Pia, if you fill the head with polypellets up to the neck flange and pack them in tightly with paper towels it keeps the vinyl from ;giving’ and no heating is necessary. When you’re done, just pour out the pellets to use again. Sometimes a few stick to the inside of the head so I just brush them out with a large, dry paintbrush. I do this for every head I root. It also keeps the needle from bending and breaking. I hardly ever break one. If you try this method, I’m pretty sure you’ll like it. I, personally, don’t like the smell of a rice sock (I tried it once) or having to keep stopping to reheat it and I have concerns that any residue from the rice might attract bugs.
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I tried the poly pellets and this vinyl is tougher than most I have rooted in the past and needs heat.
Thanks for the suggestion. I don’t like the smell of the heated rice either but I will have to endure!
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as I said before…..I am weird…. I LIKE the heated rice smell!!! Just heated rice…NOT burnt rice…which I have done a time or two 
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Ewwww!!! 
I hate it. My daughter likes to use a heated rice sock and I cant stand it. I would never use it in a doll personally. lol
She thinks I am crazy
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I just noticed that Otto sold too! Double congratulations!
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Thank you Pia!!! I’m REALLY hoping that doll sales pick up in ‘26!!!
A lady contacted me asking if I was going to do another Vian. I told her I actually was and would let her know when I listed him
She contacted me last night and said she wanted to go ahead and pay for him and the only thing she asked for was blond hair and blue eyes like my last one.
I told her I normally don’t do customs and would rather send her pic and if she doesn’t like him….no obligations. She said she still wants to pay sight unseen!!!
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Then go for it! I’m sure it will be close enough for her to want it.
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Ok, after 1.5 years lol bb Steven is nearing assembly. Just waiting for hair and magnet glue to dry! He will be my first seller and first attempt as rooting which I have much to learn! I took several lighting photos…the more purplish shading is with a natural daylight bulb and im hoping it’s not too much but here we are! I’ll likely ask for advice on pricing at some point but this journey with this babe has been long and a ton of trial and error.
Edited to ask, how should i go about removing the hair mapping? Im so afraid to ruin the rooting
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He’s absolutely INCREDIBLE! It’s been amazing watching your journey with him 
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That HAIR!
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Omgosh thank you so much!!
Gosh thank you im so nervous about the combi pencil underneath that doesn’t quite match the rooting directions lol
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He is beautiful!!!
Looks great to me!
You did a great job! The painting is amazing. Rooting looks nice. I see what you mean about the mapping. What did you use to map?
Speaking of this… anyone use a fabric marker? I have since ROSE 2017… and just opened a new one and it is very difficult to make it fade… 
Any ideas that wont effect the paint underneath?
I just use a number 2 pencil and very light marks and then erase as I go
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I bought some of those, but I am afraid to use them. I use the chalk pencil used for sewing. Comes off with water.
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I used prisma pencil but im honestly worried that with the heat lamp off and on for a total of many hours may have heat set it 
beautiful if so I have lived and learned and will find something else for the next baby. There is sealed prisma combi hair but it’s so light and I needed a better map so I drew a darker one over it. If it puts a dent in his worth that’s totally OK
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You might try a Qtip dipped in Mona Lisa thinner. Prisma pencil can be a problem to get off.