Customizing and Doll Artist Links

Several years ago, many collectors began to realize that they could change the way their fashion dolls looked by applying various paint and chemical techniques to their dolls. For years, people have sewn for their dolls. Artists began to realize that they could repaint dolls, not only to restore damaged facial screening, but also to design a new appearance. By accident, one early designer realized that heat can change the properties of the fashion doll's "hair," which is really a synthetic fiber. By applying heat, or boiling water, to certain hairstyling techniques, you can create many different looks. Customizing is an area unknown to most beginning collectors.

These are some examples of custom dolls:

1998 Charlotte BarbieŽ Doll Club Outfit Designed by Nancy Kella	Purple Funk Customized Doll Features repainted lips, eyeliner, molded hair, Mattel outfit, and custom earrings.
	June Cleaver in Color Bowling Champ Barbie redressed in a Don Mendel custom outfit. Hair and makeup original to doll.

This is my Blue Ribbon winning entry in the 2001 National Barbie Collectors Convention Competition. I entered my doll in "Prom Night Mishaps" Single Doll Amateur category. Poor doll, she caught her dress in her panty hose and has toilet paper stuck on her shoe. Thanks to Vicki Lewis for her picture. Now on to the FAQs.

Try These Customizing Links:

Sherri Rhein's Doll Doctor Page

Jennifer Scully's Customizing Tutorials

Lynn Smith's Designs for Dolls


Index to Customizing Articles from Miller's and Barbie Bazaar

Article	Magazine	Date	Page Number
Make Me Over, Please Vintage Reproduction Makeovers	Miller's	Summer 1997	66-71
Putting It All Together Recreating Vintage Fabric and Box by David Rose	Miller's	Sept. 1999	65
Gene Enchantress Dress Pattern	Miller's	Sept. 1998	32 (With Fold Out Page)
Designer Hair Do's from Home	Barbie Bazaar	Feb. 1999	105-107
Barbie Bazaar Fashion Model Hair Styling + Facial Repaint instructions. Aux Champs Elysses dress and hat pattern	Barbie Bazaar	June 1999	85-90
Barbie Goes Shopping hat, hat box, purse, shopping bag patterns	Barbie Bazaar	April 1999	52-56
Barbie Doll's Favourite Mall, Part 1 Instructions for building a shopping mall and accessory ideas.	Barbie Bazaar	Aug. 1999	66-70
Barbie Bazaar Fashion Model Pattern #2 Simply Chic with Cigarette Holder instructions.	Barbie Bazaar	Aug. 1999	71-73
Barbie Doll's Favourite Mall, Part 2.	Barbie Bazaar	October 1999	85-88
Barbie Bazaar Fashion Model Simply Chic Accessories.	Barbie Bazaar	October 1999	89-90
Getting the Most out of Yor Reproduction Dolls by Bouchard, Jeff and Joe Seminerio	Barbie Bazaar	July/August 2000	93-97

Once you see some of the creations by doll artists, you are usually hooked!


Please Visit these Sites of my Favorite Doll Artists

Sugarplums by Amy

Amy Nardone is a doll artist in Maryland. I had the pleasure of being her table guest at the 2000 Barbie Collectors Convention in Tulsa, OK. Amy's unique dolls feature fresh repaints, rooted eyelashes, and great outfits. **

Designs by Nancy

Based in Asheville, NC, Nancy Kella presents her custom dolls and fashions at many Doll Shows in the Southeast. You may have seen her in the salesroom at the National Barbie Collectors Convention. In 1999, Nancy received several awards in the Barbie Bazaar Barbie Makeover Artists Awards. She specializes in Vintage and Contemporary style Daywear, and she also designs for Gene. **

NiniMomo Creations

Nick and Marie of NiniMomo are based in New York. NiniMomo designs dolls around a Beauty Pageant Theme. Each entry in their collection represents the ultimate in Pageant Glamour. Their dolls feature exquisite hand beading, unique jewelry designs, and custom facial painting and hair design. NiniMomo also won the presitgious BMAA award. **

Faraone Originals

Jim Faraone has worked hard to bring the doll artist into the limelight of Barbie Collecting. He is the author of Fashion Doll Makeovers, Vols. 1, 2, and 3 , and a frequent contributor to many collecting publications. Not content to rest on his laurels, Jim is always experimenting with new techniques and interpretations.

Jennifer Jones' Doll Restorations

Jennifer Jones specializes in repainting, rerooting and restyling hair, and repairing Fashion Dolls. Her work is truly exquisite, and she deserves to be listed on the artist's page. Jennifer has been restoring dolls for three years. Her knowledge and talent are undeniable. PLEASE NOTE: Jennifer does not do customizing for customers. She does restoration of Vintage and Mod dolls.

** Represented in Fashion Doll Makeovers I, II, or III by Jim Farraone

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