Here’s a good example of The Mind Over Matter breastmilk preservation wet method. This shows the method next to the client’s actual milk used. The two pearls show how the cure-out phases go with this method. When the breastmilk is cast it tends to be a dramatic, crisp white. This method cures out to a more natural milk color once it settles (oxidizes) into the resin. Some might consider this discoloring, but as spot on as my pieces seem to cure out to, I’d say it’s much more natural than the super white pieces that typically don’t represent the natural colors of the milk.
I also have a photo of a cured-out ring next to the client’s actual milk. I thought it was pretty stunning how well the gem represents the actual milk from my client.
Breastmilk Preservation Powder Method
I did a demonstration of the famous breastmilk preservation powder recently. You can get the powder from etsy and other dna crafters via diy kits. I would imagine powders are made and work similarly, but you can try this for yourself with whatever kit or method you are using.
I’m not using the full step-by-step method as that requires a double boiler and for the sake of time and showing tints I don't think that part is necessary, but I do that in full in a later video.
I was given the powder from a lady in one of the breastmilk preservation groups I was a part of after we had talked briefly about the method not being all that tried and true as it's claimed. My stance is that not all methods are created equal. There are several others who agree, but few will say publicly (and I won't throw them under the bus ) because you will get removed from groups and or bullied and name called.
Some methods are definitely purer than others, but from my research, this seems to be one of the lower quality options as it is packed with tint and filler, on top of evaporating off much of what you'd use.
In my years preserving breastmilk and pumping my own milk, I’ve not seen Bright, powder-white breastmilk, so it doesn't make sense to start with a base that impacts the natural color so much.
I like science so doing this method with water as I did with my own was a part of the experimental and learning process for me. You can see both demonstrations now and you can see which is the purest choice, which is up to the mother's and that's really the whole point. Being a mother myself I would have been devastated to find out my piece was made with tints when I was expecting my milk was the only thing added to color my piece.
I got to see the powder with my own two eyes, it's not speculation how it works. In my opinion, this method is flawed on several points.
This method isn't bad, per se, if you are being honest with your clients about what is going into their keepsakes. I realize some people aren't going to be happy with this, but I’ve been deleted from groups, called names, and bullied along the way, it is what it is. I'm not doing this to be mean, but I like science and information. My Main point is mothers are expecting no tints, and for their crafter to be honest with them. If you're doing that, then there is no issue here.
It's not about swaying your opinion on the method or which crafter to use, rather making people understand what’s happening to their piece. Most mothers aren’t going to realize THAT much filler and that much of a tint goes into their piece. And if their crafter is telling them no tints, they believe them.
This is 5 ml of water to represent the breastmilk that would be used to one packet of powder. I didn't use the whole packet, I used a tiny bit, just to show how much it impacts. Even being diluted more, it still is VERY pigmented and again, you'd be adding a lot more powder and evaporating off any excess liquid, which is primarily what breastmilk is.
This method only works if you’re being honest.
If you still want to argue that I make no sense, there likely isn't any reasoning with you.
You can see the video and all the other videos about preservation on my TikTok or Youtube.. https://www.tiktok.com/@mindovermattermom
Not all preservation methods are created equal Pt 1.
Let's real talk for a minute.
When you buy, let's say, honey from a beekeeper, are you expecting all raw honey in the bottle you purchased? Or are you okay with it being "honey syrup" made mostly with high fructose corn syrup/dyes and only a fraction of real honey? - THAT is the difference between some breastmilk jewelry methods.
While your artist doesn't owe you their method in detail, they can, and should give you an idea of what does or doesn't go into their processes. Can they add their solvents to water and still have a clear or at least transparent "pure" result? You can ask them to do this and if they won’t that should be a RED FLAG. Do they use more of their solvents than your milk? Do they evaporate off most of the milk you sent? - Have you ever boiled breastmilk? It evaporates quickly and almost entirely. Try it. Some artists seemed to have found a loophole to use tints. The package doesn’t state it has pigments, no powder maker is going to admit that to you, so the crafter who purchased it can “white lie” by telling you no tints because they have NO idea. Common sense tells us that just because something doesn’t say it is a tint, it can still impact the color of something, meaning it ACTS like a tint. Don’t let your artist fool you with loopholes and white lies. A strawberry doesn’t call itself a tint either, but it can be used as a dye, just as those powders are doing to what VERY little is left of your milk.
Then we get into chemicals used. If your crafter doesn’t have their own method they have NO idea what they are using in your piece.
My method is a proprietary "wet method" which means your milk is not evaporated off or dried out before it is put into resin. The milk is still in a "wet" form when it is preserved, stabilized, and then cast into your milk gem. NOTHING that contains pigments or tints are added to your milk. My method is your milk with two clear solvents working with the fats in YOUR milk and that's it. (Please note again, "wet" does not mean it hasn't been preserved and prepared to go into the resin.)
My biggest goal when setting out to create my own method was to make sure to keep the method authentic and genuine to MY milk, not a filler. Once your pieces cure-out they are a more natural milk color. Goal achieved for what I wanted in my method. My method is absolutely not for everyone, but I find honesty and integrity in my work very important. As a mother who breastfed all 4 of her children, I only make what I would personally want. I didn't want to cherish a piece made with filler powder and perhaps only traces of my milk. I'd have been devastated to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece only to find out it was packed with a filler or evaporated off.
I worked a really long time, completely on my own, like a mad Scientist for a method. This is where my heart is at. I wasn’t given a method to run with, like most other artists out there. I built my business and waited before selling to be sure my method held up. It’s frustrating to see so many artists already opened up and STILL looking for a new method.- You get your method working THEN start your business and so many have done it the opposite way. DO your research on your artist and their method.
Ask your artist to mix the powder or solvents with water and you can see the impact of their preservation will have on your milk. Ask your artist questions. . you’re allowed.
Top reasons I stand behind my method.
1. Pieces do not rot
2. It contains more of your milk than anything else added(other than resin, of course)
3. I don't evaporate off your milk in the process, at all.
4. There is no powder base or solvents that act as tints or filler.
5. More of a natural color upon cure-out, which happens with the fats in YOUR milk. That means, it is unique to you.
6. No hazardous chemicals used to preserve. Everything in my process is food grade- Like, I could literally feed it to my child and not need to run to the ER. - Some crafters don't even know what the powder they are using contains, which is also a really scary fact. Others use chemicals known to cause cancer, respiratory problems, hormonal imbalances, etc. I KNOW what I am working with because I made it. The most dangerous chemical in my process is the resin itself and I can’t do much to change that. I do work with a food grade resin and not a poly resin
7. I can also make pieces that stay bright white too, the difference is you have to ask me to have a tint added. It isn't added as the base preservation, like the powder method, which for all the ones who outsource the powder know, all it is, is tint. We don't know and they can’t tell you either because they have no idea.
8. Having sourced all of my own preservation materials I can keep my prices affordable.
That being said, if you see a crafter making theirs with powder and you love that piece, buy it. You are still going to love it. It doesn't make it any less of a piece, but you as a consumer should be allowed to be enough aware to make the choice. And your crafter shouldn't conceal that. My main point here is lack of honesty and the amount of milk that actually goes into that method. So many artists want to sweep it under the rug for their own gain.
I will be doing an in-depth video and blog post about this soon. AND I recently got my hands on some of the preservation dust, so I am going to show you HOW much it changes water. I knew it would, but I was even shocked at HOW much. Not sure how anyone can use this method and not question the integrity behind it. I’m also seeing a few of the artists complain of skin reactions. This could be from a number of things, like resin, curing lamps, or mmmmmm maybe the powder they are using?? Food for thought?
While there are several ways to make breastmilk jewelry, they are NOT all created equal. Someone, somewhere has to raise a little awareness instead of following the herd. Being a leader means taking a stand when no one else will, even when it means not everyone likes what you have to say. Hopefully, this will widen some eyes instead of starting a war. If you don’t like me merely for the things I have to say about this process, maybe you should rethink WHY you don’t like me or what I have to say.
Preserved breastmilk ready to go into the resin for a piece of jewelry. (Small amount as I was only making a small gem.)
Cured out breastmilk pearl (roughly 5 years old) with the breastmilk it was cast from. They are soooooo alike it makes me giddy.
Proving there is Breastmilk in your jewelry
Ok, for the first real content blog on the page, today I am going to cover the newest “fad” in breastmilk jewelry. Testing to see if milk is really in your piece.
I am in a few groups for DNA artists and it's usually a battle to get anyone to understand where you are coming from when trying to chat about certain methods unless you agree with them. -Anyway, people are against my outlook on the powder method and it stirred the theoretical pot. In that whirlwind, I was also removed from a group and another artists started to claim she could tell what pieces have milk or tints. - I just felt compelled to test her claim. I’d happily send her a piece in exchange for one of hers.- I’m that confident in my own method.
I decided to set out the very next day with my own trial on her experiment because I can’t call it junk or deem it worthy if I have no first-hand knowledge with it. I like Science and am always up for a good challenge and experiment to take part in. This is how we learn and how we improve.
**** Before I go on further I am going to say this, PLEASE DO NOT EVER DO THIS IN YOUR HOME- IN YOUR OVEN-AROUND YOUR KIDS AND PETS-EVER! EVER! I am using a craft oven in my open garage and also am using PPE as this is a NASTY, NASTY, dangerous thing to be doing. (And quite irresponsible of the artist to tell people to do in their homes, not giving any sort of disclaimer and saying it is up to the client to know.) Sorry, but most people who don’t work with resin likely wouldn’t know any better. - That’s why disclaimers are put on all types of things; to be informative. Any DNA artist knows most people have 0 knowledge how dangerous it could be via that guidance.) Don’t do it!****
If you find the tik toc video, they look to be using a standard oven and does not seem to tell viewers how dangerous it is. That video should have been started 100% with a disclaimer, not only for the fumes, but also the pans and oven you are told to use. BIG NO! You HAVE to care about your clients and just others in general. This could literally KILL people with severe asthma or certain sensitive pets, like birds and reptiles. I am here to tell you DO NOT DO THIS EXPERIMENT! If you must see, please ask your artist to do it for you via a video or images. - If you cannot trust your artist beyond that you probably shouldn't be ordering from them. Truthfully, if you tell me you need an extra gem, at no charge- to bake, it's unlikely I am going to give you one. I only give extra pieces when I have extra pour, it's not always typical. What you do with any extra is your business, but I don't advise wasting it on something like this when I have already done it.
So, why am I posting this? Because a lot of the artists/groups want to censor what is out there. IT IS ALREADY OUT THERE SO TALK ABOUT IT! SCREAM ABOUT HOW TO DO IT SAFELY! OR WHY NOT TO AT ALL! DON’T CENSOR IT AND PUT IT UNDER THE RUG! Censoring doesn’t make it vanish, it only keeps information that would have been useful and safe at bay. Good thing for me I have my own platform and an IQ enough to know that it is already public. I will take it upon myself to make sure it is posted how to do so properly. - The method is out there, so it may as well be talked about for what it is AND for how to properly do it, right? It's only going to gain popularity. - This was not the first artist to have a similar claim, just the first one to take it public. Better to have GOOD, ACCURATE info about it than sweeping it under the rug like some would prefer to do. I was happy a handful of other artists did reach out via messenger in support of both the baking method being brought to light AND my points with the powder methods. You don’t have to fully agree with someone to have a discussion. Open minds create the future.
Again, do NOT do this without ALL precautions as it could cause severe allergic reactions for weeks or months at a time.
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Ok, here's the deal. Another artist released a method to prove or discredit other artists milk purity (or use) of milk in their jewelry. I felt compelled to try it as she had just removed me from her group for speaking up about the powder method. My factual information was censored and I was removed. I don’t feel quite as offended knowing that seems to be a common trend over disagreements. A lot of the artists don't think my wet method is even possible, though I assure you, with the right Science, it is. :)
With this “proof” method, you supposedly can bake your breastmilk pieces in a oven, at high temps for a few minutes and then you have your result. If your pieces brown, there is milk. If they stay white they were packed with filler and or tints.
For my first attempt at trialing this method it DID work for my preservation method. My raw breastmilk pieces turned brown and the decoy tinted piece stayed fairly white. With that said, the piece with 0% milk did change a tiny bit, but was more of a marbled look, not a uniform brown, like the others. Also, the pieces made with shimmer and or flecks didn't get AS brown as the raw milk pieces. If nothing else, this further proves my points about the powder method NOT being so tried and true (“pure”) after all. - IT IS MOSTLY FILLER and DOES have tints. I would ADORE to see some trials of this done with the famous dusts/powders. - I have a hunch that's why my post was removed. No one wants this gaining traction, not just for health risk, but for being afraid of their own methods stacking up. Maybe that’s my opinion, but it seems fishy to me.
Bottom line, I am willing to do what I can to prove my method contains milk because it does and I feel it is one of the most pure methods out there right now. I do what I can, when I can, but I don't recommend trying this on your own. If you want to see it, have your artist show you. They SHOULD be willing to as they can do it once and document their results. One and done and counter top ovens are a dime a dozen at a thrift shop or marketplace.
There are still flaws with this method proving or discrediting other artists. Too many variables go into why it does or doesn't work with methods. I'd love to see some other artists (properly protected) doing their preservation method with baking. We definitely need more artists to take part before it could be deemed 100% a way to tell. Because how do we know it would work with every method or add-in? What about age of the piece? If the piece is sealed?(which all of my set gems are, the ones I baked were not as they weren't set.) SO many things could go into why a piece does or doesn’t change. I’d like to see a controlled experiment with a bunch of artists trading pieces to trial to keep it fair and non-bias.
All in all, the take away from this is. …. . It is VERY dangerous and still too new of a method to prove or discredit if it is a “tried and true” way to tell.
Please do not message me asking for the link to the video or to the powders/dusts. A simple google search has the worlds end at your finger tips.
I will do a few more tests, just to get a better understanding, and will definitely try to do so during the day/with my pro camera so the images will be better as well.
Stay safe!
The following images are from my first attempt at the method. I used my phone to photograph in my dark kitchen.
Top pearl is the decoy tinted piece. Cluster of gems: Two raw milk gems, core bead with colostrum, gems under are with shimmer and other with shimmer and opal flecks. Small gem in the right corner: opal flecks.
