Blog topics

With my schedule changing back to 5 days a week (same amount of hours that I work each week, just shorter days and one more of them), I would like to receive some questions or topic suggestions to blog about.  

I usually don't run out of content but I thought this would be fun since I'll be posting 5 days a week now instead of 4 (plus my special Friday Funnies or Sharing my Collection Friday posts).  

So there you go friends!  The challenge is on.  Send me comments of questions/topics and I'll make a list and post about them as I come to them.

I can't wait to hear your questions and suggestions!

XXOO

Friday Funnies! Expressions

Sometimes I just walk into the nursery and find the babies "speaking" to me, or to other "siblings".

Matthew has been the outspoken one lately...

 

He obviously was NOT happy that I set Beata and her basket on his high chair tray to keep the kitten from laying on her.

 In fact, I am quite sure he is throwing a bit of a tantrum!

Later, as I was re-arranging furniture and babies, I plopped Tamara onto the high chair.  I think she said,

"Pst, Matthew...I think Mommy is going to let me sit IN the chair with you.  Isn't that going to be FUN?!?!?!"

HE looks like he is saying,

"Oohhhhh...yes, I think I will like that!"

LOL

Oh the fun things that happen and expressions to be enjoyed!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Well THAT'S interesting....

A fellow Doll Fan member posted this 

~SECRIST LINK~

regarding my oily Tika.

This was the first statement that caught my attention:

"Note: All vinyl dolls, regardless of the manufacturer, can become shiny or slightly oily over time.  While many doll makers and sellers may pretend this problem doesn't exist with their dolls (which it does - it is a part of the chemistry in vinyl production) we are willing to not just acknowledge it, but offer a solution!"

I have never had this problem with all the different types of dolls and doll kits I've worked with over the years.  Interesting...very interesting.  

I've not done anything with Tika yet.  Still contemplating.

So today is our annual fall schedule change.  ~sigh~

We (husband and I) have been working 4-10 hour days a week since this spring but are now are going back to 5-8 hour days a week.  I will miss my three days off BUT, I typically get more rooting and mohair processing done in the winter months since I have so much time in the evenings.  I'm so not good about doing "nothing" so if we watch TV or have nothing going on at all, I do those things.  They are relaxing to me, usually.

And sometimes I play.  I've had a little bit of time to play and have changed a couple of babies for Halloween.  I don't like Halloween but I do like the costumes for babies!

Reborn Billy's first Halloween:

 OOAK Jeremy who just got back from Canada for a repair to his leg joint:

 And my special boy, OOAK Kenji.  He would have dressed up more but...he fell asleep!

 Ohhh...it's FALL! 

 

42 gauge COMPACT needle

I've had them for quite some time now...

The 42g "Compact" needles from Precious Little Baby Dust.

Precious Little Baby Dust is closed down for a year of rest, but the same needles can be found at 

Nonie's Nursery 

I finally started using them on big boy Trinitee.

I think I am in love!  

They are designed to use with the "one hair rooting method" because they are great for grabbing the single hair that is pulled from the lock, but I am using my old method of rooting at the cut end of the lock.  My lock is very tiny with very few hairs available to grab.  

These needles catch better than the 42g Crown needles I have loved in the past, which is why they are perfect for one hair rooting.  I admit, they catch real well and I am spending some time pulling extra hairs out.  I will attempt the one hair rooting on a much smaller head.  I wanted the Trinitee sculpt to have a bit more hair which is why I decided to use my old method anyway.

So where am I with that big ol' head?

I have the back completely rooted and will begin sides today.  He is going to be adorable! 

XXOO

 

Oily Secrist Kits and a ruined reborn

A few years ago the topic came up on the doll forums about oily Secrist kits.

I had a couple of kits in stock that had gone oily.  They were from about 2006.

Secrist had told their dealers that they would replace the oily kits if the dealers returned the kits at the dealers expense and they said that the problem was limited to a small run of kits.

In 2008, I purchased this lovely reborn from the Secrist booth at IDEX:

 

She is the Prototype of Tika, one of the newest Secrist kits then in 2007-2008.  

You can even see her on the Secrist website HERE.

Apparently, the oily issue was larger than Secrist claimed as kits from as early as early 2006-2008 have been proven to be oily.

I have loved this little girl very, VERY much.

But this spring, she looked a little pale and shiny:

And the other day when I examined her closer, she was horribly oily and sticky:

I am very sad about my little girl.  She does not even look like the same doll.

I know she was painted with Genesis paints so Secrist's theory of using GHSP and Varnish to fix the oily problem is not true.  Even her feet, which were in socks and shoes were oily.  

I have written to the Secrist Company but I doubt that anything will be done.  

I certainly do not want a replacement kit for my reborn.  I don't trust them and I could not reborn Tika as she was when I bought her.  She is another artists work and I can't replicate that.  Ha, I can barely replicate my own work!  

I am afraid that there won't be a cure for my sweet Tika but I am going to try to bathe her and see what happens.  

I'm heartsick at the possibility of loosing one of my reborns.

Where it really all began

Last Wednesday, my 48th birthday was a very special day.

On my birthday day, I shared with you the freshly painted Sophie Faber when I should have shared this little girl:

 

This very special baby, Kara Ann, was the first official doll bought for my collection. 

My youngest step-daughter, Jillian, bought her for me for my 38th birthday, 10 years ago in 2002.  She paid around $20 for this 20 inch Berenguer LaBaby doll and could not WAIT to give her to me.

Oh we had SO much fun with Kara Ann!  She lived in a small crib in the living room.  I would dress her  and pose her...sometimes scaring the family as Kara Ann was posed climbing out of the crib.  They would rush over and "save" her.

We put her on the sofa when company was expected and they thought there was a real baby just sitting there unattended.

WE even thought she looked so incredibly real but to look at her now~Wow!  Compared to the life-like dolls of today she does not hold a candle but I still love her greatly and respect her for where she has brought me.

You see, my birthday is in October so come Christmas time that same year, I desired to have a baby boy to add to the collection.  It was then, as my husband shopped on eBay, that we discovered "Reborn" baby dolls!

At first, I really didn't get it!  I thought that Kara was SO real looking I simply could not understand WHY ladies were taking dolls like her apart and "redoing" them.  

But I was mesmerized none-the-less and I continued to watch the progression of the reborn art over the next 2 1/2 yrs.  

I started to "get it" as the art developed.  I had no intention of reborning a baby doll but I sure loved looking at them and learning...for whatever reason drove me to learn...all about them.

So on the day that I did decide to give it a try~I was well educated.  That was the biggest asset I could have given myself.  I was self-taught and didn't even realize it!  

In February of 2005, They Never Grow Up Nursery was "born" and at the end of March 2005, I completed my first reborn, Abby!

She really was a much nicer color than what is seen here~thank God for new cameras and a better area of the home to take pictures. 

So last Wednesday night, after a nice dinner out, I sat in my rocking chair and held Kara Ann during the viewing of a movie.  It just felt like the right thing to do.

Thank you Jillian and thank you Kara Ann.  

I am delighted by your presence in my life and what you both helped me accomplish.

XXOO

Friday Funnies! "I wike...."

"Hewwo Aunties and Uncles!

My name is Kami.....

And I hab sometin to tell you....

Come cwose so you tan hear...

 I wike toys....

But what I weawwy, WEAWWY wike is....

TITTENS!

Dis is my new titten, Yuumei who tame to wive with us wecentwy.

Ohhhh....I WUB her!

 

Her's makes us waff tause her's pways a WOT!

But sometimes...

Her's gibs...

TISSES!

AWE!  I wike tittens!!!"