Reborn Doll Terms & Information

What is Reborning/Reborn Dolls

According to Wikipedia a reborn doll is an art doll created from a manufactured doll or kit that has been transformed by an artist to resemble a human infant with as much realism as possible. The process of creating a reborn doll is referred to as reborning and the doll artists are referred to as reborners. Reborn dolls are also known as lifelike dolls or reborn baby dolls. The art of creating reborn baby dolls began in the early 1990s when doll enthusiasts wanted more realistic dolls. Since then, an industry and community surrounding reborn dolls have emerged. Reborn dolls are primarily purchased online. Depending on craftmanship, they range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars. These dolls are not toys, they are collector's items. (For more information search Reborn Dolls online).

Reborning Process In A Nutshell

Reborning involves numerous time-consuming steps. The most basic form of the process involves taking a vinyl doll, adding multiple hand-painted layers of paint and adding other physical features to the doll. Artists can pick different brands to best suit the doll they wish to create. Reborn artists can also buy reborn doll kits that are sculpted by reborn sculpt artists. A kit includes the vinyl doll parts. Customers can then purchase a reborn doll by choosing a kit by the sculptor and have it reborned by a reborn artist (name) e.g. Adam by Mary reborned by Ann. Consumers can purchase a wide range of supplies for creating their own reborn. Making a doll from a kit allows artists to omit some steps in the fabrication process and begin with a blank canvas. Many supplies are needed for both external and internal modifications of reborns to make the doll seem more realistic.

SOME REBORNING TERMS

Rooting:

the process of planting mohair a couple of strands at a time using a felting needle on the doll's head. This is the most time-consuming part. And to me, the hardest on my hand/wrist, also the hardest, most difficult part, at least to me.

Mohair:

Yearling's coat that's treated to resemble the soft baby hair.

Heat-Set Painting:

painting on vinyl dolls using 'heat-set' paint. There are layers and layers of thin very diluted paint, in between layers the doll is heated (in an oven usually), in low heat for 8 minutes.