Art Dolls By Karen Sparks

Art Dolls by Karen Sparks is back in the studio

2016-09-07T03:45:00.001-07:00

Today is the first day in my Doll Studio; Art Dolls by Karen, where I will resume rooting on two dolls that I reborned this past Winter.

On the first day of Spring, I leave the studio and step into the gardening world. It is another passion of mine for the past 28 years.

When I started reborning dolls, which became a wonderful awakening to my passion for art, I did not want it to take away my love for gardening.

Once I got gardening down to where I was being rewarded with an abundance of vegetables, I had to learn the art of canning.

Reading is another love of mine that I have always indulged in every since I was a child. I slept on the bottom bunk and my sibling on the top. In order for me to read at night, I would pull the covers over and read underneath by flashlight. I still read this way today; not under the covers, but always at night in my bed before sleep.

Keeping my passions close; a book always in my bed and my collection of dolls by my side in a cradle, I am blessed. To have the time and health enjoying these passions, the blessing is twofold. This is my world and hopefully it will remain this way for many more years to come.

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."

Cicero

Anastasia sculpt by Olga Auer

2016-09-05T19:46:00.001-07:00

Today I had an adopted doll baby's mom share some pictures of her outing with her daughter and on of my reborn dolls that she bought last year. It is always a pleasure when I get these pictures of them enjoying their dolls. So I thought I would share those pictures with you.

She is Anastasia sculpt by sculptor Olga Auer. I reborned her as biracial with painted hair. I was also approached on Facebook via message with another reborn doll collector wanting this sculpt for me to reborn with rooted hair. I think those pictures touched her heart too. It is always good for other collectors to see pictures of these dolls that their collector shares. It can also work against you if the collector shares a poor quality picture and the doll is not true to color.

Anastasia doll kit with painted hair and biracial skin tones.

She did a great job by taking these pictures in natural daylight which is always best even if the camera is not high quality.

Art Dolls by Karen Sparks Opening Soon

2016-09-03T12:57:00.001-07:00

Hellooo Dolly, hum hum hum dolly, it's so nice to have you back where you belong! da,dada,dada....dolly will never go away again; well maybe not until spring time gardening starts back up again!

Art dolls by Karen will be back in force on September 7th! I have to finish up a Cindy Musgrove sculpt; rooting for my niece and Karola Wegerich for my sister.

After those two are reborned and home to their new moms, I will be starting Americus sculpt by Laura Lee Eagles unless someone sends me to another sculpt to reborn!

Lois Armstrong...hello dolly

Art Dolls by Karen Sparks Opening Soon

2016-09-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

Lois Armstrong...hello dolly

Baby Booties Pattern

2016-09-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

So besides making reborn dolls I love to sew baby clothes. I rarely have the time but when I saw these sweet little booties, I had to buy the pattern and decided to make some for my personal collection of art dolls.

Etsy is a great place to purchase sewing patterns. I purchased this pattern from Baubles and Bits. It is a downloadable PDF pattern with an easy tutorial...even for beginners. The pattern comes in 0-12 months sizes.

With this pattern you can alter it by just not adding the ruffle that makes a handsome baby boy bootie. These booties have an elasticized ankle so they stay in place for those sewing for a real baby.

I decided to add lace which makes for an easier and faster sewing project. The picture here below shows the booties made with the ruffle.

Where to Buy Authentic Doll Kits

2016-09-01T04:42:00.001-07:00

Trusted/Approved Reborn Supply Dealers Where you can be sure you are receiving a doll kit that is Authentic and Genuine!!

http://www.noniesangelsnursery.com/ USA
https://macphersoncrafts.com/en/ Canada
http://www.cityofrebornangels.com.au/ AU
http://thecradle.eu/cradlekits UK
http://www.tinytotsnursery.com.au/ AU
http://www.truborns.com/ USA
http://www.debbiesreborndollkits.com UK
http://www.dolldreams.net/ USA
http://www.theaustralianreborner.com/
http://www.fairytalesrebornnursery.co.uk/ UK
http://www.ebay.com/usr/phildonnellybabies UK
http://www.oncesoreal.com/ Germany
http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/ UK
http://www.rebornshop.org/
http://www.dollsbysandie.com/ USA
http://www.dollssoreal.com/ USA
http://www.materialreborn.com.br/ Brazil
http://www.creatubebe.com/ Spain
http://www.createalittlemagic.co.za/ South Africa
http://www.rebornshop.at/shop/ Austria
http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/mandyechapman?rt=nc 'Kiddies Korner Reborn Supplies' UK (Ebay)
http://aussierebornsupplies.com.au/ Australia
http://www.bountifulbaby.com/ USA
http://www.daldnursery.com/dollkits.html USA
http://www.angelbabies.co.za/ South Africa
http://www.creativeimpressionsnursery.com/ USA
http://www.petrasdolls.nl/index.php Netherlands

To have an Ebay auction removed for copyright infringement

Contact:

Vero@ebay.com

call them at: (866) 322-9106

Vero through Ebay will act immediately on the issue.

You can report an item directly on the listing by following the steps below. It is best to contact VERO immediately after doing this.

How to report a listing when you see it on

ebay and Alibaba:

1. Go to the ebay link that is posted

2. Click on Report Item link. You will see where it is by the big red arrow on the photo

3. Report Category: Copyright and Trademark

4. Reason for Report: Counterfeit item or authenticity disclaimer.

5. Detailed Reason: Counterfeit, Fake, or replica items

6. Click on Continue

7. On the next page it will automatically have the item number filled in

8. Under Brief Description Type in: Fake, Copyrighted PUT IN ARTISTS NAME Reborn Doll Kit

9. Click Send Report!

If you have any information to share regarding this post add it into a comment .

Addendum to Heirloom Quality Dolls Post

2016-08-31T16:46:00.001-07:00

There are many social groups on facebook to help inform you on who is a reputable reborn doll artist. It is also a great place to buy a reborn from a collector who is wanting to sell from their collection.

Most sculptors have a facebook page and it will be a benefit to your interest in this art to like their page. They promote their sculpts prototypes and you will be in the know and up to date on what is new in the reborn doll world. It is a bonus when a collector who purchased a prototype has decided to sell their prototype from their collection. The collector usually has the sculptor help give exposure when the collector is wanting to sell...a great way to get a prototype reborn for a good price.

Be aware of Ebay with China selling fake counterfeit doll kits and reborn artist who buy and reborn them. You don't want to have a counterfeit reborn doll in your collection...it goes against ethics in the doll community and if you ever want to resell, well that will be a huge problem for you. If you want your reputation shot down the tubes in the dolly world, having any part with these counterfeit businesses will put you there in a heartbeat.

I will post and addendum to this and share information with tips and links to help guide you in the right direction.

Proud Member

Heirloom Quality Dolls by a Professional Reborn Artist

2016-08-31T07:47:00.000-07:00

How do you know if the Reborn Doll that you invested your money into has the quality to make it a precious heirloom that you would never want to give up? Well the answer to that question is you probably don't until after the fact of receiving your doll.

First let's start by realizing it does not look like the pictures shown due to your monitor settings or the artist presenting the babies pictures are altered by using image software. Well this could not be so bad as hopefully the doll is painted professionally by an artist making sure the auction pictures presented looks like the painted doll is to the naked eye. Let's face the fact that we have taken pictures ourselves and seeing them either made you like or dislike depending on many photo variations.

Secondly, your doll arrives and imagine the horror when opening the package and a horrible smell of cigarette smoke or animal order hits you and this is something you can't get rid of ! Last but not least is if your doll is not assembled correctly and god forbid her arm, leg, or head came off and you discover that her insides are stuffed with old rags, clothes or some other unimaginable content. This could go on so I will stop here and answer your question of "how do we know"?

Make sure the artist is reputable by feedback given from other buyers. If the auction did not list what materials are used in reborning the doll then ask! Some artist either send a sample of what is used in weighting and stuffing the doll; this also helps if customs has any doubts about the package. It would be to your benefit to ask, if you are thinking about bidding. Most artist are not professional photographers but should explain in the auction if the colors in the picture is very near to what the doll is like in natural lighting. Your doll should arrive with care instructions and if it is not listed as such in the auction, also inquire about it.

You will never be 100% sure that when your doll arrives it will meet your expectations. Remember that it is a doll and even though the pictures you saw looks just like a real baby in those sweet little poses is going to arrive and be just what it is a doll! It is what it is and you as the doll lover and collector knows this and it is up to you to enjoy creating, interacting and caring for your doll; that you bring it to life by creating the life-like environment and poses for your pleasure!

You may ask, Karen how do you know?? Well I started out as a collector and I was disappointed many times before and that the doll lover in me realized this art deserved to be treated with the utmost respect and professionalism! It is your investment and you as a collector need to be assured you are going to be proud and love your little reborn doll for many years and then some! More on this in another post HERE.