Thursday, February 12, 2009

Creepy

A few weeks ago, I saw a nightly news program where they highlighted the following dolls, entitled "Reborns".



These dolls are big with collectors, but the news program also showed several ladies who had undergone severe traumas using these dolls as coping mechanisms. One lady, who had seven miscarriages, was taking out her 'reborn' to restaurants and walking the 'reborn' in a stroller for people's reactions. She needed the 'oohs' and 'aahs', the congratulations, and the smiles and connection that happens when a newborn is shown to the world. She liked being asked by people if they could hold the 'baby' and how cute the 'baby' was, etc.

From Wikipedia about reborn dolls:

The technique of reborning a play doll typically involves the following processes:
-The doll is taken apart and factory paint is removed. In the last few years reborn or doll sculptors have began sculpting model babydolls and make vinyl kits that are made specifically for reborning. These kits do not have factory paint, and the doll does not come assembled.
-The exterior is painted using various techniques to add to the appearance of translucent skin tones, with effects such as veins, blotching, and "milk-spots" to resemble the skin of a newborn baby.
-Hair and eyelashes, usually fine mohair or human hair, are applied using rooting tools and felting needles strand by strand, which can take up to 30+ hours per head.
-The original vinyl body is replaced with a soft stuffed and weighted body. The vinyl body can also be cut in half to create front and back 'plates' to allow mounting of the doll to photograph or display the doll.
-A magnet may be attached inside the mouth for attaching a bottle


There are plenty of sites that show & sell 'reborns' so just put it into your search engine.

3 comments:

amanda said...

yes, still just as creepy as when you told me about it before.

Kim said...

NOT creepy! How is it any different that a beautiful photograph or painting or sculpture of an infant. Many girls and women love dolls. What is the harm in wanting one that is realistic? Lifelike? Maybe ethnic to match instead of the Barbie blue eyes blond hair that store shelves are covered in. Hours of work go into creating reborn dolls. It is an art form. The media chooses to portray what sells and will find the one lady who treats her doll as a real baby rather than the thousands of women who just love their realistic looking baby dolls.
Maybe stop by and visit http://www.realistic-reborn-dolls.com

brandts brandts everywhere said...

I agree. creepy. I mean I se the art in it. it would be extremely tough and time consuming and stuff to recreate a baby that looks real. but . . . . .why? it is more strange than creepy to me I guess. but then again I have never nor do I now understand the whole doll craze. realistic or not.