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Here is a little bit about the reborn process to take a vinyl kit from pieces to
a realistic and one-of-a-kind work of art to cherish for a lifetime.
I first thoroughly clean the vinyl kit in a warm bubble bath to remove any bits
of debris and leave it to dry overnight.
I then use Genesis Heat Set paints to bring the doll kit to life. I use many
thin layers to create the depth of true-to-life skin tones, capillaries, and
veining. Since babies of different ages and ethnicity have vastly different skin
tones I decide beforehand on the look I want to achieve and paint according to
this vision of the finished baby. This process can take several days.
Next, it is time to root the hair. I use only the highest quality mohair and
occasionally alpaca. I use several of the top providers including Slumberland,
Angela Sprott, and Delta Dawn. I use one of the smallest gauge needles
available, a 43 gauge needle with one barb which allows only one to two fine
hairs to be rooted at a time. Rooting a full head of hair can take anywhere from
30 to 40 hours to complete.
Last but not least is assembly and weighting. This is a crucial step to give the
look and feel of a small infant. I start by using a high quality doe suede body
made specifically for each kit which is then filled with a combination of
FiberFil and fine glass beads. Each limb is sealed and attached securely to the
body.
As you can see it is a time consuming process, but one that I feel is completely
worth the effort. Sure, I could cut some corners and produce dolls faster but
that is not me. Every doll that leaves my home is a work of art created with
loving hands to be cherished.
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