Auckland woman makes DNA jewellery out of blood, ashes and teeth

Breast milk, ashes, pet's teeth, fingerprints, umbilical cords and blood are just some of the ingredients a creative jeweller uses to make her meaningful pieces.

Sam Small, 34, has been making "DNA keepsake jewellery" for just over a year and is constantly touched by the stories people share with her as she makes a bead or pendant out of their special material.

"Each piece has got a story behind it and real meaning for each person.

"When a pet passes away it's such a tragedy, it's like losing a family member. I get a lot of really grieving people who want pets in pieces of jewellery

"Sadly sometimes I get baby blankets or hair from children that have passed away. I don't charge for those, I can't take money off grieving parents."

But they're not all sad stories. She has made jewellery using a lock from baby's first haircut or a bride's pressed wedding flowers too.

Ellerslie-based Small, who is originally from England, studied 3D design at university and worked as an HR co-ordinator. She moved to New Zealand two years ago with her Kiwi husband and juggles being a stay-at-home mum to her two children with her jewellery business.

The business idea came to Small when she wanted a piece of jewellery made out of her own breast milk to acknowledge how difficult breastfeeding was.

She tried different preservation techniques until it worked. But researching along the way exposed her to jewellery made with other DNA elements and she decided to make some pieces for other people too.

Now, she sells her custom made pieces on Etsy and Facebook under the name Iddy Biddy Buddah Designs after her daughter who she nicknamed Buddah.

Small uses a liquid preservative and heat method that turns the ingredient into a stone. She then grinds it down and sets it in jewellery grade resin.

Small gets between three and 20 orders a week and uses a silversmith in America to make custom-designed settings. It takes around five weeks to produce a piece of jewellery.

Good luck fertility charms are particularly special to Small who struggled to conceive her children. After trying a range of drugs and fertility treatments Small fell pregnant on her third round of IVF. She now has two children aged 4 and 2.

The charms usually have rose quartz, moonstone and dandelion seeds in them.

"It's like you blow on a dandelion and make a wish that this is going to be the month I get my BFP - my big fat positive.

"I always put my best wishes in each one. I know that feeling like each time you have a pregnancy test. Each round of IVF I did around 40 pregnancy tests... I was a bit of a crazy pregnant lady there for a while."

Small still has two of her pregnancy tests and plans to make a bracelet out of the little positive strips one day.