During this quarantine what have you realized about your dolls?

I'm in the Healthcare field, so I'm still working during Quarantine. However, I have done a lot of the same things as you have! I just listed a ton of stuff I've gone through and am trying to sell. I have re-evaluated the dolls I have in my collection. I have done more face-ups to try to find the "spark" in dolls that I have. I have also spent way too much money on buying new things, some items in my collection were so old that I realized I was just keeping them for no reason.

I think that sometimes it's good to take a step back and really look at your collection and decide what you want from it. I think that once you're done, you'll find that spark again.

 

I realized how GLAD I am I got into this hobby recently! It's kept me busy and joyful in this weird time.

 

I realized how impatient I am when it comes to shipping

 

Sigh. I realized that they are luckier than I am, because they get to stay home and away from the madness, while my job is considered 'essential,' and off to work I go every morning. (Seriously, I am exceedingly grateful to still be employed right now, and offer my heartfelt sympathy to all who are struggling to get through this craziness financially. If only the two trillion dollar package were aimed more at the people and less on the big business bailouts. [/rant]) But on the bright side, since there's nowhere to go and nothing to do anymore, they have become a major source of entertainment. It has actually helped me to remember why I fell in love with them in the first place.

 

I'm with @wanderingstar: I'm boxing up a couple of dolls that aren't that attractive to me anymore and will put them up for sale at some point. I'm also knitting for my bjds, waiting out the stay-at-home order.

 

Sadly, I haven't realized anything new about my collection during the COVID-19 pandemic. I enjoyed giving one of my dolls a faceup for spring break, and I love all my dolls the same even now, but I still don't have much time to spare on them.

I will be transitioning to virtual education as a teacher starting Monday, so I won't be able to spend time with my hobbies until the end of May.

 

I'm starting to realize I might not sew anything. I love the idea of sewing, but I can't seem to bring myself to, even with all of this downtime, argh!

 

Amen. I subscribe to text message notifications and freak out during the whole process. My husband forgets he ordered anything and then it shows up and he's like oh, cool while I'm panicking in the corner lol.

 

Hmmm... A good question. I was home without work for about 2 weeks before I was sent work from home supplies... So I've kinda experienced both the excess of time and just generally being stuck in the house. I'd say I've realized the role my dolls play has shifted. I realized that I used to carry my only full doll around the house with me a lot more. She would watch TV with me and take naps and so on. I still do that a little, but I've realized she's shifted less into a buddy role and more into a piece of art. When I was in art school I had plenty of creative outlets, but no time to really talk to or visit friends. But now that I'm working in a call center, (turns out I was majoring in a really sexist industry that rarely hires women, whoops!) I have slightly more free time, (normally I'd complain about the hours, but, right now I realize I'm lucky to have a job so), and am able to keep up with friends more, but less of my day is spent expressing my self creatively. So now I pour a lot of my free time into curating and creating for my dolls. I realized more than ever that my dolls are an outlet for needs, but those needs have changed with time and my dolls easily adapted with that. I can't say I wouldn't have realized this otherwise, but having 2 weeks where I was wondering my home all day, and yet not carting my doll room to room certainly hastened the revelation. I spent a lot of that time modding and creating instead.

 

I've realized I have a clear favorite out of my crew. All I've been doing is sewing clothes, making jewelry, and props. Just. For. Him. (Lol)
I also see a couple of dolls I may sell, especially if my financial situation doesn't change soon. :/

 

I've learned that I've neglected them for a long time... Now that I have more time at home (I'm still required to go out to work, but I don't go anywhere else for the most part) I've started a few more sewing projects and really started to make plans for the unfinished ones. Here's hoping I can at least refine my collection through this.

 

I'm just glad to have the hobby as a side-line project during my free time.

I work in food-retail, so we're kind of the cavalry in all of this. Keeping the country's pantries stocked and loo-roll supplies topped up... I'm also doing a degree through a distance-learning university, so I'm not off the hook there either. I have one assignment due this week, so I need to finish that off before getting stuck in with doll stuff.

However, being shut-up in the house with little else to do at times of leisure, I've looked to my dolls. I'm crafting for them, getting in supplies to do said crafting through the post. I'm photographing them [that's died down a little now, after flooding my Instagram over about three days after nothing for weeks]. I'm glad I can change up their looks with wigs and clothes, so they don't look the same every day. It's one small aspect I can change in this situation, and I'm glad for it.

 

That I miss them. :c

I’m quarantining with my parents in another state and I left my collection behind. I only brought one of my tinies with me.

You don’t realize just how much you enjoy working on them or simply just having them around until you can’t.

 

I need to redo the faceup on one of my dolls. The cat jumped up on me as I was painting the eyebrows and I jerked making one stroke longer than intended. It's not super noticeable, but I can tell and it's getting to me. I just have to find where my face-up supplies got to when we moved.

 

That I had too many unfinished dolls and no real desire to finish them all. So I traded one of them away and sold another. All this free time has made me take a step back and go "ok do I really want to do this or not" for a couple of my dolls and ultimately I decided that the projects were just too big or not something I could do. I still have two project dolls, but I'm comfortable in finishing those ones at least.

 

Getting to spend even more time with my dolls has made me realize that my collection is finally complete! It was a funny and startling feeling after 14 years of slowly and meticulously hunting for resin! I always knew, going in, that I never wanted to be buying new resin forever (that was never the goal, filling my life with amazing characters was.) But spending so much time at home, I looked around and was totally surprised when the realization that I was finally done and all my characters were shelled actually dawned on me!

 

I guess I have realized that I need to focus on completing the dolls in my collection rather than going out and buying more floating heads and random parts. In terms of dolls I have been very fortunate to have my grail doll but I really want to spend more time finishing the dolls and sorting out new clothes, wigs and faceups. As I have had to take now a forced break from work and university I feel more able to tackle these things I had been putting off a bit.

 

I've always found them companionable in a less demanding way than companion pets like cats. I used to feel guilty for not 'doing' anything with my dolls but now I think if this is their sole function, even if they just sit there naked for months with a bit of cloth wrapped round them - that's fine. They make great, undemanding companions and are kind of comforting just to have around. If that's all I ever 'do' with my dolls then that's a valid reason for having them too.

 

I'm in healthcare tech, so I'm still working, but working from home (and express all my gratitude to those who are "essential" and have to go out, I've lost track of how many of them I've thanked). I've realized that I'm starting to feel more comfortable again about pulling my dolls out to work on, with the "new" cats around. The two older ones are calming down from their kitten crazies, and the young one is chilling out a bit more, too, so I feel like I could sit in the living room with a doll and work on stuff, instead of having to fully lock myself away.

 

I’ve decided that life is too short, and no more long pre orders. Two to three months is ok, any longer just isn’t what I’m willing to do anymore. Also I think I have enough dolls to complete, and I just don’t feel like working on them at this time. Taking a break and doing other stuff (playing New Horizons), while stuck at home. I go through periods of no creativity, then get back up and running again. But truthfully this virus has made me rethink my life and dolls (material things) just aren’t that important to me as much.

 

I’ve decided my love and interest has faded considerably for several of them. They just no longer bring me joy, and since I’m now on work furlough, I could really use the money more than the dolls.

On the other hand, I love my favorites even more now and an spending this time sewing for them and window shopping. I also realized there are a few more that I want and may trade to get or start saving up for them as I can.

 

Seconding no more long preorders. I’m generally a very patient person, and as 9 months’ wait for my next doll crept up I didn’t care much. But that is because I never had a doubt he would eventually arrive. All this talk of delayed mail has me feeling uneasy about the possibility of him being damaged in a massive processing bin somewhere, or, God forbid being lost altogether. But nine months ago, who could have known the world would look so strange today? Fortunately, the dealer is in the states and I can have him sent to my parents’ address there without risking Canadian customs if a closure there becomes a potential issue. But the current situation will definitely come to mind when it comes to any future orders of 4+ months. If my luxury purchases give me anxiety, I might be doing it wrong!

 

I personally have had bouts of interest and lack of interest in my dolls. But a friend shared a cool idea and I am going to give it a try to get more photos of at least the dolls that are finished here. I have at least five in stages of being completed, But the key is the bodies shipping and that may take a while. So I am still playing, but after so many years in hobby I need help still being creative in new ways.

 

Speaking of customs, I recently saw a post where someone bought a PashaPasha doll and after waiting the 9+ months, customs damaged her faceup with some sort of alcohol solvent and broke part of her neck joint.

 

I have been home for a full month now and I still haven't taken a single picture, or sewn a single outfit. I guess this is teaching me to stop lying to myself. The reason I haven't sewn anything isn't lack of time; it's the bother of putting together patterns from scratch, and the trial and error to get them right. (But I'll keep making excuses and claim that it's because I can't spend an entire day or two playing with patterns when I need to play with my bored child ahaha)

 

@xxadrii How awful! That poor collector!

 

@Dynamint From one sewing wannabe to another, if patterns are what you need, this tutorial is very helpful: /threads/drafting-freesewing-org-patterns-for-dolls-guide-tutorial.817992/

 

What I have noticed is that I feel there are 60 souls here in my rooms that are hoping for the future along with me from their doll bodies.

mare smith on Instagram: “These are all the dolls I have on order at present, ordered from last July up until this January. they have become something of a symbol…” if that link works it is a picture of the 9 dolls that I am waiting on at the moment, ordered last year and in January... they have become a symbol of hope for the future for me. Yesterday I ordered the top left pictured baby body from the latest DollChateau discontinuation event as a gesture of belief for me.

 

I realized I was uninspired with a couple dolls. I did manage to regain it with one doll by changing his character, but had no such luck with the other one so he's up for sale.

 

I'm realizing that I'm extremely extroverted and have a deep need to connect to humans (or human shaped things). I'm alone in my daily life, work from home due to the COVID situation and most of my friends are introverted and so don't see reaching out and connecting the same way I do. Dolls have become a strange middle-ground for companionship. They're not like my pets (I spend a lot of time cuddling my furbabies and talking to them) but for strictly human-oriented things like window shopping for clothes, I can now only do that with dolls. So they're definitely taking up more of my time. I'm also taking time to photograph and style them with care. Since I have the time to dedicate to them, it's meditative to contemplate a new outfit or faceup, to figure out joints etc.

 

I realized that I missed them more than I thought. Due to the virus I have time, so I'm changing out my display cabinet for a bigger one and every doll I pick up is like a new box opening.

 

That sounds exciting . I'm trying to paint my doll accessories different colors so I don't spend money buying new things for my dolls.

 

I have realized that having something to work on - a faceup, cleaning, styling, making props, anything! - is really nice to have! My husband is working from home now, so we are stepping on each others' toes a lot more lately. So having my dolls as 'me' time is really nice!

 

I realized that they are my major source of happiness since other hobbies are restricted in this difficult time, and they keep me very busy and focused

 

I just realise that I'm always busy and don't have enough time to take care all of my children.
Because of the quarantine, I can't go out, but as the company allowed me to work from home, my tasks are just an endless list.
But because I have more free-time as I don't need to transport now, at least I could bring a child out of the box and take some photos each 2-3 days (previously it's 2-3 weeks for each photo shooting session :p )

 

So far I've still not had any time to dedicate to my dolls as I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home due to the current situation.

The sales I did have are no longer up because I do not want to risk shipping anything out at present. That's not just because I'd be worried about delays though. I live with someone in the at risk group so we have to be extra careful. Trips to the post office are not what I'd consider to be essential.

When I do get some time though I think my dolls will be a welcome distraction as I've got a few projects to get on with.

 

I am realizing just what a good investment they were, and that I need to keep one in arms reach at all times right now, not necessarily doing anything with them but just having them there. It is giving me a chance to get to know some of the more neglected ones better.

 

I've realized my dolls are helping keep me sane! I've been playing with them more, photographing them & will start some much needed restringing of favorite oldies. I've been downsizing over the years so that's nothing new, still more dolls & things to move out. All this has kept my brain busy so I don't climb the walls. I'm even thinking that I might sew again if this isolation keeps going on.

 

Now officially being out of work during this whole thing, it's made me realize that I need to do some serious evaluating of my collection. I've actually got four I'm working on selling and one I'm not so sure of.

I'm trying to make them all work within the same story and have the same aesthetic which is also why I've decided to stick to, mainly, one company and size so that they all look like they match well together.

 

Honestly that I have some personal things to work out with my artistic drive- sewing one week, dead the next few etc.-
But on a more positive note: That even as an adult, it's nice to have a favorite toy next to at night during tough times. Having Veitz (Myou Doll Sybil) on my nightstand is nice to wake up to.

 

A week later, and I'm realising that I might want to re-shell the resin side of my crew, to better expand the gang without losing loads more space! There's two members from one set of characters - I write stories - in 65-70cm size currently, but there's 3 more to add. And, I have two big vinyl boys and two more characters (at least) from another story that I'd love to have in doll form. While some can handle 15-40+ big dolls, I haven't got that much space available to me right this minute. Or even in the near future. So, 9-11 big dolls is a little daunting. Even though 65-70cm is what I started with.

Plus, I've found myself instinctively leaning towards FID-size for these two from the other story. It'd be easier to find props for them, especially the horse that they kind of require. Yes, a horse! So, I would also need space for the steed as well as the master and his love interest. Plus, it'd probably be easier to find instruments that'd fit with FID-size dolls, than it would be to find them for 65-70cm dolls, for the original gang of five.

The only ones that won't be shrinking are the vinyl boys, even though it'd be easier to find their props. But, I have half of them already, and they're not my original characters, so I'm using that as a... means to save money in not re-shelling everyone. That, and I've already bonded with them, more than I have the resin side of my crew [another point I've come to realise, in all of this free time].

On a somewhat-related side-note from Mutation's post; I don't have my dolls nearby, other than on a bookshelf that I can glance to as and when, but I do keep three fox plush toys on my bed [at the age of 30], and I've been reaching for them a lot more of late...

 

I realized I'm starting to like MSD sizes more now than SD. I'll still keep my SD around and still enjoy them. I may end up reshelling some future characters plan to MSD.

 

Another essential retail worker here, but I haven’t been able to do much but be home with my dolls in leisure time, obviously. And unfortunately, I realized one of the two was an impulse buy to try and distract myself from an OT doll I really wanted but couldn’t have at that point. So up for sale she goes; I feel guilty for doing it, but I’ve got to stop buying dolls I don’t really want as “consolation prizes.”

 

Yesterday when I chatting with my dollie friend I realized, that I don't want my boy to be Undertaker. I want to do an oc. Hm. I am happy that I not costumized him before... He will be somebody else. Something wild and happy. And free... It's crazy, because he will be the best friend of my first oc... who is not shelled... ok. It's time to think about his new things. I have time.

 

I thought how much I enjoy my dolls and it has motivated me to do more with them again. I always loved them but I had taken a break from being very active. I am going to be doing a lot more with them now so that's a good thing

 

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The quarantine brought me back to being active in the hobby—I’m an essential employee and had ordered two new dolls and bought some secondhand parts for a project doll around the time this all started. I was just sitting at home, watching YouTube after my shifts, and doing little else. Somehow I was recommended a doll customizer’s videos, and that was inspiration enough to kick myself into gear and actually put my project doll together. Now I can’t wait for the other two to show up so I can work on them, too.

 

That I haven't been doing much with my dolls for months....

But.. . After finishing off some. Illustration work I finally got down to work on my dolls a little again.
Last months I hardly did anything or had the mood for them at all... The last 11 months have need so rocky... But now I finally think about finishing some doll projects. I plan to finally do some face ups on my dolls that are still blank.

Sometimes I fins it so hard to dip into creativity.... Losing my mom last year set off something that made me loose all interest in my hobbies... Slooowly it comes back in flickers but having more time helps.
For me BJD are one of my hobbies but I enjoy it a lot.
I hope everyone of u will stay healthy.

 

I'm a cook for an assisted living, so I'm still working too but that maybe I need to do more with my crew... poor guys stay in the doll room most of the time!

 

I realized that my dolls are fractal parts of me and I know better how to use them with my artistic life.

 

Before the quarantine, we moved and I left all but 2 of my dolls at my parents.I didn't want to move all 20+ to a new place yet since we're looking to see if we even like the area (we don't lol) but for a long time I have done NOTHING with the 2 I brought. Then all of a sudden I looked online and found a Tom Holland head and I bought him. I still don't know what I want to do with my collection, in one hand I miss them, just looking at them made me happy. On the other hand, I feel like I should sell all of them. Though I think I would be sad. But as one person said here,life is too short, and if they are just meant to be an art piece that makes me happy just looking at them, then I suppose they should just stay that way. Guys,being an adult is hard

 

I realized just how much I love their characters and having my dolls around all the time makes me want to work more on them, improve their backstories, outfits... I’m focusing more on the dolls I have instead of dreaming about a new one. Also, I’m getting back into drawing them and that’s a great way to escape reality!

 

I discovered that the doll I was thinking of selling is, in fact, now one of my favourites after giving him a brand new character. Just looking at him makes me unbelievably happy, especially as the little details for him are starting to slowly come together... and that's something precious at the moment since I'm not doing great mentally with being confined lol. But working on him gave me a new flame in the hobby, and I'm grateful that I currently have the time for that!!
I've also realised that I hate nearly everything about one off-topic doll (a mirodoll) so I guess she'll be used for experimenting different techniques from this point on

 

I think I’ve realized how much I’d like to put more time into the hobby. I feel like this has been a great opportunity to start making my dolls clothes and things like that which is something I’ve been wanting to do. I do have some dolls on the way which just lets me know how impatient I am!

 

i have realized how lucky i am to be able to enjoy this hobby since there is not a lot of things to do during this time. I am still figuring out what kind of clothes to get my volks doll Megu and thinking about what to name her

 

That when I start a project for them I need to finish it asap. Or it'll never get done!

 

I think I'm realizing that I love crafting for the dolls, and there are a few more I want to get, but I really need to knuckle down and finish the dudes I already have. Several of them need professional face ups (that would count as stimulating the economy right? plus supporting artists...) and I've only made in-character clothing for 3 of them! (out of 11)

 

After coming back from being physically disabled and rejoining the hobby after a few years away, I had started playing with my Crew again late last year, and realizing how much I missed doing so.

So now that I have endless free time at home, I am hand-sewing things for my newest boy, who shares a body with a formerly floating head. I'm also more active here on DoA, and starting to take pics of certain members of my Crew for discussion threads while I wait for the weather to warm up and dry out.

I'd like to go out into the back yard and have a BJD picnic photoshoot, among other ideas, since our backyard is pretty decent-sized. My partner is in the high-risk category, and the idea of simply going outside without a mask of some kind seems to be pretty scary for them. I'd like to be able to go outside into the backyard in order for the two of us to get some fresh air and (hopefully if it doesn't rain again) some sunshine. We both need to "play" outside so that my partner doesn't get cabin fever (I don't mind being home all the time) and can still be safe, and our dolls are perfect for that!

tl;dr Our dolls are the perfect reason to get out of the house into the backyard and get fresh air, sunshine and have photoshoots once the weather dries up and warms up.

Ryu

 

1. In general, that I like working on them more than I thought. Not that I didn't enjoy it before, but I have just the one doll and it was all very much me trying out the hobby and seeing whether it'd stick. Looks like it will.
2. On the more particular end: a more harmonious character for my doll. I had plans, she had different ones, and it's coming together now