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

@eleniel @idrisfynn - No, not good enough! I want to know more about our robot friends. They're viewing threads!!!
And they're all named after search engines (Google, Bing, Baidu, Yandex, Sogou...)
I smell a conspiracy...

Anyway my actual question is, to all mods, how do you dress in real life and is it similar to the way you dress your dolls?

 

I'm not sure that I want to know it!

 

Oh, too easy. Of course the dolls dress MUCH better!

 

Since it's come up twice I'm curious what the relationship is between @eleniel and @CathyM other than reluctant (on one side) huggers and occasional lunch partners.

 

Been Goth!

I wore black through the late '80s and all through the '90s (I went to New Orleans for Anne Rice fan club parties, I followed The Cure around for 6 concerts at a time during tours, I also saw Siouxsie and the Banshees, Peter Murphy, Sisters of Mercy, Morrissey, Dead Can Dance, NIN in concert, traded art with James O'Barr who created "The Crow, " etc.) Very Old School goth (but perky, not gloomy). BUT that was before bjds! I wasn't terribly goth by then... I have some gothy stuff for my bjds, but they are all more fantasy or historical or formal wear rather than goth. And I never did get much into goth lolli. Although I still appreciate the style! --and my bjds probably wear more black than I do, now (black ages one when they get as old as I am!---sadly).

sort of gothy! (taken in 2007) --Oh, and I know the guy who designed Skellanimals--we were good friends in art school.
07-10-SDhalloween-291a449b by aprilllee, on Flickr

 

For any mod who wants to answer: Outside of the realm of bjd, what are some of your other big hobbies and interests? How much does your doll hobby tie in with your actual lifestyle and other interests?

 

@Atra I don't celebrate my dolls' birthdays. I sometimes fantasize about it but it never happens.

@ker246 (Hey I used to be a goth too, albeit a very long time ago, when I was in high school) I just kind of wear whatever I like in real life. A lot of jeans and t-shirts, stretchy dresses and tops with repeating patterns. My dolls dress a lot like me I guess.

@mimimontoya BJDs are my main hobby. I'm also a painter but I take that pretty seriously, it doesn't really feel like a hobby. My life is pretty boring. I don't really go out much, I just kind of go to work and then come home and chat with friends online, paint, or do things with my dolls. The dolls are definitely a big part of my life and have been for a long time.

 

I used to have a ton of interests, but they are narrowing down over the years, and DoA and bjds are taking up a huge chunk of time. And the rest is trying to keep up with my art, which has been a bit of a lost cause lately. I did manage to take an advanced painting class and make some new art. Will show some at the upcoming WorldCon art show. I'm taking a Chinese language class just for fun--but don't ever expect to speak it since I suck at languages. I like to travel (and conventions), so am working that into a trip to L-Doll in Lyon--so that's where the bjds cross over into my other interests.

 

Conspiracies abound!!

My dolls dress much better than I do. I tend to wear tshirts/jeans or leggings.

I built @eleniel in my secret lab.

I love photography. That has been my one great passion since I was a kid. So dolls fit in with that really well. I don't really have much of a 'lifestyle' anymore. I'm widowed, and the kids are grown. So it's just me and my cat. And my dolls.

And I occasionally bully @eleniel to go to lunch with me.

 

Next time build one that prefers hugs.

 

Hi mods! Thank you for all your hard work every day on this beast of a forum! I can't imagine the behind-the-scenes workings of this place.

Anyways, I have a few fun/random questions for you all, should you feel like answering them. :3

1. What was the (first) doll you saw that made you go "Yah! I wanna be in this hobby!" Did you buy that particular doll? If so, are they still with you?

2. What is your favorite pair of BJD eyes that you own?

Extra cake points if you post pics!

 

The first BJD I ever saw was a Soom Gena. She was soooo pretty!! I've had 2 of them, but they never stick with me.

My favorite eyes I own are a pair of Labo eyes that I bought on YJ so many many years ago. They are starting to yellow, but I still love them the best.

 

@CathyM Soom Gena is such a pretty sculpt!
And those eyes are amazing! Are they urethane? Even if they're yellowing, human scleras aren't pure white either, so I bet they look fine when in your gorgeous tan El.

 

They are urethane. The yellowing doesn't show in photos at all. Plus Mani is tan, so it's a lot less noticeable.

 

*waves to the Mods* I just want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for keeping this place running. I live on here and I really appreciate all the work that you put in.

 

I like to dress in yoga leggings (in which I don't do much yoga >_>), and graphic t-shirts. Or sweatpants. I prefer comfort above all else. And actually, only one of my dollies has a pair of yoga leggings!

My other interests include perfume-making, video games, and a varied mishmash of lots of stuff. :3 Video games ties in with the dolls OK, I actually have a bunch of dolls themed after one of my favorite franchises, so that works out well. The perfume, not so much! It's all oils and entirely-way-too-strong scents, so I keep the dolls away from that!

1. I don't even fully remember anymore, which one I saw that made me fall in love the the hobby....... The first doll I saw in person was a Custom House LJ Hades, but I don't think it was him... Maybe it was Migidoll Ryu and/or Dollshe Saint? >_> I got both of them, whichever it was!

2. I have a lot of eyes I like right now... But I think the current faves are my Soom Viol's default eyes (no-pupil, all black, with silver sparkles) :
SAM_0032 by AirimirOfGondor, on Flickr

And I actually have an order out for what I think will be my new faves, another pair from Soom which are literally just orange sparkles!
the SOOM emporium

Thank you for saying so! I really want to help this place keep on keepin' on!

 

At first I just saw parts of kits--no full dolls--when I searched online. Then I finally saw a full doll on Ebay (only one or two other auctions related to bjds at that time)-- Of a customized Volks by Satoko Ohno... I made a bid, but it went for several thousand dollars, I think. Anyway, WAY higher than I could ever think of... I didn't want to get into bjds because they were either astronomically expensive, or you had to go through a broker to buy one and put it together yourself ... but seeing one all put together really interested me. I started researching Super Dollfies (bjds wasn't used at that time) after that.
FCS-19-03-420x650c by aprilllee, on Flickr
No, never bought this guy. Never got anything with a Satoko Ohno faceup, either.

I like all my Oscar Doll Eyes... so pretty and sparkly!!!

Cake points are good!

I'm only a recent Mod, and still totally feel like that about all the Mods who had helped run DoA all this time!

 

To all the Mods, in general, do you every wish you'd chosen a different/better name when you first joined? Or are you pretty satisfied overall with your choice?

Do any of you play with any other types of dolls, like the Monster High ones, or fashion ones, or do you mainly stick to BJD?

Do you have any other fun hobbies that you usually don't bring up here, but are cool and interesting and neat?

 

I'm fine with my name. I had better be, since I've had it for 54 years (yes, it's my real name).
I have a collection of Monster High dolls as well as BJDs.

My only other hobby is photography. Which works well with the dolls

 

I’m using my real name, too! I wouldn’t mind using an angel or fallen angel name, but thought it would be a tad weird and couldn’t think of one anyway! I’m ok with my choice. It keeps things simpler.

Other dolls... a bit of many, some porcelains, some Old Genes, some Barbie and Kens, some Pullips, some Dollfies and Obitsus... some Japanese silk and gofun... only one Monster High. Lots of plushies. But mainly stick to BJDs now.

Hmm. Cool hobbies? Right now my job is my hobby and visa versa (ask my accountant since I’ve been a bit bad making money from art lately. Right now I’m at the SF Worldcon showing 4 panels of art and hanging around with artists, writers, and fans. It’s a lot of fun.

 

That does sound fun! I hope you have a blast!

 

First I want to thank all of you mods for making DOA what it is. I'm sure most of the time its a thankless job but I think that I'm not alone in my gratitude for all that this place has helped us with.
Now my question is since all of you get sort of seen as hobby gurus instead of just normal people with normal lives who happen to devote a lot of time and energy for the sake of their love for this hobby is: What are some of your most regrettable/dumb hobby "mistakes" noobie or otherwise. I'm sure we have all had them and if we're lucky its something that can be fixed/changed/or just plain worked around and I don't know about everyone else but I for one love hearing those stories because it reminds me I'm not alone in my mishaps.

 

@Wolfie Pie The First BJD I fell in love with was a Volks doll in a doll collecting magazine I saw while I was at a bookstore. I never got him but I did eventually get a Volks doll at least!
Hm, it's really hard to decide on a favorite pair of eyes because I have so many different kinds that I really like! I'm going to say it's this pair of Pabol glass eyes though. I think the color is just amazing.



@Nana I'm happy with my username!
I sometimes buy Barbies. I just find them hard to resist even though I don't really do anything with them.
Um, well I'm a painter. Dolls and painting are pretty much my life.

@TwistedRiver I actually have a lot of hobby mistakes because I'm kind of impulsive and sometimes act on terrible ideas. My first doll was tan and I sanded on him (which made the color uneven) then dyed him (the old fashioned RIT way) and then LOST him in a move somehow. I really wish that first of all, I hadn't messed him up like I did and second that I still had him because I think it would be really cool, but I don't really beat myself up about it because there's no point.

 

All questions I could think of have been asked so please let me add my appreciation for all you do to keep DoA running smoothly and for all you do in general! Thank you!

 

I had a great time! It's always fun to show art and sell some prints, and go to panels and see authors and people--there was a guy who ran a panel about his work with WETA Digital--it was cool!

Hmmmm... I haven't done too many things... A classic is that I bought the same wig twice! (Forgot I'd bought it already!) Also-- I had one of my dolls standing for a photo. That is always a risk--and of course she face-planted! It was on grass, so I thought she would be OK--but one of the blades of grass actually left a scratch in her blushing! Live and learn!!! Those faceups can be delicate!!!

 

Every now and then I wish my username was different - when I first created this one I was back in late highschool and on a LotR kick. :3 I've since realized I like high fantasy a lot, but I love space-themed things waaaaaay better now. :P So sometimes I wish I'dve picked a cool space-age-y cosmos kind of name, but instead I just use this one everywhere now because it's easier for me to standardize across all platforms that way, and also it's pretty unique so no one else has ever used it!.

I have come across the odd other type of doll here and there, but I just don't feel drawn to collecting them. I picked up one Madame Alexander doll from a local thrift shop (it pretty good shape too, and very cute), but my plan was to get her cleaned up a little, and she's still in the box on my shelf because I haven't bothered. >_>

And other than dolls and videogames, I don't have too many other real hobbies! I like making perfume, and soap making, and I'm actually getting ready to develop another set of fragrances over the next couple of months, so I guess that's kinda cool.

Thank you!!
My most noobie mistake was probably when I started doing faceups - I did not use a respirator when spraying sealant at first. I'd just hold my breath, breathe through my shirt, that sort of thing. I can't even fully remember when I got my respirator, so I'm pretty sure that I was spraying without for quite a while. I'd say that is definitely my biggest regret. I guess I got lucky, in that I didn't develop any breathing problems from that, but for me, it's particularly terrifying because I can't recall how long exactly I was going without.

 

I did this toooooo. Part of me is kind of really glad I took a hiatus, because every face-up I did before that was done with Testors or MSC and no facemask (and once or twice on my back porch or in the basement with relatively little ventilation and no breathing equipment.) I was young, wasn't nearly as chronically ill at the time, thought they had enough ventilation, and didn't want to spend time researching respirators (this was before the nifty thread on them) or spend money on one (which I also assumed, due to lack of researched, would be like $100 or more).

Now that I'm back into it, I've researched respirators a bit with the help of the thread, picked one out and ordered it literally just last night, and am not touching any of my face-ups till it arrives. (Seriously, I'm really so glad for that thread, especially because back in the day like a decade ago it seemed like there were a lot of us that "knew" they were important but didn't use them.)

 

Oh gosh, I've missed a lot! Let me see here ~

Who said anything about it being someone? I've done some research and I think it might be the occasional shoes dropping in on us. I think we'll be alright, we've installed unispiders to protect us against a potential shoe invasion.

I'm actually wearing panties this year. Black with cute lace ~

I only really celebrate my first doll's birthday. The rest I forgot what date I got them

Naa, close-ish but not really. I wear dresses and skirts. No floofy ones at the moment, but yeah dresses and leggings all the way, all the time! I've dedicated my life to a no-pants lifestyle since 2005! (of course, in PE I had to wear pants, silly teachers >___> )

They have formed a pack of jerks, hence they are in close proximity of each other. A word of advice, don't go near, it's contagious.

I sew and draw a lot. Sewing directly ties in with dolls, since I sew clothes for them. Drawing not so much, I draw other things. I also like photographing cute spiders and I like to play videogames. I have a degree in 3D stuff, but I'm not really doing much with that right now. Possibly will get back to it for dollmaking, we'll see

1. I sort of have her, at least her head x) She was my second choice, a Rosette Marguerite and yes, I still have the head ~

2. I love my dark brown ones. I love brown eyes, it's soooo pretty >w< I'm jealous of all you hoomans with brown eyes!

No! I love my name! (yes, it's my name, my rl name since a year back! ~ )

Just BJDs. I never played with dolls when I was growing up, and it was because they were stiff(and creepy ugh those plastic baby dolls, eww). BJDs feels like a completely different thing to me since they can move their joints! I love that!

Photographing spiders? Is that considered an interesting hobby? I mean, it's interesting to me at least ~

"Hobby gurus" ahahahah. I know about 5.4% of what the rest of the staff knows about dolls(they amaze me at times with their knowledge!). I'm just good at cheering them on while they work

Count me in on the sealer oops squad. I only did it two or three times without a mask(too excited, bad excuse), but I had one time where I accidentally breathed in a lot (I think I was about to sneeze or something) and ugh I felt it right away. I have kind of "light" asthma so I guess I'm more sensitive to stuff like that. Bad thing, ugh. I regret it. Bleh. However, since many years back now I have my trusted respirator when I do face-ups and I've started using a sealant that is less toxic. I haven't had any problems since I got the respirator

 

Best flavor of pie?

 

Oooh, I love pie! So hard to choose one! Dutch Apple a la Mode? Lemon Merangue? Pumpkin? Marie Callender's Double-Cream Blueberry / Custard / Fresh Strawberry / Fresh Peach !!!

 

@iamkathybrown Like april, I also love pie and think it's really hard to pick a favorite. Can I pick two favorites? Peach and chocolate silk.

 

Are any of you into musicals, and if so, which one(s)?

 

I dyed a doll, and dropped the head in the pot of dye. it squished the poor thing's nose. I still feel bad about that.

Key lime is my absolute favorite. Yum yum.

I love musicals, and I listen to them all the time. My Dad and Gran loved musicals, so I was raised with them. My list of favorites is WAY too long to post. But honestly, if I had to pick a top favorite it would be impossible, because it varies depending on my mood.

Fiddler On The Roof, Cats, Phantom, 1776, and A Little Night Music to name some of my favorites.

 

Ohhh! I love musicals! So hard to choose...!

Phantom
Camelot
Le Miz
Sound of Music
Pippin
Fiddler
Jesus Christ Superstar
Nightmare Before Christmas
Godspell
Cats

 

OMG--I would so want to eat that merangue!!! You can have the lemony stuff!!! (and Moana had great music!)

 

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There's this thing called "taco pie" in Sweden. I like that. A lot.

As for sweet pies: no thanks, eww for the most part. Sometimes I take just the tiniest slice to not be rude if someone made it and is very excited that I try it. The ones with rhubarb or apples are the worst though, those I just flat out say no to (I actually like rhubarb, but not mushy warm rhubarb)

Not really into them, but on the rare occasion that I watch one I usually like them

 

To the mods... I have 2 questions...
Uno: Do you watch any specific animes?
Dos: Do any of you play League of Legends? :3

 

Uno: Not since the '90's... but I've been watching since almost the beginning with AstroBoy and Kimba. Really watched a lot of Gundam and Macross in the old days. Tried Attack on Titan, but only watched a few episodes.

Dos: No, but I admire all the art done for it.