Kit of the week...Nina by Gudrun Legler

I'm absolutely in love with this little face! Gudrun Legler is one of my absolute FAVORITE sculptors. She's done it again with this amazing Nina sculpt. She's 20 inches & has 3/4 limbs & I'm dancing in my boots for her to come out!! She's simply beautiful!

Introducing Harmonie Joy...

I FINALLY finished this little one. She's a Michelle kit by Evelina Wosnjuk. I must admit that she's my FAVORITE reborn so far. She came out EXACTLY how I pictured. I'm so totally in love with her. She'll be off to eBay soon. I apologize for the horrible photos but its storming here & I had to use regular inside house lights. Wish me luck!

Kit of the week...LULU by Adrie Stoete

As many of you know, Adrie Stoete is one of my FAVORITE sculptors. She never ceases to amaze me with her talent. Her newest kit is LuLu. She will have 3/4 arms & full legs. She'll take 22 mm eyes. She almost looks as if she could be Asian. She reminds me of the silicone Sun Li. She's scheduled to arrive the end of September & I can't wait to get my hands on her. My dear friend Lara of Angelsinwaitingnursery will be selling her. If your interested, please shoot her a message on her site. Just add .com at the end of her nursery name. Here she is...

Please meet Gianna Marie...My custom order Estelle

She's on her way to her new mommy. I previously lost all her pictures but here she is. Hope you like!

AA Michelle with some hair..she's coming along

Ok guys, since I finished my custom Estelle, it's time to get to work on finishing up the next babies in line. I've started rooting my AA Michelle. I've chosen a dark brown hair color for her from Slumberland Nursery which is my absolute FAVORITE hair source for kid mohair. Don't get me wrong, I have a few other hair sources that are at the top of my list, but Slumberland is my All TIME FAVORITE! Ok ok..enough of that...

I was so thrilled when Gina from Nonies Angels had some 42 gauge 1 barb needles in stock! I have been looking for these needles FOREVER!! She truly is a life saver! If you EVER need anything, ask Gina to check her "stash"..I swear she has everything under the sun at her house & I'm so thankful to know her.

I think she's turning out ADORABLE! I'm so in love with this little one! She may be a keeper! I just don't know yet... I still need help with a name... I won't know what to call her until she's finished.

Fabulous news!!

I finally finished my custom Estelle. She had her photo shoot yesterday & I'm anxiously waiting for her new mommy's approval. As soon as mom gives the ok, I'll post her final pictures. I'm crossing my fingers until I hear from her & hoping she loves her as much as I do.

Next up, I have 3 Ava Raines custom orders & 1 Ava Raine for eBay. 1 is a boy & the rest are girls. They'll be various complexions. I'm excited to see how they will turn out. They're new mommies gave me a lot of space to be artistic while creating their babies & I'm thankful for that!

I'm also in the process of working on my Xmas babies! So far I have in the works * not including my customs*

Lotus ~ fully painted & half rooted

Melody ~ fully painted & half rooted

Barry ~ almost done with painting, awaiting detailing

Alina ~ fully painted & waiting to be rooted

Honey ~ almost done painting, awaiting details

Arianne ~ process of painting

Michelle ~ fully painted & waiting to be rooted

Jayden ~ process of painting

Daxton Riley ~ process of painting

Adeline ~ process of painting

Shyanne ~ process of painting

Bella ~ process of painting

Lileth ~ process of painting

Marije ~ process of painting

Whew this is a lot & time is limited as life changing events are taking place in my life as we speak. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get it done!

Kit of the week...Kendall by Pat Moulton!!

The picture above is the Actual Production Reborn Prototype~(Reborn by Maria Rubio)

Kendall is a kit produced by Bountiful Baby. Which happens to be one of my favorite shopping spots. She is about 22" Long & 3/4 limbs. I am so in love with the big beautiful eyes on this baby! Her lips are so stinkin cute!! I can't wait to get my hands on her *although she'll have to wait until after the Xmas rush!! I think she'll look amazing in an ethnic complexion!

Going green with reborning...

I've been researching very hard trying to come up with different ways to "go green" with my babies. I've found some WONDERFUL bamboo fill to go inside my babies for stuffing and let me tell you, this stuff feels AMAZING! It's absolutely LOVELY! It's extremely expensive but I think our environment is worth it. I've also started using the Genesis Thinning Medium versus the mineral spirits. I'm hoping to go to air dry paints pretty soon, but I haven't perfected them on Ethnic babies yet. I'm still researching, but I have to start somewhere. Every little bit counts! Wish me luck guys!!!

Watch Bella being reborn...WIP

I'm so in love with my Bella that I had to invite you guys to see her being reborn. This isn't really a tutorial but I will let you know the pallet & so forth. I can't wait to see what she ends up looking like.


Day 1:

~I applied 2 very thinned layers of warm blush. I wanted to give her a hint of "pinkish" undertones

Next: I applied 4 layers of her custom flesh color.

Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Flesh 02, Ultramine Blue & a hint of Pyrole Red 2

Can you believe she has 6 layers already? No wonder all my babies have over 40 layers. I really like to take my time with each layer & slowly get the color I want. *Sort of like a pot roast* KWIM

It doesn't look like there's much of a difference, but its there. Believe me!

Here she is so far. .... I put her next to an unpainted Bella so you can see the color difference.




I"ll post pics of her progress tomorrow....

I'm so excited!




Ok..Bella has 11 more layers...after the above layers

*2 layers of a blue wash to tone down the orange *I used ultramarine blue*

*1 very thin undertone layer..I never know what to call it. Thinned like a wash using pyrole red 02; lips/nails & blush mixed

*2 more layers of my flesh layer

*1 more layer of a deeper undertone layer using pyrole red 02 & carbon black *should look like a deep burgandy* but thinned very well

*1 layer yellow ochre wash

*1st crease layer using a mixture of burnt sienna, titanium white; a dot of quimson crimson something or other red

*1 layer lip/nails blush on lips *long way to go on lips*

*1 layer using mixture of raw sienna, flesh 02 & dot of quimsom crimson something or other *i can never think of the name & don't feel like going back into the room to look* lol. I used this to do a little bit of shadowing *this is still wet & I haven't blended yet*

* 1 layer of blushing *first blush layer* using pyrole red 02 & carbon black mixture

long way to go..but here she is now

Still wet....

UPdate coming soon...

My Ava Raine arrived!! WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!

I am TOTALLY in love with this baby! She's FINALLY here. I'm blessed to have 3 custom orders for this kit!! ...and, I'm making one for myself! I can't wait to finish her! I plan to make mine a "chocolate" beauty!




The picture above is of the OOAK baby. Her photo has been used with permission from LTR.

Custom Orders slots filled....

It's that time of year when most reborners re busy busy busy!! I'm so honored to have filled all my custom Christmas order slots. This means I am unable to take any custom orders for the Christmas season. I'll reopen for customs in February but don't dismay, I'll have lots of beautiful babies on eBay. If you see one you like...BID because there will never be another one like it! Feel free to contact me with any questions.

My Super Chocolate Melody...In progress

Ok...my little African Princess is half rooted. She still needs to be put together, lashes & some minor touch ups but here she is! I just love her beautiful brown skin!

Click image to view FULL SIZED images

My custom order Estelle...Almost done...

This is my 4th custom order Estelle. I absolutely love this kit...apparently other people do also lol. She's being rooted as we speak. I hope her new mommy loves her!

Excuse the grainy picture. Click on image to view larger picture.

Found this adorable tutu tutorial..enjoy!

I'm definitely going to try this!

Michelle's painting all done! Time to root...

**Please click photo above to enlarge**

I have to say that I have completely fallen in love with this baby. I wanted her to be as true to an African American baby as possible which is why her skin tones are very light & delicate. I've decided to root her with chocolate brown mohair from slumberland nursery. I thought long and hard about what color to use. I took suggestions on my AA Guild & this is what we decided together. I'm so very proud of this little one. I'm not so sure I'll be able to sell her. Maybe she'll end up being a keeper for me. *decisions, decision*

I'll post her pics of her being rooted periodically. For now..here's my little angel all painted.

My little man coming soon...Work in progress

Ok..here's my grumpy little man! He has no detailing as of yet! I'll start the detailing tomorrow while rooting my custom Estelle. Can't wait to see him "come alive"... detailing is my favorite part of reborning!!

Talk about too many darn kits.... House is over run!!!

Ok guys...I was going thru my inventory & only got thru the 1st 5 tubs of kits!! Here's what I have so far & I still have 3 MORE tubs to go thru!!!

1. Vanessa Stoete
2. Manuel Steger
3. Benjamin Stoete
4. Jared Stoete
5. Robin Stoete
6. Alina Stoete
7. Saskia Stoete
8. Robin Stoete #2
9. Bailey Stoete
10. CAssidy Stoete
11. Barbara Stoete
12. Barry Stoete
13. Lotus Stoete
14. Arianne Stoete
15. Alexia Stoete
16. Alexia Stoete #2
17. Marije Stoete
18. Marije Stoete #2
19. Michelle Wosnjuk
20. Honey Rubert
21. Jayden Taylor
22. Adeline Yarie
23. Adeline Yarie #2
24. Adeline Yarie #3
25. Navaeh Mae Yarie
26. Maggie Yarie
27. Julianna Yarie
28. Natalie Yarie
29. Joyful Heart
30. Joyful Heart #2
31. Loveliness
32. Janine Strydom
33. Janine Strydom #2
34. Jayden Taylor #2
35. Morgan BB
36. Honey BB
37. HOney BB #2
38. Honey BB #3
39. Shyann BB
40. Shyann BB #2
41. Shyann Bb #3
42. Noelle Stoete
43. Sarah Lyn Rawn
44. Sarah Lyn Rawn #2
45. Trey BB
46. Aspen Rose f*gan
47. Vaille f*gan
48. Daxton Riley Faber
49. DAxton Riley Faber#2
50. Marley Faber
51. Melody Stoete
52. Sparrow Secrist
53. Sabrina Donnelly
54. Tanner BB
55. Audrey Stoete
56. Zachary RDK
57. Vivien Wosnjuk
58. Vivien Wosnjuk #2
59. Celine Wosnjuk
60. Nils Gudren
61. Angelo scherer
62. Ginger Breedveld
63. Vienna Arcello
64. Vienna Arcello #2
65. Ella Rose Ebbling
66. Ella Rose Ebbling #2
67. Tessa Boss
68. Tanya RDk
69. Iris Stoete
70. Kenia Stoete
71. Mei Ling Stoete
72. Paisley BB
73. Noe Wosnjuk
74. Sophia Posch
75. LIleth Marx
76. Kyoko Boss
77. Bonnie Maribel Valles Villanova

Gosh...3 more tubs to go! I'm soooo ASHAMEDDDDDDDDD!!!

And I have a TON of pre-orders coming in soon...UGHHHHH

Kit of the week...Luna by Jannie de Lange

Isn't she amazing!!!! I'm totally in love with this face. Luna will be available soon & I can't wait to get my hands on her! From her big beautiful eyes to her cute little lips..she's perfect in every single way! Jannie de Lange did an AMAZING job on this sculpt!

My reborn secret sister!!!!!!!!!!

We're doing secret sisters one of the reborn forums I belong to called Reborners Anonymous. I'm OVER THE MOON that I received my secret sister gift today!!! I got 3 packs of Jelly Beans *any of you that know me, knows its my absolute FAVORITE* & 2 BOOKS!! *I love to read also*....

Needless to say, I chomped down on Jelly Beans all night!!!! I was in heaven. I'll post pics later of me eating them! lololol...had my daughter "attempt" to take some pics for me.

This is turning out to be such a positive experience. I'm working on something EXTRA special for my secret sister! I hope she loves it!

Stay tuned...

Inserting eyes....

I found this WONDERFUL tutorial on inserting eyes on the Still Moments Nursery site. She has such amazing tutorials on her site that have GREATLY helped me. Please check her web page out HERE! I truly admire her for sharing!

Spit bubbles....UGHHHHHHHHHHH

I have been trying for 3 days to give my Michelle "spit bubbles" and just CAN'T do it! I'm so frustrated! The problem is, I hate being defeated & I don't give up with things but this is KICKING MY HINEY! And believe me, thats ALOT of kicking lol. So I will put her to the side today & diligently work on my custom Estelle. She's turning out really well. I hope to have her painting finished by the end of next week & then begin the DREADED task of ROOTING!!!!!!!!

Wish me luck guys! lolol

Simple Photography Tips.... Part 1

Photography is the death of many reborn artists. You can have the most BEAUTIFUL baby & are unable to show your little one off due to bad photos. I'm in no way an expert on photography but this works for me.

Part 1: Use "natural" lighting when possible

Here are some reasons to use natural lighting when possible.

Note: Cloudy days are the best as its a "natural" diffuser to the sun.



Above you can see that "Flash" makes the color of the baby is off. The "flash" also generates "shine" that isn't on there.




Above is indoors with "regular inside lighting source" NO FLASH. As you can see, the picture is better but the color of the baby is off. The image does not represent the "true complexion" of the baby.




Last but not least...Natural lighting outside. As you can see, the picture is MUCH MUCH better. No tricks, no lights to set up. Just good old "free" natural light. Image is PERFECT match to the "true complexion" of the baby.

There are times when you are unable to use natural lighting due to inclement weather or dreary days. I recommend using a light box on those occasions. Please check out the "light box" tutorial coming soon.

Kit of the week...Sabrina by Phil Donnelly!!

I am absolutely in love with this kit. Mine finally arrived today..all the way from the UK!! I've been wanting her for sooooo long!! I was actually a bit nervous to order her. She's a whopping 23 inches when completed & I can't WAIT to reborn her!

My little Jai'lysa...

Jai'lysa was my 3rd reborn. I love her so much!!

My reborning has gotten much better but I can't help love her to death!

Click on images to view larger picture

AA Michelle by E. Wosnjuk Coming Soon..

Here she is in progress...

Jus wanted to give a sneak peak at my AA Michelle. She still has lots of layers to go along with her detailing, rooting etc..but I just wanted to share her so far... Need a name for her...help a sista out in the comment section!