Wow! What a fascinating and loving art- that of OOAK babies, faeries made of polymer clay! I began my love for this art, after a great friend and fellow ebayer introduced me to one of her OOAK newborn babies. I was so intrigued! I promptly began to study and look at every piece of "baby art" I could find. I had to learn the basics, I didn't even know what "OOAK" (one of a kind) meant! I now know that it is an artists depiction to help describe how their doll was made, usually meaning "made without the use of molds", letting the buyer know that their doll will not be reproduced.  Making dolls starts by taking a lump of polymer clay, conditioning, rolling it in your clean hands. Emphasis on CLEAN hands! Polymer clay picks up every little piece of microscopic dirt, lint you can imagine...and some you can't! Using baby wipes usually helps to keep your hands and clay free of dirt. I always start with the head, rolling out a piece of clay in my hands. Then I usually stick "the ball" on the end of a wooden stick. This helps to keep my fingernails and fingertips from making unwanted indentions or impressions into the clay. I divide the clay into "fourths" for the face, remembering that a baby has a much larger forehead than a grown person. I position the eyes just a bit above the "half" mark, that way, the baby still has plenty of forehead and I can start from there. Making a closed eye baby- I roll two small pieces of circular clay and position them on the head.I try to make sure that each piece is as close to the other as possible. Then I make a slightly bigger, round piece of clay and position it right below the eyes. I just stick it on there for now. Then using a kemper tool, I open the mouth, and try positioning it the best I can. I make two tiny snake "rolls" and place one above my mouth opening (for the top lip) and one below for the bottom lip. Then I go back to the eyes and work from there, creating eyelids, shaping a baby nose and nostrils using tools. I do not use molds in any of my creations, as with most artists. Shaping and smoothing the face can be very trying, sometimes adding and sometimes removing portions of clay. Everyone has their own ideas and techniques. Alot of the technique is trial and error. What works for one person, doesn't always work for the other!

These beautiful, life-like babies are all different. Some have soft, stuffed bodies with poseable arms, legs and head. These dolls are usually dressable in cute little hand-made outfits. Others are full sculpts- meaning the entire doll is made of clay. If you have any questions about the doll you are looking at- ask the seller, I have found that almost all are more than willing to answer any of your questions. Once you buy one and it arrives on your doorstep- instant addiction is almost guaranteed! Stay tuned...more to come.  =)

I hope you enjoyed reading my "thoughts", which are not always the clearest.  =)  Feel free to ask ANY questions, I love to talk to others and don't mind helping! God bless!

April @ Sillybugs Nursery