Browsing ebay earlier I came upon a poor reborn baby whose nose had been opened and can only be described as a 'piggy' nose.

Out of my many reborns only two have opened noses...and luckily both have been done well.
.The rest have shaded noses (also done well)

I quite like both effects....but it must be nervewracking for reborners to open the vinyl as there's a fine line between natural and 'piggy'

What does everyone else feel about this?

Linda
xx

I like them open but I don't like big nostril holes

I only have one with an open nose.. (he was like this when he came to me) but i love it.. i dont have the tools or the steady hand to have a go at it myself though!!..
maybe i will pratice on a little cititoy one i have here..

I prefer open to shaded, i think it just adds to the realism..

xx

Yes Beccy, I think practice is key here!

Done well it is very realistic...done badly it ruins the doll.
And kits don't come that cheap do they?
When I first started looking at reborns on ebay there was quite a few cititoy babies on...they're quite realistic for a childs cheaper doll aren't they?

Good luck

Linda
xx

Well, depends on the sculpt. If you use a kit from an artist, most of the artists I know sculpt realistic noses and it's not neccessary to open them.

I know I have opened the noses at the Berenguers at the time I have been a Reborner, but it was a scary job and has to be done very careful.

Hugs
Monika

I prefer open noses and I must say I sweat like mad while I'm doing it. I don't use a drill, I use a cone shaped file and that way the opening is tapered and you can gradually enlarge the opening.
To be honest, I first practiced using the dremel on some un-needed peterkin legs until I was getting fine, even holes in varying sizes before I touched the nose of an expensive kit.
Hugs
Carol

I like to look at each sculpt to decide...some are better opened & some not.

With the kits (as opposed to play dolls stripped & reborned) the vinyl is lighter & thinner, so if you open a nose & back it with dark felt to stop the stuffing showing, you also alter the colouring on the face... as the dark felt shows through the vinyl. For that reason I would mostly these days not open nostrils.

What I really hate & still often see on auction babies, is when a tiny hole is drilled in the centre of each nostril, but not opened properly. It kind of looks as though they started to open & got scared to finish the job...so why bother in the first place?

When I open I use a dremil to start off with, then I use varying sizes of needle files, to gradually open it until I have the shape & size I need. With the files it not only opens the nose evenly, but you have a smooth finished edge which gives a natural finish.

Jen x

At 1st I used a drill bit,but this only leaves a tiny hole,so the last 2 or 3 I have left the nose closed. I have just purchased a awl and a parafin candle for a custom one i am doing and it looks a lot better.
Sally

I prefer the nose and ears to be opened, but properly opened, and definitely not like piggy noses, as that would take every charm out of any doll to me, ha-ha!!!!

seems im going t go against the grain here but i prefer closed shaded noses ive done open noses but just prefer them closed xxx

how's it going with the awl I have onebut not chanced it yet

The awl as made quite a neat job.
Sally

Carol I bet your work area can be a scary place with holey limbs and hairy bodies!

Although have to admit if ever I took up reborning I'd be copying you before I let myself loose on a baby!

Linda
xx

I prefer to open the noses of all my babies, I just think it adds to the realism of them. It is a job to do and get right but patience is the key.

I used to open the noses, but I haven't done it in awhile. Once I accidentally hit the lip with the dremel and gave the baby a boo boo...so now I just like to shade them. I guess it would depend on the kit though.