As is the case with many doll designers, Lee Middleton's fascination with doll making began with two that resembled her children. Friends and family took notice of her talent and began requesting dolls that resembled their children. She continued making dolls on her own until growing demand required that she find a larger place for production. Belpre, Ohio became known as the "Baby Doll Capital of the World" because the production numbers in her larger facility were higher than any other manufacturer's in America. The doll industry began to take notice as well. In 1985, Lee's first vinyl baby doll, "First Moments," was nominated by Doll Reader Magazine for its Doll of the Year award. From this point on, vinyl was considered to be a collectible material in the doll community. Even after Middleton's unexpected death in 1997, the company continues to produce high-quality dolls by skilled artists. They are usually made in limited editions of 1,000 to 2,000 and are still crafted in vinyl. Each doll comes with a signature "Baby's Bible" (a tradition that Middleton started and the current artists have carried on) and come with a few accessories. These dolls differ from some other collectibles in that they are meant to be played with. The most valuable dolls will probably be those that were designed by the founder and original designer of the company. Though the dolls that are being produced today are of high quality, there is something to be said for a true original. Lee Middleton had a vision and turned it into a profitable enterprise.
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