Thursday, August 25, 2011

Carleigh’s belly cast

Back on March 21, 2009 (just a week before Carleigh’s birth) I had a belly cast party and some of my friends from high school came and helped me create a cast as a keepsake from my pregnancy with Carleigh.

For over 2 years I have been waiting to have this cast painted. I had been so unsure of where to turn to have this painted. I didn’t want to do it myself and have it turn out less than what it deserved to be.

When I found out last year that Stephanie from Beyond Words Designs painted belly casts I knew I wanted her to do mine. I had seen all the fabulous paintings she had done and I knew she would be perfect. Plus, I knew she would handle something so precious with lots of love and care.

The picture below was taken July 13th and was right before I packaged it up and sent it off to Stephanie. Putting it on I couldn’t believe how small I was with Carleigh just a week before having her. This was at 36 weeks but I was only measuring about 29 weeks. I am so, so glad that I did a belly casting for Carleigh.

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Today I received my painted belly cast. I got a reveal of it from Stephanie before it arrived and I was just blown away. (You can see her post here.) It was better than I even imagined and I love how Stephanie came to the design that she did. For the record, all I told Stephanie was that I somehow wanted stars and the color purple incorporated. I left the rest of the design up to her. I did send along Carleigh’s stamps of her hands and foot prints as I wasn’t sure if she would want to incorporate them into the design and I just love what she did with them!

Stephanie says, “I decided upon the midnight colors of deep purple fading into blue for the sky because my friend mentioned that the color purple and stars always made her think of her daughter.  The universe with millions of stars leapt into my head.  And the shooting star represents her life ~ shines so brightly, but briefly.   I saw a shooting star years ago during a very special evening in my life ~ and that image never left me. . .so I recreated it on the cast.  The hand and foot prints are the real prints of my friend’s daughter and their position within the cast is how she laid within her mama’s womb.”

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The cast is currently hanging in our bedroom above our bed. I’m not sure if it will stay there but that’s where I had an empty nail so it works for now. It seems kind of fitting though. (I wish I would’ve done one of these for my other girls too.)

Thank you, Stephanie, for creating such a beautiful work of art on my Carleigh’s belly cast. It is much more than I ever imagined it would be.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Holly, its beautiful! Just gorgeous. What a perfect tribute to Carleigh!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

It's beautiful. It would have been nice to have the others done as well but they would not have held the same meaning that Carleigh's does. ((HUGS))

Kristi said...

:) WOW!! She did an amazing job! Its so georgous!!!

trennia said...

Holly, that is beautiful!
I wish I had, had one with Emily, but I didn't...I wish I knew about them then...sad for me,but happy for you :)

Mother Knows Best Reviews said...

That is just breathtaking!

Betty said...

Wow, so beautiful. I was going to do one with Daniel, but had no idea what to do with it..besides collect dust. What a great idea to paint it! I teared up when I seen Carleigh's prints inside. What a perfect touch. She did a wonderful job!

Angie said...

It's stunning! What a beautiful way to remember Carleigh.

Mary said...

I love it Holly! It is so perfect for you to remember her that way, since she was so at peace and whole in your belly. Perfect!

CynthiaS said...

I love it! It's gorgeous!

Sarita Boyette said...

It is absolutely beautiful! I remember when you had that made,and I am glad, too, that you have this precious keepsake of Carleigh. xoxo

tomandcheryl said...

Oh my gosh! That is probably THE single most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I love what she decided to do with the hand and foot prints.
Stephanie must have more love inside of her than any one else on earth.
Treasure it always, Holly.
~Cheryl

Fireflyforever said...

What a beautiful, beautiful tribute to Carleigh. How precious.

MommyIvy said...

It is beautiful!

Caroline said...

So beautiful !!!

Mary said...

elle a fait un magnifique travail, mais je pensais qu'elle serait partie plus sur un violet. J'aime beaucoup le fait que vous ayez fait ce moulage seulement pour carleigh

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