Capri made it!

Capri and her mommy are together and bonding very well! Her words "I love her, she looks just like I knew she would!"

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Capri on her way

First and formost I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and may your New Year be an abundance of blessings.

Well great news, Capri ia on her way home to her mommy so I am on pens and needles until I hear that she made it.

It will be another hard holiday for me, but in honor of my husband's memory I am sticking to our tradition of fixing Christmas Dinner for the family. I have just about finished my last painting and will post the updates really soon.

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Capri is finally done!!!

I finally finished my granddaughter's baby Capri!!! Now we have an ice storm (everything has ice on it) and I want to ship her out so that she can get her before Christmas! Geez Louweez...ok, ok, I know she will love her whenever she gets there!

For some reason she looks shiney in the pictures but she's not! I just love her. I found the perfect "newborn" baby cry for her recorder voice box. she's just perfect!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Pageant Queen 2010 and her Court, WIP and everything in between!

With the severe illness and untimely death of my husband, I must apologize because I have been very off centered. I am still trying to get back to focusing on my projects. One was getting the winners their trophies for this year's Queen and her court! I succeeded and got them all mailed off. There were 14 beautiful entrants but only one could end up Queen. I even got them on my blog for you to see (late but still I did it). I can't wait to see next year's babies!

Meet the first ™Cutest Baby "Reborn" Pageant

Reigning Queen 2010"

(1st Place): Candidate #4 "Welcome Back Taylor sculpt" by Tamie Yarie. Reborn Artist: Melissa C. of Bella's Babies by the Bay~Reborn Nursery.

First Maid (2nd Place): candidate #2 "Baylee sculpt" by Lorna Miller-Sands. Reborn Artist: Angela W. of Cotton Babies Nursery.

Second Maid (3rd Place): candidate #7 "Paris sculpt" by Adrie Stoete. Reborn Artist: Sheri C. of Dream Babies Nursery

Third Maid (4th Place): candidate #12 "Lilly sculpt" by Denise Pratt. Reborn Artist: Lisa B. of Dodie's Babies Nursery

You can read more about them in the Queen's Chamber!

http://cutestbabyrebornpageant.webs.com/queenschamber.htm

Next was painting the house and removing a room of carpeting (my sister helped me tear up the carpet). I focused on each project and that allowed me to keep busy and yet complete the things that we had discussed doing this year. I finished painting the living room, dining room, family room, kitchen and hallway, took me two weeks but I did it, vaulted ceilings and all! Then I set out to tackle the now bear floors in the living room and down the basement stairs. It took me a total of 3 days to complete the stairs and 2 days to lay the living room floor. Yes, I did it all by myself.

W.I.P

Before everything happened, I had promised my granddaughter a baby for her birthday in November, didn't quite make that. I think and hopefully she will be holding her little "Capri"(Jorja Pigott, she liked the name so we're keeping it) in her arms, for Christmas. She's really almost done gotta do pictures for her too! These are a few of her preliminary photos. I sent her mommy one via cellphone and she's in love! I kinda am too LOL 

no hair and just finished her coloring...

 wasn't totally rooted here but was moving along quite well.

 

All rooted and being all put together for her birthday. She's 20 inches long, wear's newborn clothing 4 lbs 11 oz.  Things that her mommy doesn't know about. She has an actual baby cry (recording)She's got pierced ears and I left her nose intact. She's a real cuteypatootey for sure. I just love her skin tones!

Lastly,
I have been moving my website from another host site and it has been a headache all over again, over 3 days, but then again, it has kept me focused and busy. This is the (?) temporary link to click on so that you can visit with us!

http://loveisforevernursery.webs.com/

Well that's all for now, and promise to get back sooner. Next blog I will tell you all about my painting in my Art. Thought you might need a breather right about now, I know that I do!
From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

It's VOTING TIME for the Cutest Baby Reborn Pageant!!!!

http://cutestbabyrebornpageant.webs.com/


VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVORITE QUEEN CANDIDATE AND COURT!!! We have a total of 14 entrants! You can vote for 4 babies in each category (are you should be able to, LOL).

Ohhhh and Please VOTE for up to 4 of your choices in each category BEFORE you push the vote BUTTON. You are ONLY allowed to vote ONCE in each category!!

Remember voting ends November 14, 2010 12:00 a.m. (CST) So tell all of your friends and family!!! Let's have FUN!!!!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Help Cheer the 13 babies on to Royalty!

Voting begins November 8, 2010 12:00 a.m. and ends November 14, 2010 1...2:00 a.m. (CST)
Don't forget to vote, these babies are just adorable!!!

As before, the Cutest Baby "Reborn" Pageant was created just for the Reborn Artist to show off their talents and skills. Its intent is strictly for fun and enjoyment!

http://www.cutestbabyrebornpageant.webs.com/



From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

17 Seats left!

Only 17 seats left!


It's really getting very exciting!!!

******Get those babies in! You have a few more days to enter!******

Due to the death of my husband the entrants got a late start. So in all fairness Pageant entries will be accepted until November 7, 2010.

Voting begins November 8, 2010 12:00 a.m. and ends November 14, 2010 1...2:00 a.m. (CST)

Don't forget to vote either, these babies are just adorable!!!

As before, the Cutest Baby "Reborn" Pageant was created just for the Reborn Artist to show off their talents and skills. Its intent is strictly for fun and enjoyment!

http://www.cutestbabyrebornpageant.webs.com/
 
From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

22 seats left for the "Baby's Ball".

Trying to focus and get back into what I love. I promised his granddaughter a baby so she's my inspiration. I have to try and have her ready by her birthday November 14, pray for me that I don't disappoint her. I will get her done, no matter what. He was my best critic and best friend. I hope to get back to my art class next week. I don't know how ready I am going to be, but I am going to make myself go.

We have 22 seats left so I hope that they will be filled soon. I am looking forward to seeing more babies!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Lots of things have happened, but I'm back. Get those entries in now!!!

Announcing the "2010" Virtual Inaugural Ball ™Cutest Baby "Reborn" Pageant


Exclusively for Reborn Artists, beginners and skilled has begun!

Accepting entries from now until October 31!
23 seats remaining!
The trophies are gorgeous and waiting for their new owner!!!!

I have to apologize for the late reminder, it was supposed to start Oct 10 but over the last couple of months I have been dealing with my husband's declining health. For 13 1/2 years, he fought a hard fight, but the love of my life lost his battle on September 25 while I stayed at his side. He was buried on my birthday October 1. Life has been much of a blur and turned upside down. The contest is my only motivating force to try to get back to as normal as I possible can.

I hope that it will be fun and I know that there will be some beautiful and hard choices to make!
Let's get those entries in now!!!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Cutest Baby "Reborn" Pageant!

I am so excited ! I wanted to create something that would get back reborners motivation with our wonderful art. I hope that this will do it! There are 25 court positions. That's all that I'm going to tell you!
Please go and check it out,

http://cutestbabyrebornpageant.webs.com/


If there are any questions feel free to ask me, it's all a trial process right now.
From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Time to get poppin! Time to start cracky lackying!!

Did I say that right, love Madagascar!!!

I have a custom request for Capri by Jorja Pigott as an AA baby. It's going to be a birthday sorta surprise for a young lady that has been saving for her very own reborn! I am thrilled to death that she is so serious about wanting and choosing the sculpt that she wants. So I am sure that she will take great care of her and also a great choice I might add! Capri has been all bathed and drying, soon she'll be on her way to the delivery room for reborning along with little Jack! LOL Ohh, she'll have to have her own progress page too.

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

She's getting better, she's getting hair

Finally got her shadows and highlights right. Who would have thought that you could paint hair with Quinacridone Magenta and Phthalo Blue. It does have a soft look and no she's not finished, she still needs some more layers just like a reborn! LOL
I am going to try this on a test head to see how it works/looks on vinyl. I still have more work on her and looking forward to starting on my next canvas. I'm all signed up for my next session to learn more and finish her at last. I know that I will not be painting canvas, I'll stick to my 3 dimensional babies! LOLROTF

Got my colors mapped out for Jack, Capri and my little Asian baby Jiao to start VERY soon. I also got me a heat gun that I am dying to try out.

I can't seem to find a larger convection oven so this might be my next resort for my larger sculpts. I really love GHSP's but then I limit myself on my sculpt sizes that I can use in my little oven. I refuse to use my cooking oven to heat the kits. From all that I have read this takes less time and you can localize areas that you are working on. I have a larger one already for my bigger areas.

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

They say that they always start out ugly

Yeahhhhhh, yeap, she's getting there! Still needs a lot of work, but I can truly say...canvas ain't ma thang! lol However, time to sign up for the next session, I might even get her finished, along with the Llama man! Gotta work on her nose, hair, the background and hair bow. Just what I know, I am sure my art instructor sees a whole lot more!

Little Keanu has over 260 watchers, the most I ever had! I just wish he would get a mommy out of at least one. I hate to start on new babies until I can get homes for some but alas, I cannot let that be a stopping feature! Gotta get motivated and paint some babies! Little Jack, Erica sculpt and so many more!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

YES, YES, YES!!! I can finally say a few things! LOL

I am happy to say that I worked up the nerve and finally posting my art(?) LOLROTF Now mind you although I am having fun, they (my classmates) tried consoling me and saying...

that they all start out ugly before they get better. Hummmm, I think that they were just trying to make me feel better!!! Can you say U-G-L-Y? This is better looking now, but I have to take a new shot, at first I thought "that ain't gonna happen"! So, I started thinking about rooting. Always looks pretty raggedy, but in the end, well you know! I think I like doin babies much better, With that being said, I am going to let you suffer with this a day or so, then shock you, if that hasn't already happened! lol

This is the other that I am starting on and really can't wait to see how I am going to paint the Llama's coat in and no, it's not a donkey! :o) And the guy is feeding him or her grass from his mouth. I think that I will start this one next session!

I can FINALLY say that I BIT THE BULLET!!!! I put Keanu on eBay! I am hopefully pessimistic that he will find a new mommy! Please make sure to cheer him on!
Keanu is listed for adoption sale.

View his listing: REBORN JANNIK~Birgit Gutz / now KEANU~W/LAYETTE~DIMPLES - 160462026287

Personalize your own free digital slideshow

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

It's Official Now!

My prize finally arrived! I got my official certificate and little tiara (it is so adorable!) and now I am pleased to announce my latest achievement July, 2010.  Winning the Miss Baby Doll World Contest with little Tiffanie Ciara (who lives in Hong Kong with her mommy)!

This was a wonderful achievement for me after having gone through the awful trauma of having my tooth pulled Thursday and realizing that this one tooth has been extremely expensive to fix and finally replace. To all that supported her, I thank you so much!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Life gets in the way again...

First I want to wish everyone a safe and HAPPY 4th of July! Be careful with the fireworks and don't eat to much BBQ! We just got back from my sister's celebrated a day early! Food was deelish!

Now about life...
My husband spent a week in the hospital due to fluid buildup due to his bad heart and it was on the other side of town. Running back and forth really takes time out of your day and energy! Prayerful and thankfully he has gotten out and has lost a lot of fluid so he is much more comfortable and a lot thinner 2 weeks later. Now I am on antibiotics due to a tooth abcess and happily waiting for a tooth extraction next week (a very expensive tooth I might add considering a root canal, crown and $1600 later oh did I mention the bone graphs). I am now looking at about the same amount for the extraction and a partial to replace it, the tooth probably should have been pulled at first. Oh well who knew?

The good news is that I am learning proper color mixing techniques in my class and getting the pretty brown shades instead of muddy-what-the-heck-is-this. It is so interesting how two colors can create a value that can go on and on by adding a little more each time and add orange and watch it totally change!


I will start painting on my canvas next class now that I have it drawn. It's a 3 hour class that goes by so quickly that it is unbelievable. I am trying to hold off painting AA's until I see what techniques I can apply with the paints that I already have. I will take my primary colors next class to get a true feel for them. Not saying that I won't be using my premixes, but I can sure enhance them when doing my AA babies! I am very very tempted to start painting my caucasian and asian babies that have been waiting, patiently I might add, but every time I get all set, something happens. They had their baths weeks ago! I have always believed everything happens for a reason...I believe this better be a real good one! lolrothf So my thought is I keep getting slowed down (some how that doesn't sound like proper english but you get the message) not knocked out. I have hope!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Okay! catch up time! lol First, I have got tons of great shots of Keanu, I used both cameras on him and they are awesome! NOW I have to figure out which ones to choose for his auction since I can't use them all (bummer) like this one. Isn't that the cutest thing?

Next, I have started my art class where you learn to use different mediums (water colors, acrylics or oils). Of course I am using acrylics and L-O-V-E IT, it's 3 hours long once a week and just passes off too fast! I have done paper canvas with pencil and pastel caulks but never painted canvas! I am doing one painting of my Felicia Renee' also my problem child I might add. I still haven't got her color the way I want it (I am the stripping queen) from a shot that I took when I thought that I liked her! LOL

My first lesson. I find my instructor Ann Croghan so very interesting, she does not include black or burnt umber in her kits, because (her words)

"it kills the color and we won't be using them". 

At that point I told her "you are telling me" (while I flashed back on little Felicia) and laughed out loud! I can't wait to learn how to mix MY OWN browns in Ethnic flesh tones. She has a Masters in art, and also a very talented artist, need I say more.
I am taking pre-shots of the canvas pieces that I am working on, so that I can see my progress. I will post it here eventually! Don't want to be premature and wear you out yet! :o) I am really wanting (biting at the bit) to learn the proper technique for hair painting. I have her and my other one an adorable little Lama with a man, so that should really be fun and a lot of hair to paint!


Now for my exciting moment! Yeaaahhhhhh!!!!! My little Tiffanie Ciara, won "Miss Baby Doll World 2010"! It was beyond disbelief because there was a lot of talent in competition. I sincerely liked that it was not a forum based voting but voters worldwide, so there was no partiality!

This is little Tiffanie:

She is the sold out limited edition "Hannah" doll kit by the wonderful artist Tamie Yarie! You can see her winning photo here! http://www.missdollworld.com/

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

YEAH!!! Guess who finally got all of his hair!

Keanu is so happy!!! He gave me a run for my money but I think that he turned out quite well. He even got to go outside (with the rest of his body in tow! LOL)

So what do you think, almost ready for adoption? Have to do his portfolio now! Then he can have a DOB and TOB!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

See Keanu's latest picture

He's got most of his hair now and I am pleased at how he looks. I might add a wash of raw sienna to warm him up.

There is a hair style for him that I am leaning towards on his page hope that I make it!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Keanu's got picture updates

He's coming along slowly, guess I haven'g got my grove totally back or this alpaca hair is finer than I thought, but I am working on it! lol See his progress on his personal page!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

It's a Boy (almost)!

Keanu Reeves is one of my all time favorite actors, did I forget to say "Hunk", and for some reason this Jannik sculpt put me in mind of him (if he was finished; tight and bright dark eyes, fair skin, full lips, dark hair and a very happy baby). He has gorgeous Lebanese features:

This is what I feel like one of his children might look with a little of mom and a lot of dad, my opinion I know, even if he doesn't put you in the moment and it's just my little vision, I like the idea of a little Keanu, let's meet him. If you are shy or easily shocked don't stare too long, cause it's a BOY! :


The Beginning...I have taken his "progress photos" with my new D 3000 Nikon :


The sculpt is Jannik by Master Artist Birgit Gutzwiller from Little Dolldreams Collection, his facial features looked so alert and screamed B-O-Y. I am reborning him using LDC permanent air dry paints. I switched his original limbs and added Sheila Michael's anatomically correct torso because it seemed that it was made for him. It has happy hands (full limbs) that look like they might say "I just want to touch everything".

Here he has had his first few layers...he will have 20mm eyes in Oriental brown (because he would have his father's beautiful dark eyes wouldn't he?)

Now he's got more coloring, he has human hair eyelashes and I have put in his eyes. I shot this yesterday right before it started getting dark outdoors and the next one outdoors from today).

His Binky is now functional, so he's very happy. Gotta do his nails and eyebrows!

All done with his nails, got them sealed off to do his eyebrows while his nails dry. This is an outdoor shot today, oddly enough it was very overcast. Thank God that I got this one right before it started to sprinkle. We've been getting a lot of rain the last few days!

I'll be back with more shortly!

Update:

He's got the sweetest little dimples...the cutest little tongue and I think that he's trying to teeth! I have to do his creases and little fat folds. Then I will start on his hair. I decided to use the natural black Alpaca  (it's beautiful just like his virtual dad's hair) on him too, it's just sooo soft. I can't wait to see the contrast with his skin tone.


So this is skinny of what I have been doing for the last few days. I told you I was getting back into my groove! LOL Well, brought you up-to-speed on little Keanu! He will have his own page like little Jack with the rest of his progress so stay tuned!  Now that I've got him started, I'll need to get started on little "Jack".

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

I got my "Jack" and Tamie's done it again!

Meet little soon-to-be-reborn Jack by Tamie Yarie!

He is definitely the most adorable micro-preemie done with Tamie's master touch!! I thought that I was in love with Samiah. He's her very first EXCLUSIVE edition limited to 250, world wide!

He is so tiny and so adorable, all 12 inches of him! He even has a few little fat folds on his legs and his little face has that very newborn puffy look. Can you see them? Even the shape of his tiny head is very realistic! I've done a lot of preemies and micro-preemies and I must admit that he has more detailing than some that I have done being this tiny.

Now in the real world, we know that preemies have very little if any fat reserve, so just the hint makes him all the more cuter and healthier looking! I gave him his bath and I just have a strong feeling that he will be the start-up of my babies! I will certainly enjoy doing his skin tones with Genesis paints (he will fit in my little oven very nicely). I just love the little ones, they are so determined to survive that they put their all into making it into this world, with every breath an effort. It's a small tribute to their huge effort, the fight that many more can win now and that is why I so love to reborn them! I thank God for modern medicine, which can give them that extra push to help them through all of it.

Oh, did I say that I am excited about my art class (hehe)? I must be VERY excited, because in my excitement...I forgot to tell you what really did it for me! My instructor will teach me / her students how to make, yes I said make, my/ our own shade ranges of brown. I never did like having to depend on the "factory" made browns because when you try to enhance them they become a very muddy dull color. So, I always felt at their mercy of too much red or too much yellow. There never seemed to be a happy medium for me, work with what you have or pay the price of "stripping"! When this class is over, I will probably have a lot of colors for sale. Lol She said that she uses a very limited palette of colors to make many colors. I CAN'T WAIT!!!! Her paints of choice are the Liquitex brand interesting enough, but she's going to work with the colors that I already have. I have their mediums but have never tried the paints. I thought that it was very nice of her...now all I have to do is make a list of all of the colors that I have. Hummm, I should have that list done by June don't you think? lolrotf

Check Jack's page for his progress!!!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Tasha and Katrina get new glasses!

Well Tasha didn't like her first pair of glasses so we had to find some to her liking (I don't blame her). I thought that she looked like Mr. Peabody. So off we went...

In the mean time, we found out that Katrina was very near sighted, no wonder ever time she fell down on her face that she would start laughing! That was the only time she could see what was in front of her! lol The good news is that they are the bestest of sisters now that they can see each other!

From my heart to yours... Hugs, Judie

Vacation is OVER! Kits, kits, and more kits!

Getting my creative juices flowing again, finally! lol I am so excited! I had a family situation that was ongoing and honestly I became totally side tracked. That has now been resolved!

I will be taking a continued education art class for different paint mediums to improve my skin tones in my AA babies starting in June. I had the opportunity to talk with a wonderful instructor and she was so interesting and interested, being a doll collector as well, in working with me. I always feel that I never know enough and I always want to improve my painting techniques (any chance that I get) so that you as a reborn collector will never be dissappointed in purchasing my babies. I have so many in mind that I want to start, I can't make up my mind where to start (have I said that before? :0))! They are all adorable kits! For example and just to name a very few:

Jolina (awaken) by Master Artist Manuela Muth, 1st Peep by Charlotte Parry, Jiao by Adrie Stoete, Erika by Shawna Clymer, Tessa by Didy Jacobsen and Max by Tamie Yarie

I am waiting patiently on my Jayden by Claire Taylor, Jack by Tamie Yarie (I love doing preemies), Marco by Master Artist Nel de Man and Capri by Jorja Pigott (Gooooooo JORJA!!!). Debbie Henshaw of "They Never Grow Up Nursery did an amazing job on her prototype too!! Yeahhhhh Debbie!!!

In addition, I am now the proud owner of some gorgeous Suri Alpaca fiber from Renee of Black Meadow Farm in a NATURAL black from her Kona that I am dying to use, it is definitely a different finer texture which will work great for my "day old" newborns and preemies. I know that my mohair fiber is luxiouriously soft and of very high quality (from Ellen of Slumberland Nursery)with very little waste and works very well for my newborns and toddlers. The clincher is that I love the fact that it is not dyed and the color is even (no reds or white hairs that I have seen). I have had no luck with the darker colors of mohair, through time, they still seem to bleed. Okay, I guess that I am excited about everything and just need to get busy! They have all had their baths so I will be posting my before photos when I get started soon!

Don't forget to visit my website and sign my guestbook! I'd love for you to see my new look!
From my heart to yours...

Playing catch up everywhere! First things first!

Mind you my nursery is getting smaller and smaller! lol I finally got motivated and re-furbished two doll cradles that my sister "insisted" that I needed from one of her many finds. The cradles were in bad shape and I wasn't really interested in them but I gave it a go! I forgot to take a "before" photo of the larger one so use your imagination, just imagine the little one 10 X's bigger and a little darker and not quite as bad looking. I am still finessing the larger one which has a "Mickey Mouse" theme and the little one which is completed has the "Pooh Bear" theme. Here's the small one Before:


After:


Here's the big one in comparison:


From my heart to yours...

My new camera

I have been using a camera that I really like which is the Olympus SP-550 UZ, 7.1 mega pixel, zoom 18x optical + 5.6x digital, 2.5” (6.4cm) color LCD display, 4.68 – 84.24mm (28 – 504mm equivalent in 35mm photography) it has great distance, and wonderful for the dolls. It has lots more but I have been wanting a digital SLR, like forever. I finally bit the bullet and got me a Nikon D3000 10.2- mega pixel, 3"color LCD display, the lens that it comes with the distance is only 3x 18-55mm Zoom but a very light weight NIKKOR VR Image Stabilization Lens, it has split-second shutter response which I love because my lil puppy now two years old, clears out when she see my Olympus and I was always getting her tail or nothing but where she was (a lot of nothing of where she used to be) because of it's slow response. Anyway here's my little girl as a baby and now a teenager!!! I can't wait to see how it works on my "reborns"!





From my heart to yours...