I'm going to put myself out on a limb here. I actually make Reborn dolls. For years I've been a procelian doll artist and sold many, where reborning first came into play it sparked my curiosity and almost seemed like a challenge, to work with a new set of paints ( they use heat set paints) - and to get the colours so realistic. So i gave it a shot and was quite surprised at how they turned out. Doll collecting is very popular. There will always be a group of people who will give it a bad name. Same as any collection, some people collect animals....then there's those who collect animals for fighting/testing etc...If that makes sense?
I certianly dont make them to look like a baby that has passed away and won't accept orders from people who want them to look like a photograph. In fact it's probably a small handful, and i mean very small handful of people who want a doll that looks like a baby they lost...and because the media found out about this very small group they've had a field day! Most dolls i make go to collectors.
I love doing it, I haven't been doing reborning for that long, but now i do more reborning dolls than i do porcelian ones. I love seeing the surpise of peoples face when they see them in my house/studio. I had a repairman once talking loud and then started to whisper and said "Oh i didn't realise you had a little one sleeping"....even after I told him it was a doll he had to touch it to believe me....from an artists point of view thats fantastic!!
Added - We've been trying for a baby for 3 years. i've been asked before how can I make these dolls when I want a baby of my own so bad....I'm not creating a baby, thats what people dont get...these are dolls and the creators are artists....There's nothing "real" about the doll except the appearance. And that is all just paint and shading...of course i have a cuddle when they are all dressed up and finished...But it's a DOLL...thats the thing to remember...I'm not selling babies and therefore I don't grow "attached" to these dolls..