(Tiffany Campbell - Sweet Sunrise Nursery)

Capturing Precious Innocence in Time

by Pam North

New Jersey resident, Tiffany Campbell, has managed to combine all of the demands entailed in being a wife and a mother of two children with being a highly successful reborn artist. A graduate of Stockton University with a BA in visual communication, concentrating on graphic design, she had a solid background in the arts with courses in sculpting, painting, drawing, printmaking, and photography to round out her education. She also worked in the visual merchandising department of an east-coast department store, dressing the mannequins and decorating the window displays. Despite having been an artist her whole life, however, she never had heard of a reborn doll until she stumbled upon one on YouTube, but the concept immediately amazed and intrigued her. Having gravitated toward people as subjects for her previous work, discovering the doll world was simply another dimension for her to explore and enjoy. Despite no formal training specifically with dollmaking or sculpting babies, she drew upon the artistic expression that had been inherent in her since childhood. “My mother is a natural-born artist, so as a child, I always was exposed to creativity.” With her innate abilities honed by her academic studies in various media, it wasn’t a far leap for her to start a new craft.

Tiffany now sculpts and paints for both silicone and vinyl baby reproductions, having begun her journey into her new art form and the doll industry in February 2013, making her first reborn, Molly. By spring, 2015, she had started sculpting her own editions to be produced in silicone. “At the time I had no idea where this new discovery would lead,” she said, “but since then I have created well over 150 reborn babies, and released several original silicone editions and one vinyl of my own.”

Inspiration is close at hand for Tiffany, with her children as much of the source. “Their features come through a lot in my art. My son’s facial features turn up often in my sculpting, and I paint one of my daughter’s signature veining patterns on all of my dolls.” She views her dolls as a great way to capture those first precious memories of a baby’s innocence in a lasting, tangible form. All her babies reflect quality craftsmanship, love, and care. They are cute, snuggly, and are weighted so that when one picks them up, they feel as close as possible to a real baby. They are accented and enhanced with quality paints, and their rooted hair is made from premium mohair. The result is that her babies can be enjoyed as heirloom pieces and huggable art for years and generations to come. Tiffany sells her products on Facebook, Instagram, and lists them on her website as they become available.

Every artist finds challenging aspects in what they do, and Tiffany is no exception. “The biggest challenge I face is not so much the craft itself, but keeping a healthy work/life balance. I love what I do, and I want to create as much as I can, but I also know that my kids are only children once, so I want to be present for them as much as I can before they grow up. I volunteer a lot with their school and after-school activities, which takes me away from my work at times, but overall I try my best to have a good balance in my life.” Still another challenge for her is evolving in her craft. “I always keep growing and trying new things. I am always willing to learn.”
Tiffany derives a deep satisfaction in what she does, saying, “What I cherish most about doll- making is so much more than just the dolls themselves. I love that I am able to deliver happiness to someone’s heart, that my art can give a joyful experience - it is the most rewarding feeling! I also enjoy the sense of community built around my babies, the wonderful friendships, and the overall positive atmosphere of being part of the doll world. Dolls will evolve over time and change in the media, but as long as there are people on this earth, we artists will make dolls for them to love!”

Tiffany’s latest offering this year is her first vinyl kit, Avelee, available for sale on her website and through select dealers world-wide.  “I loved creating her kit, and I look forward to creating another vinyl kit in 2020,” Tiffany explained. “I am holding a prototype contest to celebrate the release of Avelee; it is open to those who have never done a prototype before. The contest winner will have the chance to paint a prototype for my next vinyl kit, due to be released in 2020. More details on how to enter can be found on my website.” She also will be a vendor at the International Doll and Teddy Show 2020 and the Kansas Doll Show 2020, and invites attendees to “come say hi to me and the babies! I would love to meet you!” 
Contact Information:
Name:Tiffany Campbell
Email: Tiffany@sweetsunrisenursery.com
Website: http://www.sweetsunrisenursery.com
Address: P.O.Box 417, Allenwood, NJ 08720 
Telephone: (609) 289-6799, cell phone (609) 289-6799