Changing Trends in Reborning!

In keeping with my thread with informative blogs, I decided to list the 10 top most requested reborning kits for 2010 in no particular order. Last year was the year for the bigger babies, toddler and older.

• Angelica              By Riva Schick
• Arianna               By Riva Schick
• Bo Ella                 By Adrie Stoete
• Emma                  By Adrie Stoete

Then we had the  baby kit:

• Paris                   By Adrie Stoete
• Jayden                By Nathlie Scholl
• Logan                 By Cathy Rowland
• Leah                    By  Cathy Rowland
• Julchen              By Linde Scherer
• Nils                     By Gudren Legler

Oh! and let us not forget the ever popular orangutan. Those were the most popular for 2010 according to my polling of other Reborn Artist.

The trend for 2011 seems to be going toward the smaller babies 16-18 inches and the more detailed newborn kits. As always Sweet Lil’ Angels nursery will keep up the new trends of 2011.  What I’ve also noticed so far this year the trend is more sleeping babies. Although I strive for realism in all of my art,  the sleeping babies are more “REAL” looking my opinion.

More sculptors this year are creating anatomically correct belly plates and complete bodies to compliment there sculpts.

It will be interesting to see the new trends represented by the spring releases.

Let me know what your opinion is of the new trend toward the smaller more detailed sculpts.

Until next time we meet!

Angel Kisses,

Sharon

Why do you want a reborn?

There are numerous reason people primarily women purchase reborn dolls.

Doll collectors who have fallen in LOVE with the concept of dolls that look like “Real” babies.

They are purchased as a memorial to commerate a child that didn’t survive.

Reborns are also purchased for therapeutic reasons such as for people with attachment disorders or Autism and other mental health issues that holding and loving a baby helps them to work thru there issues.

I donate once a year to a nursing home it helps to fill the void of loneliness and helps patients with Alzheimer’s.

Women often will purchase a reborn as a substitute for the child they will never conceive.

People have bought them as look a likes of their children or other family member to display their treasured baby clothes.

Although advised not to people often buy them as gifts for their small children .

Reborns have been bought as baby shower gifts.

People have bought them to be used as display mannequins in their place of business.

And last but not least because these dolls are so darn cute!

The reasons for buying a reborn are as varied as the people who buy them. If your reason is not listed above please e mail me at sharon@sweetlilangels.com and let me know what your reason for purchasing a reborn is…….

Till next time my Dolly friends.

Angel Kisses,

Sharon

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Happy  New Year to all my dolly friends!!!!! My December was quite busy besides preparing for the holiday shopping, wrapping and all my custom babies to get out, I decided to make a sper of the moment trip to my friend Audrey and Alan’s home in North Carolina. I left Friday December 17, 2010 at 8:30 am stopped at Starbucks for a coffee to enjoy on my 6 1/2 hr. drive , Garmin in hand. If you do not know this I get lost in a paper bag. Feeling confident about making this trip for the first time by myself. Well, just about the time I would get off 95 beltway for my 1st. exit my Garmin decides to quit working,UGG! Then my cell phone lost my contact list! Great now I’m really in trouble!!!! Hurray, Audrey’s number was still there under my call list.  Lucky for me I had been smart enough to print the directions. Well after having to call them on several occasions ( lost), I made it!!!

As you know when Audrey and I get together we paint babies, drink coffee, eat lots of chocolate and pull all nighters like a couple of teenagers. We spent the whole time talking, laughing, and eating chocolate, oh and lets not forget the many hours of rooting hair. Therapy for Audrey not so much for me……

I took my African-American class from Lara, Aisha turned out adorable.  I am having a hand-made outfit designed just for her when that is completed she will be available for adoption. I have also completed ” Matthew” a sculpt by N.Ostermann, and Bailey by S. Bowden ( except rooting)

Currently, I am working on 2 custom orders and have 3 more to get started, all girls. Meanwhile, I need to finish rooting Bailey, and get her on the website.

Next Saturday I leave for 6 days to help my son move to South Beach, Florida. Tim says he needs my help with his condo, he has furniture but that is it. Decorating is not his forta!!!! I said OK under one condition, at least 3 hours a day at the beach. I think that is fair don’t you.

I am looking forward to 2011 and all that it brings but for now till next time HAPPY DOLLY DAYS!!!!!

ANGEL KISSES,

Sharon

Hussle and Bussle of the Holidays

Hello, all my dolly friends! I trust each and everyone of you had a great Thanksgiving. I celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with all my children and grandchildren. My youngest daughters husband returned safely from Iraq for the holidays and we were all thrilled to see him. He will return to Iraq after the New Year for another 95 days before another RNR ( rest & relaxation).

We have been very busy in the nursery. We have 3 new arrivals coming soon, a little baby  boy named Devon and two little baby girls.( haven’t decided on names yet) One is a newborn the other has a peaches & cream complexion. The two little girls are still having their hair rooted should be finished in about a week.

I will be starting an African American next week so look for her to arrive in the nursery in about 2 weeks or so. She is an Aisha sculpt by Marissa May. LOVE HER SCULPTS!!!!! I am very excited to be able to do her as this sculpt has been hard to get. She is very popular.

Another sculpt I will be doing very soon will be the preemie Ryan sculpt by Nathalie Scholl. He is still in production, and will be shipped to me upon completion. When he arrives I will start on him and post him to the website www.sweetlilangels.com  He will arrive after the Christmas Holiday. Can’t wait to get my hands on him !!!!

I have been very busy with custom orders for the Christmas holiday, I will not be accepting anymore custom orders to be shipped before Christmas. I will resume after the Holidays.

Do not forget to enter the Christmas giveaway. Drawing will be December 14, 2010 at 9:00 pm EST. Enter by sending an e-mail to sweetlilangelsfree@gmail.com and in the subject line write Christmas Giveaway. I am very excited to be able to do a giveaway. One of you will be the proud new mommy to my precious angel named Holly Belle. I wish all of you the best of luck!!!!!

Till next month, Happy Dolly days!!!

ANGEL KISSES,

Sharon

Winter chill has arrived!

I can’t believe winter is here Boo!!! Our winter coats are again hanging in the hall closet. We are gearing up for the holiday’s around here, busy, busy, and to add to all the confusion my 83 year old mother had Knee replacement so I have been in Annapolis, MD. nursing her back to health. There were a few scary moments as my mother had a reaction to the anesthesia so my sisters and I spent many more days in the hospital then expected and are still carrying for her around the clock. She is doing much better now, thank heavens.

I have had quite a few Christmas custom orders as well, so if your thinking about doing a custom order please get your orders in before the first of December.

Sweet Lil’ Angels is doing a Christmas Giveaway  for a 20 inch baby I named Holly Belle, what a sweet lil sleeping angel she is. To enter: Send an e-mail to sweetlilangelsfree@gmail.com and in the subject line write Christmas Giveaway. Please only one entry ( duplicates will be deleted). The drawing will be December 14, 2010 at 9:00pm EST. You will be notified via e-mail if you are the winner for shipping information.

Be checking the website for our newest babies to arrive. Hope you’ll find them as adorable as I do. I have several more reborning classes with Lara from Angels in waiting between now and March. I am taking an African American painting , hair painting and newborn painting class all should be completed by April.

Well for now HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!

ANGEL KISSES,

Sharon

Fall is finally here!

The leaves are just a beautiful red and orange color, I love this time of year. Our days are still warm enough to be outside and the nights are cool enough to open the windows. ( perfect sleeping weather )

My grandchildren are back in school so it free’s me up for working on babies for the nursery. Logan, my anatomically correct little baby boy has arrived and is ready for adoption and his twin sister should be ready in a couple of weeks. These Lil’ Angels have blonde hair and the most gorgeous newborn blue eyes. Be sure to stop by and take a peak!

The Christmas baby is completed and time is drawing near . I’ll announce the Christmas Give away rules and tell you how to enter in the next few weeks. I am sure when you see the photos of the finished baby you will be head over heals in love with her as I have and will be very anxious to enter the contest! Remember, ONE OF YOU WILL WIN THE BABY!

My Christmas orders are steadily coming in so, if you are contemplating getting a Reborn baby for yourself or as a gift, please get your order in as soon as possible.

This weekend I will be painting 2 babies. The first being a Felicia kit by Adrie Stoete for  a custom order, and then also Carter kit by Jorja  Pigott. They both are incredibly realistic looking, which of course makes reborning them a pleasure.

I will be taking a hair painting class in February and a newborn class in March with the incredible Lara Antonnucci. LOVE her classes.

So till next time HAPPY DOLLY DAYS!

Angel kisses,

Sharon

 

It’s August!

It’s August, it’s hot , it’s supposed to be but my minds on Christmas. I have started working on the christmas giveaway baby., she is coming along nicely, look for preview pic’s next month and instructions in October as how to enter the giveaway.

I am excited my youngest daughter settles on her house here in Virginia on Monday, for the first time in along time all my children will be within minutes of me. This could be good or not so good only we’ll see. No news on my son’s enlistment into the Army.

A new feature at Sweet Lil’ Angels is a handcrafted diaper set that will come on all the new babies w/ the exception of toddlers, and they are just to cute .

Be sure to visit the nursery and meet the newest addition “Bella”. She is very newborn, and we think she is totally adorable. hope you do too. Although I have finished her the way I had envisioned her, I would be happy to do a custom order of her.

Future plans include Stephanie Sullivan Quads be looking for them in the fall. I am also planning to do a Katelyn sculpt by Lorna Ours.

I am still offering webcam classes, they are going well. If you are interested on a one on one class please feel free to E-mail me.

My brain has been in overdrive thinking about upcoming specials for late August early September.

In close have a safe and happy rest of the summer and we will chat in September.

Happy Dolly Days and Angel Kisses,

Sharon

Happy July!!!

Hello, everyone!! I am sorry that I am late on updating the blog. We have had a very busy June . My daughter Heather and I have been house hunting for my youngest daughter  Katie ( cat as she likes to be called ) and her husband Mike. They currently live in Nashville, Tenn., where Mike was stationed. Katie ( cat ) has taken a job with a law firm in Washington,DC. She and her husband came and finalized the paper work on the house the end of June. At that time we also celebrated Katie’s 27th birthday. My son Tim also came for the party, and has decided to stay in this area until he ships out for army boot camp in September. So, for a short while I will have all my children in one place, something I haven’t had for 10 years. I am going to take full advantage of this for as long as it last.

The 4th of July weekend, I went up to the mountains of Virginia to see some friends of mine , who have about 35 acres much of which is wooded. I can tell you they have have a deck that overlooks most of it and it is so peaceful and calming.  I take a breath of that fresh air and I am instantly rejuvenated.  The days were in the 80′s and the nights were in the low 60′s ( good sleeping weather).

Well, to the dolly news!  I will be selling Stephanie Sullivan’s kits on the website ( thank-you Stephanie) It is an honor and a pleasure to be a dealer for Stephanie. She has just beautiful sculpts. I have actually reborn her newest Alisanne.  I have not decide whether it will be a boy or girl . ( maybe after the rooting I’ll know) Look for him or her to be on the website in about 3 weeks. I will be taking an anatomically correct class in mid- August. The dolls I will be reborning in the class are Leah and Logan by Cathy Rowland. What cutie’s they are!!!!

Also, please take the time to take the poll on the website , I gain a lot of insight into what you are looking for. I  am offering webcam classes currently  thru September and will resume in January after the Christmas holiday. Speaking of Christmas( a little early I know) but just wanted to give you heads up that I will not be taking Xmas orders after the second week in November. I may need to adjust my time schedule depending on orders.

WELL HAPPY DOLLY DAYS !!!!!

Angel Kisses,

Sharon

I’m back to making BABIES!!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Memorial Weekend and at the same time prayed for those in the Armed Forces fighting for all of our freedom.

My family and I went to the mountains of Virginia near Blacksburg (  home of Virginia Tech) to see some very good friend of ours who have about 35 acres much of it not developed. Just beautiful! Seeing the deer, hearing the frogs and watching the natural springs flow. The birds sang everyday, took many walks in the woods and most of all I thanked the Lord for all of it.

I am into full swing again YAH!!!! I have been quite busy with some custom orders. I am  working on Arianna (toddler) and Noah( her baby sister) both are very popular sculpts and should arrive at the adoption center soon. Some other sculpts to expect to see are Jonathan by Adrie Stoete. A limited edition of 150 sculpt Gavyn by Ana Healey Turner, also the sculpt Alicia by master artist Birgit Gutzwiller .

This weekend my new website will be going live. A new baby has arrived at the adoption center, she is a Julchan sculpt by master artist Linda Scherer. I have named her Chloe Rae. I hope you will find her as cute as I do. Yet another baby stolen my heart!! Also, new reborning supplies will be coming to the site in the next few weeks.

My grandaughter’s birthday is Sunday June 6, she will be 4 years old. She keeps her OLD and I do mean OLD grandma busy. She has requested a doll of course so, grandma is giving her a Quinn sculpt by Tina Kewey. Hope she likes it because if not I will hear about it!!!  This little girl is 4 going on 24. I am sure you all know what I mean. She is always right and do not tell her differently, but Grandma loves her so I guess will keep her!!

The vegetable garden is out of control, we have had so much rain that everything growing is in overdrive. We will have enough vegetable to feed the neighborhood and then some. Our flower bed is equally doing well, and all the fragrances are divine. The hummingbirds are in their glory, they will not starve at this house.

Angel Kisses,

Sharon

Mid- May post

I can not believe it is the middle of May. Where did April go, Oh! I know stuck in a sling, but that is almost behind me.

I will be back in full swing next week Yah! Many things are planned, new babies to arrive on the adoption page, a toddler, and a brand newborn etc. Currently I have 6 custom orders on the books and am very anxious to get started as I have been having reborning withdraw ( not pretty). My daughter Heather and I took a trip to Nashville, Tenn. for Mothers day to see my youngest daughter Katie (cat as she likes to be called) I was very happy to see that she was spared any ill effect from the rain storm they had, However my heart and prayers goes out to those who were not so lucky. In the city of Nashville about 60% of the downtown shops and restaurants were open some without electricity some even with slight water damage.  Many businesses we were told will be a year or more reopening. All and all we had a fabulous time.

I am also working with my web designer Stephanie Caldwell, www.hypercowebsolutions.com on a Brand new design for my website, be looking for that in the next few weeks. Let me know what you think?

My physical therapy starts May 28th, am very much looking forward to that Ha! Ha! Before you know it my rotator cuff surgery will be a distant memory. It has been trying and painful to say the least but, in the end will be worth it.

By for now, am going to sit back sipping a soda while I still can, and soon it will be back to work as normal!!

Angel Kisses,

Sharon