What should I do? (resolved)

Regarding vinyl gloves, here is a breakdown of the top three glove materials. Vinyl is non-biodegradable compared to latex gloves, which are biodegradable. The vinyl gloves are pretty safe to use in our reborns. Debbie Henshaw recommends using them in the bum area, filled with beads for weighting in the bum and form. I’ve been doing this for years. I’ve had the same two boxes of vinyl gloves for five years, and they are still in good form, look new as when I purchased them.

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I understand what you are saying. I just wanted to give a little info for future reference and searches. Glass beads and the dust in them is questioned a lot especially for new artists. This topic will probably come up again so it will be good for someone searching to see that info. :wink: Im glad you have reached a solution with your artist.

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I now have about 5-6 lbs of these super fine sandy glass beads, but I think the only appropriate use for them would be if they were secured in arms/legs, then capped off with plugs and glue. Or maybe I could use them for another craft project. I’m trying to make lemonade out of lemons here!

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Ladies who use vinyl gloves, would you please post a picture how you tie them. I assume beads should not be placed in the fingers area, correct? Sorry for my ignorance. I am learning…

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I actually use the finger areas. What I do is I buy the XL gloves. I fill with a little tupperware container that I have. Maybe about 1/3 cup or less in each glove. I tie in a knot at the top. When I go to put them in a doll, I normally will turn it upside down so that the beads are then in the palm area of the glove. Fold over the fingers and place in stocking. They still have movement so its not a hard ball inside there. I will add a few of thse inside the body depending on how much weight i want. Does that make sense? Hopefully I explained it right.

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@Kate Thank you. Yes, it make sense.

I actually put one cotton ball it the end of my limbs and use regular poly fill in the limbs on top of the glass beads. I cut a disc from lightweight cardboard that will fit into the limb on top of the cotton ball and under the edge of the flange and then I use E6000 to secure the disc. I use a combination of fiberfill and angel soft or cluster stuff in the body with the regular fiberfill around the weight bags and bum and shoulder and then the softer stuff goes around that so it is closest to the doesuede.

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@pia That sounds like a good way to secure the filling. Thanks for your input. One cotton ball wouldn’t have startled me. The limbs being only cotton balls and weighting with no security was a big surprise! And the bum and one shoulder were slightly lumpy where the cotton balls had spilled out.

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@Alypants Knowing now that it was her first doll may be artist didn’t estimate amount of polifil and was resourceful to use cotton balls to finish the doll. You know yourself as this excitement goes as I noticed that you posted your second doll for sale without even to be assembled. I know, I know, she should put that in her description… But it’s better than to find sand and old sofa stuffing like I saw in some posts on this forum.

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She disclosed to me that she preferred the cotton balls for their realistic feeling. But yes, I can see where out of excitement, an artist would want it finished. The cotton was more of a surprise. The sandy beads leaking were more the disappointment. But we both definitely learned something. She has sold several other dolls before this one. I just happened to purchase her first.

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@Alypants Interesting, in this case it’s strange decision to use more costly material. I guess you also were her first one to take a doll apart :wink:

I probably sounded like a weirdo…but the empty arm was something I knew I could fix! Also if you can remember, the eyelashes looked like brooms so redid those and would have had to take her apart to seal them. I am not one to change an artists work, but since I bought her at a discount with some flaws disclosed, I felt I could make some improvements. I should have, could have, would have, made my own Dominic had I started Reborning before April.

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Those smaller beads might be nice in the limbs. I have a baby from a forum member who used the smaller beads in the limbs and I love it… more of a squish than a crunch. :blush:

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My only issue with the gloves are I find the ones my hubby uses (all different brands) eventually dry rot and break easy.

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I wonder if a large latex balloon would be more sturdy?

I think I’ve read on this forum that even old vinyl kits get dried out and sort of crumbly. Or maybe not crumbly, but less elastic, like it would be hard to put a neck ring on the old kit. Not sure at what age it might happened, but seems that vinyl is not undestructable also. I might be wrong, but it stack in my memory.

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I just wanted to say. Not much that we use is “made for dolls”
Genesis paint. Nope.
Glass beads. Nope.

Lots of things we use have other uses and have been adapted to be used on dolls.
That said…if the artist specified a certain internal components. The buyer has the right to be upset.

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About how long would you say before this happens? I havent had this problem yet and i have dolls that are 5+ years old so im curious as to what might cause this. I use the gloves but also put them inside of a stocking.

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My hubby buys them now new for each vacation because they won’t last a year. He uses them to protect his hands when he has to empty the camper septic. Now they are in the camper that get very hot and cold as it sits…

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I was referring to the gloves dry rotting. Becoming brittle.

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