Bargain table for a reborning oven

After my previous table found itself in the skip, I figured it was time to replace it! And, true to my word, I rushed to my nearest IKEA.


Here is my new table, all complete and ready for use:

At only a fiver, I would recommend this table to any reborner. It's the perfect size for a standard table-top convection oven and, for me, it's the perfect height for keeping an eye open on the vinyl (because we all hate a melted baby!). I use mine outside, due to the toxic fumes from the heating of vinyl, and then bring it indoors to avoid it getting wet...when I remember.

It even comes in 10 different colours... perfect!

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/20011413/



As I mentioned in my previous post...no trip to IKEA is complete without a scrumptious strawberry tart.

Who doesn't love a good old Swedish strawberry tart?!

But, a trip to IKEA to buy ONE thing does not end there. Not only does it entail eating a big calorie-rich tart, it also involves heading to the big shopping centre next door...to end up spending far too much money on a 5 hour shopping spree and further calories with this tasty hot chocolate (yes, it came with all FIVE chocolate flakes!) I guess we could say that £5 table cost me a lot more than £5!!!

Back to reborning!

So, I've had a long break from my passion...and now I am finally back! Yay!
The first kit I have got cracking on is Crystal by Denise Pratt. At only 18 inches, I think Crystal is such an adorable little newborn kit and I have high hopes for her turning out to look absolutely scrumptious!
Whilst being on my break, the table for my oven was accidently tossed into the skip...so poor Crystal is yet to be baked. However, I'm going on a trip to Ikea tomorrow to purchase a replacement (and a strawberry tart from their canteen, of course!)

Here is a pic of the blank kit:

And this is the work I have done on it so far:

It's great how when you've taken a long break from reborning that you can go back to doing it like it was only yesterday. Like they say, you never forget how to ride a bike (...although, riding a bike is something I've never learnt to do...haha). I had forgotten how much I just love painting! I already have loads of kits to paint, but nothing stops me from writing up a long wish list of all the new releases I've missed whilst on my break!

Looking forward to updating with photos of Crystal when she's complete :)
Tamara X

Little cutie, from the Heather sculpt

 This is my latest baby from the Heather sculpt, by Donna RuBert. She has finely painted medium brown hair and very subtly mottled skin. Her skin is fair with rosey tones and delicate blushing. Her lips are slightly glosses and she has the prettiest hand-rooted eyelashes. She has tiny imperfections, typical of a small baby- such as a small dimensional scratch to her nose. I've given her realistic skin, which is textured to the touch...it's even dry in certain areas!!
I love the expression on this little one's face; she's such a happy dreamer!

A second 'Cozy' sculpt

The new mummy of Baby Summer (made from the 'Cozy sculpt') loved Summer so much that she asked me to make an identical twin using the same sculpt. It was quite difficult to achieve a similar skin complexion whilst the original doll wasn't here to refer to, but I think she's quite a good match! Here's a photo...

How much does it cost to make a reborn doll?

 I've heard much criticism about reborn dolls, and especially about how expensive they are and how much money reborn artists must make (sure, some of the top artists sell their babies for thousands, but the majority of us do not). To assume that an artist makes a lot of money on these dolls is a naive opinion, so here is my little break-down on all the prices incurred by the artist (excluding their own shipping fees of products used). This could also be helpful to those who have the idea to begin reborning, as it will show you exactly what to expect- it is an expensive hobby!

The vinyl kit ~ £69.99      
Body for kit ~ £13.45
Mohair ~        £10.99 for 1/4oz      
Needles ~       £ 4.25          
Eyes~             £13.99
Lashes ~         £ 2.75      

Then we need the weighing (£4.99 per KG), so let's just say we use 3KG for this example - £14.95

Total so far:    £130.39

And then we must add the initial set up costs, the products which we don't replace every single time:
genesis heat set paints (£33.99 for a mini starter set), a bottle of thinner (around £5), paintbrushes (various prices, at least £10 for a small selection), sponges, paint pots, glues, matte varnish, gloss varnish, a convection oven. And finally, clothing for the doll.


This is the cost of the products, this doesn't include the many many hours that an artist puts into making the actual doll. So, next time someone assumes that these dolls are 'ridiculously' priced...show them the facts! ;)


Links to products mentioned:
(http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/elodie-4858-p.asp)
 (http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/blossom-blonde-2229-p.asp)
(http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/42-3-barb-extra-strong-485-p.asp)
(http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/baby-blue-blown-glass-eyes-22mm-237-p.asp) (http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/wispy-baby-lashes-363-p.asp)

First ever preemie

I'm super excited to be working on my first ever preemie baby. I love how fragile and delicate premature babies look. They really show how precious life is and what a miracle babies truly are. I could spend all day staring at their tiny toes, their wrinkly hands and their cute-as-a-button faces.
Here's a quick pic of my work in progress, many layers of paint left to go~

This is the Rosebud sculpt by Cindy Musgrove

She's approx 14" long

Reborn Baby Doll Twins

These are my little girls completed!

They are sculpted by Michelle Fagan and they're the Gena and Gabriel kits which are approx 20 inches long.

I love how one of them is awake, with her pretty brown eyes, whilst the other is quite content having a little snooze.

They have been painted with many layers of genesis heat-set paint and both have painted hair.

They'll be listed shortly to find a new mummy, on eBay.