Thank you and AMEN!
I am here. Just over-socialized before and during the DOTWE (I dislike social media so much, but had to do it) + having health issues. Will have surgery in Nov.
And learning silicone. It’s hard after 6.5 years of vinyl to switch mind to the completely different approach.
Just to much to handle right now.
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I was hoping you would make a surprise appearance at KDS…
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I wish. I’ll miss it very much. 
So sad that I’ll not see you. At least I saw my other friends recently at the DOTWE.
I’ll try to put myself on a Waiting List for the 2026 for KDS.
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Thanks for sharing I have wondered where you were, how you are. Hope the surgery is nothing too stressful, share if and when you want to.
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((hugs))
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Social media is poison. I only use FB because family jn otner states post so much. I would rather a forum like this. Feels more personal.
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I got in a bad mental health place and fell off most social media for a while. Im back now. Celebrated my 13th anniversary today. Crazy ive been with my hubby 13 years. He was such a baby face back then. Lol. Heres some then and now pictures.
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Cute couple.
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@YelenaRey I admire you so much for branching into silicone…I am an old dog who doesn’t want to learn new tricks. 
I am sorry to hear of your health problems, and I hope your surgery will be an easy recovery for you. 
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@taylorsgirl he still has that baby face even tho he is hiding it behind a beard!!! 
And YOU…have such a beautiful smile!!! 
Lol. The only thing that gives away his age now is white hair at his temples. Baby face remains. 
thank you.
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Oh, I hear you, I don’t like to learn new tricks, not in software, not in painting, anywhere .
But learning silicone is not a pleasure, it’s a necessity for me. And because of the cost of the kits and other silicone materials it doesn’t have a big profit, like vinyl. l was successful with my vinyl babies at the DOTWE 2025, however 75% of people were looking for silicone. Even the tiny babies, but in SILICONE. I don’t understand that. But it is what it is.
I took L. Duncan fantasy class at the DOTWE, which I enjoyed very much because honestly - anything goes with a fantasy. And I’ll take S. Gibbs online class in Sep. Painting human babies in silicone intimidates me, but my motto is always ‘If others can do it - I can do it’.
After the Lauries class I painted a snail, chimpanzee head, and 2 cuddle dragon heads with much frustration because when it’s all shiny, it looks great, colors look well blended, etc. And then matting changes everything - dull, no blending, just blah.
Yesterday I tried silicone rooting for the 1st time. So many people said - rooting silicone is so much easier than vinyl. So I expected that. Turned out it’s such a huge frustration for me. I was rooting vinyl for 6 years, 90% of my babies are monorooted. On silicone I couldn’t even get hairs in with the same pink needle that I am rooting a vinyl head. I tried to use a spiral needle after that - hairs gets in, but sticking in all directions. I was ready to cry.
So, the long story short - it’s a necessity for me, and not pleasure at all.
I can keep selling vinyls on Reborns, where I was always very successful, but I don’t want to do it for responds that I don’t want to elaborate here.
And I love to be shows vendor and interact with everyone 
.
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I hope that the more you work with it…you will find your groove!!! Your vinyl babies are awesome…so I KNOW you have it in you to to make beautiful silicone babies!!!
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I know how you feel about rooting silicone. I struggled a lot rooting a full head before DOTWE and thought I’d give up before I even finished the head! I’ve been meaning to root my Olive but I’m so nervous to mess it up I’m considering paying someone to do it for me! 
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Oh, good to know that I am not alone! Dear, you won in some DOTWE 2025 contest, right? What was it?
Thank you @cherielynn09 , I think I am slowly finding my groove with rooting or at least I am progressing somewhere
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Yelena, when you figure out the secret to rooting silicone, please fill me in because I can’t get it to save my life!!! Lol
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I think I got a hang of it. This is chimp Diego that I am rooting.
The secret is go very flat and almost shallow - see that you can see a needle through the silicone, but dot let the needle to come all the way through (those sticking hairs on top are the places when I pocked it all the way through).
And I rooted eyelashes in same way as vinyl.
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Yes! I placed 3rd in beginner vinyl, I’m still so excited about it!
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Congratulations! I was very happy for you to hear your name being announced! 
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