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The late Lee Middleton Urick, Co-Founder of Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc. was a trendsetter in the collectible industry and the creator of a line of incredibly life-like baby dolls. Lee, a self-taught artist, was always resourceful in developing her own techniques for sculpture and doll production. She introduced the "porcelain look" in vinyl collectibles, and created the first vinyl dolls to be considered truly collectible. She pioneered and developed the life-like baby concept, which added to the realistic appearance of her dolls. Even as her company expanded, Lee Middleton remained adamant that each doll bears the special, personal touches that set her creations apart. Every doll leaves the factory with its own Bible tucked inside, which Lee considered an extension of her Christian values and "giving credit where credit is due." That credit extends even to her extensive list of honors including multiple Doll of The Year and Dolls of Excellence nominations and awards. As Lee explained, "I'm just a re-creator. There is only one creator." Born in Kelowna and raised in Vernon, both in British Columbia, Reva drew and made paper dolls as a child and also remembers dressing the dolls in glamorous clothing. "We couldn't afford dolls, so I had to make my own," she says. Reva claims her creative ability is something inspired from above. "It's just something I have that's a god-given talent. I can't explain to anyone what the characteristics of a doll face are, or about its dimensions. Once I start sculpting, whatever expression comes out, comes out!" Reva and her doll sculpts have received numerous nominations and awards in 1998 for "Best New Doll" and "Best New Doll Artist" at the International Collectibles Exposition. She has continued to garner DOTY (Doll of the Year) Awards and Dolls Awards of Excellence for her beautiful doll creations. From the moment Reva joined forces with Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc., the magic of her sculpting was recognized by the industry and collectors alike. As children, Mavis Snyder and her sister often received the same type of baby dolls as Christmas gifts. Her sister's dolls were promptly placed on a dresser and remained pristine, neat and pretty. Mavis expressed her love for the dolls she received by "wearing them out with love," she remembers. She continued to express her love for her dolls later in life, this time by creating them. "Tudi Lynn," a toddler, that was her first design in a series of 10 dolls called Porcelain That Lives, was nominated for a Doll of the Year (DOTY). "Ricci" won two DOTY Awards in 1993-one for "Artist Porcelain II," the second for "Doll Face of the Year." "Designing a baby look was a new experience for me, but I've found the learning experience has been a wonderful challenge that has certainly boosted my creativity," Mavis says. "Just think, I get to play with dolls and bears all day and get paid for it!" exclaims
Linda Henry Boving. Playtime has always been a source of delight and wonder for this internationally renowned doll and bear artist. Linda was always an art enthusiast throughout high school. Her parents encouraged her artistic endeavors and she studied art in college. Although Linda has had work experience in many fields, she considers herself to be an artist first and foremost. As fate would have it, she returned to her artistic roots at Lee Middleton's kitchen table, sculpting a doll's head in the late 1970s. Linda Henry's artistic star rose during the late 1980s and '90s. She began sculpting for Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc. in 2000 and her doll, Home Tweet Home won a Doll of the Year (DOTY) Industry Choice award in February 2001. Until her debut with Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Eva Helland has been known in the doll industry for creating one-of-a-kind babies. Eva's interest in making dolls started in first grade. "I had an interest in dolls, not in paying attention in class. Oh, I played the game and pretended to watch the teacher, but I kept clay in my desk so I could make dolls," Eva says. Eva is well known in the collectible industry for her one-of-a-kind babies. Over the years, Eva's reputation as the creator of dolls with amazingly life-like features has kept her quite busy. People have their names on waiting lists for years, so they can own a one-of-a-kind sculpt by Eva Helland. Her work was nominated for two 2001 Doll Awards of Excellence, winning one for "Fusse One." Eva is excited about Lee Middleton Original Dolls producing her dolls in vinyl. "I see that my dolls are going to go out to more people, and I'll get pleasure from knowing that," she says.
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