About Me
Professional Reborn Artist
Welcome to my site!
My name is LaLani and I started Adorable Bundles Nursery in 2007 in response to a need for representation in play. As I was an undergrad and pursuing my degree, I also had my two little nieces in the small college town where I went to school. There was a mall and Walmart, and around Christmas, I had my nieces with me and were were looking at dolls in the aisle- none of which looked like them. For about 20 minutes going down aisle after aisle, I had to watch my then 3 and 1 year old niece have to choose between stuffed animals and Dora the Explorer while they watched other little girls squeal with excitement over the dolls that looked like them. Being multiracial in a small town, we were not afforded such luxury.
So, since I was in college, studying Fine Arts, and I just happened to be in a sculpture class, I decided I'd create them their own dolls for Christmas. I went to the studio early in the morning the next day and began sculpting an entire baby from clay. When I was done, I realized they wouldn't be able to play with it once it'd been fired, as it would be extremely fragile in toddler hands. So I went online to find out how to "turn it into vinyl"... and fell into the world of reborning! And now, all these years later, I am continuously evolving my craft. I have never had the desire to stop creating babies with inspired hands to place in loving arms all over the globe! With 14 years of experience, I have had the pleasure of shipping adorable babies to countries all over the world, and I am delighted to share my reborn babies with you all!
The Creativity, the Art
Each of my reborn babies are created with intense detail and realism. I focus on the tones and gradients found on the skin of various people, and develop my coloring from such. I use Genesis Heat Set Paints and various varnishes to complete the reborn babies, and I create babies from ages preemie to 5 years old!
I adore reborning. The ability to imitate life and bring happiness to others is such a blessing to have. I've always been artistic, and when I describe myself, I do so as a multimedia artist, because I paint, sculpt, sketch- really anything I encounter creatively, I accept the challenge! But reborning is something different for me, it is my go to for comfort, for creative exercise, for curiosity and joy. I can continuously learn new things, new techniques, or simply hone my skill and as I do, with each reborn, I send home my happiness, knowledge, education- everything that went into the baby that I saw in real life or learned. Everything is a lesson and I am eager to keep learning.
My Goal
All I have ever wanted to do was to create beautiful things. And in doing so, I found that in creating things, they could serve a purpose. The first time I created a reborn baby, I took it to a nursing home to share with the residents there. The moment I saw the warm smile radiating from their hearts, I knew I would never stop creating reborn babies. I noticed the comfort and happiness the residents that interacted with my reborn displayed. It was such a beautiful thing to behold.
Since then, my goal has been to create these unique babies- fashioning them with features I found in real people. I wanted them to fit well in the families who've adopted them, and well with collectors who enjoy looking at these reborns. My goal was to create reborn babies that people would enjoy for years, and pass down as heirlooms to their loved ones and ultimately, my goal is still to share a piece of my heart to all through my art.
~ Reborning Process ~
Materials, Supplies, & Time
Materials: Vinyl & Paints
Vinyl & Body:
When I begin to create reborn babies, I only use phthalate free soft vinyl to start. If you don't know what phthalates are, they are chemical compounds bonded to the structure of the vinyl soft and pliant, and durable. Since the vinyl we use to create these babies will be heated to cure the paint to the vinyl, it is important to ensure that the vinyl we use is phthalate free so that we are not at risk of unsafe exposure.
- The limbs are then attached to a doe suede body and filled with poly pellets and glass beads, as well as poly fiberfill for weight and cuddliness. This allows the reborn baby to be posed for photos, held and snuggled, as well as gives the baby a realistic weight when the baby is being held.
Paints:
I use Genesis Heat Set Paints to obtain the reborn baby's skin. The paint requires heat to cure to the vinyl so it does not wear off or fade over time. I also use a heat set matte varnish for added protection. Many layers go into achieving the gradients in the skin and its tone. The many hues and veining and layers of skin tone create the depth in the skin, adding to the reborn baby's realism. The baby's nails are lightly tipped, and even the older reborns have the half moons in their nails, which are then glossed with another varnish to protect the delicate finish. No detail is ever left unaddressed. And, the best part is, these reborn babies will last for generations.
Hair:
Currently, I am working on my painted hair technique for my reborn babies. Many of them you will see will have painted hair. Others will have premium mohair, neatly micro-rooted into the baby's scalp- one strand at a time in a directional pattern to mimic the swirl that newborns and children have. It is fun to play with their hair and add little bows. The hair can be washed and styled- although, very delicately as the mohair is very fine like baby hair. Misuse or rough handling, or general non-care can cause the hair to break off. My older reborn babies: ages 3-5 will be micro-rooted with human hair. This is very time consuming, but the finished reborn baby will be outstanding and worth the wait! I've added some examples below of painted haired babies as well as babies with rooted hair both mohair and human hair.
Wrap up:
The reborn babies created here at Adorable Bundles Nursery are created with so much effort and skill and love. Every moment during the process is filled with attention to detail and envisioning the outcome while working out the details. One of the interesting things is sometimes while creating these babies, I'll have a look in mind, and sometimes the reborn will take on characteristics of their own that cause me to change the baby all together- which also means I get to go shopping for new clothes for the baby!! Each baby can take about 4 to 6 weeks to create, give or take a week or so. And when the reborn baby is complete, the next part that comes is the beautiful photo shoot. I actually cut my teeth on photography when I started reborning babies. Reborning is the gift that keeps on giving!
**Please Note** The reborn babies are not intended for children. As delicate as they are, they should be handled just as tenderly, just as one would with a newborn baby. Anything less can cause undue stress to the joints where the head/limbs connect to the body, and alter the integrity of the reborn baby. It is not a toy, but a huggable work of art!
Custom Reborn Babies
Don't fancy a pre-made reborn baby and looking to have one made to your specification? What you're looking for is a custom reborn baby!
Throughout the year, I will accept orders for Custom reborn babies, so if you are interested, it is best to email me as soon as possible to make it on the waiting list. In between the custom orders, I still create babies that I will post on my site, eBay, and Etsy.
With a Custom Reborn, you choose how you want your baby to look. Hair color, style, painted hair/micro-rooted hair, skin tone, open-eyed, eye color, sleeping baby, age, etc.! You choose everything! If you have a particular sculpt in mind, let me know when you are placing your order.
It will take about 4-6 weeks to create the reborn, unless it is a larger baby/toddler (and depending on other characteristics chosen for the doll), it can take between 6-8 weeks for completion. During the reborning process, I'll send progress photos so you can share the process with me!
~ Pricing ~
Custom Reborns (newborn to 3 month) start at $875. Older reborns (up to 5yrs) start between $1000 - $1350. The price may vary based on what you've chosen for your reborn baby. For exact pricing and time frame, please contact me for the quotes. I do require a deposit of 1/2 the total cost of the custom reborn. This is non-refundable once the supplies are ordered and I begin working on the custom baby.
Each baby comes home with their Birth Certificate/Certificate of Authenticity, a complete layette, a cute plush toy, plush blanket, and other gifts I like to add in their boxes! Shipping is Priority Mail and is based on location. I do offer International shipping based on location as well.