Meet Venita Garlick who is a Reborn Doll maker and a BGC member since 2020!
Tell us about yourself and/or your business
My name is Venita Garlick. I make Reborn Dolls. My Nursery name is Vedega Hills Nursery. Reborn Dolls are basically dolls that are very lifelike. Many use these dolls for different forms of therapy. People with Dementia , Alzheimers, Anxiety, or have suffered a miscarriage are among those that have benefited from having a reborn doll. Some just enjoy the art and are collectors. These dolls bring so many people happiness no matter what the purpose.
How long have you been creating reborn dolls and what inspired you to get started?
This is my fifth year painting reborn dolls. It all started because my sister had a foster child that she was going to adopt. This little girl that was soon to be my niece had gone through so much in her short 4 years of life. I wanted her to have a reborn doll for her adoption day so I started looking for one to buy. When I saw how much they were I was defeated because they were wayyyy out of my price range and so, I decided I would get her something else. I kept going back looking at the dolls though because that’s what I really wanted to get her a baby that she could be a good Mommy to. At this point I started wondering how the dolls were even made, so I googled it. Then started watching videos on YouTube, that led me to Facebook groups, it was then that I figured I would give it a try. I was hooked. my niece received her first reborn doll when she was 5 yrs old at her Gotcha Day Party. The rest is history. My niece is now ten and I am working on a Surprise set of twins for her fifth grade graduation.
If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
I would tell someone just staring out to not compare their art to someone else’s. Just take your time, enjoy your journey and have fun.
How long did it take you to master your craft and what advice if any do you have for newbies?
Well, I don’t believe I have mastered my craft yet. Certainly I have grown a lot, but I still have a long way to go. As a newbie I used to look at other artists and compare my place in time with those who’d been doing this for many more years than I had. Learning to take my time, expect mistakes, and accept them as tools to make my craft more meaningful was something that allowed me to really begin to enjoy what I do. So to all the newbies, you will get there have fun
Tell us about your favorite doll
My favorite reborn doll kit that I ever made is the Lou Lou sculpt. I named her Shirley Rose after my mother my biggest fan. I promised her before she died that I would buy a sculpt from an artist and bring it to life. It took three years to complete that promise it was challenging but I did it. I know she would be so proud of me.
Do you have any specific goals for the year?
This year I will be reborning my very first toddler. I am so excited about this. Usually I Do premies or newborn size. Installing the hair on a new born generally takes about 30 hrs or so. I can’t imagine how long the toddler install will take lol. I up for the Challenge though.