The Best Online Reborn Help Forum!

NaNa2BeBe · Member

Newbie w/ questions

sage brush nursery · Guru

welcome to the forum , this is a great place for learning and support. i definitly recommened secrists advanced classroom dvd, also their special technquies dvd is verey good if you want to do asian and aa babies. sage aww

Tina W. · Guru

Big Welcome!! You tube has great videos on reborning The secrist video is an awesome learning tool as well. There might be a thread in the forum about removing eyes go to your search box and tyoe it in I think i remember seeing something I personally haven't done that yet. Yes on play dolls or rescue dolls the old paint is removed then you apply your new paints in thin layers. Your going to love reborning and this forum is a great place to get support and help along the way. Everyone here is friendly and helpful!
=)

sara zata · Guru

A very warm Ozzie welcome to this wounderfull forum, with play dolls and I think Lee Middletons, you remove the paint with acetone, but do it outside with plenty of ventilation. I haven't held or touched any of her dolls but I know the painting is not like our reborns, afor removing eyes you can either cut them out from the back making a cross in there or if you heat them with a hairdrying sometimes they will come out from the front, depending on if the are full eyes or half round. Secrists are the best realistic eyes I have found so far. as I have been making dolls( porcelain ) before I started reborning, some of the other type eyes even in Baby Borns, have gone either pink or lime green and have to be replaced. As for the hair, when you reborn, you root the head with mohair, there is a lot of different brands. Depending on how hard the vinyl is as to wether you rewig or not. XXXXX Jun e

Buffington · Guru

Welcome to our family forum NaNa2BeBe, we're glad to have you.
The Middleton dolls should be fairly good to reborn. They are pretty good quality to start out with.
As June said, a lot of us strip the existing paint off with acetone (the kind you get in a beauty supply). If you use our search feature you can find pretty much anything in here as we have been around for several years. There is so much information you won't believe your eyes! Especially for newbies like yourself. Feel free to also read the rules of the forum, especially on posting pics (wouldn't want them removed for putting them in the wrong place :o)

What everyone said is also what I would have told you. I am one of the moderators here in forum. I hope you enjoy your time here and post your progress as we all can learn from one another.

jburle · Senior Member

Welcome to our Forum! I just love the Lee Middleton Dolls, I know they do have scultps you can reborn that are ready to reborn out there somewhere! can't wait to see your finished baby....

Hope to see some of your works in the Artist Showcase!

Buffington · Guru

Jodie, I didn't know Middlton had reborn kits? Hmmm, have to check that one out!

Dee · Guru

Welcome to the family.

Tina W. · Guru

I've seen some on ebay Pat pretty reasonablly priced as well.

Buffington · Guru

I'll have to see what I can find then. AND in that case, since they are selling "kits", we'll have to have an acronym for them as they are competition for Secrists (ie: DD, BB, etc) and do not sell Secrist items. Hmmm, maybe we'll just call them... LM's! :o lol

Liselle · Guru

Well, I've seen the Middletons at DbS, if that's helpful.

Buffington · Guru

Ya, Sandie usually carries the LM's. I didn't remember seeing any kits though, just dolls you can reborn. Hmmm

sara zata · Guru

We have them in Aust, they usually are in small open areas in the shopping centre's, the sales girls wear........................................................Nurses Outfits, thier eybrows look like they have been put on with decals, not sure. But I prefere that even though most of us are still realy beginners, a blank kit is best to start off with. XXXXXX June.

Tina W. · Guru

Buffington wrote:

Ya, Sandie usually carries the LM's. I didn't remember seeing any kits though, just dolls you can reborn. Hmmm

Sent you a pm Pat smile

Buffington · Guru

Got it and replied Tina, thanks.

I agree with June, for me blank kits are best to start off with, and I think so for newbies too! No sense in messing around with all that taking the paint off stuff when you can start with a fresh canvas :)

NaNa2BeBe · Member

Although I consider myself to be artistic, I'm a little afraid I won't be good at this. I'm amazed & inspired by the talented artists who bring these 'reborn' dolls to life. I'd like to move on to doll kits IF I do well on my 'practice' dolls. I'm not practicing on my LM dolls, as they just need a little help to have a more realistic look (imho).

I was planning to practice on 2 dolls I bought cheap on ebay (in need of a complete makeover). One is 'giggles' an older 'secrist' labeled doll (poor doll is in desperate need of makeover). I did get the eyes of my 'practice' dolls & plan to remove the old paint on them.

I need to order paints & eyes (already have secrist body slips, etc...).

I'd also like to buy a dvd w/ painting techniques & info. I just don't know WHICH dvd will provide the most information on paints & techniques in one dvd???

Thanks again!
((^°*.,.*°^°*._NaNa~2~BeBe_.*°^°*.,.*°^))

Tina W. · Guru

Either one of Secrists dvd are good to get the basic idea. I used both when I started I will show you mixing paints and how to apply them and a few techniques. I think everyone just beginning has the same fears so your not alone :) Most importantly don't be hard on yourself :)
And remember your forum friends are always here to lend some support or help with any questions.

-- Edited by Tina W. on Sunday 5th of September 2010 01:21:08 AM

Buffington · Guru

Tina is right! Most newbies are afraid of some portion of reborning or rooting. Good thing you got practice babies. I love the little Giggles. She actually was one of the original first 5 doll kits that Secrist (actually Apple Valley Doll Works, the sister company of Secrist) came out with over 20 years ago. She still remains a favorite. :)

Yes, I would get one of the beginner dvd's so you can get the techniques down before moving on. Secrist does also offer "test limbs" for really inexpensive so you can practice on the actual vinyl they use. They also have technique sheets in color so you can get a lesson you can look at while you're painting!

Enjoy yourself and don't worry, you'll be just fine. :)

NaNa2BeBe · Member

I ordered new eyes, the advanced classroom DVD & a few other supplies...

How do I find out the eye color (blue shown w/ 'Kelly' head) & (brown shown w/ 'Ajalyn' head)???

Thanks again to all! =]

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I'm not certain what color the eyes are in Kelly and Ajalyn as pictured on the Secrist website. I think you would need to email or call and ask them.

As a dealer, I can make an educated guess about the eyes. Ajalyn's eyes look to be the chocolate brown. The difference between the chocolate brown and the dark brown are slight. I think the chocolate ones are the darkest, and a good color for newborns. I personally prefer the dark brown color for older babies because I think they show a little more detail since they are slightly lighter.

I would guess the eyes in the completed Kelly doll are the "beautiful blue" eyes. However the eyes in the smaller photo of an unpainted Kelly kit appear to be the "newborn blue."

I hope this helps.

Also... NaNa2BeBe, welcome to the forum!

Linda

NaNa2BeBe · Member

Thanks again to all!!!

So much to learn, so much to buy...

=]

Buffington · Guru

You are so welcome hun :)