Cambridge Who's Who lifetime member Tisha DeShields is the founder of Original Belly Works (OBW), a company that sells casting kits for expecting mothers to mold their pregnant shape. Casts can be decorated and customized with an array of enhancements including paint, fabric and flowers to create a one-of-a-kind, whimsical piece of art that is an expressive symbol of love. They make great baby shower gifts and are lovely keepsakes for both the mother and baby. Preformed figures are also available for adoptive, surrogate, foster and guardian mothers, mothers who have already given birth and grandmothers. OBW offers a fiberglass finish, made from the original torso cast. The fiberglass finish was chosen because it is a weather-resistant material that can withstand mold, chipping, breaking and cracking, making it a treasured piece that will last for years to come.Original Belly Works has recently made its national television debut. Ms. DeShields appeared on CNN along with Grace Kisa, an artist working with Original Belly Works (OBW), to promote their ideas and the products and services offered by the company. To watch the interview, click here. OBW has also been featured on various websites and in Pregnancy Magazine, and has celebrity clients such as actresses Brook Shields, Angela Bassett and Mariska Hargitay, boxer Laila Ali and many more.
OBW provides its clients with “customized commissioned designs” – the designer helps to dream up a design or interpret ideas to create a customized belly cast design. Basic designs are air-brushed onto the belly cast; premium designs use acrylic paints and materials such as fabric, feathers, denim and photos; and elite designs are adorned with Swarvoski crystals, metals, gems, tile, glass and other unique embellishments. Click here to view the OBW gallery.
Awestruck by the beauty of a pregnant woman's form, Ms. DeShields conceived the idea for Original Belly Works while pregnant with her fourth child. She realized that she wanted to immortalize her pregnancy and began to research the possibility of producing a copy of her pregnant form. In doing so, the notion to offer this unique creation to all mothers was born. To learn more or to purchase a casting kit, please visit http://www.originalbellyworks.com/.