Back in the 1980's, I owned a ceramic studio, and my mother owned hers. She dabbled in lots of different items, but her passion was porcelain dolls. Me, I loved doing country items. After my mother passed, I couldn't get into doing ceramics at all. I guess she was my inspiration, and without her, I had no interest. So, since 1989, I putted with other crafts: Wood burning, Gourds, Sewing, Crocheting, Soap and Candle making, You name it, I have done it. But somehow, I always felt like I was missing out on something.
Then one day in 2004, I was cleaning and organizing my craft room and ran across a tote with parts and pieces of porcelain dolls that my mother had painted but had not gotten a chance to put together. I grabbed a tall glass of iced tea and went to the computer in search of hair and eyes to complete these dolls that my mother had taken so much time to create. I found what I was looking for, but found even more. I had discovered Reborn Dolls. I was drawn in like a magnet. I ordered all the paints and supplies. I just knew that this was going to be my new passion.
But, I was afraid to start. I don't know why, but I was terrified that I was going to mess it up or something. I can't really explain it. but I would get everything out and set up, and just stop, and put it all away again. This went on for a couple of years. I even had thrift store dolls to practice on, but couldn't.
Then one day, I just decided that this was foolish and I had to just do it. Well, all went well, and I haven't stopped since. I love the painting. It is similar to ceramics, as far as the detailing. There is such a feeling of accomplishment when the doll you have worked on, is finished. Every doll seems to have an individual personality. I can paint the same sculpt ten times and each time that baby is so... different than the last one. The very first doll I did was Donna RuBert's "Sugar" Sculpt. I made it into a boy with blond hair. I created him to look like my oldest son, so I had to use different hands and feet from another sculpt. I named him Everett Issac Burton Franklin, after my Grandfather. I didn't sell him. I have thought about it several times, but only when I had a rush order for a blond baby boy, but I am glad that I didn't. I keep him in the bassinet He is my firstborn, so he is pretty special.
Sometimes when I am in my studio alone, working, especially when it's late at night and everything is quiet, I feel her presence, so in a way, I guess, she is enjoying this new art with me, and she is still my inspiration.
My newest passion is the art of sculpting my own doll. But... that is a whole other blog.
I hope this gives you a little understanding of who I am and why I enjoy reborning.
