It’s that time of the year where I slowly slip away into winter hibernation. Although I’m on a type of “retreat” I keep myself busy with sewing and craft projects to preserve my sanity.
I’ve always loved dolls, yes some have creeped me out, but dolls of all kinds have continued to intrigue me for many years. I would find fabric from my mother’s sewing scraps and create clothing for my Barbies and baby dolls. My dolls were my life then and was a small interlude to what I create today.
It wasn’t until many years, kids’ costumes and stuffed animals later that I discovered a different world of dolls. I found ball-jointed dolls… I followed artists on YouTube one of my favourites was Forgotten Hearts. This artist moved from intricate fairy sculptures to ball jointed dolls. I admired her transition to ball jointed porcelain dolls. Absolutely stunning work!
I did manage to sculpt some pieces and still enjoy sculpting to this day.
It wasn’t until out of necessity for my sanity did I found solace in the world of reborn dolls.
A reborn doll can come in many forms, from taking a premade doll and transforming into a new version to creating dolls from factory produced vinyl dolls. What amazes me about this 3D artwork is the realism many artists have created with paint. These dolls are hand sculpted by artists and turned into a replicated baby ( I purchase all my supplies from MacPherson Arts & Crafts ) Over the years there have been dolls created as dragons, elves, fairies, werewolves and monster dolls to be painted and reborn to the artists’ imagination.
Some dolls have been made to look so real they have been mistaken for real babies resulting in car windows being smashed in an effort to rescue an actual child! People suffering from Dementia, PTSD, emotional and mental suffering have all praised these dolls for helping them get through some very difficult times.
Forming strong bonds with my customers and knowing that I’ve helped them with my artwork in some way reinforces my passion to create the most realistic looking baby dolls I can create. I’ve met many friends during my journey and they have also joined in on the Doll Artist train! Learning to work with my hands has brought a primal yet much needed therapeutic value to my life and I can wait to share how I transform a piece of vinyl into a lifelike baby doll!
More soon!
SS
P.S. Below are some dolls I have created. Enjoy! ☺️
Stiletto Supermom 