The Best Online Reborn Help Forum!

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

New member from a country that doesn't know about reborns :)

Buffington · Guru

Maybe you can post in our artist showcase, some of your ooak projects :D Sounds like you are a very busy person and looking for a new challenge in a different area. There are still some areas that have no idea on reborns. How did you find them? It would be interesting to find out how people come across reborns. Some people have heard of them, some run across them by accident on the internet, etc.

One thing that is exceptionally helpful to most reborners is our "search" feature. It's at the top of the page and all you have to do is type in your word and click. It should bring up all the topics that have some information that you are inquiring about. It's also nice if you're waiting for someone to come in and respond to your question.

Please be sure to read the rules and regs even if there are not many. Be sure to pay particular attention to how and where to post pics. Had to tell you this info as I am the moderator.
It's always nice to hear from people in other countries and to hear what level knowledge is there on reborns. My suggestion is to get yourself a dvd so you can learn the basics until you feel comfortable enough to branch out and try something more advanced. There is much information available at www.secristdolls.com

Again, welcome!! :

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I've came across reborns by accident on the internet. I guess I was browsing for some new polymer clays when an "ooak baby" and "reborn babies" popped out. I had no idea what are reborns, but I thought they were gorgeous. So, my adventure started a couple of months ago. At first I was just looking at them, trying to figure out how to make them, what do I need to get started. It seems like a complicated, but a rewarding hobbie. Just what I like :)

So I ordered two dolls, mohair, needles, and some genesis paints, just to get a "feel" for it. I guess I'll start this summer, when all my packages arrive.

As far as OOAK babies go, my first ones were a complete disaster :) Heads too big, bodies too thin and so on, but I think I'm getting better now. I'm making them with some dentist tools and Super Sculpey, and acrylic eyes that can withstand baking. I'll post a picture as soon as I figure out how this forum works.

I think I'll order a DVD (and probably one of those mini dolls) as soon as I recover from my latest spendings :)

Buffington · Guru

You are so welcome. Seems like most people come across them by accident on the internet. It is quite an adventure into reborning (IMHO) but I love it! I have been reborning over 6 years now. I have a ton of kits to do or sell. :o

The DVD and/or mini baby kit would be a good start for you, especially since you are used to working with the small ooak's that you do. Then if you like it youi can always branch out and up to a larger kit.
Can't wait to see your first reborn in our artist showcase. :D

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

I'm seriouslly considering Florian (mini) and Nina kits. But I'll first give it a go on some random dolls :)

Buffington · Guru

A lot of people use "practice" dolls and parts first before they do their first reborn. Be aware that you cannot use heat set paints on "plastic" or full "silicone" dolls or parts, just vinyl, vinyl/silicone mix. Also, remember that if you paint a play doll that the vinyl may not perform the same when it comes to doing your real reborn as play doll vinyl, etc is often different.
Some people go and buy inexpensive Berenguer dolls from like kids r us or walmart, etc and those usually reborn fairly well but they can tend to have an orange undertone. Check out information with our search feature. Good luck and let us know how you get on with the practice babies :D

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

I think a Berjusa doll could do just fine for starters :) Thanks for the tips, I'll keep them in mind. Also, I can't wait to start for real! But I'd rather first "destroy" a random vinyl doll than a real reborn kit :D

Buffington · Guru

Yes, there are a few artists in forum that have done berjusa so you might want to do a search to see if they show in artist showcase, or come up in other threads.
I'm sure you'll do just fine hun. If you are using heat set paints, the nice part of them is that if you don't like what you did, you can get a do over. :D

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Hello again :)

This is what I did so far. I'm getting heat set paints in about two weeks, so all I can do for now is rooting.

Here's my first "serious" rooting on a Berjusa. I know it's far from perfect, but I kinda like it for my first try :) I'm aware it's a bit thick for a newborn doll like this, but if I gotta make a few mistakes, it better be on a "practice doll". My connection is very slow right now, so I can't browse previous threads to search for other berjusas, but I'm on it :)

https://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae29/friki222/th_berjusa.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Also, I've found a very old Furga (Italian doll, full vinyl) in my house. It has been in terrible condition. It will certainly be a challenge to renew him :)
Currently I'm trying to fix its eyes (they had that mechanism with opening and closing that has corroded over time). I've taken them out, cleaned the sockets, and filled them with polymer clay. All I have to do now is make eyelids that won't fall off. Wish me luck!

(Your photo was made into a link as it was posted in an area that only allows links not photos. Links are allowed in all topic threads but pics are only allowed in arist showcase. Thanks, Pat B, forum mod. )

-- Edited by Buffington on Thursday 4th of August 2011 06:00:33 PM

Buffington · Guru

Practice rooting is good. You can even practice on a limb if that's all you have, any part of the doll. It sounds like you are anxious to starting reborning and that is a good thing.
The rooting on your Berjusa is a good start. What needle are you using and what kind of hair?

Nice that you found an old doll. You can save it to restore later on after you have done a few maybe.
Those kind of eyes are called "sleep eyes" and yes, they do go bad. But you would have to remove them and replace them anyway if reborning. If you get the correct size eyes you shouldn't have to create eyelids for this baby. Most people don't and neither do I. If you do still want to make eyelids, you might want to get one of the Secrist training guides. The have one on sculpting onto the vinyl to chage the look of the baby. Go to www.secristdolls.com and check them out. They have DVD's and PTG/STG or they also have the 2010/2011 Painting & Sculpting Tutorial Guidebook
http://www.secristdolls.com/training?cmx=61067&start=0

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Thank you for all the help, Buffington! I'll check the tutorials!

I'm using 43 gauge needles and something that's called "premium mohair". The hairs don't break, don't fall out much, and are soft and baby-like. I don't know if they are best on the market, but they're good enough for now :)

Buffington · Guru

You're welcome hun. :D
43 guage is good, how are you doing on needle breakage? That's pretty good for a newbie with a 43 guage. And the premium mohair is good stuff!!

Do you have the Secrist DVD on rooting?

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

I broke 6 or 7 needles so far, on my three dolls (berjusa, furga and peterkin), but I stocked up one more set of 10, just in case :) On my old Furga, which has very, very hard vinyl, I simply rooted with a broken needle, and the result was better than I expected! It got more hairs inside, about 20, and they didn't fall out much when I combed them. Doesn't look bad :) Since I'm a freelancer, my paychecks don't come very often, so I'm learning about rooting with a little help from youtube when I get stuck. I know it's not the best option, but it's most affordable for now. When I recover from my latest spendings, I think I'll simply order some proper kits and skip the DVD-s. Florian and Nina are my favorite from what I saw from Secrist :) I don't know about you ,guys, but I kinda like to explore how things work on my own, even if it means the harder way. Luckilly, I have three baby cousins, so I'm studying how their hair grows, and try to figure out how I could reproduce their colours with heat set paints. Can't wait for those paints to arrive! I think my friend will return from USA in a week or so, I'm so excited! :)

Buffington · Guru

I broke quite a few needles when I started rooting. Even with the DVD on rooting... Stephanie does a great job of showing how to do it in the DVD though. Have you tried the "rice sock" for your rooting? It will make the hard heads much softer. Just search the rice sock. You'll even find a topic thread called rice sock heaven or something similar. :D

Great that you have little ones you can look at their hair for examples. Can't wait to see some of your rooting pics in the artist showcase.

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Buffi, I haven't tried the rice sock yet, even though I found the topic about it here and it seems all the ladies like that more than heating the head in the oven. I don't have a microwawe yet so I leave the head in the sun, do about 15minutes of rooting, and when it gets cold, I take it out again :)
On my Berjusa, I took all the hair out, and did her over again. I'll post pictures soon, I think it looks better now, not that thick :)

Buffington · Guru

Ok hun. I wasn't sure what you were doing about the harder heads in rooting so I just thought I'd point out all those posts. We do what we gotta do, the sun thing sounds like a good way to go! :D

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

The Peterkin's head was hardest so far, feels more like hard plastic than vinyl! After breaking about 3 needles on his head, I simply continued rooting with a broken needle, and all the way, too :) The broken needle got about 20-25 hairs at a time, but it still looks okay to me. Not perfect, but acceptable :)

Thank you for all your help, Buffington, I really appreciate it! Also, I love your new avatar! :)

Buffington · Guru

You know, you might want to try (instead of a broken needle) a 38 or 40 guage needle. It will still put lots of hairs into each folicle but not as many as 20 lol. They are better for the harder heads if you don't use the heated rice sock.

You are welcome hun, glad I could help. My granddaughter in my avatar. Isn't she just adorable? I think so lol. My daughter sent that pic to me from Colorado where they live. She said it looks like baby Mara Tess fell asleep while she was deep in thought hahaha.

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Haha, yeah, I know 20 it's too much :) I'm thinking of pulling them all out, start again, and take it easy. Did it with my Berjusa, and she looks much better now.

Maybe a crown needle would do better for now, I hope they have them in 38 or 40 gauge.

And yes, your granddaughter is really adorable! I love her expression.

Ah, yes, I've almost forgot - my paints have finally arrived, and so did a heatgun! Still, I don't know where to begin :D I guess I'll have to concentrate, claim a lot of space in our tiny apartment, and simply start and see where it gets me :D

My friend brought me a petite Genesis set from America, so I know it won't be easy, seeing those are for advance reborning. But you gotta start somehow :)

sara zata · Guru

I'm a bit slow off the mark here, I've been quite lazy at being on the forum as I haven't done any new reborns for quite some time. As I only have two left now, I think it time to start reborningagain. I will post pick in Artist Show Case as I get on with them and show my progress. Welcome to this lovely friendly fanily forum, I'm sure you will get a lot of good informatiom from everyone on here. We do like to share. XXXXX June

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Thank you, June! I do love browsing through this forum, and everyone is very helpful. In a few days I'll get all my Genesis paints, so I'll soon post some of my first, and very likely, embarassing reborns :D
In the meantime, I'll have some new Sculpeys to post :)