Woman bakes 250 lifelike dolls in oven to help bereaved parents who have lost their babies
Meet the real life baby-maker who has BAKED more than 250 dolls in her oven, in an effort to comfort bereaved parents.
Devoted Teresa Russon, 51, from Worksop, Notts., first starting making them a decade ago after losing her son and mother within just five months.
The mother-of-three found that creating "reborn dolls" helped her deal with her own grief and she now makes babies for couples who have lost children.
But she does have quirky requests too - some customers have asked for reborn baby monkeys, fairies and even Halloween-themed vampire dolls.
Meet the real life baby-maker who has BAKED more than 250 dolls in her oven, in an effort to comfort bereaved parents.
Devoted Teresa Russon, 51, from Worksop, Notts., first starting making them a decade ago after losing her son and mother within just five months.
The mother-of-three found that creating "reborn dolls" helped her deal with her own grief and she now makes babies for couples who have lost children.
But she does have quirky requests too - some customers have asked for reborn baby monkeys, fairies and even Halloween-themed vampire dolls.
The life doll have soft skin made with silicon
The reborn dolls I make look exactly like real babies, you can't help but want to pick them up and treat them like a living child.
"If you've never lost a child it's hard to understand, but for grieving families my real-life dolls give something back to them."
Teresa, who initially trained as a nail technician, started painting porcelain dolls as a way to entertain her mother, May, whose fingers were constrained by rheumatoid arthritis.
In 2005 her mum, who was 80 years old passed away and five months later her son, Vincent, 21, committed suicide.
Teresa said: "After losing both my son and mother there was nothing that could fill the void.
Every morning at 8.30am on the dot my son would call me, the one morning he didn't and I knew something bad had happened.
The Plastic Tots are baked in an oven and can take up to 6 months to bake
Since then making dolls has been my form of escapism, it's helped me to overcome a lot of the troubles I've faced in my life.
"It gives me a real sense of reward knowing that I've helped someone through such a traumatic part of their life."
Teresa channelled her loss into creating her dolls that can take between two weeks and six months to paint and assemble.
She said: "They're a luxury item but aren't too expensive you wouldn't think twice about £200 on computer games but you get so much more out of a doll.
"You have to learn to look after and take care of them just like a real baby.
Since then making dolls has been my form of escapism, it's helped me to overcome a lot of the troubles I've faced in my life.
"It gives me a real sense of reward knowing that I've helped someone through such a traumatic part of their life."
Teresa channelled her loss into creating her dolls that can take between two weeks and six months to paint and assemble.
She said: "They're a luxury item but aren't too expensive you wouldn't think twice about £200 on computer games but you get so much more out of a doll.
"You have to learn to look after and take care of them just like a real baby.
They are not just a spur of the moment gift they are something for life that can be passed down through the generations.
"At one point I had 16 of my own reborn dolls, I loved them all but I have to let them go and let other families get enjoyment out of them.
"I love all my dolls but occasionally I get more attached to some and find it difficult to let go.
"Initially I struggled to let go of the boy dolls because they reminded me of my son, but now I know I'm helping people by giving them a new home."
Teresa's dolls are made up of a silicon and vinyl blend, are painted, cooked in an oven several eight minute intervals and then assembled for their owners.
She has made dolls for young children all the way up to a lady in her 90s.
Teresa putting together her latest creation
Teresa said: "One family bought a doll for their 93-year-old mum so that she had something to take care of something and could push it around her bungalow.
"People treat them like real life babies, you can't help but want to change their nappies and treat them like a child.
One doll can take a minimum of 108 hours to complete and required years of research to perfect skin tones and making real-feeling hair strands.
Teresa added: "For me my most challenging baby to create was one from America, where the lady sent me pictures of her child in a coffin to make sure every detail was precise.
"I worked with her for around six months trying to get everything from the skin tone to her child's small birth marks correct.
"She wanted me to recreate her child who tragically had died, it may seem unusual but it really helped her to move on with her life.
"Even now, years on she sends me pictures of herself and the reborn doll wherever she goes, even on the beach.
"Knowing that I've helped her and nearly 300 people makes all the long hours painting day and night worth it."
Oyibo people will nat kill me. Lol
I don't think this is a good idea
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