I came across these dolls in South Africa in February 2012. Everyone was talking about them and I didn’t know what the fuss was about until I saw one for myself. They look like real babies, with veins and all. They are even weighted to feel like a baby. With all the ew and ahs, I was pretty hooked!

I returned to the Maritimes’ house and discovered that no one had heard of them. I started looking at them on eBay and found some of the very good artists. The price on the other hand was extremely high (for a good doll). One sold for just over $ 26,000 USD in the summer. I bet that doll went to her new home, nursery and all. This particular doll was a limited edition and beautifully painted by its designer, a very talented lady. Most dolls sell for between $ 180 and $ 2,000.

Who collects these wonderful works of art? From what I can see, mostly doll collectors, empty vintage, and those who need cuddling to relieve stress. There’s nothing like cuddling a baby, and these dolls get really close. Not only that, but they sleep through the night and make little fuss or mess.

I was so captivated by these dolls that I decided to make one. I did some research, bought the kit, and went on a month-long voyage of discovery. Painting a doll to look real is not the easiest thing to do. There is a technique and no doll maker will tell you everything.

I made several mistakes with my first doll, Shyann, but the end result was good. Strangers think she is real, until they realize she doesn’t blink! When I went to my medical appointment, my doctor spent more time with her than with me! His secretary screamed when she realized it wasn’t real! Couldn’t ask for a better reaction!

There were days while I was doing it, when I felt quite discouraged trying to get the ‘right look’, and others when I could only smile. One of those many ‘smiles’ was when one summer night my partner and I had just finished dinner and were watching the sunset. Shyann’s head, which he had painted and baked that day, was sitting on the coffee table in front of us. He still had no eyes and the sun was shining through the vinyl and producing a “demonic glow” that radiated between his lids. The exorcist here we go. It was enough to put you off the dolls forever!

When I got rid of my second doll, I took it to the local pharmacy, which also serves as our post office, to have it weighed. Dolly passed between the 6 staff members, hugging her on the way. I watched in fascination as a line began with customers in the store who ‘wanted to hug the baby’. What fun we had that day. What a hoot!

Since then I have made more dolls and I enjoy every minute of it. The one I’m working on right now is a premature baby. Do you know the expression of a baby when it is handed over to a stranger? Well, it looks like that!