Lancs woman makes 'reborn' dolls for people in care homes

Karen Elliott, 46, originally from Tennessee but who now lives in Morecambe has donated reborns to children’s hospitals and care homes in the US to remind patients with dementia of their children.

And because her grandchildren live in America, she herself has two reborns - Roxy, a newborn, and Jupiter, a 10-month-old - as a comforting replacement for them.

Karen and a reborn (Image: Agency)

Karen claims reborns act as a comfort for many people who have lost babies, with her most memorable creation being for a friend who lost twin girls.

She said: “One died after three days, and the other one was four days old when she passed away.

“I’d seen a picture of them, so I made her a set of twins and surprised her with them.

“She just cried and cried, and said thank you when I gave them to her.

“She still has them, and that was eleven years ago.”

Karen realises that some may think reborns are a strange coping tool, but for someone who may have been through a traumatic experience, it isn’t weird to them.

And when she takes her reborns out in public people are amazed at how realistic they look

Karen and her reborns (Image: Agency)

Karen, who began her reborn business Karen’s Little Angels in 2012, said: “I was on my work break, I was working at a school at the time, being a teacher’s aide, and I was looking through pictures on the internet.

“I came across babies that were being reborn, and I had never heard of it, so I just researched it.

“That was when I bought my first kit and challenged myself to paint one, and I just fell in love with it and started doing it full-time.”

Karen buys blank babies made from clay, and once painted, she sells them for around £150, but some can cost thousands.

She said: “I know not everyone has the funds, but they need that baby to fulfil something

“I’ve painted many memorial babies for someone who has had a miscarriage.

“A lot of people want babies like their baby, so I do a lot of portrait babies, and I make them look like the baby they have lost.

A reborn baby (Image: Agency)

“Memorial babies make me proud because it’s sad, but it makes me happy that I’m doing it.

“It is sad to look at the picture, though.”

One of Karen’s reborns, Jupiter, is made to look awake, and has real rooted hair and a real baby scent.

She added: “I love children, and I’ve got three grandbabies, and I don’t see them often because they’re in America. So I have reborns instead.

“When I’m purchasing outfits for my grandchildren, I’ll add an extra one for the reborns.”

Karen has her reborns on display in her living room and says that on Halloween she sometimes places them in the windows so people can see them.

She even takes them on errands, saying: ““I’ve taken them to the grocery store, and I’ve taken them to appointments at the doctor’s.

“I’ve not had any rude people; unfortunately, some people probably have. But, when I take them out, people are amazed and shocked about how real they look and want to hold them.”

A reborn (Image: Agency)

Karen’s husband, Ian Elliott, 68, a self-employed quarry worker, embraces Karen’s fascination with reborns.

She said: “He loves them, he thinks I’m a bit mad, but he thinks they’re cute.

“I recommend it to everyone, whatever their age. My five-year-old granddaughter loves hers, and I’ve seen elderly people love them too.”

“Elderly people, especially those with dementia, love children.

“Having reborns can remind them of their baby, and when I donated some, they were carrying them around and treating them as if they were real.

“When my son was 18, he had appendicitis and had his appendix removed.

“And while we were in the hospital, the nurses had a blue plastic doll to practice inserting IV drips and the style was hideous.

“I felt so bad, and I made them dolls to thank them for caring for my son.

“Now, the hospital uses the dolls to train new parents on how to take care of their kids.”

Karen plans to introduce reborns to her local care homes and hospitals in Lancashire.

“A lot of people think they’re weird, but reborns can help so many people and bring comfort,” she added.