Baby Emily's hair is "growing"

There are always challenges when rooting a manufactured doll but I am most pleased with how Emily's hair is turning out

I am about 1/3 of the way to done.

Happy Monday!

Guess what happened 12 years ago?

They Never Grow Up Nursery was set into motion!

I began working on my first two dolls....

Two 15 inch Berenguer LaBaby baby dolls that I named Abby and Caleb.

That was a learning process that took me clear through the end of March before the first one (the girl, Abby) was ready for sale.  I learned and a I treasure those growing pains.

I wanted to create another one of the little girl, Abby, in honor of my 12 year anniversary and I have even purchased the Berenguer doll.  

But...I have been asked to do a custom portrait doll for a turning 18 year olds birthday.

It will be my honor  :)

XXOO

Baby Lucien (Grayson by Bonnie Brown) is born!

And he's headed home to his "mommy" today!

Whew...another miracle!  

He was named Lucien by his "mom" and I have added the names Albert Ingalls to the end as he looks like Albert Ingalls of the old show, "Little House on the Prairie" to me!

Welcome 20 inch, 4 lb 2 oz  Lucien!

Full limbs

I share his COA first as it was desired he look like the real Grayson that Bonnie Brown sculpted the kit after.  I patterned after the picture in the top middle and left his hair a little longer as per his "mommy's" request.

He has rooted lashes...probably the best I have done to date :)

Albert Ingalls:

Now...onto rooting Emily  :)

Tiny Miracles Emily's little secret

I had been keeping a secret with Tiny Miracles Emily.

You see, my granddaughter, Jena, now age 14 played with this little dolly at my house all the years she was growing up.  

She is the one shown on the right in this picture:

Her arm fell off a few years ago so she has been sitting in the studio all this time. 

I had purchased a new body for her oh gosh, about 8 years ago intending to reborn her for Jena.

Well, you know how time goes.

Since I was reborning the full-size Emily, I decided now was a good time to reborn Tiny Emily, but I didn't tell Jena until last night.  She's pretty excited!

I posted pictures of Tiny Emily in a girl version and a boy version.  

I was SURE Jena would pick the boy version but instead, she is emotionally drawn to the girl version since Tiny Emily was a girl to her when she was growing up.  She would like me to give her a new name though as she babysits a little girl named Emily, who she says looks just like the doll and she thinks that would be "weird".  I am thinking I will call her Amelia, but I will have to give it some more thought.

Her she is in both the girl version and boy version.

(She still needs hair, lashes and final glossing...and assembly!)

Ahhhh Emily.  

She always has my heart.  

Maybe I need a boy version.

Happy Valentines Day!

XXOO

Rooting Grayson

Remember poor Grayson, who is now named Lucien by his "mommy"?

The little man is finally getting some hair!

He has rooted so nicely and "quickly" too.  I think I may have only about 20 hours into his hair when I am done.  That is a record for hair in the past many years!

If he were a girl, I'd give him the middle name of "Grace".  

I suspect I will be done rooting by the day's end tomorrow!  

Emily is waiting her turn.  It would be so great if she roots as "quickly".

Hugs for the day!

The transformation of Ashton Drake Emily

Once in a while you can scare your customers by Work in Progress pictures and once in a while you can even doubt your own process and technique.

Enjoy the photo journal of Ashton Drake's Welcome Home Emily from start to painted and matted finish.  

Just out of the box:

 Stripped of original paint and hair:

First layers of coloring:

 And this is where I made my customer nervous!

Through the process of painting and using powders and the setting medium, she became very sheeny which accentuated the colors. 

But once the matting was completed (I always use a little "Warm Details" in my matting mixture)

her colors softened, the sheen disappeared and she became beautiful again :)

This baby was painted completely with Baby FX Air Dry Paints,  Powders, mediums and mattes.

I am most pleased!