wood, start from RM240 to RM290 for children sculptures but varies for adults.
Plaque settings with a personalised inscribed nameplate, start from RM120 onwards.
Mothers who want a memento of their pregnancy can get a stomach cast done. Melisa uses a special plaster and placed it on belly. Each sitting takes an hour.
The cast is removed and left to dry for three days. The mother then has a choice to leave it white or have it sprayed in gold or silver.
This pregnant belly cast costs RM250 upwards.
Mothers can also have their baby's pacifier or shoes bronzed. Melisa sends them to New Zealand and the cost is RM120 for the pacifier and RM200 for a shoe.
Little Prints scultures are displayed in Japlo and baby and child clinics. These outlets also take orders for sculptures.
"If you are looking for something beyond the usual, this would be the perfect gift," says Melisa.
For more details, call Melisa at 012-252 5577 or 03-5882 9415.
Sentimental Keepsakes
