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Thanks so much for the reply T.E.A.!!
I just checked out the videos and I think I will buy one to start me off...But I do have a few more questions, if someone doesn't mind answering them, not sure if any of the videos will answer any of these questions so here goes...

How many babies can you do with one thing of paint?

How do you know what colors to use and where on the doll?

What do you do if you mess up on the doll?

What is the normal cost (ballpark figure) of reborning a baby?

How long does it normally take to reborn a baby (ballpark)?

Is there anything else to use besides mohair?

Thanks again for everything!
Tracy

-- Edited by notalent111 at 01:43, 2008-07-18

I agree with all the above would just like to add (How do you know what colors to use and where on the doll?) the DVDs are step by step they will show you , and if your ever stuck we are all here to help you :) (((hugs)))

Once you have your basic tools and supplies depending on th sculpt you use it could be only $60'ish to do a baby or upwards of $100 -- it really just depends on the sculpt you chose as some sculpts can cost about $89 (US) if not more.

the biggest contributing factor to cost really is the sculpt that you've chosen.

As for skill -- i would suggest you do need some artistic ability to do really well. However all this can be develped over time with practise and patience... some ppl may take to it quicker than others, but i do believe with persistance anyone can develope their abilities to create beautiful and life like babies as long as they keep practising and stick with it and not become dissillusioned.

As for the time it takes... again this varies from person to person. I can now do one baby start to finish, in about a days full work. This i believe is extremely, highly, unusual. From what i know its more usual to take a week or more of work to complete a bub. Also depends on what sort of hours you have to dedicate to it.

You do want to take your time and not rush any step of the process, its not about how quick you are but rather the quality of your work. I'm reborning full time, every day - and i mean EVERY day and ALL day long. So i've become very practised, refined my skills and this has meant that the time it takes to complete a baby has and is becoming quicker and quicker all the time. Still i rush no single step, i never move on to the next stage untill i'm happy - and i'm a major perfectionist.

Reborning for me, is something i've taken to so completely it feels like a perfect match. As silly as it sounds i do feel i've found my neish and was "born to reborn" LOL

As for number of babies per paint set - depends on the size of the baby's your working on as well as the paint set size you get. The started set could do probably 5+ (dependednt totally on sculpt size). To be honest i do still have some paints from my initial starter mini set - still have the green, some blue and white. And i've done an excess of 70 babies now. I have restocked my flesh colours and added some other colour choices of my own in the full size paints since, the flesh colours i've restocked a few times over.

Get a secrist beginners tutorial DVD - this will show you the hows and basic techniques. From how to mix paints and colours to use and how to apply these to the sculpt.

Mohair, alpaca hair are the best fibers that imitate the look and feel of a real babies hair. Additionally you can wig - but this never looks as nice or as natural (my opinion anyway). I guess you can also leave the baby with no hair, or just put a hat on it.

I think the hardest part for me to master was the hair cutting once rooted. To get a natural and baby like hair cut. That was the most difficult thing technically for me to master. Things like the painting and rooting took allot of time, and i've become quicker and more refined, but were not so difficult for me... the hairdressing was a real challenge though.

everyone is different though and will have different strength and weakness and find challenge in different areas.

I say jump on in, just don't expect perfection to start with... practise makes perfect

Yes, you can use your Berenguer dolls for practice, but remember, different doll manufacturers use different vinyls. Also, most of the Berenguers have an orange-ish color to their vinyl. BB usually has pink-ish type, more squishy and smoother, some vinyl has a gray-ish cast to it, some have silicone, etc.

The Secrist vinyl is a very neutral fleshtone color, contains no silicone, and is the only manufacturer whos kits (that I know of) are non-toxic. But to get your technique down it would be a good thing to practice on what you have at hand.
As far as the "how many dolls can I do with..." question: If you purchase the pre-mixed petites (they pretty much go with the Beginner Classtoom Training DVD) you should be able to get about 30 or more dolls done with the lip color, eyebrow color, vein color and the creases/wrinkles colors. The blush color should last you for at least 15 or more dolls and the flesh about 3-5 depending on how  you use it and what size dolls you make with it. You will always have to replenish your skintones no matter what paints you purchase. I personally keep the largest jars of fleshtones and the petites in the others. Also, if you watch the Newborning 1 it will show you how to mix your perwinkle blue (internal wash for Secrist vinyl). I would mix it in a large batch (keep it in our flip top bottle) then all you have to do is shake and use.

Once you watch the DVD's, if you have any other questions come back and ask, or contribute what you have learned. And I'm sure you have read the rules so if you have pics, post links everywhere except the Artist Showcase (there you can post pics).

i started out on berenguer dolls, they were cheep and easy at hand. In retrospect though they are probably a little more difficult to work, especially when it comes to rooting the hair. they are an extreamly hard vinyl and can make this process especially frustrating.

In the end, the secrist preemies don't really cost much more to the store bought berenguers and they are easier to work. Having just gotten a large order of secrist kits, and it being such a long time since i'd last worked a secrist kit i really have been suprised at how easy and wonderful they are to both paint and root. I've been working on various different brands on the mean time, to come back to the secrist now is like a dream. I really couldn't recommend and easier product to start out with.

June don't worry about the computer illiteracy - seriously your doing great. My parents both 52yrs don't even know how to turn one on... and they're like phobic to the point that you can't even teach them. cute really.

It sounds like you started with the smaller LotsToCuddle berenguer which do have horrid proportions... the berenger 20" la nursery are actually pretty ok, and their limbs do have re-attachment groves... i used a little drimal power tool to sand the groves off of the head, but this is messy and does take a good 1hr in prep time before you can even start.

the things i didn't like most about them in they only have 1/4 length limbs which limits your dressing choices - ok for winter outfits, but when i started it was the hight of summer and i could not find clothing anywhere with sleaves.

the biggest draw back to them as started dolls really though is the hardness of the vinyl when trying to master rooting. I think every one struggles with this when they start, to complicate it further with such a hard vinyl can cause one to want to quite before they've really started.

for this reason most, i'd deffinetly say start with a secrist premmie, they really don't cost much different to the store bought berrenguer and are far lovelier to work with.

**and if your in australia, it is cheeper to import your kits (secrist or other brands) from the US... even with the exchage rate and international postage you'll still save enormously -- i feel a little bad giveing out this tip b/c it does take business away from our aussie suppliers, but you can end up paying double if you shop internally compared to direct from the US. Also with customs we're lucky to be able to bring products in without paying customs tax unless the order is over $1000**

see buffington re ordering secrist products with paypal

I'll pm you with other suppliers i use as per forum rules

June - i've PM'ed you also regarding US suppliers. Do you know about the private messages and how to check them??

In case you don't - look at the top right courner of your screen. It will say Logged in as "sara zata" and then say you have 'x' private messages (it will only say this when you have messages). Click on this and it will take you to your private message inbox.

If any other Aussie's on here what to know more about importing your own sculpts from the US to save money on supplies let me know and i'll PM you the links also.

***BUFFINGTON*** i don't think this breaks any rules b/c i'm only giving out the links to aussies b/c the few aussie supply shops do almost double the cost of sculpts and eyes etc. Its not to intentionally give out links other than secrist and i am sharing only in PM's which i believe is the rule ... right?? If however this is *wrong* of me let me know and please deleate these posts regarding such information.

-- Edited by precious_lullabies at 15:41, 2008-07-19

Thanks again everyone, for the replies.
Well, then I guess I will just go ahead and buy the doll kit as well. I'm going to order everything toda...I really hope it doesn't take too long to arrive because I am really excited now and want to hurry up and get started! lol. Do things usually take awhile when you order supplies from there? I think someone asked me where I was from (not sure if that question was directed for me) but I live in GA.

Yes, I do have the 20" berenguer doll...I won't try to root any hair on it, because I don't want to get discouraged, but I think I will try out the paint on it before trying it on the doll kit, since I don't want to ruin it. Did someone say I have to remove the paint from the berenguer doll?

You ladies have been tremendously helpful, thanks so much for all your replies!!

And LovesDolls...I hear ya on the economy!

Tracy

-- Edited by notalent111 at 22:26, 2008-07-19

 I wrote on your white board, but thought if your on line, you would see this. Tried what you said but still no luck.June M

Cathy wrote:

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Notalent (I hate calling you that )

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 I think we should start calling her Talent.