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precious_lullabies · Guru

teacher i am not

TinyEarthAngels · Guru

hehehehe i know exactly where your comming from just writing my tutorial i came to realise the exact same thing, so i decided to do the basic skin tones and make it a basic tutorial just to show people the basics of reborning im adding to it as i grow myself, i will be putting in a section called my tricks then explain in detail the shading etc and the special little things that i do that are hard to actualy teach in person :)

sara zata · Guru

For you two clever chicks, It doesn't happen over night, but if you write done the basics for them and let them ask you the questions, you dont have to put much thought into it at all. I could teach with inks and I'm sure when I do build up my courage to start Pheobe, then I would be able to teach. And as I have had three lessons with someone on basics,who didn't know very much, you two would be perfect after giving yourself enough time to get used to the idea. I KNOW. I've been there. JUne M(((HUGS))) to you both.

Susan · Senior Member

Well for me is a diferent story. I´m a special education teacher, and in this job I have to be patience, because i´s really hard to work whit this population. Actually I´m making my practice on a school of emocional and conductual dissabilities and I´m the teacher of 8 kids whit autism.
I have to be very patient and persistent because one day you theach them something and the next day you have to work the same thing with them, also the next day, and the next day...

So hard work every day! I have very busy days but the gratification of watching a smile on their faces is priceless!

I love my job, but as many people said to me, this a vocation matter! =)

KatinOz · Veteran Member

A few years ago, I was teaching reborning for about 12mths. And I have to admit I was somewhere in thought as you Naomi. So I can realate to what you are feeling/saying.

But what I came to realise myself is. Every reborner is different. We use common materials, mohair, needles,paints, and so on. But the way we apply them is most often then not similar but also different at the same time.

Its what seperates each reborners work differently from another, making the end result (reborn) completely unique.

What your description in how you are immersed in what you do, not subconciously knowing what you are doing, kinda like being on auto pilot. Is because you have became accustomed to your own reborn habit..Its like driving a car. We steer, break, indicate, change gears (if your a manual driver) without really thinking about it. And this comes to us with experience.

So when I sat down with my group of newbies I expressed to them that very same theory. Reborning is very much like learning to drive a car. At first it seems quite daunting, but once you have done it a number of times it becomes instinct and thats when your true talent will come into play. Once you have mastered the basics you will then become adventurous and play with your techniques, sharpening where they need be and also take on much more difficult techniques to master.

I explain to them that I am here to teach them those basics. To learn what materials are needed and best guide them how to apply them in a basic but affective manner.

It will be with their own practice and continued experience will further knowledge come to them. And through that they will achieve their own trademark of workmanship in their dolls.

Around 9mths into the classes I did a re-union class for the original few beginners groups.
It was interesting to see where everyone was at. You knew the ones who had continued on from the classes and the ones who just played with it here and there.

The ones that had continued on, knew exactly what I meant by gaining own experience. Being something that I cannot teach, that it is something they must develop in themselves and express through their dolls.

When it comes to teaching it is important to not let your experiece and techinques clutter both your mind and the newbie. Its just way to much for them to take in all at once, and frustrating for us trying to teach a confused person. Keep it basic, keep it simple. Its like learning to walk before you can run.

I also had an album of my dolls in order from my first to very current. It was taken over a 2 year period. And it showed how my work changed over time. This become a great interest to the newbies. They could see how time teaches. And in comparison to my first reborn and theirs, it gave them alot of pride and that encouragment that they had what it takes if they could produce a doll their first shot that kicked ass over my first attempt..lol...

I also keep my boo boo babys. Or pass them on to family and friends. But I have a few examples to show what can happen if you do this, or dont do this..lol..

Naomi, I think it is great of you to offer this younge girl classes and for free. But I think what you need to do is take a few paces back, and keep it simple. And let her flourish from there. When she has mastered the basics then have her come back and watch you. People learn alot just from watching. And then she can take it home with her and try it for herself.

Kat

TinyEarthAngels · Guru

excellent advise Kat (((hugs)))

sara zata · Guru

I agree with Kat, Teaching reborning is such a short term thing ,you have no need to worry about doing it, you both have all the skills, and it is up to each individual as to what they observe and retain. They usually only make one or two and then their on their own. With Porcelain they have to keep coming back to repaint after they have been fired, First fire from greenware takes allnight and eachother one takes about 4-5hrs, but the company is fun. June M from Oz

Linda Hamburg · Veteran Member

I'd love to hop on a plane and take a class from any of you!
Linda in B.C.

sara zata · Guru

Hello Linda, I would love for you to be able to do that to. You can have people arround you everywhere, but do they give a damm. At least on the forum we can share, cotribute and give help when it is needed. And most of the time that is what most of us is looking for a friend, to tell us where they are in their baby making, that they hate cooking, like me at the moment. And to enjoy a LOL. Today I had a blood test for colestrol what a pric, it hurt this time. My husband is Irish, and is quite witty, but now in the pain he is in, it only comes out sometimes. Like on Monday, He went into a Super and ask the assistant how long it would take to get the glass in his phone fixed, the guy said about 3 weeks, my husband said, what,in the meantime do i hold my hand to my ear, the guy said no, you could buy another one, Sam, said" i'm in a Super Store talking to a Super Nerd and I'll use Super glue to fix it. Hope I made uyou Laugh. June m from Oz.