Q. When is the best time to make a bellymask?
A. I suggest that the prime time to make a bellymask is around 36 or 37 weeks. At this time the pregnant
woman is still relatively comfortable for a casting session and her form is also dramatically full.
Q. Do I have to be naked to make a bellymask?
A. Technically speaking, no, but I recommend that you be naked. If you wear a bra or panties or a bathing
suit you will see the outline of these undergarments in your mask. Your garments will also become
imbedded with plaster of paris, which is difficult to remove from cloth.
Q. How long does it take to make a bellymask?
A. It takes approximately an hour from the point that the first piece of plaster gauze is applied to
the pregnant woman's body till the mask is ready to release. The gauze sets within 2-3 minutes after its application.
Q. Can I stand while being cast?
A. No. For various reasons, the standing pose can be dangerous to many women. It is possible to faint
in the standing position. I only recommend a comfortable seated position for casting a pregnant woman.
Q. Do I have to shave my body hair?
A. No. The kit includes Un-Petroleum Jelly, which will protect your fine body hair. All pubic hair
and long body hair will be covered with plastic wrap, as indicated in the instructions.
Q. Do I have to mix plaster of paris?
A. No. This is the beauty of the plaster gauze. It is cotton gauze with plaster of paris powder
enmeshed in it. You simply dip the strips of plaster gauze in warm water to soften it and place one
strip at a time on the pregnant woman's body. There is no guesswork in this straightforward process.
Q. What is the gesso for?
A. The gesso is for protecting the surface of your bellymask and preparing it for receiving
paints or other embellishments. Without the gesso, the porousness of the plaster gauze would become
very dirty and over time your bellymask would look old and unattractive. It is very easy to clean
a bellymask using a damp sponge or a feather duster. Gesso will never yellow over time like a household
acrylic paint will. This ensures an heirloom quality sculpture which can be passed down through the
generations and look as new as the day it was created.
Q. How long will my bellymask last?
A. If your bellymask is treated as a work of art and carefully displayed out of harms way, it will last
forever. It must be protected from water damage. It is actually quite durable for being such a
lightweight sculpture. It can take a few bumps but stepping on it will certainly damage it.
Q. What do people do with their bellymask?
A. Most people hang their bellymask in their bedroom or their baby's nursery. It may be showcased
anywhere within your home though. Directions for mounting it are included in my instructions.
