January 2, 2019

Meet Jamie LeVine of Prints in Clay in Celina

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie LeVine.

Jamie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.

When my baby girl was born, we were given a gift certificate for ceramic impressions from the Labor and Delivery department of the hospital. We scheduled an appointment shortly after we got home. The process was seamless and within a few short moments were my little girl’s tiny 7 day old imprints in clay. They were beautiful! They showed all her bitty wrinkles and tiny newborn lines.

Little did we know just how beautiful they’d turn out to be until we received them back – colored, fired and glazed to perfection. I instantly fell in love. I was able to preserve this moment in time with our firstborn. Everything else is sure to pass in life, but this very moment – here and now, would last forever.

Fast forward eight years, it’s Sept 2010, and we are due with our fourth child. We now live in a new state, and I realize the gift I’ve loved for each one of my kids is nowhere to be found. This just can’t be!

We went back to our hometown to visit family a year after his birth and of course planned a stop to the original clay artist who captured my other children’s impressions. She and I discussed training, and how I could start my own ceramic studio back in Texas. I was super excited about this new adventure, but extremely nervous about biting off too much, given I was a stay-at-home mom of four, homeschooling my kids and juggling a lot of different schedules.

My husband and I left the studio that afternoon and prayed over this opportunity. My heart was eagerly wanting to share these timeless keepsakes with so many other families, who I believe have missed out on this little treasure. So, in December 2011, Prints in Clay was created.

My husband Jason has been amazing! He has helped me in so many ways, whether it’s preparing the clay for my big appointments, or spending late hours helping me glaze – he’s encouraged me, supported me and showed me how I can make my work more efficient. He’s my voice of reason, and he reminds me all the time what an impact Prints in Clay is making. Our kids have been a huge inspiration to me too. Over the years they brought me their drawings and suggestions, many of these have been used for my design ideas, and some others I’ve tucked away in a little file for safe keeping. It’s really been a family business!

When you come into my studio you will find several of their prints as samples on my walls, surrounding this verse, “Our Lord, thou art our Father, we are the clay & thou our Potter: and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8.

My most sacred pieces in my home are my kid’s hand and foot impressions in clay. I contribute this business to the Lord answering our prayers that 2011 afternoon, and without a doubt the love, support and encouragement of my family and friends.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

I can’t say it has been an entirely smooth road. There have been many lessons I’ve learned along the way. Starting my own business has taught me more about myself – my weaknesses and my strengths, my hopes and aspirations for Prints in Clay. I’ve learned that as much as I want to do it all, there are limits and boundaries that I need to put in place. I want to say YES to everyone who calls or emails me for impressions – truly, their children are only little once. But time, as I’m learning, is limited. There are only so many hours in my day.

These hours vary and though the process of clients coming in for impressions is brief, the work and care that go into each piece is very extensive. I have to find a balance of fitting this business in with my home life, and it not be the other way around. My kids days at home are just as short – time with my family needs to come first, then come impressions. And this is a lesson I’m still learning to put into practice.

Prints in Clay – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?

Available by appt only, my keepsakes are handcrafted at my home studio in Celina, TX. I serve all of Dallas/Ft. Worth and the surrounding areas. Your visit with me will be roughly 15-30 minutes, (depending on the order size). I use soft, non-toxic, locally made clay to capture all the precious details of your child’s impressions. The majority of our time is spent choosing plate designs and going over color & font options. Once your order is decided, I will gently press your child’s prints in clay, and your appointment is finished. Each piece is then hand-cut and sculpted, polished, individually stamped, hand-painted several times, clear glazed, kiln fired twice and creatively designed just for you.Your final impressions take about 4-6 weeks to complete during the off-season, and 6-8 weeks during the holiday peak season. My busiest time of year is Christmas, followed by Mother’s Day and Father’s Day – so schedule your appointment early to ensure your orders are on time for gift giving!

My plate options begin with a classic double impression – which is one hand & one foot – then moving to a quad impression, which includes both hands & feet. Ornaments are perfect keepsakes! I have the classic hand or footprint ornament, or more unique holiday themed ornaments – Santa, Rudolph, polar bear, penguins, etc. In addition to these, I also create several designer pieces – crosses, sport themes, birthday celebrations, and a few other fun holiday choices. I have all of these on display in my studio. I make jewelry dishes with handprints and make necklaces out of fingerprints, which are great gifts for Mother-in-laws, Grandmothers and Aunts for Mother’s Day. My most popular plate (besides the classics) is my LOVE plate. I offer a few LOVE designs. It’s a huge favorite with the parents. Do you have multiple children? No problem, I have plates for siblings too! There are lots of options when creating your impressions.

I am most proud of my final product. I’m all about quality and wanting to ensure perfection in my work. I spend countless hours on each individual piece. I want clients to fall in love with their plates and ornaments. Each time I work on an order I pour my heart into it — it’s a reflection of me. Perfection is hard when working with this art medium, but I do my best to implement this in my style of work. I love the beautifully smooth, glossy finish that you feel and can only get with a glazed, kiln-fired piece. I want to make sure my clients are receiving the highest care, attention and time to their pieces.

The final keepsake will reflect this and be uniquely one of a kind, just like the little prints themselves. It’s all in the details.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?

I would not define success by the number of clients I have or the number of impressions I’ve captured. But as cliché as this may sound, I would define it by the smiles on my clients faces when they open their orders, and the compliments they have given me over the years. I’ve enjoyed making memories for these families, and being a part of their family traditions! Seeing my clients return back to me with each new addition shows me a sense of trust and confidence in my work. The best gift others have given me is sharing my business with those around them. Whether it’s on social media or simply receiving a call from someone saying, “my friend referred me to you,” or “I received a gift certificate from a family who had prints done by you.” I have some very loyal clients and I am forever grateful for them. They have gifted me with their friendships. So I believe success is making people happy and Prints in Clay will continue to strive to do just that.

In addition, I have also helped several families over the years recreate or capture prints of their children, spouses or parents who have passed. Not only can I empathize with these families for their loss, but I know the impact these prints will have on them. It brings a sense of purpose to Prints in Clay. This posed a desire in my heart to give back to these families. I wanted to help those who may not be as fortunate – I knew I needed to give them something they could hold onto.

I have recently partnered with a local hospital and will begin creating keepsakes for their NICU department – it is a way of preserving memories and providing these families with a timeless keepsake to remember their loved ones by.

Pricing:

Classic Double Impressions – $55, plus tax
Classic Quad Impressions – $75, plus tax
Classic Double Sibling Impressions – $70, plus tax, (please add $10 for each additional sibling print, space is limited)
Classic Ornament – $30, plus tax
Holiday Ornaments vary – $35 – $40, plus tax

Contact Info:

Website: www.printsinclay.com
Phone: 469-271-5514
Email: printsinclay@gmail.com
Instagram: Prints in Clay
Facebook: facebook.com/printsinclay
Twitter: Prints in Clay

Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.