I repair dolls especially composition dolls and make wigs for them as well. I also create fashions for dolls and make reproduction fashions to replace the original ones. Some times I just make a certain piece that is missing to a doll costume.

My tip for today is, instead of buying the expensive doll cream that is used to fill in crazing on composition dolls get some Elmers Wood filler at the hardware store. Use it like the cream and rub it into the crazing. Wipe with a paper towel to smooth out. When it drys you cans use a 0000 steel wool to polish it out. It is also good for larger repairs like shipped fingers and toes. This product comes in a large varity of colors so you shouldn't have a hard time finding one that matches. It even comes in very dark colors as well. You can take a small amount of it and mix it to match. Be sure to not mix more than you are going to use and wipe up the excess on the surface of the doll immediately. When replace large areas it can be sanded and then smooth out with steel wool.  

That is my tip for today. Comeback again and I will have a new one for you. Below is a picture of a doll that I used the above method to fix surface cracks around the eyes and lips. The eyes are the old tin eyes and are not as clear as they could be but the owner wanted the left as is. She looks good as new.

Oct: 30th 2007 Tip for the day. If you have an old bisque head doll that you need to put new rocker eyes in or you want to take out the old ones repair them and then replace them then here is what you that blob of stuff is made out of that hold them in place. Mix up plaster of paris occording to directions and add some elmers glue. It want take a lot. Then it will harden like bisque. Don't mix this up untill you are ready to use it immediately and also coat the parts of the eyes that this plaster misture is going to touch so they will swing freely when you are finished. Do not get the valseline on the front of the eyes or the next step will not work.  To hold the eyes in place while you are putting this on you need to first do the following. You need a wax called sticky wax. Use a hot plate like you use to melt scented wax put a small dish on it that you don't mind messing up. and let the sticky wax melt so you can drop it in drops. Get the eyes in the position that you want them to be and put a drop at the top and bottom of the eye next to the eye lids making sure the wight is touching the chin on the inside. If the eyes look out of place then you will have to ajust the weight. Start dropping wax all around the eyes to hold them very securly. Some like to cover the intire eye which is not necessary for just replacing the rocker. Be sure the wax sets up real good. I usually wait 24 hrs before I proceed. Now mix up  your plaster mix with the elmers glue and put it on the eye ends of the rocker on the inside of the head like it was before you took it out. You may have to do a little bending to get the parts to go against the inside of the head. Most important is to make sure the weight is pushed against the chin on the inside. Be sure that the pad that the weight hits on is still there. If it is not then cut a small piece of felt and glue it inside the chin. If this is not done you stand a chance of cracking the head. Good luck! If you have any problems email me and I will see if I can help.

January 8th 2008. Time for another doll repair tip. Oh your poor composition baby is missing a finger. Well no problem. First you want to take a straight pin or a piece of wire that is about the same. Cut off the head of the straight pin. Drill or bore a hole about the size of the wire in the hand where the finger was. Put the wire in and secure it with some elmers glue. After it has set for about 24 hours then bend it to have the same curve as the original finger if it was curved. You may need to bend it just to get it in line with the rest of the fingers. Take some common wood puddy and build it over the wire and shape it like a finger. The better you shape it and smooth it the less sanding you will have to do. Let it dry for 24 hours. If it gets any cracks which it may do if it is a large finger then just fill it in  with more wood puddy and let it dry and then sand it. Get it really smooth and paint it with acrylic paints to match the rest of the hand. You will probably have to mix the color to get a good match. Put several coats using 00000 steel wool to buff it between coats. Besure to remove any dust before you do another coat. If the doll is real old then it is probably dicolored some so you may have to use a little umber stain to make the finger look old like the rest of the doll. Just wipe it on and wipe off the excess to get the match. Hope this will help email me if you have any questions.