Welcome to the Tree of Opals website and here you’ll learn a little bit more about us.
Nikki Kamminga
Owner and Artist
Hi I’m Nikki Kamminga. Keepsake artist and jeweller. I’m a wife, mummy, LGBTQ non binary person, vegan and tutorial maker. Business person, charity trustee and recipe blogger, traveller and linguist. Someone who has lost both a parent and a baby, rainbow parent. This is about me and my family and my personal feelings about Tree of Opals memorial and keepsake jewellery business.
Nic appeared on This Morning in April 2017 with Holly and Phil to talk about the trend of umbilical cord and other baby keepsakes
I believe in middle way parenting and following my instincts, so when I had trouble breastfeeding (chestfeeding) after a breast reconstruction I looked into alternatives to give my baby what I thought was the best start in life; by asking other families for breastmilk on the internet.
When I lost a baby in between Ayla and Bastian, my grief sent me down a path to learn more about reusable menstrual products. I attended a red tent even near my hometown. When I gave birth to Bastian by natural caesarean (I’ll blog my birth plan another day) I kept my placenta and made my own capsules, balm and artwork from it. I trained as an encapsulation specialist and met more inspiring working women, some of whom made beautiful jewellery. I met Lorna and together we started the charity Project Kidogo, making cloth menstrual pads for teens in Tanzania.
Struggling to cope when my son was just a few weeks old I started drinking heavily again which ended suddenly after a wake-up call which saved my life. I joined the fellowships which forced me to look at my life and I am able to enjoy the odd glass in moderation now, but prefer not to because it’s a slippery slope. In NA I learnt more about myself and I saw a chance to combine some of my skills in art, creativity, web design, marketing, blogging and customer service with my obsession with keeping my babies’ mementos, unshockability and familiarity with pain and loss. I started Tree of Opals in the summer of 2015 while exclusively breastfeeding Bastian.
This business has grown faster than I have ever anticipated and I’ve plunged every penny I’ve taken back into it and every child benefit payment I’ve had, and a fair chunk of my husband’s salary. I worked for free, alone, for six months as well as being a full time mum to two toddlers. Our world collapsed when my husband was made redundant and we had to move the studio for the fourth time in six months. I thought I’d never catch up with orders and my mental health spiralled downhill. Things improved when another artist started helping me with orders but when I realised again that they weren’t to my standards I had to work alone again and remake dozens of orders. I had problems finding artists and took on an apprentice, but she left not long after training. Throughout 2017 things were very difficult and I’ve had to increase the estimated lead time to six to eight months now because of the popularity of my jewellery.
Things are looking up now with our three artists and I’m hoping to have some of our rings made on a larger scale to save us some time! 2019 will be focussing on building relationships with new funeral homes and reducing our lead time.

Hakun Kamminga
The Viking, death metal guitarist, author, developer, world’s best hubby/daddy and chilli eating boss. Check out this viral clip of Haks eating chillis back in 2015 (he’s in the green tshirt) below. Starting a new job with a more senior and challenging role in web development in November 2017 I couldn’t be more proud of my husband. He’s the one who helps me run the website and helps with customer relations and complaints. When my skin got really bad from using resin he helped me out a little and is bloomin good at making jewellery, hardly surprising as he’s really good at making most things. We’d love to do a pottery class together soon. Snooker lover, not keen on changing nappies but does it anyway.
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Joanna Knights
Creative newly-wed Joanna juggles being a full-time mummy, creating gorgeous machine embroidery and helping our clients do anything from choose a piece to logging in, she sends out our kits once a week and keeps the orders organised. Couldn’t do it without you!
We are looking for a new admin manager based in Shirehampton/Avonmouth to help me with studio based tasks such as posting and packaging. If you’d like to know more about the role please email me (Nikki Kamminga) directly on info@treeofopals.com We are LGBTQIA+ friendly and computer skills are vital (some experience with Mac and photography are helpful but not essential as you can learn on the go).
Hi, is the rose breastmilk pendant still available please?
Thanks
Here’s the listing, just select rose from the drop down http://treeofopals.co.uk/shop/solid-breastmilk-pendant/
Nikki
Hi do u do the umbilical cord charms but with a smooth charm..
Hi Danielle
Thanks for the query, yes the new shape of charm is the smooth style and they’re all made like that unless you ask for something different. I’ve popped you an email x
I was wondering if you ship to the US?
Hey yes we do all the time. It will calculate postage at checkout for you no problem.
Nikki
What a lovely read, as a mother who has lost a child myself I understand so much of what you wrote (and what you didn’t) Keep up the good work, your on a good road now xx
Hi Nikki I would like to say a very big thank you for making my beads ,I feel I can now put my beloved does ash into my garden,as I will now always have them with me .The beads are out of this world and I am so happy so thank you so much.I also love the beads you made for my daughter in law and myself for the loss of her babies thank you again x
Oh Liz thank you so much for this beautiful review. It was our pleasure to make them for you and it’s lovely to hear that you can lay your dogs’ ashes to rest and I’m glad we could give you some charms to keep a memory of your angel grandchild close.
Nikki x
Hi there,
do you ship to Canada? If so, how much hair do I need to send for a glass pearl pendant? I don’t have very much hair and am worried about losing any during shipping.
Please let me know!
Hi Cydney yes we ship worldwide and we only need a few strands of hair to make one of our resin pearls. If you can send me a pic of how much you have to treeofopals@gmail.com or on our Facebook page below.
Thanks
Nicola
Does the breast milk have to be fresh or can it be frozen?
Hi Poppy we actually recommend frozen, we suggest you freeze about half an ounce (15ml) before you order so you know you’ve got milk there. Of course you can express fresh if you prefer though.
We can use milk that’s been frozen ten years or more too!
Nic
Do you still do breast milk jewellery? I had a lovely necklace from you just over 2 years ago and wanting something again for my latest daughter x
Hi Natalie we no longer sell breastmilk jewellery but I recommend Precious by Kerry (on Facebook)
Thanks
Nikki
Hi Nic…
i m very much intrested to start this business …can u give me the guidance hw can i start …n hw can get that keesake mould…etc…
Hi Hema, have a look at my other business http://www.keepsakersupplies.com for tutorials, blogs and supplies. Enjoy!
Nikki x
Hi
I’m trying to find a white gold cremation ashes ring, I love the Opel finish that you have but can’t find any information about white gold
Could you advise?
Many Thanks
Tracey