Fingerprints Boutique celebrates Grand Opening online

ASHLAND, OH — Each person is born with a unique fingerprint that marks his or her individual stamp on life.

Celebrating that individuality just became easier with the grand opening of FingerprintsBoutique.com on Monday, Jan. 15.

The new online store offers a wide selection of hand painted clothing and pottery, as well as unique jewelry and accessories — all custom crafted to order with an artist’s touch.

Artist Jennifer Meinking maintains the store from her home in Ashland, Ohio.

Meinking started painting clothing four years ago. Her first project was to paint a onesie at a baby shower.

“When all the other ladies made such a fuss over it, I realized this might be a great avenue for me as a stay-at-home mother,” she said.

Starting out, she painted gifts for family and friends and listed some of her wares on eBay. She has spent much of the past four years working on new designs, experimenting with different articles of clothing, paints and techniques. More than a year ago, she discovered the high quality of DecoArt SoSoft paint, which allows her painted clothing to remain soft to the touch. The acrylic-based fabric paint adheres directly to the fibers in the cloth, she explained. All of Meinking’s clothing items are machine washable.

“I love Jen’s painted clothing. The details are amazing and they are so much better in person than the pictures,” said customer Deena Licht of Tulsa, OK. “I have bought painted clothes before and was really disappointed, but these are great. The quality of the shirts and pants is amazing. I have accidentally washed and dried (my daughter’s) set three times now and they look as great as when we first got them. I definitely recommend Jen’s work!”

Meinking describes her style as “very detailed, oftentimes with the personalization worked into the actual design. My work tends to be more realistic than cutesy. I do all of my painting and even lettering free-hand. I also sign everything I do, which increases its value as wearable art.”

She also offers a guarantee on her clothing.

“I stand behind my products so much that I offer a personal guarantee,” said Meinking. “If anyone should find a crack or fading spot on clothing I have painted, no matter how long it has been, I will touch it up at my own expense, including shipping. Even if the item is washed incorrectly, I will offer this service.”

More recently, Meinking added hand painted pottery to her collection. In addition to offering a specialty family plate, painted with professional, food-safe glazes, she plans to introduce her own dinnerware lines and decorative items. Pottery sold at Fingerprints Boutique is professionally fired by a local pottery shop, Sarah McPotts.

Meinking also sells items on her Web site in collaboration with other designers, such as hand-sewn ruffle jeans, handcrafted jewelry and bows.

As part of the grand opening celebration, customers will enjoy 20 percent off their purchases at Fingerprints Boutique from Jan. 15-31.

For more information, visit http://www.fingerprintsboutique.com, email ladymeinking@fingerprintsboutique.com or call 419-207-8034.

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