Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you accept custom orders? Can you make a doll that looks like my child?
A: I'm sorry, but I do not accept custom orders. I am a sculptor, not a reborn artist. I occasionally have dolls for sale from my personal collection so feel free to check out the dolls I currently have for sale on my shop page! You can also purchase my sculpts as blank doll kits for a reborn artist to create, but I do not offer to reborn them myself. If you are specifically looking for a custom order, reborners can be found easily, from Ebay, to Etsy, to Facebook, to Reborns.com, or Google searches, etc. Here is a list to get you started! (please note the following website is not my own and I do not control the content. I also cannot take responsibility for the experience you may have with any of the artists listed there. This list is for your convenience only.)
https://www.thebonniebrowncollection.com/looking-for-a-reborn-artist
Q: Do you offer layaway?
A: Yes, I'm happy to offer layaway. I am flexible on the terms depending on what you are buying. I can offer layaway for any doll, or for any order that totals $75 or more before shipping costs. Email me to discuss terms. Please note that for layaways on dolls, the first $50 is non-refundable if for some reason you fail to complete the layaway.
Q: Do you accept returns?
A: Yes, I accept returns for anything sold on THIS page only. Please see the bottom of that page for my return policy. I don't accept returns for finished dolls.
Q: Would you please hold the doll you have for sale for me until I have the money to buy it?
A: I'm sorry, but my policy is not to hold a doll without a deposit. Please ask me about layaway options if you do not have all the money to buy the doll upfront.
Q: What is a doll kit?
A: A doll kit includes the vinyl pieces: head, arms, and legs, without a body, paint, hair, or eyes. Doll kits are molded in a factory from my original polymer clay sculpts. Doll kits are intended for "reborners" (doll artists) to purchase, paint, add hair, eyes, weight, and assemble (AKA "reborn" the kit). I also occasionally sell doll kits made of silicone.
Q: Do doll kits come ready-to-assemble?
A: No, doll kits come unpainted and without hair or eyes. They do not come with cloth bodies unless you purchase them separately. Kits are meant for artists to buy and finish into dolls (AKA "reborn" the kit).
Q: What size neck rings and plugs do your doll kits take?
A: I don't use neck rings and limb plugs, so I don't know what size my kits take. The idea of neck rings and plugs for the reborning industry was started by Bountiful Baby. They are not necessary to reborn a doll, but you can refer to the Bountiful Baby website to learn how to measure for neck rings and plugs. Alternatively, you can use other things like felt disks or glue to plug up the ends of the limbs. If you want the head to turn, air dry gloss painted on the neck flange will reduce friction and if the cable tie isn't tied down super tight, the neck will turn easily.
Q: I like your doll kits, but I don't know how to make a doll. Can you put the doll together for me?
A: I do not offer this service. I am a sculptor and sell my sculptures as blank doll kits. There are other artists who are reborners and will create the doll for you. Reborners can be found easily, from Ebay, to Etsy, to Facebook, to Reborns.com, or Google searches, etc. Here is a list to get you started! (Please note the following website is not my own and I do not control the content. I also cannot take responsibility for the experience you may have with any of the artists listed there. This list is for your convenience only.)
https://www.thebonniebrowncollection.com/looking-for-a-reborn-artist
Q: How much does it cost to have a kit reborn for me?
A: Reborn artists' prices range greatly depending on the artist's popularity, how long they have been making dolls, the materials used, the size of the doll, the type of hair, etc. But no matter the reborn artist you choose to make your doll for you, just remember that reborn dolls ARE art and you should expect to pay for the artist's time and talent just like you would for a painting or another piece of fine art.
Q: Why do these dolls cost so much? Can you lower the price?
A: There are alot of time, supplies, and materials that go into making these dolls. Remember that reborn dolls ARE art and you should expect to pay for the artist's name, time, and talent just like you would for a painting or another piece of fine art. I have already priced my dolls as low as I can accept. If the price is still too much for you, I am happy to offer layaway.
Q: Are these type of dolls for children?
A: As you may guess from the price, these type of dolls are not toys. They are meant to be collected by adults. They are not made to be child-safe and do not conform to the same safety regulations that toys must conform to, so a child should not play with them unless supervised.
Q: What is the difference between a reborn doll and a silicone doll?
A: Silicone dolls are desireable among collectors because it is very soft and feels similar to real human skin! Also, because the molding process for silicone is different than the molding process for vinyl dolls, silicone dolls are much smaller limited editions than reborn dolls. Because of the small edition sizes and the extra expense of silicone, vinyl dolls (reborn dolls) are a more afforadable option. Vinyl is less flexible than silicone and vinyl dolls are hollow and filled with weight, while silicone dolls are solid.
Q: What is the difference between a reborn doll and an Ashton Drake doll?
A: Ashton Drake Galleries is a doll company that produces collector quality dolls. Ashton Drake dolls are mass produced so there are thousands of the same doll in the world. Reborn dolls on the other hand, are handmade by artists, so no two reborn dolls turn out exactly the same. While there are many of the same reborn sculpt in the world, they are produced on a much smaller scale than Ashton Drake dolls. As you may guess, Ashton Drake dolls cost less than reborn dolls.
Q: What is an OOAK doll?
A: OOAK stands for One Of A Kind. An OOAK doll is the orignal doll that I sculpt out of polymer clay. The polymer clay doll might be sent out to be molded for vinyl or silicone, or the OOAK doll might be sold as is. Clay dolls are more fragile than silicone dolls or vinyl reborns, however, there is only 1 of them in the world which makes them very special and collectable!
Q: Do reborn dolls have open mouths that can take a full pacifier?
A: No, some silicone dolls take full pacifiers, but since vinyl isn't nearly as flexible as silicone, reborns' mouths do not open unless they are already sculpted open. Reborns can take a modified or magnetic pacifier instead.
Q: How can I learn how to make a reborn doll?
A: When I am asked this question, I first like to remind people that if you think you only want 1 or 2 reborn dolls, it will probably be more cost efficient for you to just buy those 1 or 2 dolls from an artist already made than to spend the money on all the supplies and equipment you will need to get you started. Reborning is a very expensive hobby! However, if you have artistic talent and are interested in learning reborning as an art form here are some links to tutorials to get you started:
Links to free tutorials can be found here: http://doll-fan.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=80172
Lara Antonucci teaches online classes on different aspects of reborning. Classes can be purchased here: http://www.realreborn.com/
I also recommend searching YouTube for video tutorials.
You can also find in-person classes taught at the different doll shows around the country such as the Rose Doll Show and the Kansas Doll Show.
Q: Do you teach reborning classes?
A: I'm sorry, but I don't offer private classes at this time. Sometimes in-person classes are offered at doll shows, such as the Rose Doll Show and the Kansas Doll Show.
Q: Can you repair my doll for me?
A: I do not offer repair services for just any doll, however if the doll that needs repaired is a doll that I made, please email me and I will see what I can do for you. The cost for repairs depends on if I have to buy new supplies or not, how long you have owned the doll, if you got the doll second-hand, etc.
