ORIGINAL ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND HERE
- May 12, 2012
The cost of making Reborn Dolls
Debra Jadick
Joplin Doll Collecting Examiner
I have been asked by numerous Artists in the Reborn industry
to do a comprehensive article on the cost of making Reborns. Why would
so many Artists be interested in this article? It is really quite
simple, every day hundreds of emails are sent to different Artists
asking for a Reborn doll to be made at little or no cost. The general
public honestly does not know how much a Reborn doll costs and it can
become very confusing to potential clients when looking on eBay, when
Reborns can range in price from $50.00 to $10,000. I will do my best to
explain the different costs without going into what each Artist
determines their own costs to be.
Reborns are created using Genesis Heat set paints or other Air dry paints. The average artists will have at least one of each color that is offered. One ½ ounce jar of genesis heat set paints is around $3.29 without the shipping. To ship one ½ ounce jar it costs approximately $4.40 so you are looking at a total of $7.69 just for one ½ ounce jar. Now most Artists don’t purchase just one ½ ounce jar, they usually purchase multiple sets. There are different sets for different skin tones so each set will have to be purchased in order to achieve all variations. Here is a link to some of the sets that are available at Bountiful Baby just one of the dealers selling GHSP (Genesis Heat Set Paints) http://www.bountifulbaby.com/seaside/index/supplies?_s=rykGfRhhkjcQJjCH&_k=aVsgHxOI&s=31811&t=Category+Number&d=false&c=431811
Along with the paints the Artist then has to purchase applicators, sponges, brushes, thinner, palettes, either a heat gun or an oven (if the household oven is not used) not to mention the gas or electric that is being used all day, as the oven remains on during the painting process, drying rack, work area etc. The initial set up for an artist averages between $500.00 and $1000.00 before any other supplies are purchased. This price does not include any educational materials or classes, forums, groups or guilds that the Artist joins to further their knowledge.
Once the Artist has all of his or her painting supplies they will then need to purchase a Reborn doll kit. A Reborn doll kit consists of the head and the limbs. That is all. It does not come with a body unless it is full vinyl, it does not come with hair or eyes. All of these things have to be purchased separately. Let’s take a look at different doll kits. Bountiful Baby offers some of the best prices in doll kits however; they may not be the most popular doll kit out on the market. For an 18 to 20 inch kit prices average at $34.95 before shipping. http://www.bountifulbaby.com/seaside/index/supplies?_s=rykGfRhhkjcQJjCH&_k=XFMcozgY&s=2411&t=Category+Number&d=false&c=72411
For the latest in kits we will go over to Doll Dreams http://www.dolldreams.net/. Doll Dreams offers some of the best known Sculptors in the industry. The 18 to 20 inch kits average $84.95 before shipping. For bigger sculpts you can pay over $150.00 or more again just for the kit. http://store.dolldreams.net/-Doll-Kits_c_10.html
Irresistables is another dealer of doll kits/sculpts. Their prices range from $79.99 to over $100.00 for a standard size sculpt. http://www.irresistables.com/
The average cost that an Artist pays, for the sculpt is in the $100.00 price range.
Now we will examine the other components used to make a Reborn baby.
Angora Mohair is the hair that is most often used when creating newborn to infant size babies. Since this is the most popular size of Reborn we will focus on the cost of this size. Toddlers and children size Reborns are more expensive to create.
Angora Mohair can be found from many different sources. As a Reborn Artist myself I have tried numerous sources and I have to say it is all not the same. I have personally wasted hundreds of dollars on mohair that is not suitable when creating a work of art. For high quality mohair a lot of Artists go to Delta Dawn Mohair. http://www.deltadawnpremiummohair.com/EBAY/MHA109.HTM. Her Angora Mohair is some of the best on the market. For a ½ ounce of mohair you are looking at paying at least $50.00 if not more depending on the cut for an ounce it can go over $100.00. Another seller of Mohair is Debbie Henshaw. If you remember last week we did an article on Debbie. Some of the top Artists in the industry purchase their hair from Debbie. http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/TheyNeverGrowUpNursery/0/0/46355#./46355?&_suid=1336067458177024096368255057937
Her hair ranges in price from $21.00 to $42.00 depending on the amount and the kind that you purchase. To learn more about mohair and what it takes to create the finished product please visit Debbie’s website at: http://www.theynevergrowupnursery.com/angora-mohair.html
With the mohair you will also have to purchase felting needles.
http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/needles--tools-137-c.asp
There is a wide range of eyes that are available on the market for Reborn dolls. Everything from the standard acrylic to hand- blown glass or German crystal eyes. Of course the glass eyes are more realistic and therefore more expensive. The standard size glass eyes range in price from $20.00 to over $50.00 and can go even higher.
http://store.dolldreams.net/Figure-Eyes-from-Lauscha-Size_p_612.html
http://www.irresistables.com/category/german_glass_eyes/
http://www.glasseyes.com/cgi-bin/products.pl?ref=doll&productcode=700A
Bodies for the sculpts can either be purchased at the same time that you purchase the sculpt from the same dealers or the Artist can choose to have a custom body made depending on what their client is wanting. Bodies range in price from $14.95 to around $30.00 or more for a custom body depending on the size and material that is chosen.
Now at this point you would think that you have everything that you need to make the Reborn doll, unfortunately you are incorrect. You still need to purchase the materials that go into the doll. Poly-fill will set you back another $5.00 to $20.00, Glass beads depending on the size that you use and how much you purchase is another $15.00 to $45.00. You then also have bags or stockings, glue, felt and magnets. All of these things cost money.
Now that all of the components in making a Reborn doll are purchased the costs do not stop there. Most Artists include a coming home package. These packages can include photos, clothing (multiple outfits), diapers, blankets, plush toys, baby bottles, pacifiers and accessories. That can be anywhere from $50.00 to over $100.00 depending on how elaborate the package is.
Now let’s not forget other essentials in the Reborn industry. A Reborn Artist will need an excellent camera and the props to go along with the camera as well as studio lightening to take the amazing photos that you the client will see. They will also have to have some kind of computer with a photo program.
So as you can clearly see most Artist that sell their dolls for $500.00 are barely making a profit. We are Artists. This means that yes we are passionate about what we do and we don’t do it to become rich. However, we also do not do it to put our families in the poor house. This is just a brief glimpse at what it can potentially cost to make a reborn. We did not even cover the Artists time, eBay fees, packaging supplies and mailing.
Reborns are created using Genesis Heat set paints or other Air dry paints. The average artists will have at least one of each color that is offered. One ½ ounce jar of genesis heat set paints is around $3.29 without the shipping. To ship one ½ ounce jar it costs approximately $4.40 so you are looking at a total of $7.69 just for one ½ ounce jar. Now most Artists don’t purchase just one ½ ounce jar, they usually purchase multiple sets. There are different sets for different skin tones so each set will have to be purchased in order to achieve all variations. Here is a link to some of the sets that are available at Bountiful Baby just one of the dealers selling GHSP (Genesis Heat Set Paints) http://www.bountifulbaby.com/seaside/index/supplies?_s=rykGfRhhkjcQJjCH&_k=aVsgHxOI&s=31811&t=Category+Number&d=false&c=431811
Along with the paints the Artist then has to purchase applicators, sponges, brushes, thinner, palettes, either a heat gun or an oven (if the household oven is not used) not to mention the gas or electric that is being used all day, as the oven remains on during the painting process, drying rack, work area etc. The initial set up for an artist averages between $500.00 and $1000.00 before any other supplies are purchased. This price does not include any educational materials or classes, forums, groups or guilds that the Artist joins to further their knowledge.
Once the Artist has all of his or her painting supplies they will then need to purchase a Reborn doll kit. A Reborn doll kit consists of the head and the limbs. That is all. It does not come with a body unless it is full vinyl, it does not come with hair or eyes. All of these things have to be purchased separately. Let’s take a look at different doll kits. Bountiful Baby offers some of the best prices in doll kits however; they may not be the most popular doll kit out on the market. For an 18 to 20 inch kit prices average at $34.95 before shipping. http://www.bountifulbaby.com/seaside/index/supplies?_s=rykGfRhhkjcQJjCH&_k=XFMcozgY&s=2411&t=Category+Number&d=false&c=72411
For the latest in kits we will go over to Doll Dreams http://www.dolldreams.net/. Doll Dreams offers some of the best known Sculptors in the industry. The 18 to 20 inch kits average $84.95 before shipping. For bigger sculpts you can pay over $150.00 or more again just for the kit. http://store.dolldreams.net/-Doll-Kits_c_10.html
Irresistables is another dealer of doll kits/sculpts. Their prices range from $79.99 to over $100.00 for a standard size sculpt. http://www.irresistables.com/
The average cost that an Artist pays, for the sculpt is in the $100.00 price range.
Now we will examine the other components used to make a Reborn baby.
Angora Mohair is the hair that is most often used when creating newborn to infant size babies. Since this is the most popular size of Reborn we will focus on the cost of this size. Toddlers and children size Reborns are more expensive to create.
Angora Mohair can be found from many different sources. As a Reborn Artist myself I have tried numerous sources and I have to say it is all not the same. I have personally wasted hundreds of dollars on mohair that is not suitable when creating a work of art. For high quality mohair a lot of Artists go to Delta Dawn Mohair. http://www.deltadawnpremiummohair.com/EBAY/MHA109.HTM. Her Angora Mohair is some of the best on the market. For a ½ ounce of mohair you are looking at paying at least $50.00 if not more depending on the cut for an ounce it can go over $100.00. Another seller of Mohair is Debbie Henshaw. If you remember last week we did an article on Debbie. Some of the top Artists in the industry purchase their hair from Debbie. http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/TheyNeverGrowUpNursery/0/0/46355#./46355?&_suid=1336067458177024096368255057937
Her hair ranges in price from $21.00 to $42.00 depending on the amount and the kind that you purchase. To learn more about mohair and what it takes to create the finished product please visit Debbie’s website at: http://www.theynevergrowupnursery.com/angora-mohair.html
With the mohair you will also have to purchase felting needles.
http://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/needles--tools-137-c.asp
There is a wide range of eyes that are available on the market for Reborn dolls. Everything from the standard acrylic to hand- blown glass or German crystal eyes. Of course the glass eyes are more realistic and therefore more expensive. The standard size glass eyes range in price from $20.00 to over $50.00 and can go even higher.
http://store.dolldreams.net/Figure-Eyes-from-Lauscha-Size_p_612.html
http://www.irresistables.com/category/german_glass_eyes/
http://www.glasseyes.com/cgi-bin/products.pl?ref=doll&productcode=700A
Bodies for the sculpts can either be purchased at the same time that you purchase the sculpt from the same dealers or the Artist can choose to have a custom body made depending on what their client is wanting. Bodies range in price from $14.95 to around $30.00 or more for a custom body depending on the size and material that is chosen.
Now at this point you would think that you have everything that you need to make the Reborn doll, unfortunately you are incorrect. You still need to purchase the materials that go into the doll. Poly-fill will set you back another $5.00 to $20.00, Glass beads depending on the size that you use and how much you purchase is another $15.00 to $45.00. You then also have bags or stockings, glue, felt and magnets. All of these things cost money.
Now that all of the components in making a Reborn doll are purchased the costs do not stop there. Most Artists include a coming home package. These packages can include photos, clothing (multiple outfits), diapers, blankets, plush toys, baby bottles, pacifiers and accessories. That can be anywhere from $50.00 to over $100.00 depending on how elaborate the package is.
Now let’s not forget other essentials in the Reborn industry. A Reborn Artist will need an excellent camera and the props to go along with the camera as well as studio lightening to take the amazing photos that you the client will see. They will also have to have some kind of computer with a photo program.
So as you can clearly see most Artist that sell their dolls for $500.00 are barely making a profit. We are Artists. This means that yes we are passionate about what we do and we don’t do it to become rich. However, we also do not do it to put our families in the poor house. This is just a brief glimpse at what it can potentially cost to make a reborn. We did not even cover the Artists time, eBay fees, packaging supplies and mailing.
