*Black Butler spoilers* And Intro by a tired Canadian

I recently ordered: Myou Carr and Doll Leaves Berg. Originally I decided to to search for a doll because I've always wanted a Ciel Phantomhive doll to sit around and judge me. For some reason I felt I needed that in my life. Maybe it was for motivation to be a more productive person. Maybe I'm drawn to self-deprecation. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So, I decided to do the insane thing and start looking at full BJD's for the first time in my life. I spent hours doing research and keeping tabs, calculating prices in my bullet journal and just honestly going nuts. There are official Ciel Phantomhive BJD dolls out there but they're about two grand and I don't have that money to spare. There are some smaller dolls too but they're okay. I'm not completely sold on them for their prices. En plus, buying two non-official dolls was cheaper than buying one name brand doll even at their original price of a thousand (two thousand is the re-sell price on eBay by people who grabbed a doll to re-sell before the quantity went out).

Outside of the official merchandise, I found two dolls I really liked and realized... hey, Ciel is just one twin. I could, like, buy two dolls and have them have different faces and personalities while keeping true to their twin-hood. Ohohoh~ I bought one doll with a healthier, rounder body and another with a bonier composition. I like the delicate look, and it brings out my maternal need to take care of the doll and make sure they're happy and okay.

It took a lot to get myself to spend that money too because I'm super cheap. I decided to dedicate buying them to four years of non-stop university, as a gift for myself to get myself over the finish line and move on with life in a crafty, interesting way.

Then there's the clothes. I bought a comfy hoodie and white harem pants for one and essentially a yukata for the other. Before I see the dolls, I won't go buying huge amounts of clothes. Mostly because the budget doesn't allow for it. The clothes I chose were good starters for the two to be comfortable. No scratchy lace button ups yet. I'd also like to explore sewing for them. I like historical clothes. =^^=
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Carr: Face painted by the original company. He is 45 cm which I only realize later because I'm clearly not able to pay attention to everything---which makes him a strange size next to a twin---this makes me so nervous. That's probably why he was on sale? Because he was a size that sat strangely with the other dolls. But he's unique and um... the twins have gone through a lot, maybe proper nutrition helped him grow while his other sibling... I don't know. I'm still working on a reason. But he's the doll I originally wanted for Our!Ciel/Astre/Artificiel. He has a very soft face and he's bony and thin. He looks like he knows something but has to put up a charade.

I realize I'm not starting this from the POV of an artist even if I really love to create art. Starting a BJD by painting my own faces could work but for my first dolls I think I'd rather not jump directly into forming the face.

Berg: Real!Ciel, painted face, 40cm. He will have the same wig as his brother which is a dark grey. I didn't like the dark bluish grey in this case because the only one I did find didn't look like a nice quality. The Berg doll comes with a more open face. If his head is tilted down a bit he looks like he's looking for your weaknesses. But he doesn't look like he's going to destroy your life like his brother does.

They both have a similar nose, a similar brow, and a long eye crease. Berg however, has a flatter upper lip, and wider eyes.
I hope it all works out with them. Then I'll have two dolls to have around and make things for.
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Does anyone know how eye sizing works? I haven't bought the eyes yet out of fear that I do something wrong---also because I want to see what the dolls come with in the random selection. Does anyone know any place that sells eye-patches or any patterns? I can figure it out but I'd like to search around.

- yo, I hope it was at least an entertaining read. What are your thoughts on official merchandise vs. fanmade (for oneself, not to sell)?

[Edit: I realize now that 45 cm dolls are pretty common and I'm just not all that informed.]​

 

That's a fantastic idea! Using a cosplay pattern makes sense, especially since the type of eyepatch I'm looking for isn't really the ones that are being sold nowadays for people who actually need to hide or protect one eyes.

It's good to have a series that has such popular cosplay, now that you mention it, for the sheer work people have put into recreation.

 

Oh, Sally would be lovely. I only recently learned that her voice actress is Moira in Schitt's Creek and I'm still reeling.

Hey, fellow Canadian! Nothing much. Cold as always, writing papers as always. =^^= You?

 

oh, and I forgot. If you're not familiar you might not know what the characters look like. Here's the best I could find for character portraits. The first one is our!Ciel and the other is real!Ciel since the author has yet to reveal one's name. The second one only recently entered the story alive so I don't have any images of them standing side by side which aren't from their very young childhood.
I think they'll make good 40cm dolls.

 

Ohhh, I thought you meant Sally from Nightmare before Christmas! XD