Inspired by her own experiences of motherhood, love and loss, Kylie Prociw understands the powerful stories that can be held within the smallest keepsakes. Drawing on her background as a resin artist and educator, she creates handcrafted keepsake jewellery that preserves precious reminders of the people, pets and moments we want to cherish – from breastmilk, hair and fur to ashes, flowers and other meaningful inclusions. At the heart of her work is a deep understanding of the trust involved in handing over something irreplaceable, with every piece created through a careful, transparent and highly personal process. Here, she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the experiences that inspired Memories of You, balancing business with raising her neurodivergent son, the importance of trust and compassion in her work, and her hopes of helping more families preserve the stories that matter most.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Memories of You grew from my own experiences of motherhood, love and loss. My pregnancy with my son was difficult, and our breastfeeding journey was even harder. He could not latch, my milk supply was low, and I pumped around the clock before my milk dried up at seven weeks. I did not know breastmilk jewellery existed then, and I often wished I had been able to preserve even a tiny part of that chapter.
I have also loved and lost treasured pets and people close to me, and experienced fertility struggles. Those experiences taught me that something very small – a little breastmilk, a lock of hair, a few strands of fur, dried flowers or cremation ashes – can hold an extraordinary amount of love. I could not create those keepsakes for my own earlier moments, but I can create them for others. If a piece brings someone comfort, helps them honour their journey or lets them feel close to someone they love, I feel genuinely privileged to make it.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I came to keepsake jewellery with an established background as a resin artist and educator. I had spent years refining resin techniques and teaching students across Australia, so I understood the material deeply. The beginning of Memories of You was about applying that technical knowledge to work with a much more personal purpose.
I began carefully developing preservation methods, testing materials and finishes, sourcing quality sterling silver settings and creating a process that treated every inclusion with the respect it deserved. I built the business from my studio in Sunbury, Victoria, starting with a considered collection and an online store. From the outset, I wanted customers to feel guided rather than overwhelmed, so clear instructions, careful labelling, secure storage and honest communication became just as important as the finished jewellery. Each keepsake stone is individually handcrafted by me, then carefully finished and assembled in my studio.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
My biggest breakthrough was realising that the most important thing I was creating was not simply jewellery – it was trust. Customers are sending me something that may be irreplaceable, and a beautiful finished piece is only one part of what they need. They also need to know exactly how their inclusion will be identified, stored, handled and returned.
That led me to develop a documented journey for every order. Inclusions are labelled and handled separately, customers are notified when they arrive, and completed keepsakes undergo a final inspection and photography. Each order is returned with an Inclusion Record, Certificate of Authenticity and care information, along with any unused dry inclusions. Combining professional resin knowledge with this calm, transparent process became the heart of Memories of You and helped me define what truly sets the business apart.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I do not think balance is something I achieve perfectly every day; it is something I keep adjusting. I am a mum to one beautiful 11-year-old neurodivergent boy, and family remains the reason I want the business to grow in a thoughtful, sustainable way. Parenting a neurodivergent child can involve additional advocacy, appointments, planning and the need to adapt quickly when a day does not unfold as expected. Working from my Sunbury studio gives me valuable flexibility, but it also means work is always close by, so boundaries are important.
I plan production in stages, work with a limited number of made-to-order pieces at a time and keep realistic turnaround times rather than rushing deeply personal work. I try to protect family time and be fully present when I step away from the studio. Some seasons are busier or more demanding than others, and occasionally the balance tips, but having clear systems and knowing my capacity helps. My son also sees the care, adaptability and perseverance behind the business, which is something I hope will stay with him.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
One of the greatest personal challenges has been learning how to support and advocate for my neurodivergent son while also protecting my own capacity. Navigating systems, appointments and needs that are not always understood by others can be exhausting, but it has also taught me patience, adaptability and the importance of meeting people where they are. Those lessons influence how I communicate with customers, particularly when they are moving through grief, trauma or an emotionally complex chapter of motherhood.
Professionally, I have had to build trust as a newer brand in an area where customers are understandably cautious. People are entrusting me with irreplaceable materials, while I am also learning every part of running an online business – from photography and website development to packaging, customer service and marketing. I have worked through self-doubt and physical setbacks, including an arm injury that forced me to slow down and rethink how I work. These challenges have made me more deliberate about my capacity, processes and communication, and reinforced my belief that sustainable growth matters more than rushing.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The greatest advantage is the connection. I can guide each customer personally, understand the story behind their keepsake and give every stone the time and attention it needs. I also have the freedom to keep improving the process, choose materials carefully and build a business around compassion rather than volume. The flexibility of working for myself is valuable for family life, and there is enormous fulfilment in knowing something I made may bring comfort for years to come.
The difficult side is that it can be hard to switch off. In a small business, one person may be the artist, photographer, customer service team, marketer, bookkeeper and problem-solver all in the same day. The work can also carry emotional weight because customers often share stories of grief, difficult motherhood journeys or loss. I never want those stories to feel transactional. Holding space for them while maintaining healthy boundaries is something I continue to learn.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My hope is to grow Memories of You carefully without losing the personal experience at its centre. I want more Australian families to know that keepsake jewellery can preserve many kinds of stories – not only cremation ashes or breastmilk, but also hair, fur, whiskers, feathers, flowers, fabric, umbilical cord, sand or soil from a meaningful place, and other suitable inclusions.
I am developing relationships with death doulas, veterinary teams, pet-loss professionals and other support providers so families can discover these options gently, at the time that feels right for them. I have also introduced complimentary 15-minute consultations for anyone who would feel more comfortable talking through their questions or design ideas before ordering. In the future, I would love to expand the collection and educational resources while continuing to handcraft each keepsake stone myself. The goal is meaningful, sustainable growth – not becoming impersonal or mass-produced.
Visit the Memories of You website to find out more, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram
most amazing keepsake. couldn’t think of anything better . thanks so so much highly recommended