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Flowergirl · Veteran Member

Begginer's Questions

Buffington · Guru

First of all if you have not made a reborn before I suggest you purchase the beginner classroom training dvd instead of the advanced one (especially since you had so many questions).

1. Limb size is personal preference and whether or not you want to spend the extra money to get them. They both look good to me.
2. You will need more pellets if you want your baby heavier than 1 or 2 lbs (I don't remember what size the bag is). The polypellet are nylon/plastic and the glass is obviously glass. You have to purchase the polyfil seperate.
3. Air dry is air dried and glazing gel is baked (usually on eyelids, nails and lips)
4. Thniing med is for thinning paint
5. Do you mean the deluxe kit? If you buy that you only need stuffing and clothes for the bub.
6. Not sure if the bodylip is in cluded or not. I'll have to check.
7.. Micro-rooting is usually done with a 42 or 43 guage needle with one or 3 barbs. check the needle handles to see which ones they need. guage is the size of the needle.
8. If you want extra information, yes

Flowergirl · Veteran Member

thank you buffington :)

mimi · Member

Hi Flowergirl,
I almost have my first done. I broke the cable tie on her leg so I am waitting for new ones, but other then that she is done. I love the way she turned out. I will try to put pics up when she has legs. My daughter says I need to get her a wheelchair for now. I did Tina, however I ordered Gumdrop, but wanted to get going so I kept her. I used the 1/4 inch limbs. I am starting my next, Rosie, with 3/4 limbs. It was a lot harder not to get brusing in the tiny fingers and toes with the 3/4 limbs but I got through it. Had to put in some straight thinner in and shake it a bit to get rid of the touch of brusing because your brush can't get by the bend of the limbs.

The Beginner class room DVD comes in the delux kit along with the rooting DVD. I also got the Advance DVD and picked up some extra tips with it, I got the paint that was offered with the advance.

The hair was not hard, it just took LOTS of time. I am sure I have at least 7 hrs of work in her hair. Maybe not so long in my next due to the smaller head. I rooted her eyelasher even though they sent lashes in the kit, and they turned out great.

Let me know if you get the encyclopedia DVD if you think it is helpful.

Good luck with your baby and I will put pics of mine up when she is no longer a cripple.

Flowergirl · Veteran Member

Mimi:
I won't be getting the starter kit because I've found other really cute babies (other sites) and I will be buying them.. however I'm going to get the genesis paint dvd and maybe the encyclopedia, the strawberry pre mixed set and the advanced class paint set, plus a few other stuff for the body. I bought a book online, it was available for downloading and I liked what I read, the author is Jeannine Marie Holper :)
It's going to take me a couple of weeks before I have everthing I need... I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and I hope my baby will look ok :)

mimi · Member

If you need the rooting dvd let me know, ihave watched it several times and can share it with you

mimi · Member

can you tell me what other sites you found, also has any one found and good magazines on newborning?

sara zata · Guru

You can get kits from Pat B. She teaches and sell kits. Just PM her for her site. XXXX June.

Aviva · Senior Member

Hi Flowergirl. I belong to the ERA which is founded by Jeaninne. If you look at the List of Life time Members I'm dow near the bottom (lol) My Nursery is Heaven's Little Gems and the reborn shown is one i did months ago. There is a lot of info at that site. Maybe I'll see you in the Forum there. I haven't really been posting...I've been real busy lately. I'm thinking of doing one of the l7 inch dolls from here. I use the Bountiful set of premixed Geneses paints. I think they are great for beginners. biggrin

mimi · Member

how do you find ERA and Pat B? I have my first doll done and my second is waitting for hair, I ordered the mohair and hope it comes today. I am looking for sites that offer more information and other kits. I hope to post my first 2 babies next week.

Aviva · Senior Member

huuuum Don't know if it's going to show who I am, because I didn't log in. I'm Aviva and the one that is a member of ERA. I was just shopping on Ebay for a CD telling and showing me how to do reborning. You can find the site by just putting in the search Excellence of Reborn Artistry and you should find the website. They actually sell the CD on this site that is from ERA. That's why I decided it must be okay to talk about it. I was hoping the CD was DVD...lol...wasn't paying attention. I have the Secrist Beginners and the How to Root your reborn. I would LOVE to go to a class. Maybe one day they will have one in Knoxville. Do anyone know of a teacher around Knoxville? I'd like to learn under the girl that did my Secrist Jody Doll.

Aviva · Senior Member

Darn...I'm trying to figure out my way around this forum. I don't know if I stay in this same one or if I go to different ones for different questions. Anyway...I went to look at the kits here and there is listed called 3/4 infant B vinyl legs. Now...what does this mean? I might also put in one or two of the babies I have completed. I'll have to figure out how to do it. I can try the copy and paste thing??? Guess there are instructions. I don't want to put her where she's not suppose to be. :o}

Flowergirl · Veteran Member

mimi wrote:

can you tell me what other sites you found, also has any one found and good magazines on newborning?

I've found a few links to different tutorials, I hope it's ok to post the links here

http://www.

http://www.angelsunawares.net/genesis2.html

http://www.

http://www.
(some of your links have been removed per the terms of the forum. The one left is because they are Secrist dealers. Sorry).

And I'm waiting for my *BB* order to arrive, I also ordered their genesis pre mixed kit and 2 of their babies in *peach* because I've heard they don't need internal wash when they are peach-colored.... and next week I'm going to place an order for secrist pre mixed genesis paint, some rooting needles.. hair and other stuff

Aviva

Thanks, I'm going to visit that forum smile

I actually registered but my account hasn't been activated yet...

-- Edited by Flowergirl at 12:38, 2009-01-17

-- Edited by Buffington at 01:19, 2009-01-19

Tina W. · Guru

Aviva-

When you post a completed baby, go to the "showcase" thread and when there will be an upload button in your reply box to post your babies.

Buffington · Guru

mimi wrote:

how do you find... Pat B?

I'm right here hun! I'm the moderator and a dealer for both Secrist and Apple Valley Dolls. I also teach classes in my area (MN). You can find my card on the Secrist site under the teacher tab at the top of the page. Or you can e me at buffington@secristdolls.com or my web is www.timelesstreasurebabies.mysite.com
I take paypal and ship internationally.

To go to other topics in this forum just click on the "Secrist Doll Company" link or any of the topic links. I know it can be hard to navigate a forum when you're new.

We are not allowed to give links to other forums here but you can pm someone and do it from there.
As far as other doll companies you can mention the doll kit names but only the place you got them by their initials (like BB, etc).
You can add ebay auction links in the proper thread... ummm lets see.... oh yeah, it would be nice to read the rules and also how to post pics (and where).

We do have several dvd's and some books by J. Holper (who is a dealer for us too). You can find most everything here. :)

Buffington · Guru

Flowergirl wrote:

mimi wrote:

can you tell me what other sites you found, also has any one found and good magazines on newborning?

... I also ordered their genesis pre mixed kit and 2 of their babies in *peach* because I've heard they don't need internal wash when they are peach-colored....

If you have heard that you don't need internal wash because kits are "peach" colored someone informed you wrong. We at Secrist do have peach colored kits but they "strongly suggest" that you do the internal wash not because of the color, but because they are specifically made translucent like a babies skin and need the internal wash inside to show the blueish undertones of babies skin.

Aviva · Senior Member

Flowergirl...
I have done the peach and pink kits and I prefer the pink. You don't have to do an internal wash to either of them. You can wash to get rid of any dust etc., but they are really good to go. The just had the biggest sale, so they are out of stock of the pink ones. I guess it's personal which you like.

Flowergirl · Veteran Member

Buffington wrote:

If you have heard that you don't need internal wash because kits are "peach" colored someone informed you wrong. We at Secrist do have peach colored kits but they "strongly suggest" that you do the internal wash not because of the color, but because they are specifically made translucent like a babies skin and need the internal wash inside to show the blueish undertones of babies skin.

Wow.. I haven't even started yet and I'm already confused, there are a lot of opinions about the internal wash, I have heard everything from "it's old fashioned and nobody does it anymore" to "you need to do the internal wash"....
In your opinion, do all kits requiere the internal wash or is it onle necessary for secrist dolls?

Tina W. · Guru

Flowergirl-
I personally only do the internal wash on Secrist kits. Like Pat said they are translucent and the internal wash gives your baby depth. On any other kit it wouldn't make a difference, so therefore to achieve that blueish undertone to those kits (and add the depth I want) I apply it to the outside. Depending on the look I want and the kit I'm using I will either wipe my parts down with either blue or a purple wash, sometimes I use a bit of both biggrin

(again this is just my method) or I use my "outside" wash in random "thin shin" areas. Many people are afraid of the internal wash for fear of bruising. I haven't had a problem yet. I key is to drain completely any excess paint from your parts before baking. Just flip them upside down on an aborbent paper towel and let them drain a few minutes. Make sure to angle them to get any paint out of the little toes and fingers smile

. Once it's baked, it's set and no more fear of bruising. I internal wash really does make a difference on translucent babies.
As far as the peach vs. the pink kit, I perfer peach when I can get them however my reason is with a peach kit it's easier for me to build my layers an achieve the coloring I want without color correcting the baby first, days I feel a bit lazy yawn

this comes in handy. I just finished painting a baby with an orange/yellow vinyl confuse

WHEW! that was a tough one! God Bless the color wheel biggrin

its a lifesaver ...(when I figured out the correct starting color LOL!)

Anyway, I hope this helps "unconfuse" you a bit wink

-- Edited by Tina W. at 14:36, 2009-01-19

Flowergirl · Veteran Member

Thanks Tina, that was really helpfull :)
I was wondering if any of you guys use the layering technique Jeannine Holper talks about in her book "Layering Techniques for Just born & Newborn Skin"

In this book she says you can use Genesis colors Red, Blue, White, Yellow, Brown, Flesh, but there are different shades of these colors, have any of you used this technique? and which colors/shades would you recommend using?
Thanks

elizabeth · Member

hi, im new to reborning and i just finished my first doll. I have bought two more dolls but these ones have eyes.
I was wondering can i bake the dolls with the eyes without them melting?

hope so !!! :)

thanks, Elizabeth

mimi · Member

if you got them form Secrist you can, I got my first kit with eyes and had the same question. Just be very careful not to get any thing on them. I baked mine several times and they were great. I just finished my second and am waitting for 2 more kits to come, hopefully in the morning. Enjoy....

Aviva · Senior Member

Hi Elisabeth! I just love your name. I named one of my reborns Sera Elisabeth. Anyway, I'm new here and only have been reborning or newborning for about 6 months or so.
But I know that it depends on the type of eyes that are in your dolls.
Most can take heat up to something like 275 degrees. So you would have to make sure your oven is very correct on temps. I'm a bit nervous about using a heat gun on them. I have taken them out just to be extra careful, but I usually by nice eyes..like glass and other good ones. You can't mention brands on the board. disbelief

There are others that could help you more.*Grin* ~~Aviva

elizabeth · Member

thank you for the help, biggrin

i just finished painting & rooting my first doll. i kind of messed up on the hair but thats ok ill keep that one for myself! :)
i got the deluxe kit from secrist for christmas, not sure wht needles came with it though as they did'nt have a name on them.
i have a million questions :)) so ill be back here alot.

Again thanks for the help
Elizabeth

Aviva · Senior Member

It should have it listed in what all the kit has in it. For a beginner they might give a 36 or 38 g. The higher the number..the thinner the needle. 38 g is pretty sturdy. I started out with a micro 43 g. LOLOLOL Well...I think I broke on an average of 6 times during a rooting session...well when you only get 6 or 8 in a pack...that gets too expensive for me. So I tried the diamond German 40 g with 3 barbs and it gives me the look I want and is a lot better. Also if you can buy your needles by the ounce...it's a WHOLE lot better and you get almost or around 30 of them. I can root two dolls with the same needle...sometimes I change if it feels like it's getting dull. I love rooting. It's very relaxing to me. I used a black wig on Trey...only because I thought he looked good in it and I didn't have the right color mohair for him. I need to get off this computer...lol...I've been in here trying to read and learn as much as I can.

Flowergirl · Veteran Member

mimi wrote:

If you need the rooting dvd let me know, ihave watched it several times and can share it with you

Could you share it with me? I'm waiting for my first kit to arrive :)

elizabeth · Member

hi everyone, im back! i have another question :)
i am about to put the weighing beads into my babydoll, i have a 17" premie, does anyone know how much they should weigh?

Aviva · Senior Member

I started to say how I did it, but I didn't know what you had to work with. I can give you the wts. of my babies. Smaller ones like 17-18 inch weighs 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. Unless they are micro and then it's about 1-2 pounds.
Reg. size newborn I weigh in the range of 4.5 to 5.5 lbs., but I use glass beads for limbs (but just did my last one using the little steel beads in the feet up to ankles and hands to wrists then I go ahead and use the glass beads and polyfil), in the body I use baby fat pellets, polyfil and poly pellets. In the head I use glass beads in nylon bags, poly pellets and polyfill until the head feels like a baby's head. I don't know why, but I have a habit of dropping heads. Have you ever heard the saying "heads are going to roll" Well they do around here...lol.
I drop stuff all the time. They say it's the fibromyalgia, and it might be because I sure didn't drop things when I worked in the newborn nursery.

Hey is this little emoticon doing what I think it is ??? ashamed

elizabeth · Member

thanks Aviva, i was looking online at other reborn artists and some of the babies are shiney all over the face, why and how is this done? i did my first doll with the secrist peaches & cream paint, but it still kind of looks like a doll :( well to me anyway.
im thinking of pulling out the hair and starting again!

yes im that mad :)

Aviva · Senior Member

I this this bruising has happened to the first baby that I bought on Ebay and a good artist did her, but I've just noticed in the last few months that first she has become shiney...now her face is turning bluish right around the inside of her eyes (around nose) and right above the brow bone and now around the mouth. I should take a picture and show you all on the picture board what she looks like and maybe you can tell me what is happening. She's been mostly just laying in a moses basket. She had a paci which is a preemie one with a very tiny magnet (hardly holds), but I thought maybe that was doing it around her mouth, but now I think it would have happened anyway.
I just started a new baby. I am going to do the baking in my oven as soon as I get the oven thermometer. I also took Paisley apart and I'm redoing her limbs. Her face is good to go and hair etc. And so far they arms and legs are not shining but I took some Mineral Sp. and dabbed all over them. If I have to take every single baby apart I will..before I auction them off.

elizabeth · Member

i just finished my first baby!!!!! i named him Aiden and printed a birth cert from the net! :) ill upload pix when i buy clothes tomorrow!!!
im so happy, he look great.

Aviva · Senior Member

I'm so glad you got him done. I like the name. It's pretty popular for about 6 years now.
I can't wait to see him when you post him. I have SOOOO many baby clothes you wouldn't believe your eyes. Hey...if all else fails...I can sell these clothes and make a lot of money. Most of them are Pima cotton so they are soooo soft. I got some little bunny outfits and I have them on the twins..lol They are so cute...in the back they have cotton tails... :

-- Edited by Aviva at 15:52, 2009-01-21

Buffington · Guru

OK, lets see if I can hit all the points in one e-mail without forgetting anything, here goes...

You only have to do the internal wash for the Secrist/Apple Valley kits. They do not know about doing it on any other kits other than these brands. We do not presume to speak for any other company on their doll kits/dolls. So, only ours please.

Do NOT put any metal, steel, aluminum, or any other metal inside your doll (especially in the limbs or head)!!!! METAL WILL EVENTUALLY RUST!!! I know you all don't want to work so hard on your babies only to have them rust internally and ruin them. I know what I am talking about because I am not only a welder but also a jeweler who works will all kinds of metals. Don't let ANYONE tell you that metal other than gold will not rust cause they are not telling you the truth, (or they don't really know either, they probably heard it from someone else who didn't know)!!!!!!! Even if you think that moisture won't get into the doll, it will. Moisture will find it's way in anywhere. Bellieve me!

One reason your reborn is looking like its bruising could be because the person who made it probably used acrylic paint, inks, or dye. Anyone using Genesis and heat curing it for the proper time, at the proper temperature will not get bruising. I have been reborning for over 5 years and I have tried all the methods out there. I have also experienced bruising first hand.
Another reason for brusing is when you open the nostrils and back the nose on the inside with "dark colored felt". To my knowledge, felt is not colorfast! Depending on the glue, the colors in felt can become moist and wick into the vinyl, causeing color migration which is what bruising really is, it's paint or color/dye migration.

Eyes... If you are buying a commercially made toy doll for reborning, I would venture to guess that none of their eyes are going to do well in the oven. Only Secrist "Real Eyes" brand doll eyes are guaranteed to withstand a temp of 265 degrees ferenheit in the oven. They are also guaranteed not to change color like some acrylic eyes on the market do. Real Eyes brand eyes are made from the highest optical grade acrylic on the market and are much like prescription glasses! If you want to bake other eyes, I suggest you check with the manufacturer before you begin.

OK... did I forget anything? lets look... Oh yes! Don't forget... If you are using babyfat in your reborns, don't let it get near any vinyl!!

Well, I think that's it! If you see that I forgot to answer something in here just let me know :)