Business captures special moments

Tiny Impressions offers keepsakes of children's earliest occasions

Advertisement

Tiny Impressions, a home-based business, is capturing moments in children's lives. The company, run by Connie Hallett, handcrafts ceramic plates displaying a child's handprint or footprints.

"When people pick them up they are amazed at how much their baby has grown," Hallett said.

Hallett will go to the hospital to get a baby's print when they are only a few hours old. Five weeks later, when the plate is complete the baby has already changed so much.

The plates are made from a nontoxic clay that Hallett can mold into a classic round or oval or in almost any shape imaginable. She currently has made plates in the shape of footballs, stars, surfboards, princess crowns and guitars, among many others.

"I work with the family to create something unique," Hallett said.

After the imprints are pressed into the clay it must dry for a week or two. It is then sanded, fired in a kiln, painted, glazed and fired again.

Names, dates and messages can be written into the clay before it dries. There are about 30 colors to choose from to decorate the keepsake.

The prints and designs can be painted to stand out on the white ceramic or the entire plate can be painted one color.

Recently a family of 10 had plates made to commemorate the sealing of their family in the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The two parents and eight children, including two biological children and six adopted, needed two of the largest oval plates to fit all 10 hands. The family's plates have the date of the sealing and the sayings "Forever family," and "10 for eternity," etched into the clay.

Hallett said that family plates with children's and parents' hands together, are very popular.

"I have one mom who has the baby's hand inside hers," Hallett said. "She has had four done and can see how much (the baby) has grown."

Tiny Impressions travels to local farmer's markets, birthday parties, mom and baby groups and festivals with a selection of sample plates and clay.

Hallett has created most of the samples using her own children, John, 4, and Joey, 3. She started the business in October of 2003, partially in order to stay home with her sons.

"I had this vision that the house would be clean and I'd have dinner on the table every night," Hallett said.

Although she does get to spend a lot more time with her kids, she said the house is full of plates, clay, and works in progress.

Tiny Impressions also has home shows, where the host can invite friends to see samples and have their children's prints done. The host can receive one free plate for every 10 plates ordered.

Paw prints of pets also are very popular and Hallett has had requests such as babies' bottom prints

Hallett also offers a service to local hospitals for newborns who die. Nurses have been trained to take the handprints or footprints and Hallett will pick the clay up from the hospital to complete it.

"Most families are so happy to have such a solid memory," said Kristin Rafie, the childbirth education coordinator at Summerlin Hospital.

Once the plates are complete Hallett brings them back to the hospital where parents can pick them up.

"We're so grateful and appreciative of Connie," Rafie said. "She doesn't expect anything in return."

Hallett said she has had parents come up to her at local events and ask her if she does the prints at the hospitals.

"One mom hugged me and said I gave her a gift she would not have had," Hallet said. "That is my reward."

For more information on Tiny Impressions, call 279-5592.