Missing in Reborning

Hi everyone, just wanted to say that I am not doing very much reborning at the min due to suffering from reoccurring knee dislocations.  I can't sit at my desk as it makes my leg swell up even more so I'm feeling rather fed up at the moment.  I am still currently doing a little bit of rooting here and there on phoebe and once I do finally complete her I will share some photos with you.

 

So for now I am currently waiting for an MRI appointment to see where I go from here and then back to the hospital to discuss possible surgery options.  I am hoping that once some of this swelling eases and hopefully the knee wont pop out again for a while, I can get back to my beloved paints so that I can create some more beautiful babies - I have so many sculpts waiting for some attention :)

 

Take care and will hopefully be blogging again soon

 

xx Lena xx 

 

Here is a work in progress photo of Phoebe

 

 

Reborning Phoebe - Undertones, veins and mottling layers

 

 

Today I started the undertones, veins and mottling layers on Phoebe

I have already painted her base layers so starting this post on her undertone layers

 

This is Phoebe so far...

 

 

 

So getting started.

As I showed when reborning Walter I set up everything ready

 

 

I generally do the same with each reborn when painting undertones, I do tend to change the quantity of paint used depending on the sculpt but as a whole the colouring does tend to stay the same with very slight variations.  I'm going to cover these again now with Phoebe as it was a while ago since I went through them with Walter but if I miss anything out this time round, please refer back to Walter as I think I covered in a bit more depth with him.

Anyway........

 

As I have mentioned before I always start with blue undertones.

(I'm reusing some of my older images to give you an idea without having to scroll down to find them and so I don't have to retake the same image over and over again)

 

I put a good quantity of thinners in one of my ceramic pots with the use of my pipette and then with the tip of my brush I collect a small amount of paint and add to the thinners.

I want the blue very thin and watery.

As I have said before, blue is rather unforgiving on vinyl so it's better to add small amounts rather then adding too much!

 

Using my brush I add the blue to the parts that would normally be thinner translucent skin on a baby for example, temples, bridge of the nose, tops of the hands, wrists, ankles etc.

Not all at once of course but working each area at a time blending using a make up wedge as I go.

A good tip is to use kitchen roll to blot of some of the paint from the brush and also to check how thick/thin the paint is :o)

 

I am going to apologise for the next few photos, unfortunately the battery in my camera decided it was time for a nap when I started painting so I used the camera on my phone.....hmm not the best quality pictures but hopefully will give you an idea

 

 

 

I didn't take photos of every area, to be honest I get carried away and lost in the world of painting so taking photos tends to take a back seat and then I think...oh I should have taken a photo of that!

 

After I have done all the areas that require blue I then move onto the lips and mouth.

I always struggled to get the colouring correct on this area and then a friend who happens to be a fantastic reborn artist give me the best tip every......Put a layer of blue on them first!

 

The blue is showing quite darkly in this photo but I must point out a thin layer of blue on the lips/mouth is used, you can always add another layer of blue later if needed.

 

 

Next I move on to the veining.

I'm sorry to say I don't have photos to share of Phoebe at this point as my phone camera wouldn't pick the veining and the battery for my camera was still charging.  So I will do my best to describe but if you need an example please do visit reborning Walter as it is generally the same.

 



VEINING

 

Using my paint brush I now mix a very small amount of ultramarine blue to my Phthalo Blue 04 just to darken it very slightly.

 

I then tip my pot up a little bit leaving some paint on the bottom of the pot.

 

 

 

I use the paint from the bottom that is left to paint my veins - again blotting my brush on the kitchen roll as I don't want my brush to be too full.

 

You can have a look at baby pictures or photos to get an idea of where you should be putting the veins

I always start on the head and work my way through the other vinyl parts.
After painting the veins I gently blend with a sponge wedge as I don't want to leave a hard line.

 

Once the veining is complete I heat set.

 

Unlike when I was reborning Walter, I now no longer use my normal oven.
I now have a very snazzy Halogen Oven.

I put a couple of t.towels in the bottom so that the vinyl parts do not touch any of the glass area.

I have had to play around with the temp to get it set correctly, I know that halogen ovens very but mine is set between 150 - 170 (ish) and I heat set for approx. 12 mins

 

Please don't take my word on the temp, like I said I did have to spend some time getting my oven set right and I wouldn't want to be responsible for you melting your beautiful lovely sculpt.

 

Remember to check and make sure that your paint is set by using a damp cotton bud - as long as no paint comes off you're good to carry on, if paint does come off pop it back in the oven for a little longer.

 

Phoebe is quiet a large sculpt at 23-24" and I have had to take time in heat setting her as I was unable to get all her parts in the oven at the same time.

 

Once cooled we're ready to carry onto the mottling.

 

MOTTLING

 

Now I love the mottling stage as I always find that this is where the sculpt starts to come to life (if you know what I mean) and it completely transforms from being a blank doll kit.

 

Again I'm sorry, not to many photos here but will cover in as much detail as I can

 

I use I good mixture of paints for my mottling.

I don't have a set order in which I add my mottling colours but my red mix is always my last layer sometimes I add red layer first too.

I don't always use all these colours with every reborn I create, it really depends on the colouring of the vinyl and also how mottled I want the finished baby to be and what age I am trying to recreate, for example a prem/new baby I would have a deeper mottling to that of a toddler size.

 

With Phoebe my first layer is my red layer.

First I need to mix the colour that I want to use.

In my ceramic pot I add a good amount of thinners.  Then using my paint brush I add Pyrrole Red 02.

I'm now going to add a very small amount of burnt umber and Phthalo Blue 04

This is a bit of try as you go but the colour I want to achieve is blood looking colour.

 

I want this to be quite water.

 

Using my brush I transfer the pain to my cut "multy" sponge and blot onto the kitchen roll - I don't want the sponge too full of paint as I'm after the hole effect that the sponge with give.  You can also use a make-up wedge and pull out little bit to make holes.

I now carefully dab the sponge over all the vinyl parts, taking care to avoid the finger/toe nails.  Once the thinners has flashed off (dries off) I blend gently with a sponge wedge just to take of the sharpness of the lines left.

 

I now make up the other colours that I want to use, with Phoebe this are Yellow Ochre,  Dioxazine Purple 01 and also burnt Umber.  These colours again are made very water as I don't want to have very dark colouring.

 

I now repeat the same as I did with the red, using each colour one at a time and blending with a sponge wedge in between.  I then finish off going over with the red again but not all over just a bit of a pounce here and there.  This gives a beautiful depth to the skin.

 

I now also go back to the mouth/lips and do a layer or two of the blood red colour over the top of the blue.

 

After these layers are all done, blended and flashed off (dried) it is time to heat set again.

 

The lighting isn't brilliant but I'm glad to say my camera is now awake after the battery recharged.

 

Here is Phoebe after her mottling layers

I have kept her mottling light as she is a slightly bigger baby

 

 

Next step - more flesh layers.

Will update again soon.

 

x Lena x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Back on the blog - Update

 

 

Hi everyone

 

I know I don't really have many followers but thought I'd give an update

I haven't been around for a while as I had to take some time out to focus on looking after my daughter Amy whilst she has been going through a horrific withdrawal from topical steroids, these were prescribed to treat her eczema and of course also having a busy family life with the rest of my little monsters.

 

 

Whilst my brave little Amy continues to battle her way through her withdrawal we took some comfort in sharing her story in hope that we might be able to help others, so I started a blog documenting her journey.

Here is the link if you'd like to have a look

 

http://amysitchyjourney.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

I am pleased to say that although she is not completely healed Amy is now much better.

So my paintbrushes, paints and sponges are all back out and I'm having fun creating some new babies :)

 

I will try and update as and when I can so please keep an eye out for new bubba's

 

I know I left my blog whilst I was reborning Walter.  I am very pleased to say that even though I didn't have the time to come on and update I did manage to keep up with some reborning

 

 

So here is Walter all finished

(Sorry the picture quality isn't great, they were taken on my phone)

 

 

 
 
I also made a few other reborns before having to take a break away from my paints completely for a short time and here are some of the babies I made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is my latest baby, she was a custom order

Meisha

 

 

Meisha has rooted hair
 Here are a couple of closer photos of her hair

 

I have just started on a new baby :)

The sculpt is Phoebe by the very talented Phil Donnelly

She is a bigger baby then I normally create at around 23-24"

I have just finished her base layers and will be starting her undertones soon.

I will try and take progress photos and keep you updated with her progress.

 

Look forward to updating again soon

x Lena x

 

 

 



Reborning Walter - undertones, veining and mottling

 

Hi again,



Well I've been pretty busy as I have now done the undertones, veining and mottling on Walter.

 

Getting Ready

 

I always start by getting my paints, brushes, sponges etc ready

 

(I normally find I've forgotten something as I'm going lol)

 

Over the years I have built up on many brushes and now have a good selection

I have set brushes that I use for different colours and areas.

As you can see from the picture I also have a good selection of sponges:

 Make-up blenders/wedges

"Multy"  bath sponges cut into small sizes (great for mottling)

 

The paints that I use are Genesis Heat Set Paints

The colours used today are

Phthalo Blue 04

Yellow Ochre

Burn Umber

Pyrrole Red 02

Ultramarine Blue

Dioxazine Purple 01

 

There are many pre-mixed paints available to buy, however I like to blend and mix my own.

Ceramic pallets (pots) need to be used with Genesis Paints!

 

I always use Daler Rowney Low Odour Thinners which I buy from hobby craft.
I know a lot of reborn artist use low odour thinners that can be bought from DIY shops but I like the finish I get from the thinners that I use - this is just my personal choice.

 

Pipette to transfer thinners to pallet

 

I think I've covered everything that we need for now so lets get started :o)

 

Undertones

 

I always start with blue undertones.

Using the pipette I put a good quantity of thinners in one of my ceramic pots.
Using the tip of my brush I collect a small amount of paint and add to the thinners.

I want the blue very thin and watery.

Blue is rather unforgiving on vinyl so it's better to add small amounts rather then adding too much!

 

 

Now using my brush I add the blue to the parts that would normally be thinner translucent skin on a baby for example, temples, bridge of the nose, tops of the hands, wrists, ankles etc.

Not all at once of course but working each area at a time blending using a make up wedge as I go.

A good tip is to use kitchen roll to blot of some of the paint from the brush and also to check of thick/thin the paint is :o)

 

 

 

I'm not left handed but for couldn't take the pic and hold the sponge at the same time so for example throughout these pic's you'll find I'm using my left hand ;o)

 

I haven't added pictures of every area but I hope you get the idea.
At this point I also add a small amount of blue to the lips - and I mean a small amount!! lol

 

 

I'm now ready to start my veining!!

 

 

Veining

 

Using my paint brush I now mix a very small amount of ultramarine blue to my Phthalo Blue 04 just to darken it very slightly.

 

I then tip my pot up a little bit leaving some paint on the bottom of the pot.

 

(again spot my left hand lol)

 

I use the paint from the bottom that is left to paint my veins - again blotting my brush on the kitchen roll as I don't want my brush to be too full.

 

You can have a look at baby pic's to get an idea of where you should be putting the veins

I always start on the head and work my way through the other vinyl parts.
After painting the veins I gently blend with a sponge wedge as I don't want to leave a hard line.

 

 

I haven't added loads of photos but I'm sure you get the idea.  Give me a shout if not cos I'm always happy to help :o)

 

After this it's time to heat set the kit.

I have a baking tray that I use just for heat setting and use 2 tea-towels.

Never put vinyl parts straight onto the baking tray - they will come out shinny!!

I use a gas oven which is pre heated to gas mark 2 and leave my kits in for 12mins

If you are following me with this and having a go yourself please make sure you get the right temp and time for your oven as there is nothing worse then melting your doll kit!!!

You can check to make sure that your paint is set by using a damp cotton bud - as long as no paint comes off you're good to carry on, if paint does come off pop it back in the oven for a little longer.

 

Once all the vinyl parts have cooled we can carry onto the mottling.

 

Mottling

 

This is the bit I love love love as you can really see the kit transform.

I use I good mixture for my mottling.

I don't have a set order in which I add my mottling colours but my red mix is always my last layer.

I don't always use all these colours with every reborn I create, it really depends on the colouring of the vinyl and also how mottled I want the finished baby to be.

 

I have made up my Yellow Ochre and Dioxazine Purple 01

I want these colours to be barely there so are mixed with thinners to be very watery.

 

 

Using my brush I transfer the purple to my cut "multy" sponge and blot onto the kitchen roll - I don't want the sponge too full of paint as I'm after the hole effect that the sponge with give.

I now carefully dab the sponge over all the vinyl parts - I tend to avoid the bottom of the feet and palms of the hands at this point.  Once the thinners has flashed off (dries off) I blend gently with a sponge wedge just to take of the sharpness of the lines left.

I repeat this with the Yellow.

 

My next layer is my red layer but first I need to mix the colour that I want to use.

In my ceramic pot I add a good amount of thinners.  Then using my paint brush I add Pyrrole Red 02.

I'm now going to add a very small amount of burnt umber and Phthalo Blue 04

You may find this is a try as you go but the colour that you want is a blood looking colour.

Again you want this quite watery.

 

Now it's time to repeat the steps as with the purple and yellow.

 

After blending gentley it's time to heat set again.

 

And the results so far are......

 

 

 

 

I know the pic's aren't great but the lighting here at the min is very good for photos but I hope you

get the idea.

 

Next step is more flesh layers which I will update you with next time :o)

 

 

I don't know if anyone out there is reading this but if you are thank you.

I love my reborning hobby and have always wanted to try and help anyone who wanted to have a go and maybe this might help someone or maybe you might just be interested to see how these beautiful art forms are created.  Either way please feel free to add any comments or if there is anything you're not sure of or want to ask....ask away!

 

I don't tend to reborn over the weekend as the children take up most of my time when they're not at school so the next up date will proba be Monday.

Hope you have a great weekend.

 xx Lena xx



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reborning Walter

I have just started painting my 2nd Walter kit - Walter was sculpted by the very talented Laura Tuzio Ross, this limited edition is a sold out sculpt that has been very popular.

I really enjoyed creating Harvey (my first Walter)

But when I sold him I was really gutted and wished that I'd kept him, however a second chance came about when a painted but unfinished Walter came available to buy. I bought this kit some months ago but hadn't touched him until now.

First Steps
I very carefully removed the paint that had already been applied with acetone free nail varnish remover as this does not damage the vinyl, then I gave all the vinyl parts a good wash.

This Walter does have some imperfections such as a slight brown mark on the back of his head along with some rooting holes - I have closed most of the rooting holes using boiling water, though they are still slightly visible I am hoping that this will be less visible throughout the painting process as I aim to paint his hair. With regards to the brown blemish I will either transform this into a birthmark or will blend it in with his painted hair.   I intend on keeping this Walter so the imperfections really aren't a problem.

I have added some pictures that I have taken of Walter after I removed the paint and before I have started the reborning. I will try and add pictures as I go.

 

 

Yesterday (23rd Jan) I opened up the nose which I will back with black felt after painting - this is to add realism and depth. I have also painted a few flesh coloured base layers. This softens the vinyl look and gives me a good base to start adding my undertones and veining.  I have not added any pictures of this step as there isn't really much to see at this point.

A bit about me

I'm rather new to this blogging thing but thought it would be a nice idea for anyone who is interested in my reborn hobby.

For those of you who know nothing about me -
My name is Lena, I am a 36 year old married mum of 6 wonderful children (4 boys and 2 girls)


I am the sole reborn artist behind Lena's Daydreams Nursery.  I create life like baby dolls from sculpts that are available.  I'm now in my 7th year of reborning and love this beautiful art form.
I take great pride in the reborn babies that I create, lots of hours, love and dedication goes into each and everyone.  Reborning is an expensive hobby and as much as I'd love to keep all the dolls that I create I do tend to sell some of them so that I can buy more sculpts.  I have created quite a few custom orders and have many returning buyers.  My dolls have gone to many other countries and I have had fantastic feedback from all those who have bought my reborns.

I also have a website with more information regarding my reborn nursery and lots of photos so pop over and take a look.
http://lenasdaydreamsnursery.webs.com

I am hoping to keep this blog updated with future reborn babies I create so please watch this space :o)