Ali's Babbas Nursery

Beautiful Reborn Dolls by Alison Barnett

 

                        Photobucket

Hello! I'm Alison Barnett and I live near Cambridge in the UK - welcome to my website                                                                                                 

I have always loved dolls, so when I discovered Reborn dolls on Ebay in 2006 I was totally captivated.  I just HAD to find out how these beautiful babies were created.

Dolls are re-created or 'reborned' by removing factory paint and hair then re-painting and re-rooting new hair to try to achieve as realistic baby as possible.  Dolls have always been loved and collected by many.  Over time dolls have evolved from very basic rag dolls to china or porcelain and more recently vinyl.  Some dolls have always looked more realistic than others.  There is nothing freaky about reborn dolls - although a recent television show "Fake Baby" may like to suggest otherwise!  If you love dolls and babies, then take a look at a reborn - I'm sure you'll be quite amazed.

Each reborned doll is unique, and each artist or 'reborner' has their own style - just as any artist does.  Some like to make their dolls look sweet and angelic, others go in for the vivid newborn blotchy look, complete with milk spots and scratches.  There is a style to suit all tastes, as are the huge choice of dolls and doll kits for reborning.  Beauty is definately in the eye of the beholder. If you find a sculpt that reminds you of a baby you know or knew, it is perfectly possible to paint the doll to resemble that baby - to copy a birthmark for instance.

Having had three children of my own who are now quite grown up, I'm enjoying baby days once more, so for me, reborning is a totally absorbing hobby.  Each doll is created with a close attention to detail and quality.  It takes many hours of work to get each doll just right - and I am my loudest critic!  No stage is rushed, from the painting to hair rooting, filling to assembling, ensuring that each doll is a quality reborn that can be loved and handed down for generations to come.  This means that I do not churn babies out and may only manage to reborn just one baby in a month.   I live just south of Cambridge in the UK. 

Here are just a few comments from delighted customers and friends:-

"Hi Ali
They arrived safely. They are both so adorable. Thank you so much! I couldn't wait to get in the box to see which name you had given Noe! Joseph is just perfect. And Alistair, I opened him to have a quick peek (I couldn't resist lol) his vinyl is so soft and hes so cute ***** is going to love him."
 
"Hi Alison,
Grace has arrived, she is adorable!  Thank you so much. Her pictures do not do her justice, she is just so beautiful and feels so real in my arms. I'm finding it hard to put her down to do any housework. I guess the housework will have to wait lol. Thank you for the coat and shoes too they finish her outfit off perfectly. I can hardly wait for everyone to get home so I can show her off. Thank you so much for bringing her to life for me."

   "Hi Alison! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for my gorgeous baby,when I opened the box it was like opening it and seeing a real baby there,I just cried,I was still crying when I rang my husband to tell him she was here.I can't find the words Alison,she is amazing,beautiful,out of this world!You are a truly amazingly talented lady,she's so real I can't believe it!I've had to force myself to put her down for a nap to come on here,I love her so much I can't tell you,I'm so so happy!Thank you for bringing my beautiful Molly to life,thank you a million times.And she was so snuggly wrapped!And her clothes are gorgeous!Everything is so wonderful,because of you.Thank you forever.

"Stunning, so realistic, very well packed, our daughter will be thrilled, thanks"

"Over the moon, absolutely stunning wee boy. Many Thanks Alison"

"Hi Ali, Georgia is stunning !! what a beautiful baby.........well done best wishes Dianne xx"


If you are new to the world of reborns, please take time to study pictures carefully of dolls for sale on Ebay.  If the pictures are not clear (too dark, blurred or taken ona poor camera) please- please be very wary.  Photos may not give a true representationof the baby's colouring.   I have recently been given the task of putting right a baby for a very treasured customer who had sadly purchased a doll on Ebay (from a seemingly reputable reborn artist) and was very disappointed...

My dear Alison,

A very big thank you for turning an e bay disaster into my beautiful baby Alice. Thank goodness I found you otherwise I would still be thinking that I had spent a small fortune on what is essentially a doll, but only in the right hands turns into a baby.   My own fault, I was very ignorant in what to look for, as I am sure are so many others when it is the first time!  Ignorance is not always bliss!!!

It wasn’t until I arrived home last night and had time to really look at her did I realise how soft and beautiful her hair (you are so clever), her colouring is now perfect and her body is now in proportion. You have certainly worked wonders with her. It makes you wonder why I ever bought her, but of course we know the Ariella face is so lovely, what we don’t know until she arrives is what she really looks like, photos can be deceiving, in the hands of some people.

Thank you once again for Alice.

Best wishes,

JILL

Please enjoy some pictures of my most recent babies by "Ali's Babbas"

- Oh, and just to say that ALL the pictures on my website are dolls - honestly!!!

And don't forget to keep popping back to see my new babies!!  :-)

 

...Click on the Past Babies link at the left of the page for more pictures and information.