Oddly Sweet Dolls

Elawin & Elin Fairy Kits by Adrie Stoete (Update 9/27)

 

 

I decided to make a new post for the progression photos of Elawin & Elin. If you would like to view my first post about them and the links to where you can buy kits, you can do so by clicking here.

I have been working on these 26" fairies for a couple of days now. Elawin is the kit with the bent knees and Elin is the standing fairy. Elin's head is slightly larger than Elawin's head, but pretty close in size.

They arrived blank in a gorgeous peachy color vinyl. I'll be painting them and bringing them to life just as I do my reborn babies. I want the skin tone to look just as realistic and 3D as possible, so  I'll be using a mixture of Genesis Heat Set paints & LCD air dry paints. Genesis paint will be for the skin tone only. I'll have to do this first because once you start to use air dry paint you no longer will be able to bake your kit in the oven. If you do this, your paint will turn yellow if you have not waited the 3 weeks for the air dy paints to fully set in, if that makes sense. So as long as I am finished with all layers/bakes, I can add the air dry paints on top with out any problems. 

For their face up/make up I will be using the LCD air dry paints so I can achieve a more dramatic fantasy look. I use LCD paints for my Victorian Gothic/Fantasy babies around their big eyes in half the time it would take with GHS. If you have used both paints before, you will understand what I am talking about. I'll explain the difference one day in a different post if you are not sure about them.

 Here we have the blank kits (though there is 1 wash of titanium white over them- still looks the same). I'm sorry there are no eyes in yet! I generally don't like posting photos without them in because it's creepy. This is how they come- blank without eyes and not put together. I start out by giving them a warm bubble bath to wash off any factory residue and get off any oils from my hands.

 

 In the photos above, you can see slightly the 3D build up of their skin tone. I like to really brighten and lighten my vinyl before I start to add any blushing or color. You will be able to see most detail on each forehead and cheeks. To get them this light, I have use straight titanium white thinned out with mineral spirits, sponged on for about 4-5 layers/bakes. Then for the next few I have used yellow orche and burnt umber mixed to start building up  the 3d shaded effect giving them more life.

 

 Today I started to lightly work on the ears, cheeks, lips, nose and creases of the eye lids. I would say I'm about 8 or 9 layers/bakes in at this point. I did pop an eye in each kit to see where I was at and there finally looking somewhat realistic! The faces on these girls are gorgeous. I can't wait until I get to the fantasy makeup! If you have followed my blog for a while, you'll know how much I love painting eyes especially on my fantasy dolls. I won't be painting any butterflies or tattoos on the foreheads or limbs like iv seen others do, I'm not a huge fan of that. However they will still look like a mythical creature of sorts, with beautiful gorgeous features. I haven't been this excited to work on a kit for a long time. It's something new and refreshing don't you agree?

I'll post more photos in the next few days, back to finish rooting my custom order....Stay tuned! :)

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UPDATE: 9/21

I have finished with the girl's skin tone and after many photos am pleased with how they look. They both look as though they have started breathing.

 Elin's faceup started today (standing fairy) and have spent most of the day working around her eyes and on her pouty lips. She has really great eyelids and I can't help but give her a cat eye look. Elin asked me to stop showing her petty face without her hair, she is a little insecure at times. Of course I told her she is gorgeous no matter what, but I'll honor her request.

Elin has gorgeous lavender eyes that were custom made for her, she is a fairy after all. Elin's makeup at this point is only 40%finished. She needs lots of thin layers of paint so it won't look caked on. I'll start Elawin's face tomorrow so that I can let Elin's paint set in for a good 24 hours before I continue on. Hope you like her so far! :)

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UPDATE 9/24

Today I was able to finish Elin (Standing Fairy) and put her together! I was able to fit in a quick photo shoot before the sun went down today. Elawin is almost finished. I'm waiting for her eyes to dry so I can finish setting her eyelashes and proceed to assemble her. Elin will have a couple different stunning wigs that you can change out. Who ever is the lucky person to win her auction will have a blast recreating many different looks. Tomorrow Elin & Elawin will be able to post beautifully for their photos!

 

UPDATE 9/24 

Elawin (sitting fairy) is finished as of today and both girls were able to be photographed together. I am so-so proud how they turned out! Exactly as pictured in my head and what fun I have had dressing them up in different costumes and wigs. This confirms what direction I want to be headed as far as my reborn art goes. Fantasy. 

Elawin & Elin in their  fairy outfits I made. They also have custom made reversible fair wings. 

Elawin has these amazing rainbow eyes. Stunning in person.

Both girls will be up for auction starting  September,Monday  the 27th
at around 7:30 pst. A link will also be added once they are live.
Thank you so much for checking back to see how they came to life. I am very excited to show you all photos later tonight. I truly hope you love how they turned out! 

Victorian-Gothic Reborn Baby (Sold)

UPDATE:7/14 Belladonna has found a very exciting new mommy located in Bangkok Thailand!
Thank you everyone for watching :)

So I had planned on listing this new baby in my new Etsy.com store, but my other art pieces are not totally finished yet. There was no need to have BellaDonna wait around, so here she is on eBay up for adoption!

Belladonna has gorgeous eyes and I simply adore her gorgeous outfit & silky shiny hair. She kinda reminds me of a mix of gothic meets pin-up meets vampire. I am very proud of this little one. She came to life as strikingly beautiful as I pictured her in my head. She is something a little different and hope you like her just as much as my other work!

 

New Victorian-Gothic-Glam Reborn Dolls Coming Soon...

 

To answer lots of e-mails, yes I am working on some new babies for the VGG series! I have been very busy with custom orders this past 3 months, trying to finish my two toddlers and my Jayden kit by the end of this month before my sister has her first baby. I want to be able to take time off to help her out as much as possible the first few weeks, since we all know how tired we get with a newborn! 

So my VGG babies have sadly been put aside. The good news is, they will be more of my focus in the up coming months. I absolutely love re-boring my beautiful life like gorgeous babies, but I really love creating these VGG art dolls just a tad bit more. It's a true creative outlet with some originality for me. It's been on my mind strongly to go in this direction for months, I just have not 100% jumped in. They are just as beautiful as my other babies, and of course I will still continue to bring them to life, just not as many. 

The difference between the two? My VGG babies have very light pale skin, generally with big deep set eyes and dark black hair with fantastic eyebrows. I plan to venture out with different bold hair colors one day. It makes me happy that I am not setting any rules on how they "should" look, but from my own creative mind. Still lifelike in every way with mottling ect. With a realistic reborn, I have to follow rules to make them as real looking as possible. It's fun to work on both, that is for sure. I truly love what I do.

 

These three babies Wednesday, V & Elvie have all been adopted/sold, but I have some fantastic new kits that will become apart of this series starting next month. I'm sure I'll  be blogging about them as I go..... 

 I am always on the look out for costume designers (since I have not learned to sew yet lol) who can also see my vision on the way I want them dressed. I have been lucky enough to work with Vera with Vera Doll Couture  who has hand sewn these three gorgeous dresses just from an Idea I have had. If you make funky, victorian, steam punk style clothes, and think you would like to work with me. Feel free to contact me! It's basically free promotion for your work and I like to help everyone I can out with their own form of art. 

Victorian Gothic-Glam Baby

UPDATE: 5/10 Elvie has been adopted. Thank you to everyone who has e-mailed me about her with your kind words. It encourages & inspires me to create more and more little ones like Elvie! 

This little one ends tonight on eBay 5/9 just in time for Mothers Day! I have been very busy finishing up 4 babies and working on my last custom baby Arianna this past week. I have not had the time to blog. 

She is from an Abigail kit by Olivia Stone. When I was searching for my 3rd kit to work on for the series, I fell in love with this one the moment I saw it. I so badly wanted to transform this little girl. I like to find kits with large captivating eyes. I am so proud how she turned out. I e-mail Vera with veradollcouture.com, who is my costume designer and asked for a dark victorian baby dress. I love her designs. She custom made her gorgeous dress set & bonnet for "Elvie".

My gothic babies are realistic looking, only with very pale skin & dark black hair. I don't find them scary what so ever. I think the term "Gothic" scares people off. I find many gothic things beautiful. I guess I want them to look like they are back in the 1800's. 

On a side note, this is a Charity auction for the "Make Yourself Foundation". 10% of the babies proceeds will be donated. Thank You!

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Mothers Day!

 

Reborn Questionnaire : Lacey Michelle Artist

 So here I am, this is me....

What is your name? Lacey Michelle : First & Middle name, my last name is not who defines me as an artist. It's just me... LM 

What is your nursery name? I don't really have one, I suppose because I do other art besides reborn babies I never had one or nothing stood out. LMRB is how you can search for babies up for adoption on eBay which stands for "Lacey Michelle Reborn Baby's". I have other interests as an artist, that I have not yet tried to sell but when I am feeling more confident I will start sharing them. All in due time... So perhaps Lacey Michelle Studios is perfect, or L-Michelle Studios..hmm I'll  toy with it more. I just want to be able to offer & show my work all together when that time comes. 

How long have you been making reborns? I sold my very first  on eBay I believe in June of 2009. I had created 1 prior to that, that I kept because it was my 1st!  I decided to see how my 2nd one would do and she sold for over $600 and that's when I said "I think I may be good at this, perhaps I'll try another". Within a couple of months I went full time and have never looked back.

How did you learn to create these dolls? YouTube! That's right, you tube. I am a visual learner, once I see something I can take it and run with it. I had some amazing help from some of the doll forums when I had questions after I started and even still. I basically just purchased my first kit, supplies and went for it. 

Why did you start creating reborns? I ran a baby clothes store (now closed) & wanted a unique mannequin to display the clothes. I searched for months, then I came across these amazing lifelike dolls! What the freak are these? These are so cool I was thinking... So I purchased my first one thinking this will be great. The clothes started selling better & faster. I needed more faces and different sizes but did not want to spend more money than I could afford at the time. So I said hey, maybe I can make one myself to cut down on cost.. and long story short that door opened to where it has led me today. I believe one thing can lead you to the next if only you pay attention and take a chance. I truly Looovvee creating this little ones!

What is your favorite reborning activity? Painting! I love the painting process the best. I get to see a blank vinyl kit and decide how I wish to bring him/her to life. I already know how they will look before I pick up a paint brush.  I love turing on my pandora  and sit for the few hours my son is at school and just paint. It's really relaxing.

What is your least favorite reborning activity? Setting eyes. I am a freakish perfectionist and I can't stand when eyes are not aligned correctly. I'll take photo after photo and examine and then set with glue, before they dry are are still able to move, more pictures, and pray as I leave them over night they do not shift. It's kinda impossible to not damage eyes if you have to take them out after the glue has set. Needless to say, I am always a happy camper when I am working on a sleeping baby. 

If you could master a new reborning skill, what would it be? "You know, like nunchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills"... oh wait we are talking about reborn skills...;) Probably rooting or painted hair, I am pretty good but there is always a ton of room for improvement. 

Why did you decide to start creating Victorian Gothic-Glam reborn dolls? I am a fan of fantasy! I love the dark realm of fiction and the places your imagination can take you. I created a dark beautiful "Wednesday Addams" doll back in october of 2009. Everything about her creative process was magic. Same with my current baby V. I found horror dolls which are pretty freaking cool, but I could not find any dark beautiful lifelike looking babies who fit into that category anywhere on the web. Wednesday Addams opened up an entire new creative outlet for me. I adore making them, and I'm so thankful for everyones e-mails & comments. I am in the process of creating my 3rd and hope you all like her just as much! 

Whats with MYF?  The Make Yourself Foundation is a non-profit  organization which was founded by one of my favorite bands Incubus. There are many personal reasons why I choose to donate 10% of most of my works proceeds. This is a fantastic way to give back, and by purchasing some of my art work you are also giving a helping hand. TY!

Victorian Gothic Glam Reborn Baby ~ Kendal Pat Moulton

My next victim I like to call it was a beautiful Kendal kit by Pat Moulton. I choose her kit to create the 2nd edition of my goth glam series simply because of her larges beautiful eyes. I am drawn to "big eyes" dolls, paintings, and really any form of art. 

I gave her realistic pale skin and piercing blue eyes with dark  beautiful circles & jet black hair. You can't help by look at her for a long time. I found her hat at a local store here in Arizona. It's made for adults but it fits her and sets off her outfits perfectly. Since I am learning slowly how to use a sewing machine I contacted Vera again, with VeraDollCouture. She created her gorgeous dress set. Her skirt has 8 layers of tule, lace, satin & ruffles. It's stunning! I asked for a dress with a corset and she came up with a gorgeous design. Thanks Vera! 

Her auction ends on Thursday Night on March 4th and is currently up for adoption.

3/5/2010 Update: V has been adopted!