Cast your pregnant belly!
A wonderful way to celebrate your pregnancy! The body goes through immense changes during pregnancy, and the uterus grows to around 500x its usual size (or more if you're carrying multiples)! These changes are profound and beautiful, and one way you can honour them - and remember them forever - is by having a cast made.
How is a bellycast made and what are my options?
The cast is made in stages, meaning you can choose the perfect level of finish depending on how much you would like to do for yourself.
You can also choose the perfect shape, from just your belly, to belly and chest, to adding a shoulder, to having just your belly in a bowl shape for newborn photographs. The options are only limited by your imagination!
The first step is always an hour long appointment in which we make your cast, and then I will either leave you with the rough cast, or take it away to work on it further. It will then be returned to you when it is ready, usually after your birth.
I can even do multiple casts if you would like, and I am also happy to work on non-pregnant bodies - body casting is a great way to see your body in a positive way.
Basic cast only
A 1 hour appointment to make your cast, leaving you with the unfinished cast for you to keep.
Finished cast
Shaping the edges, reinforcing for strength, making hanging holes if required (or it can be freestanding) and smoothing the surface with several layers of finishing plaster. The cast is delivered back within a month.
Painting your cast
Anything from a single plain colour to an intricate or personalised design, finished with 2 coats of sealant for maximum protection. A matching hanging ribbon can be added, or the cast can be freestanding. Paint work may take an additional few weeks, depending on complexity.
Pricing
The more work is required to make your perfect cast, the more it will cost. The prices also differ based on whether you choose a classic belly/belly and chest cast, or a bowl cast, which must be finished to the same standard on both the inside and the outside.
Classic cast prices (belly/belly & chest)
Classic casts (belly/belly & chest) may be wall hung or freestanding | Basic Cast - no finishing | Finished Cast - smoothed and neatened but no paint | Painted Cast - smoothed and neatened and painted |
---|---|---|---|
Level of finish | Raw plaster sheets only, you will be left with a rough cast to do with as you please | Raw cast is shaped, edges made neat, smoothed and sanded, and then given 2 coats of primer ready for you to paint yourself | Raw cast is shaped, edges made neat, smoothed and sanded. 2 coats of primer, 2 base coats of paint, any additional painted design charged hourly, finished with 2 coats of sealant. |
Initial appointment | 1 hour | 1 hour | 1 hour |
Timeframe for completion | - | Approx 2-4 weeks for finishing | Approx 4-6 weeks for finishing and painting |
Mounting | - | May have holes added for hanging with ribbon or shaped with a flat base for freestanding | May have holes added for hanging with ribbon or shaped with a flat base for freestanding |
Price | £25 + travel | £60 + travel | Starts at £72 + travel for plain colour + £12/h for a painted design |
Bowl cast prices (belly only)
Bowl casts (belly only) are finished inside and out in order to be used as a bowl | Basic Cast - no finishing | Finished Cast - smoothed and neatened but no paint | Painted Cast - smoothed and neatened and painted |
---|---|---|---|
Level of finish | Raw plaster sheets only, you will be left with a rough cast to do with as you please | Raw cast is shaped, edges made neat, smoothed and sanded, and then given 2 coats of primer ready for you to paint yourself | Raw cast is shaped, edges made neat, smoothed and sanded. 2 coats of primer, 2 base coats of paint, any additional painted design charged hourly, finished with 2 coats of sealant. |
Initial appointment | 1 hour | 1 hour | 1 hour |
Timeframe for completion | - | Approx 2-4 weeks for finishing | Approx 4-6 weeks for finishing and painting |
Mounting | You can choose to add a square or circle of wood to the front of your belly which will act as a base for the bowl | You can choose to add a square or circle of wood to the front of your belly which will act as a base for the bowl | You can choose to add a square or circle of wood to the front of your belly which will act as a base for the bowl |
Price | £25 + travel | £75 + travel | Starts at £87 + travel for plain colour + £12/h for a painted design |
If you are having a Birth Blessing ceremony, you can choose to have your bellycast appointment as part of your ceremony!
What's next?
Once you've decided that you want to book, you should email me. I will ask you to pay a £20 booking fee to secure the slot in my diary, and also ask you to send me any inspiration images or sketchs of how you would like your cast to look, if you have a specific vision in mind.
We will then arrange a date for me to come and do your cast, and to discuss your vision. If you would like your cast to be painted, we will talk about what kind of design you would like, and I can give you a rough estimate of the price, based on the time it will likely take me to do the work.
Your casting appointment will usually be around 36-38 weeks gestation and will last around 1 hour. That gives us plenty of time to finalise your vision, do the cast, and then clean up afterwards. Please note that you will likely need a shower straight afterwards as the plaster is messy!
Then, if I am finishing/painting your cast, I will take it home with me and keep you updated with pictures of my progress, usually via a messaging app like WhatsApp or Signal. When it is finished we will arrange a convenient time and date for me to bring it back to you - this will usually (but not always) be after the birth. I will bring an invoice with me when I deliver the cast. The payment for the painting work will be due via card payment at delivery, and you will receive an emailed receipt. Please note that if you do not pay, I will not be able to release your cast.