Just For Fun Den of Angels Mods: Ask Us Anything!

Dear mods, looking back 13 years there was not a whole lot of different styles of BJDs to choose from. These days soooo many different kinds of BJDs are available; fantasy dolls, super realistic sculps etc etc- and face up techniques has developed so much too!!

What sort of BJDs do you think we will see in the future? And what do you think the world of BJDs will look like in 13 years from now?

Thanks for making DOA such a wonderful place to be a part of!

 

My question - what do you think of those robot DDs? Now the legs look like legs & they can walk & dance. I yearn for a doll that could dress itself LOL LOL LOL

 

Well, my question isn't as deep as that first one.

@cowpewter I'm sure you get asked this a lot, but...why "cow pewter?"

 

I have no idea ;____;
But...if the hobby is still going (which I sincerely hope it is!) then I bet we will have some really cool BJDs to choose from! I also think we will see more animals or creatures. I feel like there are more and more of those getting released these days, and I like that trend ~

Uhm...I can't say I'm much for robots. There's something calm about knowing my dolls won't move on their own. On the other hand, I always thought it would be cool if my pukifees were persocoms, like Sumomo from Chobits! (one of these days I'm going to do a Sumomo and Kotoko cosplay for them!)
I think the difference is that as long as they move robot-like then I don't like it, but if dolls were to become more smooth in their movement, I'd love it! I'd enjoy having my 10 pukifees run around and keep me company while I work! ~

 

Oh gosh... 13 years is such a long time, and things change so quickly these days (either that or I'm getting old!). Like Dez said, I really really hope recasts haven't destroyed the hobby by then. I love this hobby and hope to still be active in it in another 13 years!

I think we'll continue to see a proliferation of different styles...branching out further and further from both strictly realistic and strictly anime-inspired. Just imagine with Doll Chateau will be doing in 13 years! Or the French and Russian doll scenes! And I think we'll continue to see more fantasy creatures and animals. Realistic animals are just now starting to become a 'thing' in the doll world.

I think they're cool! I want one! It doesn't even have to do anything useful, I just want a doll that can dance.

Oh boy, story time! This goes back a ways cause I hearken from a time before internet access was common.

So when I was in middle school, I was a huge fan of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. I was on vacation visiting my father, and talking to him about the books. I was describing one of the characters to him, the evil Com Pewter (it was an evil computer, Xanth is full of puns). He misheard me, and thought I said "Cow Pewter".

Fast-forward a year or so, and I finally have access to AOL. This was before they were an internet service provider. Connecting to AOL only connected you to AOL, and not to the whole web. The closest dialup access number was also long-distance, so I only got to connect for an hour a month, or the extra long distance charges would come out of my allowance. So all I really ever did on AOL was join a chat for fans of Xanth for 30 minutes, twice a month. Of course, I needed a username. And I remembered my father mishearing Com Pewter for Cow Pewter and thought it was both cute and appropriate for a Xanth chat.

And then I was cowpewter forevermore. It's a nice internet handle, it's pretty much always available, no matter what I sign up for.

 

My question isn't doll-related, but I must ask... salty or sweet? What are the mods' favorite snack foods?

 

I like cheese. I'm not sure if that counts as salty or sweet at all

 

I think we're going to keep seeing more complex jointing. A number of companies have hip swivel joints, and shoulder and hip cup joints, Dollshe has their older-version bodies with a bunch of extra torso joints, and Doll Chateau was one of the first that I can remember who started adding the extra double-wrist joints and double-ankle joints, but I bet there will be more. I follow Bimong's sculpting on IG, and he has come up with a lot of new jointing mechanism ideas that have surprised me.

I don't follow DDs much, so I wasn't aware of it yet! It is pretty cute, but it does also remind me of those dancing playline dolls from the 90s, which I've always found a little creepy (which is funny, because non-BJD-hobbyists often say BJDs are creepy!)

Salty!!! I love sweet stuff too, but I always end up craving something like potato chips or beef jerky. When I never have any, of course.
And @Akara -- cheese can be both!

 

Oh...well I guess I like both then because I pretty much like any cheese...except those with weird herbs in them. Those are not good.

 

Goofy question, but I've noticed my default title changing as I make more posts, and I like how they're all themed as if I too am a BJD. What's the full list of default titles, and what are the requirements for each?

 

To any/all mods:

How many of you do your own faceups or make your own clothing for your dolls? How about eyes or wigs? Or if you don't do your own, where are your favorite places to get these things?

 

Since you guys have probably been collecting for a long time, I'm curious as to how many dolls you own and what your rationale for buying a new one is nowadays, have you narrowed your focus?

 

I sew clothing for my dolls and I do face-ups for them as well. For eyes I'm usually cheap and go with glass eyes from Ebay, and for wigs I like Luts, they have nice wigs :3

I think I have like 16 dolls. Maybe more. I don't keep as good track of how many they as I used to. I have noticed that this has been sort of my slowing down point though, and I haven't really been wanting anymore dolls(except that fairyline centaur! I'm getting her! ).

I have a few on my wishlist but I'm not in a hurry with those. I'm fine with my collection that I currently have and I honestly don't want my collection to get overly big. If I want a new doll, I will consider passing on one of those I already own to sort of "make space for a new one in my collection"

 

How is the site maintained? Are there some technical mods that don't speak to the masses and instead focus on the computing and hosting side? How is this site paid for anyhow?

Also, what got you into the hobby? And what was your first doll? Do you still have it? And how did you become a mod? (Sorry about the Attack of the Three Million Questions).

 

@Lotte Rotten
I hope that if the hobby continues to prosper and grow we will continue to see more variety (artistically and structurally) of dolls over time. I do worry about the longevity of the hobby with the global economy suffering and recast availability, but I try to stay hopeful.

@Teleri
I have to admit, I'm pretty easilly enchanted by robots. I would personally love to have a robot companion at home.

@PeppermintPocky
I have a regrettably powerful sweet tooth.

@Zardi I do all my own face-ups and make most of the clothing my dolls wear. Shopping for clothing is also fun though, so I do that sometimes. I think I got most of the clothing I have second hand, mostly through the marketplace here, but I recently started using Mandarake too. I often prefer to buy things like shoes, eyes and wigs from retailers in my own country to save on shipping costs. Second hand shopping though is definitely my favorite for everything.

@DominiqueB
Right now I have 18 full dolls and a few extra heads that share bodies. My collection has been floating between 15 and 25 for several years now. I cannot psychologically handle having more than 25 dolls. Since I like the size of my collection I try to balance getting a new doll with purging a doll I'm not as fond of anymore. I'm at the point where although it's fun to get a new doll I certainly don't feel I need more, which is lucky because I don't have much extra money anymore. I'm glad I got into the hobby when I was financially able and that I can still enjoy my dolls now that I don't have the same spending money.

@iamkathybrown
As my story goes, I saw a Volks doll in a magazine when I was a teenager and thought it was so beautiful, but the price was horrifying. Some years later in my early twenties I remembered that randomly and started learning about BJDs. I learned that not all BJDs were as expensive as Volks lottery dolls and on a self indulgent whim I bought a second hand Angel of Dream tan Ruo Feng on Ebay. I enjoyed him for about a year before I got my second doll and then more from there. I don't have him anymore, but he was a good first doll for me.

As for becoming a moderator, I applied during an open application period (there was an announcement posted on the site) and overall the process was very much like a job application, with some initial paperwork and follow up interviews.

 

It's a whole lot of cockroaches. I think @Dezarii breeds them but I haven't figured out how they make the site run yet. She probably bribes them with cake.

Apart from the regular moderators we also have velociraptors. They don't speak to the masses as they like to eat people if they come too close. It's just best for everyone if we make sure to keep them at a safe distance, and make sure to feed them regulary!

How the site is paid for? Unicorns! I'm pretty sure I've seen unicorns pay for the site. I think they sell their fur to pay the fee.... but at this point it's just speculations on my part.

I saw photos of ball jointed dolls back in 2010 or 2009, and I thought they seemed interesting. It took a year or two before I actually managed to order my first one in 2011, a pukifee ante that I still own and love. Like AlisonWonderland, I also applied when she did. It was just by chance that I did, had the applications been a month earlier I wouldn't have applied. Looking back I'm so glad I did apply, I've enjoyed it a lot so far

 

I knew I was on to something!

 

Currently my resin crew is 19 full dolls and one floating head, and as most others I was only going to have one, maybe two, wait, maybe three, and then just one more, and then THAT sculpt had a pre-order you couldn't miss out, and someone did sell that beautiful sculpt for half the price and... (continues for eternity~). I also used to have a very long list of sculpts I REALLY needed, but nowadays that list is really short (however, my "could consider having in my collection"-list is still very long).

I think one's collection changes through time, as yourself change, while some dolls surely will always remain. And I also think that with time, you learn to differentiate between the feeling of "Oh, pretty doll! Wouldn't mind having that", and "omgifIdontgettoholdthisdollandhaveitinmyhandsI'llscreamtillmyvoicegivesout", where the latter feeling often is the doll you'll end up keeping far longer than the first one

 

Alright, to all the mods: what would you do if your dolls suddenly came to life? Also, a completely unrelated second (hope that's ok!) question, which Hogwarts house are you?

 

Question for all mods. Why do half the DoA mods have usernames starting with A? And how do the non-A mods feel about that?

 

Try to talk some sense into them!

I believe I did that test when I was still studying(because everyone else was doing it, I've never been particulary interested in HP), and I got Ravenclaw I believe(like half of my class). Best part was I got to choose a CAT OWL (tawny owl, but it's called "cat owl" in Swedish) Do you hear that @eleniel ! I had a cat owl before I got the one I have now

 

I can't speak for anyone else but my name is Akara. Literally. I'm not joking! (Just a few weeks ago I added Akara to my names irl, so I'm Akara for real now! )

I call us the A-squad! ~

 

It feels like being benched while the A-team has all the fun... I want to go in the cool van as well, you guys!

 

I will leave cookies outside for you @indigoparaflax

 

@Lotte Rotten - future BJDs? That's a great question. Like others, I definitely have concerns about what the recast/counterfeit dolls will do to the hobby long-term. We've seen a number of companies move towards 3D sculpting either in place of or in addition to hand sculpting, and while the ability to tweak small things on a doll becomes much easier with that, I hope it never replaces hand sculpting. The amount of evolution and diversity that's come about has been fun to see. I never thought we'd have dragon or flower-anthros, for one!

@Teleri - if it's a true AI, I think a robot doll could be fun! Though right now I think it's a little beyond affordability and practicality. It would be nice to have a robot doll to do the dishes for me!

@PeppermintPocky - can I say both? I go more for salty these days because sweet is my weakness, but if I had to choose only one (and carbs didn't count) it would be sweet.

@Zardi - I have no talent for sewing and faceups, but I have an amazing talent for spending money. I just look at it as doing my part to stimulate the BJD economy. I have a serious bias for Volks clothes and shoes, though that's hardly all that I own. Lullaby Poem are some of my favorite wigs as well as any of the natural red shades Leekeworld comes out with from time to time. Himekazura (Mandarake's brand) of wigs are stunning, thickly wefted, and beautiful.

@DominiqueB - I...really don't like to admit out loud how many dolls I have. Some of my preferences have stayed the same since I began, others have evolved. My focus expands and contracts, depending on what I am looking at. Initially I never wanted anything bigger than a Minifee (my first doll). That lasted for a year, maybe two. Then, nothing bigger than a Delf. And I was /never/ going to own a Volks. Oh, famous last words....my collection is dominated by Volks now. I don't always plan on new dolls, but sometimes they'll release one that is so perfect I have to have it. Volks Cain did that to me, but now that he's here and I can look at his sneery disdainful face in person I regret nothing.

@iamkathybrown - so many cockroaches! Do you have any idea what living wages are for cockroaches? What got me in....well, once upon a time, I had a couple of friends who had gotten into dolls. But they weren't for me. The SD size (and above) really sort of freaked me out. I was content not to join this hobby. And...at a con one of said friends handed me her El to hold for a bit while she ran to the bathroom. It wasn't so bad. Still not my thing. And...I joined DoA in order to commission clothes for my bestie's doll. Just because it's not my thing doesn't mean I can't be supportive. I made my posts, got MP access, commissioned the clothes, and surprised her for her birthday. And...said bestie wanted a particular event head from Luts. Said she'd probably get it later but I knew she wanted it but didn't want to buy a doll to get it. Well, I looked on the Luts site. Saw these dolls called Minifees. They were smaller than the El. Huh. This one called Shushu is pretty. Maybe she could be this character of mine. Hmm. That's not /that/ much money. Maybe I can buy this doll for myself, get the event head, give that to her, and if I don't like the doll I can sell it. Okay, good plan. El-friend helped me sign up, held my hand over the phone while I ordered. Doll arrived and...she was perfect. She's still with me, the first and the favorite. I replaced her original body with an A-line one, but she's my gateway. How I became a mod? Well, I had applied a couple years ago, not really expecting to get in ("it's an honor just to be nominated"). Was happy one of my friends did. When apps opened again last year, two of my friends on staff said I should apply again. The worst they could say is no, and I really wanted to take part in making DoA a great and safe place for other people, so I applied. After all the secret initiations, here I am, a year later and hopefully a little wiser.

@KlanceKlanceRevolutn - I would instantly put all that freeloading resin to work! Do you know how much I pay in mortgage to keep you spoiled dolls out of direct sun and with good clothes, etc? On every test but Pottermore, I test Ravenclaw. On Pottermore, I was Gryffindor. So I will call myself Ravendor.

@Alewife - I know! Really, it seems like your username needs to start with a vowel. We have the As, the Is, an E. The consonants are in the minority among the mod team.

 

Holy cow, when I left for work this morning there were like two questions and I thought it would take me no time to answer!

@Lotte Rotten
I was going to say I hope they glow in the dark! But then I realized that we probably already have that somewhere. The future is noooow.

I mean, there's no denying that dolls pose better than they did when I joined the hobby. (Newbies, imagine a doll world without double joints!) There's more variety in heights, builds, facial features, resin colors, sculpting styles, you name it and it's improved in the last ten years. I'd love to see that continue, but I think that's going to depend on the people who are in the hobby and the way our collecting culture grows. If people value the art put out by the companies and support them long enough to let them grow and innovate, I think we'll only see the engineering of new dolls and new resin continue to improve. In that case I can't even begin to speculate on where they'll take it because the sky is actually the limit, and that's so cool! But it's really on us to then encourage that future to happen.

@Teleri
It's cool that it can be done, and if that's your thing more power to ya! I really enjoy posing my dolls though, so I don't think I'd ever want a doll that posed itself.

@PeppermintPocky
I'm currently super obsessed with salted caramel popcorn, so both! (And now I'm eating some! Look what you did! You've made me get a tasty snack, that's what you did!)

@Zardi
Oooh! Oooh! I have shopping recs! I do my own faceups for the most part, although I do have a couple of dolls that have been and will probably always be painted by a friend (I was convinced I "couldn't paint to save my life" for years because I wasn't perfect at it immediately) and a couple I haven't taken the defaults off of yet. (I need every day to be twice as long to get stuff done, for reals.) Sometimes I sew, but I genuinely dislike doing it, so unless I'm really desperate for a certain style I can't find anywhere it's easier to just buy. I keep thinking I should learn to make wigs so I can have some of the styles I want but can't find, but so far I haven't had time.

Favorite brands (keep in mind that I only own 1/3 scale dolls):
Clothes: Tree Design, Nine9Style, LUTS, Volks. I should also mention Dorset on Etsy, because my favorite girl's been in a cute dress by her for like three months and counting.
Shoes: Volks, LUTS, Crobidoll
Wigs: Monique Gold, hands down. Sometimes Crobidoll for heat resistant wigs.
Eyes: Oscar Doll, MehiArt, Sprouty Doll. I'm really into urethanes for depth and also keeping an eye out for nice browns right now because I've got a few new guys who need them.

In country I tend to bounce between Denver Doll and Fabric Friends and Dolls, because they have some of those brands in stock. They're both lovely.

/extended ramble

@DominiqueB
I've owned a lot of dolls over the years, but I've also sold quite a few as I moved onto new styles. I have 18 in the house right now, which feels like a pretty good number. Eight are mine, ten belong to my wife. We just recently reorganized a bunch because my tastes have changed a lot (I've gotten really into Volks and some smaller artists like Little Rebel and Shoushou Doll in the past couple of years instead of the family of almost entirely Cerberus Project dolls I used to have). I buy a new one if it strikes my fancy or I get an idea for a character I really want to put together like I always have, but I am at the point now where I think a little more about whether said new doll needs to replace someone else rather than coming in and adding another body to my doll cabinet.

@iamkathybrown
Yup, cockroaches. I can honestly say that I did not properly appreciate cockroaches before becoming a Den of Angels moderator.

My wife dragged me kicking and screaming into the hobby back in 2007. She stumbled onto the Delf Moon who was the first doll in our house, decided he looked like one of her characters and would not let it go. I love dolls, but I knew we didn't stand a chance at stopping at one each so I resisted for a while. (I'm glad she won that one though, because dolls are such a big part of my life I can't imagine not having them now.) We still have Taira. His twin brother is also the oldest doll in my half of the collection. I sold the first one I purchased for myself because he just wasn't right for me.

I'm part of the Modling Class of '16 as well.

@KlanceKlanceRevolutn
Apologize for all of the crap I put them through in their stories and hope they forgive me. (Ryotarou's scary when he's mad, and Mitchell would probably cry on me!)

I actually really don't care for Harry Potter. If we're talking epic children's books (and I teach elementary school students, so I often do) I'm Camp Half Blood all the way!

@Alewife
Because it's cool!

 

I'm on a short work break, but I can answer a couple real quick.

I have to go look at my profile every time someone asks me how many dolls I have, which is apparently 27. It feels like too many since all but three are 60-75cm. But when I think about getting rid of some I balk. Most of the time I love the doll and probably only have one from a particular sculptor so I want to keep it, but I probably hate the face-up I did myself or can't find any clothes or shoes that fit.
So sometimes I do my own face-ups and make clothes but I have no time and no patience to improve, so I find myself farming out the customizing work to people with that as a focus. I make jewelry for them, and that keeps me happy. Sometimes that influences my choice in doll purchases - do they have good hands for rings? Do they fit SD16 girl shoes? Will I swear at this doll's engineering because I'm impressed by it or because I'm frustrated by it?

 

Forgot to Watch this thread!!!

I think there will be more vinyl or non-resin dolls, different joints... lots more solutions that take us beyond what is on-topic right now.

I can't wait to see how this develops! Yes, dressing themselves would be fantastic. Even better if they helped me clean up the house and all got jobs!

I used to love savory when I was younger! Sweet is a bit dangerous since I have such a bad sweet-tooth. I used to hate salty and sweet mixed together, but now I love it.

I usually get company faceups because I like to see what the doll will look like before I buy! But sometimes I don't like the faceup or the company doesn't offer a faceup. Because I'm paranoid about sending dolls out, I will do those faceups myself. But there is a good reason I buy company faceups--I'm definitely no pro at them!!!

I have tried making clothes, but don't have my own sewing machine and have also discovered that by the time I buy everything, I have no energy or skill to complete the project AND it ends up costing way more than if I'd buy it or commission it!!! --I buy clothes and other doll items from everywhere--companies, ebay, commissions, etsy... I am always hunting!

I have around 88 bjds, not all of them on-topic for DoA (a couple are not resin).

Sadly, my focus is wider than ever! There are so many different kinds of dolls now. It was so different in the early days with only a few companies and styles. It's hard for me to resist the new dolls and styles that are being made!!!

There are definitely Mods who are great at tech, and that is NOT me! I'm old and am lucky if I can use my cell phone... (I used to work in computer games--as an artist, so I do know some tech, but it was a bit specialized and constantly changing... I'm probably all old and rusty even at that, now.)

I've always liked dolls. I was also an anime fan decades ago (pretty much one of first gen in the US), I was looking to paint an obitsu and started seeing some things show up on Ebay back in 2002... I was intrigued, but didn't have the time to assemble and paint and make everything for a doll (seriously, there were only a few things showing up on Ebay then--a wig or two that mentioned that they fit SuperDollfies). Then, I saw customizers like Satoko Ohno selling some Volks for thousands of dollars and was fascinated.

In 2004, I did a lot of research and only had a few choices to buy. I ordered a CP Delf Elf El from Liria, who was the English translator who worked directly for CP. Luts had only just started an English website, but wasn't offering Elf El with options (like ws). Yes, I still have him. I have so many dolls because I have never sold any of my dolls! (I'm serious when I call myself a doll-hoarder!)

Last year there was a post about applying to be a Mod. I'd been on DoA for 12 years and was constantly on it, with over 8,000 posts! I thought I'd try something different!

I'd hope my dolls would all get jobs and clean the house if they came to life!

Gryffindor (according to many online quizzes, including the official sites, and even though I like Ravenclaw and Slytherin).

A names are the best!

 

Love all the answers so far, especially the shopping recommendations However, I think it's clear that you guys don't have enough questions to answer, so I thought of another one.

We know that BJDs didn't used to have all the joints that are now considered common; for example, double-jointed elbows and knees, two-part torsos, etc. In the future, what other joints do you hope will become as common as these? These could be joints you've seen rarely (such as DC's wrist and ankle pieces) or joints you've never seen on a BJD before, but would really like to have.

 

@Zardi the shoulder joints in the Volks SDGou body and the feet that lock in point. SOOOO much easier to get pants on and even though the shoulder joints aren't some super-posing aid, they create a range of motion that looks so natural, allowing the doll to stretch his arm so far across his chest.

 

I didn't know what shoulder joints you meant, so I looked it up. Those are pretty cool! I was actually picturing shoulder blade-like joints to allow the shoulders to hunch, but these are a nice compromise

 

Question to all mods: How, why and when did you become a moderator for DoA?

 

How? I applied and filled out like a form with questions. Then I got more questions!
Why? I was thinking mysterious things might happen!
When? A little over a year ago!

 

@Zardi These days, I do all of my own faceups. As of a few years ago, I still occasionally commissioned someone else if I didn't think I could get a look I wanted. For instance, I have 3 boys who I wanted to have a really grungy, rough look, but my style is a bit softer. I can do facial hair and dramatic colors and such, but I seem to have trouble with doing tough/grunge without making it look messy and dirty -- in a bad way. The only other exception is if I purchase something second-hand, and like what they already look like (or if I'm too lazy to change it! ).
I've tried making wigs and clothes -- and I only ever kept one of the wigs (dreadlocks), and one or two outfit pieces that weren't awful. Well, they were kind of awful, but I still liked them. :3
I love to buy wigs from Leekeworld (if you don't end up getting a bad quality-controlled one), and my favorite eyes are DollBakery. If you can manage to grab any! Anything in stock is there for maybe a few hours, and preorders fill up insanely quickly. I also like Tata's Paradise and Alice's Collections for affordable, but high quality clothes. Since they carry things from multiple companies/manufacturers, they have great variety.
And I really like interesting neck joints, like Doll Chateau's and Triffony Artworks'. A lot of BJD's seem to lack a little range of movement in the neck, so I really like ones that open dolls up to more possibilities like craning their neck straight up, or straight down.

@DominiqueB I try not to count, because then my wallet hurts! I currently have 38 (which includes 3 floating heads), and 3 off-topic little pet prop things (Sakura and Paper bird/hamster/bunny). I used to buy dolls just when I saw one and really wanted it. But then I gave them all a backstory, to which I added more characters, so now (luckily for my wallet!) I pretty much only look for dolls to shell a character, and I'm much more picky when I'm trying to find the perfect face for something that exists only in my mind.

@iamkathybrown
I first got into the hobby when a college friend showed me her BJD. He was a Custom House Little Junior and he was so super cute that I wanted one too. My first doll was an Angel of Dream Chen, who I bought secondhand here on DoA, and I do still have him!
And I became a mod when applications were opened one year. I had already been a member here for maybe 4 or 5 years, and the hobby had become such a big part of my life even then; and DoA was my one resource for everything BJD-related. I really just wanted to give back to the community somehow - I don't have a local BJD group, and only one real-life BJD friend, so the DoA community is basically all I've got!

 

That is why the Gou body is a favorite of mine even though I no longer own one.
I'd like to see more unusual collar bone articulation like Artifex Kindred and a proper contraposto pose. Also, a spine that can flex both forward and backward without ruining the lines of the torso. I would also like to see more ball joints made on a machining lathe for a more precise fit - it eliminates the need for sueding or locks when properly aligned elastic channels and really clean ball and socket joint are used in conjunction.

 

I love answering questions!

Joints... I'm used to the really basic joints (be one of the oldies used to that kind of thing) . Anything more than that is cool. I'm also a bit more into aesthetics than posing, so as long as the body has at least one joint and the posing doesn't absolutely suck, I'm happy...

I'm in the latest group of Mods who came on last year. There was an announcement asking for people who might be interested to apply. I'd also applied the time before that. Last year I was a bit more interested and tried a bit harder, and got in. It wasn't easy, either! I thought I knew a lot about DoA because I've been here nearly from the beginning, but I was so wrong! Why-- because I've been on DoA so much, I really thought I should try and help out, if I could...

 

I'm salty, too, but that doesn't have anything to do with food.
I'm a sucker for buttery, flaky pastry and honey/cinnamon/pumpkin things. I am a gluten-based life form.

 

My most succulent of mods, now is the one time I may ask the question that makes my heart yearn. May I ask, what color and type of panties are you wearing?

(Minus you mom, @CathyM I don't need to know that. )

 

I decided I'd play anyway

I usually do my own faceups. However, I don't sew as much as I used to , so I generally buy clothing.

I have about 32 dolls right now. My buying has slowed down a LOT. Not as many dolls appeal to me these days, so I really enjoy the ones I do get.

My first doll was a DIM Odelia. I sold her a long long time ago.

I became a mod 3 years ago. I applied when there was an open application period.

If my dolls came to life? I'd still make them let me dress them in silly clothing.

I am a slytherin

My middle name is an A name, so no jealousy here.

I applied (still shocked I was accepted). I applied because I was sort of aimless at the time. I needed something to keep me occupied. That was in May of 2014.

 

@SeraphBJD - like several others, my career in DoA moderation began in 2016. I applied and after a lengthy series of bribes was accepted. Why? To make my kitty children proud.

@suppi - I am so not surprised. Pastel striped cheekinis from Victoria's Secret.

 

None! (In my defense I actually just woke up so...I'm only wearing a bra, a dress and a cardigan type thing at the moment. As the day goes on I'm sure I'll find some panties.)

 

@Zardi
I don't really have joint wishlists, though if all my dolls could hold poses as well as my Peakswood's guy I'd be thrilled. I can walk away from him just standing there and not worry! My wants are more geared towards facial features. (My kingdom for more aquiline noses!)

@SeraphBJD
I applied in 2016 too! I did it because I've been benefitting from the use of this forum for a long time now, so I figured I should do what I could to give back. And because I'm full of information about the hobby I like to share, and it sounds less obnoxious in an official capacity.

@suppi
Ha! No! What color I'm wearing today doesn't matter. What matters is that I have a clean pair for tomorrow.

 

@KlanceKlanceRevolutn If my dolls suddenly came to life I'm sure I'd switch immediately to hostess mode, trying to make sure they were all comfortable and amused with their preferred beverages and snacks. Then I'd probably retreat (just as I would in real life around a large crowd of people). I think it would be really delightful to watch them socializing with each other from a distance.

And according to many online quizes I took over the years my house is Gryffindor.

@Alewife all the A names are pretty creepy huh?! My actual name starts with an A too, so I of course think it's great when A names take charge.

@Zardi I suppose I'll chime in with the desire for joints in the shoulder, chest or back which could create more realistic mobility. But to be perfectly honest I think I'm one of those people who's not actually very picky about doll mobility. If they can sit and stand with ease I'm pretty happy. I still have plenty of single jointed dolls at home and I don't love them any less.

@SeraphBJD I'm also part of the 2016 incoming team. As to why I wanted to become a moderator, well I was very depressed and searching for some new meaning in my life. I thought it would be nice to give something back to the community that's meant so much to me these past few years.

@suppi Woah there! Well, I'm a thong person. Any time I try to wear another kind I swear I have an off day.

 

General question from me: is it ever too late to learn to sew? For those that sew their own doll clothing, was it a skill you developed when you were young, or did you pick it up later on? I'm asking because I'd like to learn myself, but get so intimidated by all the great craftsmanship out there. I worry that I can never develop my skill to a decent standard because I'm in my 30s and didn't really pick up a knack for it when I was younger. So...is there a chance for me to still get good at it, or did I need to start out when I was younger?

Yeah...kind of serious and goofy at the same time. Hopefully not too much

 

Ha-ha! Well, it does say to ask us anything! TMI, though, and I'm terribly at witty replies. Mine are all boring pastel or beige because I hate colors showing through clothes (it's never that cold here, so lots of light fabrics--and some ripped jeans).

 

For all the mods: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

 

I've always been a huge Anglophile (Britophile?), and have even spent a few years in England and Scotland... But I'm not sure I could do that now (I'm older and have lived most of my life in CA where I grew up and have family). Canada has always been lovely--for the healthcare and people--and it will probably have the best climate as things go all crazy down here with the weather changes. But I'm probably going to stay here in CA. No snow in winter. I'm used to it--the horrible traffic, idiot drivers, high cost of living, gangs, earthquakes, being within range of N. Korean nukes, and all...

 

This isn't so much moderator question, but a "You are all my senpai, and I want an answer from a long-time hobbyist." Anywho, I was wondering how to...work up the courage to talk to some of these BJD companies, especially really small ones? You know, because of the language barriers? Also, is there a proper and polite way to bring up the topic of getting their sculpts DoA approved? I don't want to upset anybody, and the language gap terrifies me.

Also, what are your thoughts on having collections of multiple size groups? I think SD is my main preference, but I've seen some YoSD and MSD sized dolls lately that I adore, but I'm afraid that they'll mess up the cohesiveness of my group. Also, my SD sized dolls are part of the same story...so I wouldn't know what to do with the smaller sizes....but they're so cute! I'm conflicted. ​

 

@suppi Damn! If I'd answered this last night I could have said "nothing but my Den of Angels pajamas" but today it's just ordinary DKNY black bikini briefs.

@jade-eyed-cat Seconding Dezarii. I learned to sew as a kid because I had to make my own clothes sometimes, but it's not one of those crafts where getting the muscle memory locked in early is a huge advantage. I didn't even start playing with dolls until I was 30, so I'm a big advocate of it's never too late.

@NekoNyanMew I'd like to live a lot of places for a few years - maybe sample different forest environments - but California will always be home - I need mountains at my back and beach sand between my toes.

@BenEMcD Well, the language barrier is no longer as horrible as it was. We don't have to use BabelFish to figure out how to send a wire transfer to a Korean bank anymore! I don't think any artist would be unhappy to receive messages from a fan; the rest of the conversation would have to happen naturally.

 

Goodness gracious this thread moved fast while I was sleeping and at work.

Mnn I like both. Sometimes at the same time (salted caramels, wendy's fries dipped in a chocolate frosty, m&m's with popcorn...). However I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes about a year and a half ago, so no more sweets for me! I've had to learn to enjoy the low carb snacks instead. Almonds, pickles, kimchi, bacon...

I just started learning how to do my own faceups. Before now all my faceups either came with the doll or my girlfriend painted them for me. For eyes, I adore MehiArt eyes. I also have a lot of just the generic glass eyes you can find just about everywhere. I sew a little. I keep swearing I'm going to sew more often. I really like Volks' clothes. If you buy them from Volks directly they're really reasonably priced for the quality. They're only expensive on the secondhand market. I also like Code Noir, rrabbit, a bunch of different Etsy sellers, um... Dorset, Nalisinko, AyuAna, SquirrelMoonKnits, Darling Clover, Seventh Soul, Poisonbleu, MoriTime, Wimukt, Nezumitoo, lovesprung, Lelahel - there are more but those are all shops I definitely own pieces from and really like.

Ah. Ahahaha. I stopped counting past 60.

I think everyone beat me to the secrets of running the site. So back around 2005? 2006? I somehow ran across BJDs somewhere on the internet and was instantly fascinated. I was also working in a call center for only like, $8/hr and there was no way I could afford one then. But I tucked it into the back of my head. Then in 2010, I was much more comfortable financially, and remembered BJDs. On a whim I searched eBay and there he was - the doll I had decided I'd get if I ever could afford one. He was a Dollzone Yuu, and I decided it was fate and bought him. I still have him.

I am also a Class of '16 Modling. I saw the post asking for applications, and wasn't going to apply until I saw a checkbox at the bottom that asked if you were a PHP developer. Well, it so happens that I am a developer, and I do know PHP. It's one of the languages I work with every day at my job. And I realized that this was a chance that I could really give back to the doll community and maybe even get to build tools to make DoA an even awesomer place to be and I knew I had to apply. And I was accepted!

Oh boy, if my dolls came to life I would be in trouble. I am severely outnumbered.

I am in Ravenclaw.

*gives all those A-mods the sideeye*

Toe joints, like on the Twigling Ingenue body. They're so cool!

Currently? Blue with lighter blue polka dots. They're just regular old cotton panties.

I learned a little of how to sew as a kid, but I didn't really figure out how patterns worked til I was an adult. Go for it!

Oh man, I'm gonna look like such a weeb, but Japan. I swear I have a good reason. My father was Japanese, but adopted after WW2 and brought to the states. So even though I'm part Japanese, I grew up in just regular ol WASP-y Army family culture. I've always been a bit fascinated by the Japanese side of my heritage.

But realistically? I'm pretty happy here in Florida. I don't do well in the cold (it aggravates my fibromyalgia) and I don't do well in places with short days (I have seasonal affective disorder), and I looooooove swimming in the ocean. So Florida is a good place for me. Even if it is full of weirdos and mosquitoes.

The important thing is to write in small short sentences that will translate well with an automatic translator. Don't make complicated sentences, with lots of commas and clauses and parentheticals (ie, don't write like I do!). Otherwise just be patient and friendly.

I have dolls of all sizes. They don't all belong to the same like, family, or group. Some dolls represent characters of mine and I try to keep the ones from the same story in scale with each other. But some of my dolls are just because I loved the sculpt, or they had a cool body type or joint configuration and I wanted to play with it in person.

Edit:

Oh! And @Amet there are Glow-in-the-dark dolls! I have one! She's a Nympheas Doll Brioche.

 

@jade-eyed-cat
Sewing is an intimidating skill to learn (a lot of skills employed in this hobby are), but like anything you just have to push through and let yourself struggle for a while. I like to remind myself that the ucky sort of mental drag you feel when you're learning a new thing with a bigger learning curve is actually the sweet, sweet feeling of your brain growing new neural pathways to accommodate your new skills. You're never too old for that.

@NekoNyanMew
I don't think I could see myself leaving New England. I did it once during grad school (I went all the way to southern Georgia), but the culture shock never wore off. I like my peeps cranky and liberal, and my winters cold so I appreciate the spring and summer more. :nodding:

@BenEMcD
I would say just do it! I find most artists are very receptive to chatting, especially on social media. I still feel like a complete spaz sometimes flailing at someone about how much I love their work, but who doesn't love encouragement?

I failed at diversifying my collection size-wise, so I'm all 1/3 scale right now. I've owned a lot of other sizes over the years, and anything smaller just didn't feel as essential as my bigger guys (and got sold), so I gave it up. I find I'm kind of a weirdo in that respect though, so you do you.

@cowpewter
Haha, that's so cool! (I had a feeling someone would be able to point one out!)

 

Do I have to choose just one place? There are too many lovely places I'd love to give a try! :<

But...hmm...first place that comes to mind would be like Japan. I've never been there or anything but the nature and the gardens just seem so pretty. And I love the architecture and the shrines and all that too, it looks so pretty from the photos I've seen. I don't have much knowlegde about Japan or their culture though, so I'd be pretty scared that I'd do something wrong! And I'm not so sure about the language, I'm just not really that good at learning new languages >____> But if I were to live there I'd try my best to learn it! I feel like that would be definitely something I'd have to learn if I'm going to live there.
Oooh ooh China would be pretty cool too I think!

I've also always wanted to live in the US for a little while(or I guess UK and Ireland would do too, but they sort of feel not exotic enough), just so I can learn to speak English better(right now I'm totally super shy about it, but being in a place where I have to use it would be good for my English). Not sure where I'd want to live, hmm but someplace that feels different from here would be pretty nice I think! ~
Actually...living on Hawaii would be cool! The nature there looks so pretty! (yes, nature is what makes me interested in places I'm beginning to notice)

And when I'm retired I totally want to move someplace where it's warm all year around and where there's a lot of thunder! Like maybe Spain or something? (If you can still live there...with climate change and all, who knows! And I don't know if they get a lot of thunder, I'd have to look that up) But then I'd have to learn Spanish too...well I guess I should have lots of time to do that when I'm retired

I kinda like where I currently live too, except the winters. I don't like winter here. And honestly though...even if I think it would be cool to live in all kinds of places, I'm not the one to actually go through with things like that, especially not on my own! But I guess I can dream about it ~ And I'm sure as soon as I post this I'll think of more places I want to live haha


@cowpewter
-high five- fellow Ravenclaw...ian?