The Artsy Thistle, where creativity Blooms, and everyone is an artist!!!!
What Is Visual Storytelling?
Visual storytelling is a visual narrative—a story told primarily through art and imagery. It may take the form of painting, photography, sculpture, illustration, or video, and can be enhanced with sound, music, or voice. For some, reborn dolls help process grief after the loss of a child. For others, they are portrait dolls, collectibles, or part of Alzheimer’s and dementia therapy—where dolls or teddy bears are known to reduce stress and agitation.
For me, it’s a blend of all of these. With a background in Fine Art and studies at the Ontario College of Art, I was drawn to reborns both artistically and emotionally. Creating them allows me to nurture, to create with intention—and then to lovingly pass them on to someone who needs them. If reborns aren’t your thing, that’s okay.
All I ask is respect. Everyone has their own story and journey. I’m honoured to be part of yours, whatever your reason may be.
Lisa
Little Squirts Nursery
The Artsy Thistle"
Explore the Nursery
These are blank sculpt that we currently have in our inventory. Note, the photos below are artists photos of artist prototypes or work. Please use these as inspiration for your very own newborn.
Available Customizable babies (Unfinished)
Why are
Reborn Dolls so expensive!!!!???
Have you ever asked yourself, Why are authentic reborn dolls so expensive?
Reborn dolls have become increasingly popular in recent years, captivating the hearts of collectors and enthusiasts alike. These lifelike dolls, crafted with meticulous attention to detail, often come with a hefty price tag. But have you ever wondered why reborn dolls are so expensive? Let me do my very best to explain...
Artistry and Skill
Creating a reborn doll is a labor-intensive process that requires immense skill and artistry. Sure, anyone can paint a doll and sell it... and call themselves an "artist". But you truly need to do your research about who you send your hard earned money to.
True Reborn artists spend countless hours painting vinyl (or silicone kits). In order to achieve a realistic look with depth and dimension the vinyl or silicone is painted with many many MANY layers of special paint.
Take a look at the back of your hand right now. Take an inventory of everything you see. You will see different colours of your skin, for example I see:
layers of pink, yellow, green, blue, red, burnt umber I see veins, creases, pores.... Now flip your arm over, and look at the area between your wrist and elbow. You can now see different patterns underneath your top skin (flesh layers) that look like were put on with sponge, this is called mottle...
Special techniques are used to achieve a natural skin texture, mottle, pores, veins, depth of the skin, details of the fingernails, creases.
The dolls hair if rooted with hair, is usually rooted with a small needle with a tiny tooth and with mohair, some clients will request human hair.
A good reborn artist will root each individual hair strand on its own (or two) in one singular hole, and in the direction of growth to achieve a realistic appearance. Rooting a doll is especially time consuming and can be the difference in whether a doll looks real or... just like a doll. This
attention to detail ensure that every doll is a unique work of art.
The time and effort invested in each doll contribute significantly to their overall cost. Even if the babe is not rooted with actual hair, a special technique is used, as is painting individual hairs to achieve a 3-D look.
Materials and Supplies
All reputable reborn artist will buy their authentic reborn or silicone kits from reputable dealers who obtain them directly from the reborn sculptor.
The materials used in the creation of reborn dolls are of the highest quality.
First, the sculpt (or the kit/ the vinyl).
Little Squirts Nursery will only work on authentic sculpt. Sculpts should always be purchased from an authorized dealer, retailer. Or, someone that you are familiar with that you know can provide proof of purchase.
Unfortunately, there are many "knock off"/ unauthorized replicas or artists work being sold on the world wide web.
From authentic vinyl or silicone used for the doll's body to the premium mohair or human hair used for the hair, every component is carefully selected to achieve a lifelike look and feel.
Additionally, artists use specialized paints, sealers, and other supplies to bring the doll to life. Little Squirts Nursery uses Genesis Heat Set paints. I have moved away from the air dry paints due to some disatisfaction with the air dry paint eventually becoming shiny.
These premium materials and supplies add to the overall expense of creating a reborn doll.
Customization and Personalization
Reborn dolls are often customized to meet the specific preferences of their owners. Artists work closely with their clients to create dolls that resemble real babies or fulfill certain fantasies. This customization process involves additional time and effort, as artists strive to capture the unique characteristics and features requested by their clients. The personalized nature of reborn dolls contributes to their higher price point.
Limited Availability
Reborn dolls are typically handmade by individual artists or small studios and not mass produced. Due to the intricate nature of the craft, the number of dolls produced is limited. This limited availability, coupled with the high demand for these dolls, drives up their price. Collectors and enthusiasts are willing to pay a premium for the opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind reborn doll. So, if you see a doll under $100, run as it is not an authentic reborn doll. Ask a reborn artist is you are not sure what you are buying.
