I want to thank the LLRG members for voting for my sweet baby Juliet & making it possible for me to be LLRG's June 2008 Featured Artist....I am very honored! I also want to voice my appreciation to Willow Dawn & Sandy who make it possible for all of us members to feel welcome & safe in the wonderful Guild that they keep running smoothly & happily for all of us, THANK YOU both so much!

Just as with most little girls, I loved my dolls & mothered, bathed and dressed them playing Mommy with joy! It also included putting lipstick on them & cutting their hair and happily stitching together my own little doll creations for them to wear....all cherished memories that got me ready for the real thing, 5 real live children! They kept me busy for a L-O-O-O-OG time but in the early 90's I ran into an old friend at Big Ben's Colossal Flea Market in Sacramento, CA....a perky little 20 inch munchkin sitting forlornly on a shelf...dirty, one leg kinda crookedy with raggedy clothes, her name was Chatty Cathy...the first talking doll of the 60's & a love from my past! My darling hubby saw my soft, longing gaze & bought his sweetheart the doll she had wanted so badly as a little girl....my knight in shining armour!

I began collecting Chatty & of course, repairing & restoring her as most of them came to me in pretty bad shape after a couple of decades of wear & tear. Soon I was getting requests for Chatties from other collectors....it was a short leap to selling them on Ebay which I did for 7 years. I loved those years & was also able to incorporate my love of sewing into it by designing & making OOAK designer outfits for each Chatty that I listed & sold....I was considered the top seller in that category on eBay for many years.

I discovered reborn baby dolls on eBay while doing a search for a Patti Playpal that I wanted to add to my doll collection....just as with many...I fell in love & knew I would HAVE to learn it, DO it....make those beautiful life-like babies! I gathered up the supplies & got started....made quite a few for myself but wanted to start selling them so I signed onto Simply Reborn Classes run by Angel Mitchel & Ruth Annette. The classes have been a great help the last 3 years & I am glad I have had that excellant source to call upon when needed. Reborning life-like babies is a joy, a labor of love....I adore doing it & never let a baby leave my hands until I am sure it is perfection, head to toe. I am proud of my work & get so much back from my customers. I have sent babies all over the world and have never had one come back...unloved....I am a happy reborn artist! :>)