Attachments to your first doll?

The very first doll I ever got I still have, it was from when I was a child. The reason why I still have that doll is because the person who owned it is dead, She was basically a Mother to my Mom, and my Mom gave the doll to me. This isn't a BJD, nor highly collectible doll, but still very special to me.

The very first BJD doll I bought when I was in college I also still have. I also only have two BJD both off topic for this forum, and I doubt I will get rid of them. Then again I can't say I will never sell them or give them to someone, but as of right now I'm not going to.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

Dollzone Megi. I loved his face and outfit set.

• Do you still have them?

Yup!

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

Yes. He is much different from my tastes now, but I can't bring myself to sell him. He's my lone 1/4 doll and has the least realistic nose of all. lol.

 

I've also been on a hiatus from the hobby until a few months ago and have only just ordered my second doll. I still have the first and have no intentions of letting him go.
I had a character in mind when searching for my first, so I chose him based on his looks. I think the excitement of deciding to buy a bjd definitely sped along my decision to purchase him (even if he wasn't available in the perfect skin color or didn't have quite the right body type), but I haven't regretted it. His character came alive to me as soon as I unpacked him from his box ^_^ Even after finding other sculpts years later that more closely fit my character's looks, I don't think my first doll fits my character any less. He's really grown into it, and I have a strong attachment to him--as my character and my first doll.
That being said, if he'd been packed away in his box for years without me thinking about him, I would consider letting him go. I'm sure finding the box and taking him out after all that time would bring up emotions and nostalgia, but I'd try to stay realistic. If he'd just been collecting dust and taking up space, I'd free up the space. Since you have a second doll you like much more and are much happier about,why keep the one you don't like as much? Thank him for the memories and getting you into the hobby and spend time on the dolls you really love!

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

Hmm... it was a combo of falling in love with the sculpt, it being the size I wanted, and the price. She is a Bluefairy Tiny Fairy Emilie.

• Do you still have them?

Yes! I did get a new body for her though. When I bought her I didn't know much about BJDs and I got her on the old single-jointed body. It didn't take me long to realize I'm a picky poser and needed the new double-jointed body for her. Thought about hybriding her but I ended up getting the Neo blossom body from BF, and I love it!

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

Yeah I think so. Knowing she was my first, the doll that got me into the hobby, who has had so many style and character and faceup and body changes over time, I don't think I would ever want to sell her. But I also still love the sculpt, the posing on her new body, and the character she's become; so her being my "first" isn't the only reason I keep her ~

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

I had just watched an auction for a more expensive Volks doll end, but I didn't buy him. I couldn't bring myself to shell out $1000 for a doll. After the auction was over, I went to the Volks website and chose Volks Link because he was the least girly looking boy there (there were only two SD13 boys there at the time). I had been looking at Volks girls for two months, but since I liked the auction boy so much, I decided I wanted a boy instead.

• Do you still have them?

Yes, and he is still my favorite.

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

Yes, and I am still super attached to him. He personifies everything I like about BJDs, and his character has really endeared itself to me. And all of the other BJDs I have purchased were bought because they look "right" with him. He determined the esthetic of my BJD family.

Linda S.
galatia9

 

I bought my first doll Amir (Angel of Dream Chen) on April 2, 2008. I do still have him, even though my tastes have changed greatly and he no longer fits into my current crew. I have kept him for several reasons. He's almost ten years old, yellowed, scratched, probably stained....he was only $183 new, including shipping. His current secondhand value with all his yellowing and damage is maybe half that, if I were lucky. Take out shipping, fees...the money I'd get could maybe buy me a cheap head or maybe a very basic outfit. The doll is worth more to me than that, so I've never considered selling him. He's the old original version of Chen, and both the head and body have been changed at least twice since then, maybe more. I much prefer the old look because the resin is heavier and the body and head have more detail than the newer ones, and he looks more unique. If I regretted selling him, it would be next to impossible to get the same version back. But mostly, he was my first. I loved him for years. He went on vacations with me. Roleplaying him is how I met several of my closest friends in the hobby. Buying him is what lead to all of my other dolls. My current main doll, Parker, is his son, and most of my entire current crew is somehow connected to Parker, who wouldn't exist if Amir hadn't. Amir is the one I learned to do faceups on, sew for, tattoo, pose and photograph. He sits in a box in a trunk in my closet, not displayed with the others, but he's not going anywhere!

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one? My 1st boy was a trade with someone but after awhile I got rid of him. Now if we are strictly talking the 1st I bought it would be David Kunnci who I saw advertised in a doll spread in Haute Doll magazine. I knew as soon as I went to Dollshe I had to have him!

• Do you still have them? Yes I do & will probably always have him.
• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll? Yes, he is perfection to me in doll form.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
I Bought a Angel Region (Before Neo) Little Fair Ami as my first. I bought her because it was the only company I knew at the time and I really loved her sculpt (Still really like it!)

Do you still have them? & If not, why did you sell them?
At the moment yes I do. I'm actually trying to sell her though. She is still in good shape and still really cute, but I felt the need to move on. I really wanted to get dolls that suited the me I am now too. I still like her, but I have different tastes now, not to surprising considering I got my first 10 years ago.

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
I think I used to feel that... but not anymore. I'm actually keeping one of my old dolls, but she was my 9th or 10th doll. She was actually a male, but I switched the body with one of my other dolls and met a new character I guess. Now I love her and will be sending her for a new faceup soon! Honestly I find it funny. I was least attached to this doll, never felt like I got to know them, but they are the only one I want to keep and my first makes me feel nothing. I still like her, but I have zero attachment left.

I learned a lot from my first dolls, and now I'm keeping the one I love most and only buying new dolls I know I love. I know what I want now, already have two new ones I love (one still is on her way) and I'm so glad to be able to keep the one older doll too.

I still keep the characters that where in my first dolls though, they live in my worlds and stories now instead, so that might be why I don't feel a sense of loss, because the characters are still with me, just in my head and on paper in the form of writing and painting.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

Mostly because at the time SOOM had a very short lead time (compared to other companies) on their orders, at least for their stock dolls. I'd picked a SOOM Gena because I was impatient and wanted a doll in my little hands ASAP. I'd wanted to make her into an old OC of mine but it didn't work out very well. I'd been wearing rose-colored glasses when I thought the doll with the shortest wait was my best option.

• Do you still have them?

I do. I have contemplated selling her but with yellowing and the general wear of time I think my sentimental value outweighs any monetary gain I might see from letting her go.

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

Yes I did. For awhile she sort of sat at the sidelines while I got other dolls that suited my needs better, but eventually I felt bad for neglecting her and sort of gave the doll her own character and personality. It's much less about the doll itself and more about reminding me of when I started, I think. My tastes have changed dramatically but I can still find ways to spruce her up.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
I thought she was beautiful (Elfdoll Soah) and I fell in love with her.
Do you still have them?
Yes. I could never sell her.
Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
She does have a lot of great memories attached. But I think if I saw her for the first time today, I'd still want to get her.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
I draw\write my own characters, the doll I wanted for my first had to be the shell for my favorite character, Alex. The doll I eventually bought was 100% perfect.

Do you still have them?
Yup

If not, why did you sell them?
N\A

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
Yes. And because he was so exactly what I wanted. Both in a BJD and for Alex. Plus he was my first! Every doll memory I have, including meeting and getting to know some of my very best friends in the world, involves him. Almost every BJD thing I ever did I did to him first. He still gets firsts sometimes, almost 9 years later.

I have other dolls I consider favorites, but Alex is always #1 because he's #1 XD
Though right now he's got a temporary clown faceup I did because his was damaged and I can't redo it because weather...but still! He makes a good clown!

 

- Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one? I got a really good deal on her from my friend who got me into the hobby.

• Do you still have them? Nope, I sold her within two months to fund a doll that I had my eye on.

• If not, why did you sell them? I learned the hard way that you should buy the dolls you ACTUALLY want, not the first thing that comes along.

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll? NOPE.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

Mine is a Luts SDF65 Cyan and I chose him because I wanted a doll to cosplay my one of my favourite character from a Japanese animation and he is exactly what I was looking for.

• Do you still have them?

Yes. One of my friend who has been into this hobby for 13 years once told me not to throw away the box because I might need it when I want to sell him. I just told her I will never do that and threw away the box.

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

Yes, very much. I chose him among all the dolls I had seen and he is really special to me. I have now some other dolls but he is still my favourite. Although I am still new to this hobby, but I don't think time will ever change my love for him. BTW I still have my first stuffed toy my mum bought me almost 25 years ago! I am quite confident in my loyalty.

 

My first doll was a Bobobie Mei. Even though I thought she was pretty, I mostly purchased her because she wasn't very expensive. Because I bought her mainly because of the price, I just didn't wasn't able to come up with anything to do for her; I had no character in mind, so dressing her was difficult and taking pictures was out of the question because she didn't have clothes that I liked on her. I eventually decided that it would be best to sell her and give her the chance to become something instead of staying in her box in my closet. Even though she was my first doll, I just couldn't become attached to her and wasn't sad to see her go.

 

- Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
Seemed a reasonable price and, most importantly, was a full set and came with everything. (MSD Dollzone - Xi)

Do you still have them?
No. I can't recall how long I attempted to persevere with him, but in the end I sold him in the hope of him going somewhere that he would be more appreciated.

If not, why did you sell them?
Dislike at first sight? Didn't look as good as the promo pics and... I just didn't like him. (It didn't stop me though - as within two days I'd purchased a second hand Dream of Doll Too who, when he arrived, I liked a lot more.)

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
Absolutely not. I was pleased to see him go and don't regret his sale for a second. (Nor, mind you, do I regret having purchased him in the first place. No, he didn't work for me, but he still opened the door into the hobby I'm still enjoying eleven years on, and... Yes. I do have a few dolls I'm attached to know and would struggle greatly to sell.)

 

My first doll was my Souldoll Clara, Adrienne. I honestly have a hard time remembering exactly why I finally picked her out (I was between her and a Dream of Doll Si, which would have been a VERY different first buy!), but I loved her face and felt comfortable with the idea of a doll her size and finally took the plunge after about 6 months of deliberation. I still have her almost 12 years later, so clearly I made the right call!

I can't imagine parting with Adrienne, even though she's yellowed (a little, thankfully, not a lot) and her extremely awkward single jointed body would NEVER fly these days. It's worth noting that I've been out of the hobby for several years and am just coming back now; that hasn't changed how I feel about my dolls at all. Her face remains incredibly unique and charming, and at this point I wouldn't care if I completely lost interest in BJDs, I would keep her. She's been with me for so long she's just a part of my life, even if it's a small, off-on-a-shelf-over-there part sometimes.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
My first doll was a pukifee ante (they are tiny) and I think I just choosed her because I've always loved miniature things. I still am not too fond of bigger dolls and most of my collection are tiny dolls. I did a lot of research before I got her, I looked at owner pictures so I was sure I liked the sculpt, even with custom face-up.

Do you still have them?
Oh gosh, yes, yes I do! I love her a lot and I'll keep her forever!

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
I'm pretty sentimental about her but I think it's a combo of her being my first doll and I just love the sculpt so much! I never get tired of seeing her cute face

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

I chose my first off-topic BJD because she seemed to have a definite personality--kind of mischievous (Hujoo "Hujoo" sculpt--close eyed). I wanted something similar in size to my Pullips, and when I purchased her there were few non-polyurethane resin BJD options.

My first on-topic BJD was a Planetdoll MSD Riz--who I purchased also partly because she was similar in size to off-topic BJDs (this time, a Hujoo Sara). I wanted a less expensive doll, first because I was a high schooler and I bought her with birthday money from several years, and second because I wanted a doll I would be comfortable modding. With those restrictions in mind, Planetdoll Riz jumped out because, again, I liked the personality of the sculpt.

Do you still have them?

I have both of these dolls (though not my off-topic MSDs). My Planetdoll Riz has been my companion to college and on trips, and my Hujoo I've kept mostly because she's inexpensive enough that she can just be mine for show. Pixel (my off-topic Hujoo) is really cute, but doesn't really have a story or character, and if she were an expensive polyurethane resin SD I might have a bigger problem with that (because I could use that money for something else--like fabric). I think I would be really sad to part with her though. (Although I'm sad parting with any doll, regardless of whether I have a deep connection with it).

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

I don't really think I feel attached to them because they were my first--I feel attached to a doll when i feel that we've been through a lot together. This is why modding increases my connection/bonding with a doll--the more time I spend with the doll, doing whatever (although things to make the doll more customized or "mine" helps), the more attached I become.

 

My "first one" actually turned out to be an accidental pair of twins, because the spare Dreaming head that came with the set showed up with a face-up that looked nothing like the open-eyed head. o_O I'd picked the Shiwoo sculpt because I thought he was cute and innocent-looking, without being childlike.

Harumatsu and Tien Jen are both still here, and they're both still favorites. I'm very attached to them, so even if I do eventually move on and find other homes for the majority of the rest of the crew, it's certain they'll be among the few I keep. It's more than just their having been here first. I still really like them.

Like Idrisfynn's first, in many ways they set the tone for my collection for quite a long time. The gang is more diverse these days, but once upon a time, pretty much every doll I considered was judged at least somewhat by how well I thought they would work style-wise with the guys.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
I fell in love with a sculpt that was long discontinued and impossible to find on the marketplace, so I searched high and low for a doll that matched his aesthetic. I found what I was looking for in Angel of Dream's Tao Hua Dao sculpt and he became my Johnny.

Do you still have them?
You betcha! It'll be a year in March.

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
Since I've only had Johnny for eleven months I haven't really had time to get crazy attached to him. He's a special to me and he's very loved, and I have no plans to part with him. However, I can't say that I like him any more or less than I do my other ball-jointed dolls (on-topic and off).

 

Ohmygosh, I love these stories! I bought my first doll totally on impulse. I had my tax check burning a hole in my pocket at an anime convention and he was one of only 2 dolls there at the whole convention. I'd been following the hobby for years, but I'd never really even gotten to hold a doll myself, and I'd only ever seen MSDs in person. So I literally bought the first SD I ever saw in person. I later found out that I was stupendously overcharged for him, but I still don't regret it and 7 years later he's not going anywhere. I have dozens of other dolls now, and some of them get more attention, but I always come back to my first boy because he still has everything I look for in a doll. He sort of spoiled me rotten, as several other dolls I've bought after long and careful consideration and a ton of research have, upon arrival, turned out to be disappointing in comparison to him.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
• I had been wanting a BJD doll but they were out of my price range. I was browsing ebay and I saw a cute doll for a reasonable price with tons of extra's and the seller offered layaway so I took the plunge.

• Do you still have them? Yes, she is still one of my favorites.
• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
• I think that is part of it but I just really like her too. I doubt I would ever sell her.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?: I just loved the sculpt. She was the first doll I found that kinda took my breath away. I don't know if it was how they put her together. But she's def unique. Oh, she's a DollnDoll Loren, btw.
• Do you still have them?: Yes I do. And am in the process of hopefully revamping her for the third time. XD
• If not, why did you sell them?: N/A
• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?: I think I'm pretty attached to her, in a sense. She was my first doll, and I still have her after 8yrs. She still takes my breath away from time to time. And I've come to learn that she is very good at adapting to different styles. A straight up chameleon. Which I think has helped me keep her by my side.

But this is about selling dolls. I also wanted to add some about my second doll. Which I did sell.
I was so inlove with him. He was a Crobidoll Ys. Their boys are so beautiful and I loved the Ys so much.
But I came to figure out he was just too big for me. He was also so wobbly no matter what I did to try and fix it.
And though I loved to sculpt so much, I just had to sell him. There was no connection anymore.
Though I will be reshelling the character at some point. I did hesitate at first. And I knew it had to be done.
It is what it is, you know?

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
Love at first sight, literally. When I saw him, the sculpt was already sold out, and it took me half a year wait until I came across a well-kept second-hand one.

Do you still have them?
Yes! I actually just bought another one of this sculpt and sent him to get face-up. He is still my favorite.

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
I was and am still more attached to him than to my other dolls. I think him being my first doll was not the cause of my attachment, but rather the other way around: my immediate love for him made him my first doll.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

She was/is my favorite.

• Do you still have them?

Yes, I can't imagine selling her unless I just quit the hobby for some unforeseen reason. Even then, I'd likely sell the rest and keep her and one other.

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

No, I got her as my first because she was the one I liked most. I started out by liking her best and even though I have gotten 15 other dolls, I still play with her the most. If I had gotten my first doll and then liked a different one more later or wanted the money for other dolls that suited me better, I wouldn't have hesitated to sell or trade the first one.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

I liked him at the time. Still kind of like the mold, but the aesthetic no longer matches my other dolls at all and it's not one I'm hugely obsessed with. It was a Luts Delf El, back in the ancient times before CP and Luts parted ways.

Do you still have them?

Nope, he's long gone.

If not, why did you sell them?

Just moved away from him, and there was also a period where I sold all my dolls but two due to financial issues.

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
A bit, but obviously not so much that I wasn't willing to sell it.

The oldest doll I still have was actually my third. I actually tried to sell him at one point but he just would not move. Pretty sure he sent threatening PMs to anyone considering it rofl.

Ephram: We've been over this. I own you, not the other way around.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
I chose her as my first doll because I had been looking at BJDs for nearly three years without finding one I felt compelled to own.. until her. The dilemma for me was a $500 limited full set or a $200 cheaper blank doll. I wrestled with my feelings for probably two weeks before caving and making the purchase.

Do you still have them?
I do still have her, and can't imagine I will ever part with her voluntarily.

If not, why did you sell them?
(why haven't/wouldn't I sell her?)
I would resist selling her til probably being down to my most prized personal belongings and in bankruptcy. Her sculpt is now retired, as well, so she would be quite hard to get back. Though I skipped out on the full set when I bought her, I later came to realize that was a mistake: I really still yearn for that set so she will look just like in the promo photos I first fell in love with. Having her is as close as I will likely ever get to owning the doll in those legendary photos.

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
I would say that she does hold a place of favor due to being my first. Even if by some stellar miracle the limited full set were to fall into my hands someday, my #1 girl would not be in any danger of replacement.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
Instant love, plain and simple. She was sitting at a doll fair in the corner of a glass display case and I circled that case all day until I finally felt brave enough to pay that much money for a little doll (she's a 1/6 IslandDoll Cookie).

Do you still have them?
Yes. I may have considered selling her a few times throughout the years, but even if I don't love her quite as strongly anymore as I did back then, there's still the "I like you so much" feeling when I look at her. My tastes have moved away from that size almost completely, but it wouldn't feel right to part with her or her sister (purchased a year later to the day).

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
Yes. Without her, I might never have jumped into this hobby altogether, so I feel like I owe her a lot. I tried so many things for the first time on her and I remember all of those things when I look at her. She still has my very first face-up and although she desparately needs a good deyellowing, I can't bring myself to wipe it. I think she might forever remain unevenly banana yellow and horribly stained from the socks I had her in for months until I learned how to properly take care of my dolls. She's scarred from her time with me and I actually cringe sometimes when I see her, but it makes her all the more special. If she wasn't my first, I would probably not have kept her (or any other doll in that size aside from my Littlefee Ante, the only one to get proper attention).

 

I've not been in the hobby for long, so I do still have my first doll.
There isn't any particular reason why I chose my first doll,
I'd heard good things about the company (supia) and I just thought she was pretty.
That being said, even though I haven't had her long I am weirdly sentimental over her.
I can't even bring myself to wipe her company faceup, even though I really want to give her a new one.

 

My first BJD is from over 2 years ago, a standard mini sized doll from Volks (Dai). I still have him and I plan to keep him. It took a long time for me to get a BJD, I remember taking so long to finally make up my mind and obsessively checking EMS to track his progress (Volks was really good, he left Kyoto and was at my door within 10 days from the time of ordering ). I don't think I'll ever sell him, I may not always love his style or size the most but he will always be very special to me. He's a familiar presence now, I don't get super excited when I see him but it's comforting to know he's there.

 

Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?
Well, I planned on getting a Luts Dark Elf Soo as my first doll, but when the winter event came around, I ended up buying a body and getting a free Juri 06 head and she became my first instead. And thus my addition to limited dolls began.

Do you still have them?
Yes.

Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?
I am not certain if it was because she was my first doll or because she became the shell to one of my long time RP characters, but I am quite attached to her. That and she became my now passed on kitty's favorite doll as well. He loved her from day one when I got her. I would bring out the other dolls and he was "meh", but if I had her out, he would have to come over and say hello with a nuzzle.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one?

Because he was perfect! I saw his face and thought, "that's my little Gawain!" He was a Dollzone Scarecrow Hal, the first version with the freckled face-up (the one in my avatar, in fact...).

• Do you still have them?

YES! He is six now and is never, ever leaving me. In fact, I'll do one better: because I love his sculpt so much, I got the dreaming version that Dollzone brought out later as well. And I've ordered a body for it. So I'll have two Scarecrow Hals, because the only thing better than Scarecrow Hal is two Scarecrow Hals.

• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll?

Oh yes. I bought him in white skin; if I were to buy him again today, I'd choose pink skin. But there is no way I could sell him and get a pink-skin version instead... Same for his body: there are many bodies around now that are more beautiful than his. He has the ugliest knee joints imaginable. But I can't replace his body. He came to me like this. It's what he is like. I'll keep him like that.

I don't know... He was the origin of my doll craziness; he's special. But apart from that, I can't imagine I'd tire of his little face. He's so cute... Also, he turned out to be a perfect first doll - a good size, not too complicated and a great poser. I adore him.

 

• Why did you choose the doll you did for your first one? I chose my first and only, so far, because of her body sculpt and size. I then chose the face that I adored, and still do.
• Do you still have them? I can't really see me ever parting with her. The more time I spend with her the more her personality shines through and we're kind of developing together.
• Did you get super attached/sentimental because they were your first doll? I am very attached to her and I suppose there is a certain amount of sentimentality involved with her being my first but I am pretty attached to her.