I present Alyssa Raley Anne!

As I mentioned yesterday, the "Beach Baby" Ashton Drake Doll whom I had been calling Alanna after the girl she was created to be had a name change.

Another name that the real Alanna's mom had in her pool of names for her daughter was

Alyssa Raley Anne.

Since she already has a portrait doll named Alanna, she decided to name this baby 

Alyssa Raley Anne.

I had the best time taking pictures of this sweetheart yesterday!

She is a whopping 22 1/2 inches and weighs, per her "mother's" request, 

8 pounds, 6 ounces!

She is traveling home today.

Here is the original doll, Beach Baby:

And the photos of the real Alanna that I most used to create Alyssa:

And the Alyssa baby doll:

 My favorite picture of her:

This dolls head was SO HARD!  Not only did I have to heat it, it had to be HOT!

Even so, I broke an entire ounce of Bountiful Baby's older 40 gauge Ultra (extra strength) needles!

I barely got her head done with only 3 bent needles to spare.  This has not been my needle of choice for many years but I am glad I had them on hand because that is the only gauge and strength of needle that would root this head.

But, other than a lot of "pokey-ups" that will brush out over time, and a few places where there are several hairs in a hole, I am very happy with her head of hair:

This is the outfit that her "mama" wanted her to arrive home in.  

The real Alanna was born at 8 lbs, 6 ounces and never got to wear this shirt and jeans. 

 Ready to travel home (without the pacifier in her mouth of course!):

What a wonderful experience this was!  

XXOO

Photo shoot to happen today!

"Alanna" has been re-named by her "mommy" to another name she had picked out for her real daughter whom this doll is created after. 

Her name is now Alyssa Raley Anne.

And she is having her official photo shoot today!

Whew...another miracle is happening!

XXOO

Getting closer! "Alanna"

Alanna has hair!  But her mommy wants some darker hair added to the front.  

I have been working with some photos that are hard to decipher colors and details so I've relied on her "mommy" to guide me along.  

Here she is before more hair is added.

I love this big girl!

I'll be adding that hair today  :)

Little peek at "Beach Baby" growing hair

This baby is so much fun!  

I love bigger babies and I'm delighted to see how this new 6 month outfit fits her.

And here's a peek at her hair.  She's still half bald, with nothing rooted around her face and the front of her head yet.

Back to rooting today :)

Another component to rooting that hard head...

HOW did I forget to mention that about 4 times a day I must replace my needle because it breaks!

So, stick that into the slots in yesterday's post!  

LOL

Rooting a hard head

I am currently rooting the Beach Baby Ashton Drake doll.

Her head is HARD!  

So, I have to heat up a "beanie" (as I call it) in the microwave, then place it over her head to allow the head to warm up.  

My days are like this:

Heat up beanie.

Place beanie on head.

Root for 5-10 minutes.

Place beanie on head.

Root for 5-10 minutes.

Place beanie on head OR reheat beanie.

Repeat process...over and over and over again.

All.  Day.  Long.

But, I am making progress although a long ways to go yet.

However, there is a sweet little one about to be "born".

I've not told you about her yet  :)

Blondes are noticed but redheads are REMEMBERED!

I have a lot of gorgeous red mohair available in my Artfire shop!

Having a charming almost 4 year old redhead in my life I can attest that 

not only is she very fun, very intelligent and very loving, 

she is remembered by everyone!

How about giving a red-headed baby doll a chance to make her mark on the world?

 

Get your RED mohair ~HERE~ and be remembered!