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MY PROCESS

Harlow doll kit
My Creative Process
First, I wash the vinyl kit with Dawn dish soap to remove any factory grease that is on the kit. Grease and paint do not mix!
Once the kit is completely dry, I apply a thin layer of Genesis matte varnish to the entire kit. This helps the paint stick. Genesis paints and mediums are heat set and must be baked at 275 degrees for 9 minutes. I use a NuWave oven to bake my vinyl parts.
Each kit is painted with 20-25 thin layers of paint, baked between almost all layers to set them. The layers consist of blushing, mottling, fine details, general skin tones and color washes. Once I like the results, painting is considered complete. For open eyed babies, placing the eyes in the head helps me detail the face.
Rooting is done using the finest mohair ( I like Slumberland mohair and Delta Dawn's mohair the best).
I start on one side, root around the back, up the other side and finish in the front. I do the swirl on the crown last. I use 42 and 43 gauge needles from Europe. If too many hairs get rooted per hole, I tweeze out any plugs I see. I root the hair long and give it a haircut once finished rooting. If space allows on the eyelids, I root the upper lashes.
Once the hair is finished, I seal it inside the head with glue.
Once dry, I glue the magnets in the head for a pacifier and hair bow (for girls). While this dries, I weight the limbs using fine glass beads topped with fiber fill. The limbs are sealed shut. The body is also weighted using larger glass beads in a stocking. Lastly, I weight the head using a small stocking full of glass beads, then stuff with fiber fill. I attach all her vinyl parts to her cloth body and she is ready for her photo shoot.
On all custom babies, I ask several questions along the way to find out what you want and like. Please keep in mind, I have one painting style. You can see my skin tones and painting style in the gallery of dolls. If you like what you see, then I am the reborn artist for you! Please let me know if I can bring a baby doll to life for you.
Thanks.
Laurie
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