New Heads for the 8 inch Doll Series

Introducing 4 new heads for the 8 inch Penny doll body.  
New arms available also, like Wednesday's Child arms.

 Penny, Polly, Pansy, Poppy and Pearl Click Here for more Info.

Polly Pearl Poppy Pansy

New Press Molds  by Dianna Effner

I worked hard from May through July to get new press molds ready for the Craft and Hobby Association Super Show in Orlando.    What a show it was.  They say there were 9,000 people in attendance.  My sisters and I were extremely busy from beginning to end of the 2 day show, demonstrating the press molds, helping customers with their make-and-takes and selling our wares. 

We had some of the porcelain dolls on display which attracted some interest. 

My main intention was to introduce press molds to the Craft world.   I also wanted to endorse Hearty Clay which I still think is wonderful stuff.  

We had a 10 x 20 booth at the event where we displayed dolls and other goods. We offered supplies to make flower face pins as make-and-takes.  We had a steady line of enthusiastic crafters eager to make them.  I sculpted the little faces with a lot of expression and so they required little or no painting to be effective.  There are 5 different characters, Artsy, Silly, Happy, Peaceful and Cool.  

Every crafter had a favorite character.  Some bought one mold. Some bought all 5.  

Each mold has one character in 3 different sizes.  

Expressions is offering these molds at $25 each or all 5 for $100 plus Free s/h. Click Here for more info.

Hearty Clay Colors by Dianna Effner
As an artist I think one of the greatest things about Hearty Clay is the colors and how easily I can make any color or match any color I want.  The company that makes the clay used to make it available in 12 colors plus white.  Since I have been working with the clay they have eliminated some of their colors.  I think all you really need to make any color is the 3 primary colors and white and maybe sometimes, black.  When I first found out that flesh was no longer made I was disappointed at first but now I thinks it's better this way.  The flesh that they made before was not a good color and had to be modified anyhow. It was way too pink!  I always added other colors to tone it down.  To make realistic skin tones with various shade of tan and brown I had to used small amounts of all the primaries.  I have been working on recipes for making some nice flesh tone.   I have put together a starter kit of Hearty Clay with the 3 primary colors and a large pkg of White with instructions for making a nice basic flesh color.  This wonderful stuff is great for quick creative projects to do as a pleasant diversion from porcelain work.  You've got to get your hands on some.  I know you'll love it.  I will be publishing more information on working with Hearty Clay in the near future.

On Reborning Porcelain Baby Dolls by Dianna Effner

To those doll makers who have been waiting for the Reborning class, I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to develop it.   Other duties have taken up my time but I am working on the course when I can. I will let you know as soon as it is ready.   if you are waiting for this course please drop me a line at dianna@diannaeffner.com and I will put you on a special list to receive the information as soon as it is ready. Please put "reborn baby class"  in the subject line of the message.   

I would like to explain my purpose in developing new painting techniques for making porcelain babies. Although China Paint is my first love, especially for painting eyes I have often used other kinds of paint for the sake of experimentation.  Every medium has it's advantages and it's drawbacks.  For many years I have been frustrated with the limited colors available to the China Painter, particularly  reds and pinks. China paint pigments are made from minerals and metals that can withstand high temperatures.  The reds are all made with a base of iron and the pinks are made with gold.  The colors that can be produced are very limited.  The gold paints are difficult to work with for various reasons and would not work for doll painting.    That leaves the reds and the iron based pigments which forever have an orange and sometimes brown caste. There is really no way to achieve the rosy colors we would need to blush a newborn baby.  The reds we use like my Rich Red and Kiss Me Pink work best when used  over a pink porcelain as a light blush.  If more intense color is desired the colors are not what we need for a realistic baby.  

For a long time I have experimented in hopes of discovering a way to apply other types of paint to Porcelain.  The result was always unacceptable until about 2 years ago when I found a sealer that is invisible on the porcelain and acts as a primer for applying artist colors to the porcelain.  Finally I am now able to use the colors I need to blush realistic babies.  Since this discovery I have spent hours of studio time experimenting with the techniques for application and blending the colors. I still have a way to go but I am almost ready to present the basics to those who are interested.  You can join me in the experiement.  I think this could be the beginning of a revolution in porcelain doll making.  It has very exciting possibilities.  I am excited to learn more about the art of reborning myself as time allows and opportunities arise.   I'm working on a vinyl infant doll and kit to be introduced later this year. 

I am using the Tiny series to introduce the new paints and techniques for reborning porcelain babies. These little ones are always popular with collectors.  With the reborn realistic coloring and applied hair they have extraordinary appeal.