Creating handcrafted keepsakes that you can hold in your heart forever
Why am I so passionate about creating keepsakes for your family?
If you’ve loved someone and they’re no longer with you.
If you’ve experienced a life-changing event that’s changed your world forever.
If you want to share something of your past with your future.
Then you will understand where my passion for creation comes from.
When you have a special connection with someone – be it a child, parent, grandparent or mentor – they will be forever in your heart. They will always have a piece of you, and you will always want to keep those memories alive.
But in an ever-increasing disposable world, I fear we’re losing the ability to create keepsakes that can be passed down through the generations. Mementos that hold memories and stories and tales of the past. Items that are beautifully hand-crafted, with attention to detail and the love of the work poured into them. This is why I created Keepsakes by Nicoleta.
Why choose Keepsakes by Nicoleta?
Finding someone you trust with your treasured memories isn’t an easy task. You want someone who cares about your items as much as you do. You want them to have the time to listen to you – your story, your ideas, your heart. And while most creators mean well, not everyone does this well. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to receive so many thank-yous for the keepsakes I’ve created. And here’s why I think Keepsakes by Nicoleta has continued success.
How did Keepsakes by Nicoleta come about?
Keepsakes by Nicoleta started before I had children of my own and long before I knew I wanted to share my ideas and my craft.
It began with a little girl, growing up in Romania, being raised by my grandmother and being taught to sew, knit, crochet, paint and be crafty. It was endless hours sitting beside her, listening to her stories. Hearing about the world that was, and how it had changed and where my place in it was going to be. It was making things we could use every day or keep forever to treasure.
But I didn’t pursue design or fashion when I grew up. My creative side was purely for enjoyment and relaxation.
I qualified as an accountant and loved using the other side of my brain that explored analytics, investigation and a thirst for knowledge. When I moved to Australia in 2010, I completed a second degree in Business as I knew that one day, I wanted to work for myself. I just didn’t know in what capacity.
It was when I had my first baby, Kathryn, that I had the chance to see how I could combine the two sides of me – the creative and the practical. I was on maternity leave and I wasn’t used to not working. I also wasn’t used to not being financially independent, so the desire to create a business that would work around my family was strong.
My little girl was growing up so fast. I had all of these beautiful clothes that held such wonderful memories, that I couldn’t throw them away. And I wanted a way to find something that would honour my Grandmother. She was such an important part of my life, that I wanted to bring her memory into our growing family.
So, I created my first keepsakes! I showed them to a few friends and their response was overwhelmingly positive.
I started taking orders, thinking if it didn’t work out, I could always return to my corporate accounting role. But word of mouth is a wonderful thing and I soon realised there was a great need for what I could create.
As each new customer handed over their precious items that were to be used to create their precious mementos, I heard their stories – of love, of loss, of heart-swell and heartbreak. Not all orders were filled with the joy of a baby’s arrival into the world. Some were of babies who grew their angel wings too early. Some of parents or siblings who had done the same. But each one is created with their stories in mind and holds the memory of a smile, or a laugh, or a tear.
These days the business has grown to incorporate different ways to keep hold of memories that may be forgotten. From jewellery to art. For women and for men. But as I hand over each keepsake, I ask the owner to close their eyes and hold it tight. To feel the love that’s captured in it – not only from their memories but also my passion to create something that will last for generations to come.
