Sharing my collection Friday~Giovanni's present

Did I ever tell you that I have THE best friends?
One of my dear customer-turned-friends sent this exquisite Hartstrings, 3 piece, baseball-themed outfit to me/Giovanni for Christmas (yes, Mommy got her own special gift too~a Starbucks gift card :)

I just love it!

See, when I adopted Giovanni from Laura Tuzio Ross at my first IDEX show in 2007, he was dressed in a simple side-snap T and a diaper. Laura dressed him in a baseball themed Carter's sleeper just before she handed him over to me. THAT began his life long theme~baseball! I love baseball anyway so it was a natural fit. And his aunties are so great to keep him supplied in so many darling baseball-themed outfits. What a spoiled kid he is....and a spoiled Mommy I am!

I am blessed.

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Wow!!! Tomorrow is New Years Day 2011! Ohhhh....I can't hardly wait to do the drawing! But I am pretty sure that I won't be staying up tonight to bring in the new year so I'll have my dear husband help me in the morning. I have 22 names in the pot~Good luck ladies!

XXOO

2010 End of the Year "Stats"

Wow I wish I had just a wee bit more time to review 2010 as it was an AWESOME year!
I am just going to throw out some end of the year stats, more for me to reflect upon I guess but thought that some might find the topic interesting.

In 2010, I created 30 reborn dolls. Of those 30 dolls:
13 were prototypes
7 were show dolls
4 were custom reborns
2 were custom "Budget Babies"
1 was a special request by a sculpting artist
1 was created because I wanted to create her (Angelica)
1 was created for me as my IDEX travel baby
1 was created as a gift (not a budget baby)

Five 2010 babies were not adopted and one 2009 baby made last December was not adopted

My highest sale was $2000 for Angelica (now Kendall)
My lowest sale was $243 for a 10" custom reborn
My average sale was $692.75
My total dolls sales were 15,933.38
I've not done my tax information or paid my taxes yet so I do not have a total of my expenses for 2010

The highlights of my year were showing at teaching at IDEX for the first time, showing and teaching at EXPO for the first time, working for amazing sculpting artists that I admire SO much (wow I still have to pinch myself over that!!!), being invited to Dubai, Saudie Arabia to show (that show was canceled but again...PINCH!) and having many wonderful moments with my collector-turned-friends.

I would say that 2010 was an amazing year and I just can't be more blessed. Thank you to all of my collectors, my "co-workers" in the business, my friends and my loving family who make it all possible.

I am more than excited about what 2011 will bring!

And...just two more days until the TNGUN New Years Drawing! That is the FIRST exciting thing!

God bless you all!

Whooops~slept in...

Good Morning America! LATE morning that is! LOL

Dear hubby is on a two week layoff so I did not have to set an alarm to get up and make his breakfast and lunch today and before I knew it, it was 8 am! I NEVER sleep until 8 am!

So I am behind but I do want to come back later today and post my year end stats/information, so be sure to check the blog later today. He is taking me out for breakfast and a little shopping.

Until later....

Many thoughts for the end of the year

My mind is cluttered with many thoughts of the ending of 2010 and the coming of 2011. Does TNGUN need to change?

Dimples did not meet her reserve on auction last night. I have many mixed emotions over that. Her resting bid was $640. Many would be excited with that ending price but I just cannot give her up for that. I worked entirely too hard on her. Is my attitude wrong? I don't know, but I feel there is a reason that I can't let her go.

I will be taking her to IDEX with me. I always take at least one doll I have made and one from my personal collection. I will be so proud to have her accompany me. THAT is a great feeling!

In the mean-time, do I need to go back to the "Basic" (budget) reborns for a spell, until the economy picks up? It almost pains me to think of doing that. This means that the dolls will not have the texture I've become so good at applying. It means that they would not have the amount of depth, tone and details that TNGUN is known for. It means the hair would be rooted quicker and with a larger needle. Oh that pains me! My passion is life-like reborns, not just cute dolls.

However, all of this saves me time and my customers money and maybe that is what they want.

Of course I cannot take a prototype kit and make it a "basic" (budget) baby. They have to be of my "Master Artist Series" quality and I do still have a line up of prototypes and may come home from IDEX with more.

I am leaning on the Lord for guidance and provision.

XXOO

Only 4 days left to get in on the New Years Day Drawing!

Wow! I cannot believe that 2010 is coming to an end!

At the end of 2009, I sent out this notice to all of my customers and have had the information on all of my 2010 eBay auctions:

I want to take this time to thank all of my valued customers over the last "almost" 5 years now for making They Never Grow Up Nursery what it is today. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to each and every one of you.

2009 was a very exciting year for me and I am super excited for what 2010 will be bringing.

2009 was also a very interesting year with a lot of challenges for everyone. In spite of it all, I have been continually blessed with good friends, customers, sales and health. I would like to give a little back.

In 2010, everyone who adopts a reborn from my nursery will get their name put in a "pot" for a drawing that will occur on New Years Day, 2011. Yes this is a full year away but what a fun year will this be!

Those of you who have paid for a custom reborn in 2009 but won't be getting in until 2010 are eligible for this drawing :) (Three names are already in the pot!)

The person who's name is drawn will win a $600 credit towards a TNGUN custom, fully reborn baby! Custom reborn babies are $800 for up to 24 inches and starting at $1200 for 25 inches and above. (this only includes doll kits~I cannot offer this on Ashton Drake dolls etc unless the winner would like to make up the difference in cost between a kit and an already manufactured doll that needs stripped etc, or if winner would like to furnish the doll there would be no additional cost to the winner for the use of their doll).

When will the winner receive her custom reborn?? The winner's doll will be the FIRST custom reborn to be "birthed" in 2011, right after I return home from the 2011 IDEX show, so sometime in late February, early March 2011. I will reserve the #1 spot on the 2011 Custom list for this special baby.

I look forward to a fun year and really look forward to drawing that one name on New Years Day 2011.

Happy New Year to everyone~may you all be blessed!

Are you as excited as I am?? The time is drawing near but there is still a chance to get in on the drawing.

These are the available babies I have for sale between now and Friday night at 11:59 pm. Payment must be received by this time, no layaways on these babies for this drawing (Layaways will be considered after the New Year on remaining babies). Payment methods are USD funds only via PayPal, US Postal money order, Direct Bank Deposit, Certified Bank Check, Western Union and my own online credit card merchant account. Please email me at tngun05@gmail.com to purchase a baby and for payment details.

(All babies are discounted from my regular price and I am offering free US shipping and a $25.00 USD discount on International sales~but only on purchases through my blog posting, no matter where I advertised it at. You must email me at above address.)

Logan prototype sculpted by Cathy Rowland

20 inches with bent legs; full, anatomically correct lower torso, 3/4 arms; 6 lbs 13 ounces

Signed by myself and Cathy Rowland

$700 shipped~that's $100 off my regular price and FREE US shipping!

Capri Prototype sculpted by Jorja Pigott
19 inches with bent chubby legs; 3/4 limbs; belly plate for posing; 5 lbs 3 oz
Signed by myself and Jorja Pigott
$700 shipped. That's $100 off my regular price plus FREE US shipping!



Jason, "Catriona" sculpt sculpted by Sabina Hansen
20 1/2 inches with chubby bent legs; 3/4 limbs; 5 lbs 10 oz
signed by me
$700 shipped! That's $100 off my regular price plus FREE US shipping!

Alaytheea, 1o inch "Claire" sculpt by Denise Pratt
10 inches, full limbs on a disc jointed body; 15 1/2 oz
signed by me
$275 shipped! That's $100 off my regular price plus FREE US shipping!


Payton Prototype sculpted by Jorja Pigott
19 1/2 inches; 3/4 limbs; belly plate for posing; 5 lbs
signed by me
$700 shipped! That's $100 off plus FREE US shipping!



Also eligible for this drawing is the purchase of "Dimples" who is on eBay until tonight. Please note, she is NOT discounted nor am I offering shipping discounts on her:

~Dimples on eBay ending Tuesday night at 8:08 pm PST~

For more photo's of the babies up for adoption, please visit my website:

~They Never Grow Up Nursery~

Good luck to all of those who's name is already in the drawing pot and to those who might be able to adopt in the next 4 days!

Bring on 2011!

Finally, pictures of Robyn!

I thought I better get Robyn posted before 2010 runs out since she is a 2010 baby. She's gone home to her Mommy now but I am finally getting her pictures posted where they belong.

She turned out adorable a 5 1/2 lbs and 23 inches. I kept her a bit light since she is able to stand with straight legs. (I had her standing by the Christmas tree when her Mommy arrived to pick her up.) :)

If you put too much weight in a doll with straight legs, they simply cannot stand properly.

If you remember, her hair took forever to root. As you can see, it's very fine hair and rooted thickly without big plugs. That is what took so long.

*******************

I had a beautiful Christmas spent with most of our kids and all of our grandkids. Our house was activity upon activity and it was wonderful!

So what is next at TNGUN? Well, today I begin my first 2011 baby: Jenna Prototype by Angela Harris. Updates coming this week I hope.

Happy Monday!

Merry Christmas from TNGUN!

I hope your days are filled with lots of surprises!

Merry Christmas with love~

Debbie and all the babies XXOO

Final TNGUN 2010 baby listed on eBay

Oh wow! I can't believe I got up the courage to list her!
This baby completely stole my heart, like none other EVER have!
Then I got excited about the joy that someone else might get from her so I was able to list her.

~Dimples on Ebay~

GREAT swirly crown...the best I've done to date:

CUTE chubby body!

Amazing outfit:

And just as sweet as can be! Oh, I just love her!

And now I am on Christmas break! Whooo! I'm baking cookies and wrapping presents today and our first batch of kids arrive late tonight. I am VERY excited!

I'll post a Merry Christmas greeting tomorrow and then I'll be off for a few days enjoying my family.

Many hugs!

TNGUN LDC painting tutorial coming to print soon!

I am so excited to announce that Life-Like Dolls Magazine in Canada is going to print my LDC Tutorial that is hosted on the Doll Dreams and Puppen Traumland sites.

Yes, I know that the tutorial on those sites is free and it is printable, but having Life-Like Dolls magazine print that long tutorial will save a lot of printer ink for those who would like it in print to have by their side when they paint.

I won't be distributing these magazines so if you want to subscribe, use the link above. I HIGHLY recommend this magazine to any artist or collector. I love my Life-Like Dolls magazines!

Happy Tuesday!

Please buyers, research your sellers

The topic of the last week has been the seller, Jenny Gannon that I told you about last week when I shared a post from Doll Fan (that is no longer up due to time limits).

There was another post on Doll Fan where one lady came forward and shared pictures via a friend of a doll she bought from Jenny Gannon.
That post too has extended the time limits.  I should have saved the pictures and text!

It's been questioned whether Jenny Gannon has mental problems. I don't have an opinion on that subject as it does not matter if she is or is not. The purpose of my posts on the subject is to get the buyers to really take the time and "investigate" the sellers they are considering buying from. A general search of the seller's name and nursery name will bring up many entries on that person/business.

For instance, here is a search under Debbie Henshaw.

And They Never Grow Up Nursery.

And since many know me as TNGUN a general search of that is useful as well.

Now of course, there will be many entries that are not mine/me but I think the average person can weed through what probably does not pertain to me and my dolls.

So buyers, please, be informed, be aware and take time to know exactly what you are buying. Ask for many CLEAR pictures of the doll you are buying and once you get those pictures, right click on the picture to get the "page source" and it will tell you who those pictures belong to.

~HUGS~

I don't think I can part with her! Dimples update

This is going to be the hardest auction to write up this year...I do NOT want to part with this baby!

Dimples has stolen my heart, and she is not even done yet. Oh dear...oh dear.

~sigh~

Sharing my collection Friday~Christmas babies!

These are the rest of the pictures I've taken of my collection of the babies ready for Christmas.

Some of them are mostly just dressed for winter, but they all are cute! And I didn't photograph everyone.

This is sweet Alexis (gorgeous reborn):


Bethany (Manufactured Ashton Drake doll):

Timmy (Manufactured Gotz doll):

Joylynne (prototype Ashton Drake doll):

Audra (mini OOAK):

Mindy (mini OOAK):

Beata and Gianna (mini reborns):

Brennan (mini OOAK):

Daniel (darling reborn):

Luke (manufactured Masterpiece doll):

Group shot:

Group shot:

Twins Marissa and Owen (manufactured Sebilla Boss dolls):

Group shot:

Group shot:

Abi (reborn):

Merry Christmas!

Nicky Jack's new outfit arrived!

I was so sad that I had to put up Nicky Jack's auction before his awesome knit outfit arrived (it got lost in the mail and the seller made me another one) but I am okay now as the set arrived and I photographed him and added the pictures to his auction.

Is this not just PERFECT for him??

One of my best friends is coming over today to pick up her new custom baby, Robyn and also little Cody whom she recently adopted. It will be a fun dolly day here at TNGUN!

Hugs!