It had been so warm here in Alberta, Canada. Well above normal temperatures, the snow was gone, and you could get away with wearing a sweater. Now it's -13C, -22 with the windchill. I wanted to turn the alarm off and go back to sleep in my toasty bed. My daughter wouldn't have gone for that. She LOVES kindergarten and wants to be there as much as possible! Which is a good thing, I loved elementary too! :)
I'm in for 3 hours before I have to go pick up Bianca from school. If only I had more babies to work on. Instead, I find myself searching for clothes, mohair, other kits, and finished babies of the same kits I have or will be getting.
About mohair - I purchased mine from BountifulBaby, and read that most like it for older babies, but it won't work for newborns/preemies. Feeling dumb for ordering the mohair without researching first, I've gone on a hunt to find better mohair and at a cheaper cost than Delta Dawn, or Slumberland mohair. Yes, their mohair is gorgeous and worth the cost, but for me, the cost is even more with me living in Canada. So, I have found some raw mohair (not washed or conditioned) online for a fair price. I purchased some blonde/brown colors. I know I'm getting a big amount of dirty hair, but it will be beautiful in the end. I really don't mind the work you have to put into processing your own mohair. I used to make plush toys from scratch so washing mohair will be a breeze! (I hope! LOL!) I think it makes the reborn all that more special when the artist has also processed the mohair themselves.
While we're talking cost, why not break down the cost of a reborn baby?
Kit price: $30-$125 (Kits include head, arms and legs)
BountifulBaby kits are the least expensive. This is because they mass produce their kits, and have them readily available. They are still kits sculpted by artists and then made into vinyl kits just like limited edition kits. Limited edition kits are just that, Limited. The sculpture artist has 250-1000 kits made. Each kit comes with a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) that has been number, example 50/250, and is signed by the sculpt artist. These kits can by hard to come by. When they sell out they're gone and the artist won't be getting anymore reproduced.
Body price: $8-$25 a piece.
That's right, the kits above only consist of the vinyl parts, the head, the arms and the legs. There are different cloth bodies. You have a less expensive type which isn't going to be all that nice, but works. Then you have doe suede, and flannel. These are the two more expensive bodies. The doe suede being in the middle for cost and the flannel being the most expensive. (From what I've seen out there.) I don't know how often you'd see the cloth body or feel it. They're all soft and squishy once filled with poly pellets and poly fill (stuffing).
Belly Plate/Butt Plates: $20-$25 a piece.
These are so cute! If you are a collector and like seeing the belly, then you'd want one for your reborn. You can even have that cute little baby butt out on display! These plates are vinyl just like the reborn, and would have to be painted at the same time as the kit it is going with so they match in color. They are simply tied onto your reborn, and are not permanent. Belly/Butt plates are not included with kits.
Paint price: $2-$10 depending on size of kit.
I use Genesis Heat Set Paints. Kits must be baked in an oven to set the paints and make them permanent.
I will also be using Water Borne Air Dry paints, which dry without baking.
Mohair price: $8-$60 Half oz amount.
I don't know how many babies you can root with half an ounce of mohair. I am soon to find out! The $8 price is from BountifulBaby. This is the less expensive and isn't as nice as other mohair out there. I have heard that it good for older babies and toddler kits. It doesn't seem that I will be using it often. I will be processing my own, in hopes to keep the cost down.
Stuffing price: $5-$10 depending on kit size.
I use tiny glass beads, similar to finely ground sugar to fill the limbs and head of my babies. I don't want the babies overly heavy because this would make the shipping price sky rocket and not like a real baby with all that weight. So there will be tiny glass beads and light poly fill in the arms, legs and head. The body will have poly fill as well, but no tiny glass beads. This would make the baby too heavy, and not realistic. Instead, every baby will have a pouch of poly pellets and poly fill for a soft, squishy, cuddly body.
Eyelash price: $1-$5
Price depends on the type of lashes. If you want mohair, then more work goes into rooting the lashes, and you need that expensive mohair too! The less expensive lashes are ones you'd cut from a strand and glue onto the eyelids.
Clothes price: $1-$100
I do buy some clothes second hand. I know some people don't like that idea, but it keeps the cost down. I will always include an outfit or two with every reborn. Things are expensive in Canada, so I try to shop when things are on sale, or at thrift stores. If someone decided to purchase a reborn from me and wanted new clothes, I would certainly give them new clothes.
I do wash all the clothes that I purchase. I check for stains, and wear. All items are in like new condition. Promise!
Blankets and Accessories: $2-$20
Depending on the blanket they can cost between $5 and $20.
Pacifiers are between $2-$8. This is for one alone. Cost depends on how fancy or what brand name you want.
Shoes vary in price. I'm going to say $2-$20. Again the price depends on type (soft or hard sole), brand and size.
Socks are inexpensive. I can get them for $.50 or $1 a pair.
Toys can be expensive. $5-$50 depending on the toy size, and brand. Most don't include a toy with their reborns. I am not most, and all of my reborns will come with a toy!
Shipping cost: $30 or more for a kit alone. Shipping price goes up from there. This cost will be added to finished reborns.
There are some items that I can purchase here in Canada, but most (I'd say 98%) are imported from the US.
Once you add it all up here's the price of a reborn:
Less expensive reborn: $107 I added all the small amounts, plus shipping ($30). This price wouldn't include an outfit, it would be socks.
The most expensive: $430 I added all the most expensive amounts together, plus shipping ($50).
That's just the base price.
I'm in for 3 hours before I have to go pick up Bianca from school. If only I had more babies to work on. Instead, I find myself searching for clothes, mohair, other kits, and finished babies of the same kits I have or will be getting.
About mohair - I purchased mine from BountifulBaby, and read that most like it for older babies, but it won't work for newborns/preemies. Feeling dumb for ordering the mohair without researching first, I've gone on a hunt to find better mohair and at a cheaper cost than Delta Dawn, or Slumberland mohair. Yes, their mohair is gorgeous and worth the cost, but for me, the cost is even more with me living in Canada. So, I have found some raw mohair (not washed or conditioned) online for a fair price. I purchased some blonde/brown colors. I know I'm getting a big amount of dirty hair, but it will be beautiful in the end. I really don't mind the work you have to put into processing your own mohair. I used to make plush toys from scratch so washing mohair will be a breeze! (I hope! LOL!) I think it makes the reborn all that more special when the artist has also processed the mohair themselves.
While we're talking cost, why not break down the cost of a reborn baby?
Kit price: $30-$125 (Kits include head, arms and legs)
BountifulBaby kits are the least expensive. This is because they mass produce their kits, and have them readily available. They are still kits sculpted by artists and then made into vinyl kits just like limited edition kits. Limited edition kits are just that, Limited. The sculpture artist has 250-1000 kits made. Each kit comes with a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) that has been number, example 50/250, and is signed by the sculpt artist. These kits can by hard to come by. When they sell out they're gone and the artist won't be getting anymore reproduced.
Body price: $8-$25 a piece.
That's right, the kits above only consist of the vinyl parts, the head, the arms and the legs. There are different cloth bodies. You have a less expensive type which isn't going to be all that nice, but works. Then you have doe suede, and flannel. These are the two more expensive bodies. The doe suede being in the middle for cost and the flannel being the most expensive. (From what I've seen out there.) I don't know how often you'd see the cloth body or feel it. They're all soft and squishy once filled with poly pellets and poly fill (stuffing).
Belly Plate/Butt Plates: $20-$25 a piece.
These are so cute! If you are a collector and like seeing the belly, then you'd want one for your reborn. You can even have that cute little baby butt out on display! These plates are vinyl just like the reborn, and would have to be painted at the same time as the kit it is going with so they match in color. They are simply tied onto your reborn, and are not permanent. Belly/Butt plates are not included with kits.
Paint price: $2-$10 depending on size of kit.
I use Genesis Heat Set Paints. Kits must be baked in an oven to set the paints and make them permanent.
I will also be using Water Borne Air Dry paints, which dry without baking.
Mohair price: $8-$60 Half oz amount.
I don't know how many babies you can root with half an ounce of mohair. I am soon to find out! The $8 price is from BountifulBaby. This is the less expensive and isn't as nice as other mohair out there. I have heard that it good for older babies and toddler kits. It doesn't seem that I will be using it often. I will be processing my own, in hopes to keep the cost down.
Stuffing price: $5-$10 depending on kit size.
I use tiny glass beads, similar to finely ground sugar to fill the limbs and head of my babies. I don't want the babies overly heavy because this would make the shipping price sky rocket and not like a real baby with all that weight. So there will be tiny glass beads and light poly fill in the arms, legs and head. The body will have poly fill as well, but no tiny glass beads. This would make the baby too heavy, and not realistic. Instead, every baby will have a pouch of poly pellets and poly fill for a soft, squishy, cuddly body.
Eyelash price: $1-$5
Price depends on the type of lashes. If you want mohair, then more work goes into rooting the lashes, and you need that expensive mohair too! The less expensive lashes are ones you'd cut from a strand and glue onto the eyelids.
Clothes price: $1-$100
I do buy some clothes second hand. I know some people don't like that idea, but it keeps the cost down. I will always include an outfit or two with every reborn. Things are expensive in Canada, so I try to shop when things are on sale, or at thrift stores. If someone decided to purchase a reborn from me and wanted new clothes, I would certainly give them new clothes.
I do wash all the clothes that I purchase. I check for stains, and wear. All items are in like new condition. Promise!
Blankets and Accessories: $2-$20
Depending on the blanket they can cost between $5 and $20.
Pacifiers are between $2-$8. This is for one alone. Cost depends on how fancy or what brand name you want.
Shoes vary in price. I'm going to say $2-$20. Again the price depends on type (soft or hard sole), brand and size.
Socks are inexpensive. I can get them for $.50 or $1 a pair.
Toys can be expensive. $5-$50 depending on the toy size, and brand. Most don't include a toy with their reborns. I am not most, and all of my reborns will come with a toy!
Shipping cost: $30 or more for a kit alone. Shipping price goes up from there. This cost will be added to finished reborns.
There are some items that I can purchase here in Canada, but most (I'd say 98%) are imported from the US.
Once you add it all up here's the price of a reborn:
Less expensive reborn: $107 I added all the small amounts, plus shipping ($30). This price wouldn't include an outfit, it would be socks.
The most expensive: $430 I added all the most expensive amounts together, plus shipping ($50).
That's just the base price.