Getting back into the hobby after a long hiatus?

My experience with losing interest in other hobbies is just leave it alone for a while, even if it is a few years.

Selling things makes you lose too much money, especially if you just re-buy them again.

Unless you're definitely sure that you're completely and permanently over it, then you might as well recover whatever you can.

 

Oh boy, I sure did do that! I got my SID back in 2013, and within about 6 months of his arrival my husband and I both just kind of waned in doll-interest. We've been in the hobby since 2005 and met through a meetup, so it had been a very long and consistent part of our lives! We didn't intentionally drop out of the hobby, but the resin collected dust until January of this year with about 2 clothing changes and exactly 0 new purchases of anything or meetups during that whole time. We were essentially out for 4 years.

Now, I would never even consider selling my dolls. Not one of them, unless it was a dire emergency, and even then I could probably only let go of about half. So I would definitely say no to selling unless you find yourself really unhappy with your current collection--if you're just looking for a refresh, it might be fun to try re-styling a doll or two and see how that feels. It'll be cheaper than re-buying, and still give you something new and interesting to do without losing what's familiar!

Coming back, the hobby is a very different place! DoA has a lot of good info to browse through, but I found that Facebook groups and the Tumblr tags were a good way to get a really wide variety of photos and discussions very quickly. Investigate the new stuff at your own pace. Personally, I started by checking up on my old favorite companies, then started browsing the doll profiles here to find out the sculpt names and brands of newer dolls I found interesting to look at. Same goes for faceups and clothing brands; find photos you like, and if the info isn't posted with them ask the owners about the origin of the parts you're interested in. I was delighted to find out that making your own wigs has become a really big thing, too, and am having a lot of fun playing around with that!

At the end of the day, a hobby is something you should have fun with I say engage with dolls in the way that brings you the most joy! If that means sticking to what you know, don't feel bad about not knowing new stuff--there's way too much out there for anyone to be familiar with every company these days! But if that means replacing old sculpts with a new style, then I wish you the very best of luck finding the perfect fit. As long as you're enjoying yourself and your dolls, you're doing it right!

 

How long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
I had a long hiatus from this hobby, 6 years to be exact. I just lost all the interest towards it, when I moved to another city and my friends moved all over the country. So I didn't have anyone to meet with or share thoughts, even though I tried to keep in contact to my friends. Because I needed funds, I needed to sell my dolls. I had 6 back then, but decided that I won't ever sell my first doll that I got. I put him to his box and gave to my parents so they could place him somewhere safe.

I came back to the hobby last fall. I just thought, that now is time for a second chance after I came to visit my parents and took my doll with me. I wanted to continue in this hobby, because I think this gives me so much more room to express myself. Also I wanted to have something else to do besides work and school. I started to take contact to other hobbyists and talked to them. I realized how much I missed the community around it and the joy this hobby brings me.

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break? How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
Oh my, it was so weird to look at my first doll after so many years! O.O But I felt somehow warm inside - there are so many good memories that includes him.

I started looking through companies that I used to follow, did dolly-ig account, talked to my new friends and found out about new companies, registered here etc. And it just kept rolling from that :'D My wishlist started slowly growing, I send my first doll to a faceup artist to get a new fresh faceup, bought new clothes & eyes him etc. I even redid his story which inspired me even more!

Yet I think, that I have missed so much over the past years when I wasn't in it. So many cute dolls, awesome limited edition releases etc that now have an extremely high 2nd hand prices. Kind of wish that I had found away to continue in this hobby by myself. By now I could have the most awesome grew ever! But I'm happy even though there was a long hiatus.

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection? Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
I still love my first doll. He's very special to me. I reset my collection and started buying new dolls because I had sold the other ones 6 years ago - now I have 3 completed + 1 floating head at home, 1 doll is on the way! I think it's better this way. Since my taste of dolls has definitely changed compared to younger me. These new dolls fit better for my taste and the characters that I have in my mind.

I agree with wolfie! Hobby should be something you can have fun with and it should make you feel better and good about yourself. If this hobby someday doesn't bring the joy for me, I don't think I'm able to continue in this hobby.
I would say, that don't be harsh on yourself if you don't now "this company & that artist". Just give yourself some time to do research - like you did with excitement when you started the hobby. To me this feels exactly like starting the hobby again and learning so many new things makes me happy :'D

 

I took more than year off the hobby, it started because we were going through renovations and everything was packed up. After the reno I did'nt feel like sewing or playing with my dolls at all, and time just flew by. Just recently I opened up some of their boxes and fell in love all over again and started sewing up a storm. I never considered selling any.

 

I was on a hiatus for a few years! I got my "first" collection between 2008 and 2011 and then my "second" collection from 2014 onwards. My first collection was mainly in 1/3 scale, the couple 1/4 scaled ones were child characters. That was during my anime phase, and the dolls reflected that with their huge eyes and soft features and in the end I didn't really like any of them... I packed them away when I moved and never took them out. Then in the beginning of 2014 I ended up getting a great idea for a backstory. My dolls always need to be a part of a story and I have serious problems with bonding if there's no story and/or a character for a doll. After the new story idea, I started playing with the idea of getting the characters as dolls. At first I wanted to get them in 1/3 scale, but I had little income so it would have taken forever to save for them. At the same time, mature minis were something relatively new so I decided to see if I could find suitable sculpts for my characters in 1/4 scale. I did, and I decided to sell the old collection as I really had no interest in them anymore. I only kept one of them, my MNF Chloe, but she had to go through a complete makeover - face up, style, wig, eyes - before I was happy with her.

I guess that one of the reasons I got bored with my first collection was because I didn't want to change them. My "main character" had blond hair and she wore lolita. In retrospect, I should have put a red wig on her head and dress her in a hoodie and jeans or something and I probably would have ended up liking her again. Nowadays, if I notice that I'm starting to get bored with one of my dolls, I immediately make them new clothes/face up/change their eyes or something. That always helps me.

 

Glad I could help I've made 5 wigs so far, and while not all of them look great it's been a blast to play around with! Have fun, and good luck with wig making take 2

 

I was on a hiatus for a few years now.
I got my bjd collection between 2005/2006. I got the fashion doll first. Then I got my luts.
I stopped my hobby because of my lousy breakup and financial problems. Now I just started my hobby again. I got bored with my luts.
Now I am moving to the fashion doll again .
We just have to find friends who enjoy the same hobby. Then we will be motivated and excited again.

 

I had about a three year hiatus, although not on purpose; I just sort of ended up not taking the dolls out or doing anything with them. I'm not sure there was a specific point when I just started back into the hobby, but once I ordered a new shell for an long sold doll the spark seemed to come back. I will say it's different now for me, if only because I don't really have the same kind of interaction with fellow dolly owners/friends that I did years ago, but that's on me for being a lazy introvert lol

 

I have been on hiatus twice with my dolls. The first was because my job required more time than I had and the second was moving and packing them all up. When I settled into the new place I couldn't bring myself to open them up and start playing again. A convention was my catalyst for renewed interest. I agree also with staying online and looking at others photos. I believe there is nothing wrong with taking a break. When I went back I had a renewed interest in my collection. I was ready to purge some dolls and accessories that didn't speak to me. Now I enjoy all aspects of my collection and do not berate myself if all i do is look at them on display. Good luck with your decision.

 

I was having problems from the start with the hobby. I had purchased 6 new dolls from dollzone, by the time they arrived I couldn't find the things I wanted for them. My plans kept changing And I was really discouraged I gave up and put them away for prolly a year. I did finally get back into the hobby because I was bored with other hobbies I had (Rc cars). This time around I didn't have plans and just had a whatever attitude and everything worked out better. For me this is just a hobby I have to take my time and be patient with and It all eventually works out.

 

When I first started the hobby, I started with MSDs and a story that I wasn't that passionate about but I thought "fit in" more with the bjd hobby. Because I wasn't too passionate about it, I got bored. This ended with me selling my dolls. Cut to about a year and a half later, and I saw an SD. My interest was back and soon I had a story and characters that I was passionate about.

 

Hey there,
I went on a hiatus as well. Still kind of on it actually.
However, today I was thinking about being creative. I like to design clothes and draw. I have been on a total creative hiatus.
I guess it had to do with just being plain lazy. lol I tend to get lazy and ignore all of my hobbies.

Then I looked at facebook today. I realized that today is the one year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
All of those lives lost over hate. It made me think how lucky I am as a gay man to be surrounded by people that accept me and
encourage my work.

So it inspired me to start looking at things in my life that makes me happy. All of my hobbies that I have stopped doing.
So today I am going to start creating again.

So I signed back into this site after a long 4 year hiatus. lol It's not much but it's a start.
Going to get my dolls out of their boxes and set them out on display.
That will bring more inspiration.

^.^

 

I've done this twice. The first time for about 2 years. I was living with my ex and he hated my doll. We ended up being super strapped for cash so I made the decision to sell my first doll. Still kind of regret it, I truly loved that doll but honestly I don't think I'll ever buy that sculpt again. It wouldn't feel right. After I sold the doll I wasn't going to meets or anything anymore so I just sort of fell out of the hobby. It wasn't intentional, just life got in the way.

Two years later I decided I missed the hobby so I bought a new doll. Then my family ended up moving out of state and I was trying to make new friends in this new place and I thought, "Hey I have this super niche hobby I wonder if anyone around here shares this interest." So I came back to DoA and lo and behold there was this fledgingly BJD group that was just about to hold its first Meetup in the area, so I went! I actually did make a lot of good friends there. Sadly, the dreaded doll drama found its way to the group and I decided to jump ship and stopped going to Meetups. It was sad because I still have a lot of fond memories of them tbh. Without a group to meet up with on the regular my interest waned and my (now two) dolls got packed up and stayed in their boxes for a few years.

Now nearly 7 years later I've moved again and I'm kind of in the same situation where I don't know anyone here so I'm trying to make friends in my new city the same way I did before, and in doing so, I have honestly rekindled my love for the hobby and while I still haven't met a lot of people here, I have gotten back into the hobby. I've resolved that even if it stays just something I enjoy by myself I love the artistry and the creativity of the hobby so that alone is what's currently driving me, although I do hope I can manage to make some doll friends around here too.

(Oh gosh, Sorry for the novel. I guess I'm feeling kind of chatty)

 

How long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
I think the last time I opened my giant box of doll things was at least 5 years ago. It's sad really as I still love doing faceup and creating characters for the dolls but I'm forced to put them away due to space constraints and time issues. Recently I started packing up my house in a bid to clear out all the junk and WALAH... Doll things. Now I'm torn between selling off the dolls and items or starting to find space for them.

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break? How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
Sad, I felt sad because they were just lying there the whole time. Broke my heart. I'm still trying to sort out some space at the moment and I'm still not sure if i'll be able to continue the hobby. I'm looking through DOA again hoping to find some inspiration. Iplehouse, Granado and all the realistic sculpt companies always make me happy.

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection? Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
I'm totally resetting. I sold off all my full dolls and most of the items. Im choosing to start this hobby new if I do decide to. Don't want to feel sad that I didn't have time for these dolls. I want to start doing faceups again.

 

When I first joined the hobby, it was actually rather briefly. I was extremely excited when my first MSD girl, but eventually lost interest in her. I tried selling her a couple times, but to no avail. I ended up putting her away for several years. I got more heavily interested in building up my custom Pullip/Taeyang collection, and spent several years doing that instead.

A couple moves halfway across the country and several years later, I regained interest in BJDs. I got back into the hobby about a year and a half ago, and jumped in with a SD craze. I'd started a long time ago with the MSD, but found I didn't like that size. Plus, I was gathering together ideas for graphic novel characters and needed physical shells for them. SD turned out to have the best range of size, sculpt options and mature features I was looking for. Since then, my crew has evolved some from a more stylized beginning to more realistic sculpts.

I've decided to keep my MSD, but she's now surrounded by a crew of giants twice her size

 

It happened just one time to me when I went into a hiatus between 2014 and 2016 because of money issues. Also, I lost part of the interest in my dolls, it was like I needed that time to breathe and comeback later.

I live in Brazil, and the difference between real and dollar are high now, around like 3,50 reais to 1 dolar, and comeback to the hobby wasn't easy, but I moved on and now I'm here again.

 

I regularly go on long hiatuses. I bought my first doll 8 or 9 years ago, but only in the last 3 years have I really delved into the hobby. I have a lot of other non-doll related artsy projects that I work on, so I flip-flop between all of them every few months. I think my longest hiatus was about 2 years long, mostly for monetary reasons, but also because sometimes life gets in the way.

 

I want on a long 8 year hiatus where I pretty much quit the hobby cold turkey due to financial crisis (which was completely my fault due to fiscal irresponsibility). I sold all of my dolls except three, which got packed away for a very long time. I didn't look at or think about dolls for a long time because I was so embarrassed at the mess I had gotten myself into.
I slowly worked myself out of the hole, paying off all debts, and now have a great job and a house. And I am now rather cautiously getting back into the hobby.
Re-entering the hobby is strange but also really wonderful. I can't believe all the new companies and resources out there! My tastes are gradually changing . . . I still love old school bjds but am starting to admire more "realistic" molds. I was especially pleased to see how many companies accept layaway, which didnt seem to be as available back in the early 2000's. I still have the three dolls I had kept, and have re-purchased the heads of a couple that I had sold. I haven't reset my collection, although I am open to more variety. One major change is that I am more interested in creating hybrids, again due to the incredible amount of bodies and parts available today, often at much more reasonable prices (thank you Mirodoll in particular). I also tend to be less tentative when customizing hybrids due to the cheaper cost than I was with my former, pricey limited dolls. Anyway, just as obsessed as ever, but hopefully I won't over do it this time around.

 

So hi everyone. I'm creating this thread to encourage myself to come back to this hobby and because I really need some help. So let me tell you my story. I don't want sympathy, I just want whoever is reading this to understand.

Started the bjd- hobby back in 2010, with a Bobobie Apollo. From then, up until 2014, I was very active in the hobby with a collection of 10 dolls at one point, and I was sewing clothes and wigs, painting faceups, bodyblush and tattoos, wrote their back stories and took so many photos of them. But in 2014 I had to move out from my ex who broke up with me and leave most of my doll stuff there to pick up later. Which never happened because he said I had to pay him "for living with him" before I could pick my stuff up. Still to this day, my Unoa Lusis, Dollmore Asha and several dollheads, with their collection of eyes, wigs, clothes, hand sewn and bought, shoes and faceup material, is still there in his storage room. I did get five of my dolls with me, four of them are safe and sound in my room at my parents house back in Sweden, one of them is still with me here in England. I have slowly started to accept that I will never see the doll stuff in my exe's storage room again. I did put A LOT of money and effort into those things, but they are all gone now, which have been incredibly discouraging for me to lose. The doll I have now is a Bambicrony Emily who haven't had any TLC for a looong time. But yesterday I took her apart to clean her and I'm going to give her a new faceup soon. I have all of the stuff needed for painting faceups again, I slowly collected everything with time. I have sealant, soft pastels, watercolour pencils, gloss and brushes.

So my question is, have anyone gone through something similar to this? How did you find your way back? Who or what encouraged you to go back to this hobby? I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

Thank you for reading

 

Uh - drag him to court and sue him for stealing your property?

 

I will say that I never had to leave my dolls behind (So sorry to hear that, people suck ) but I did think it was better to sell my collection rather than moving across the country every three years with them. At the time I was in the military, and my husband was as well. I ended up getting out but he's still in so every three years we move. It was a little heartbreaking, but at the same time it gave me time to do more 'research' I suppose. I spent from 2010ish to two months ago just sort of...being. I would browse DoA, look at all the photos, stories, modifications etc before taking year long hiatuses from even the site. Then my husband surprised me with a Souldoll Karin for our anniversary. Granted, he's been bit by the doll bug and now has dolls (and a DoA) and its sort of fun for us to be in the hobby together.

I've just started sort of brainstorming about what I want to collect, what I want to do. I'm one of those people who writes down a plan 80 times before actually committing to it. Granted, the hubby has picked up a few things along the way for me that I've expressed adoration/preference towards.

In my opinion: Find a friend, even just one online. Its so much easier gushing about something to someone, having someone to bounce ideas off of...or even complaints. I can't count how many times I've seen a doll I -really- want on the market secondhand and just gone on a tangent about how much of a mark up the price is...and how ridiculous people are to think a used doll deserves to go UP in price. Its helped me step back into the hobby to have the hubby there with me, granted my hubby is also my best friend (I know "Awwww") so even if we weren't married I'd probably still feel the same way.

 

I am sorry about the past for you. It sucks, but glad you want to be in the hobby again.
I say take your time. Do your searches, and research and get to know about all the new dolls and issues. Like forecasts, only buy from people you trust or directly from companies. Avoid eBay, especially dolls from China.
Don't be afraid to ask about people's dolls and if you can go to a meet up even if only a couple of people at a coffee shop. Look at stories, photos, and company reviews.

Welcome back and if you want to join groups in smaller forums or on Facebook, we have you covered.

 

Right!? I was thinking that too.

But aside from doing that (which you should, he has no right to keep your property from you), just start slow. I had left the hobby for about 5 years and when I came back last year, it was with a BANG! Which was probably not the best idea. Now I have several dolls that are halfway "done". Some don't have very well thought out stories, others don't have faceups or clothes or anything. I was just so excited by all the new sculpts and doll companies that I just started buying dolls.

I would say you are off to a good start. Pick one doll to dote on, (clean, restring, new faceup, new clothes, lots of photos, etc.) and then when that one is how you want him/her, move to another.

And, by the way, welcome back

 

Oh you guys, I'm overall thankful and so happy after I read all of your tips and stories! I'm glad to know I'm not alone in this either, but sorry that you had to go through similar situations.
And it certainly feels like I have to research and re-learn a lot. My hands still remembered how to take my doll apart yesterday to clean her, even if it was years ago since I did it! To put her together again will be a different story... Aaaah, how scary! I did paint a faceup this January on a doll I left in my room in Sweden, my Ninodoll Bada that I miss so much. But I will get him back soon.
Speaking of reporting the ex to the police, I already tried to drag him to court over it, but he turned it down and told the police that it was personal matter to sort out between us. I call him the a**hole for a reason... I'm trying hard every day to focus on the future instead of mourning my loss, and build up a new doll family with new, better faceups and clothes all in good time.
It would be supercool if my current partner would join the hobby as well, but he have always been creeped out by dolls, poor thing :p he doesn't know what he's missing! But I'm glad that some people can have their soulmates joining them in this creative hobby
I would love to go to a doll meet again. It was ages ago since I've been on one. I will check for them here in my local area, it shouldn't be too hard to find other like minded people again
Also, I wish I had the funds to go crazy about this hobby again but there is so many other things that have to be paired like rent, a washing machine and electricity. It's expensive stuff and often leave the wallet crying... But until then, I can spoil my girl with hand sewn clothes! I would really appreciate if you could send links to different garments that are easy to sew :3

 

I don't think suing work the same way in Sweden like it does in, say, USA.
Living in Sweden myself, I can safely say that (if the guy is living in Sweden, too) he got no right to keep your dolls + accessories or any other property of yours unless you two went into a marriage arrangement and didn't make your own contract regarding property rights.
You have the right to demand your things back, the law is on your side there, and as long as you paid for your share of the rent (if you agreed and upheld your part) you have no obligation to pay him anything.

If you never paid for living expenses, ever, you also have no obligation to start paying him anything now. Unless you began paying because then you recognized (in the eyes of the law) that you owe him money for whatever he made up in his head.

Aside from that, I hope you can enjoy this hobby once more and that things will begin to look up. Welcome back

 

Oh do I have a subforum for you, the styling and crafting section and the patterns section are great places to start. My personal favorites are the Anyone Can Sew series, it has easy to follow instructions and it used to have clear pictures. You can find the sewing tutorials for jeans, shirts, and jackets with these links. I should warn you however that many pictures in these threads and tutorials are broken due to Photobucket taking on some weird policies but you may still find something that can help. It sounds like you were in a tough situation, mad props for trying actively to focus on the future. Good luck!
Quick edit: I forgot to mention that YouTube has a lot of great tutorials, you might want to also try looking there sometime.

 

Well, same thing happened to me 10 years ago. At that time I had been in the BJD hobby for 2 years and I had 4 dolls (CP EL, VOLKS Chris, CP Chiwoo & Nino Iz). I moved to England to live with someone I loved very much- but after 7 months together he wanted a break from the relationship, so I went back to Denmark to stay with my grandmother for a while. But while I was away my boyfriend in England decided that he was better off without me and ended our relationship. He promised me he would ship back my belongings incl my BJDs... he never did. So my story is very similar to yours, unfortunately

I never left the hobby tho, but the biggest mistake I made regarding the loss of my first BJDs was to try to 're-create' the dolls I had lost. I specially missed my beloved CP EL- and I actually got a new EL, but that new EL just didn't measure up to that one I had lost. Instead I decided to take my collection in a different direction, I got interested in different sculpts and things just went from there...
I still miss the dolls I lost those 10 years ago- but I have a wonderful collection today that I love more than anything. So just take it slow and enjoy the doll you have now... and seriously, before you know it, your collection will have grown and you will have gotten your hands on new wigs, clothes etc- all those things you lost! Best of luck to you!!

 

Guys, Eggplant asked for advice about the hobby, not for unsolicited life advice. As tempting as it may be as outsiders to get Righteously Angry at a jerk ex, it's not our place. Maybe Eggplant already tried all legal avenues and they didn't work out. Maybe they just decided it would be better to cut their losses and move on. Either way, it sounds like they're ready to put that chapter of their life behind them. We don't have all the details of what happened, and as nice as it may feel to decry a stranger who's done wrong, the fact of the matter is it's none of our business. We cannot pass judgement or offer advice without all the details and permission from Eggplant, who has given neither.

That said, welcome back to the hobby, Eggplant! I'm glad you made your way here again. I can't give much advice on re-entry, since I'm still coming into the Doll Zone myself... But I did agree with what Lotte had to say about not trying to recreate your lost dolls. No two dolls are alike, after all, even if they are the same sculpt... I think focusing on the doll you have now is a good place to start! Maybe as you work with her and explore her character, you'll find she needs a companion?

 

I drift in and out of this hobby, and one of the best vehicles I've found to get back in is DOA. I'll start looking at the new doll releases, catching up on photostories, looking at gallery and box opening threads. I love seeing people's project journals, too. Seeing the fun and wonderful things other people do gets me wanting to work on my dolls, too.

It's nice to have people IRL to interact with, but if you don't have a close friend or significant other to share with, DOA can help you connect with people you know shares at least one of your interests.

Welcome back to the hobby, and to DOA!

 

Welcome back to the hobby! I've found that in some of my worst days, just holding one of my dolls helps so much.

While I haven't left and come back, I think getting familiar again is a good idea. So many new companies have popped up, check them out! Beware of recasts, as they are a bigger problem now than in years past, unfortunately. Think about what doll goals you want o set--any new (or old!) doll you really want? Any particular style you want for a doll? Check out tutorials and patterns out there. Go to a doll meet if you can, it can definitely help with making doll friends closer to you. If you remember any old hobbyists you admired or were friends with, look them up, see if they're still in the hobby and what they're up to. Mostly, I think just ease back in as if you were a newbie. Pick up on what's new, and be reminded of what you already know.

 

I was out for a bit after I moved because she was still all packed up. For me all I had to do was buy a new wig and a new accessory. Then once you bring everything out and see it all it all comes back!

 

God that's horrible! Is there any way you could contact your ex and ask for your stuff back? After all, it is YOUR stuff..
I'm sorry this happened to you! I hope you have an easy transition back into the hobby!
Personally, I just came back from a hiatus too. My reason for leaving was that my life got too crazy for me to be thinking about dolls I don't even have. But now that things have calmed down a bit I'm starting to get back into it from watching Nicolle's Dreams on youtube and remembering why I fell in love with the hobby in the first place! I'm hoping to get my first doll soon and become a lot more active in the community again!!

 

Ive also been in a hiatus, I got my first doll a few years back but didn't have any funds at all to customize her. Things are a bit better now and im really excited to jump back into the hobby! I really enjoy it

 

How long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
I took a 10 year hiatus and only got back into the hobby in August last year. I kind of fell off towards the end of Uni and when I graduated and had to move countries and start work, I stopped almost completely. I attended a grand total of two doll meets in that time and even bought a MNF Yder head off DOA when I found out Fairyland made one, but it had been mostly no participation until a third doll meet I attended last August. I don't even know what it was that reignited the fire inside me, but I've been going strong ever since!

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break?
I actually still have a number of my old crew that I want to rehome, but in these trying times, I might wait a little longer to put them up for sale. I've kept my Dream of Doll Hoo, Dollshe Bermann, CP Yder, MNF Yder (who now has his own body!) and Iplehouse Yur. These ones I'll never sell because Hoo was my first, Bermann is my grail and Yders are my favourite CP sculpts. The one doll that really surprised me was my Iplehouse Yur. I originally had every intention to sell her, but she managed to worm her way back into my heart and after I gave her a complete overhaul, I don't think I could let her go now!

How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
I did this by getting reacquainted with DOA. It mostly has not changed all these years which made finding information very easy for anyone dedicated enough. I also made a BJD-only instagram account and have followed other owners and made friends through that. I started organising small faceup or restringing parties at my place with old friends who are still in the hobby and have also gone for crafting sessions with new ones! I've also delved into wig making and eye making, all of which I never would have expected to do 10 years ago

It's been a wonderful journey catching up on the last 10 years worth of the BJD world as well. There was a period of time when I did not know what people meant when they had 'pro-artist, anti-recast' on their instagram accounts, so learning about recasts was very eye-opening. I immersed myself in learning about all the new companies that have emerged and even individual artists who are creating dolls for sale. Finding out that owners like Helene had moved on to creating her own BJDs was amazing and being able to follow these artists on their journeys has been tremendous and very inspiring. This hobby is constantly evolving and that is what I love so much about it.

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection?
I was not happy with the faceups or looks of any of my dolls after coming back. Doll trends had changed and along with it, my own tastes. I am now more drawn towards the more realistic looking faceups and have changed my dolls accordingly. I still try to retain the essence of each of their characters, with the exception of my IH Yur who got a complete overhaul.

Since coming back, I've gotten myself a number of new dolls to add to my crew. My Dearmine petdoll and 5th Motif Venitu have already arrived to me and I have a number of dolls that I'm waiting on from various companies to add to my current collection. Fingers crossed they arrive soon!

Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
Don't be afraid to reach out and make friends! That has been instrumental in my getting back into BJDs. Instagram was most helpful for me in that regard as I've had very nice long conversations about the hobby with so many different people. Seeing other owners out there taking photos inspires me to take my own as well and I actually love this hobby a lot more now than I did 10 years ago

 

Oh no, that's really sad. But at least those sales brought you closer to dolls that fit your style better.

I've also been away for a long time. I never really packed all my dolls away. One of them has been in my living room all this time, and I picked him up many times and there have been times when I looked up my other dolls and they would sit beside me watching tv or something. XD

For me the part I really actively quit is the online part of it all, for about 10 years. And that's also the part where I feel a bit alienated, even 'old' now. XD
I'm no great fan of social media and have no clue about what new dolls have come out these last years and what changed and what's still the same.
And the Dutch forums I was on don't seem to have survived these last years. XD

Also I really remember why I quit the internet part, there where all these groups of people that didn't think other people or their dolls or photo's where good enough and I just hate drama.
It wasn't even aimed at me (that I'm aware off at least) but it makes you careful and paranoid.

That's I think a big part of why I got tired of the online part. And made the doll hobby more and offline hobby just for me. :P

And now I'm back. Even if lurking and reading still feels better then posting, I want to give it a real go.

 

I am back active in the online community after 7 years away! It was mostly the online community that I was no longer a part of as I still had my dolls.

My tastes have definitely changed and I am in the process of selling some dolls that just don't fit anymore or who I am uninspired by. My tastes went from highly stylized sculpts to realistic sculpts. I am now waiting on a Dollshe Amanda and an Iplehouse Mari

I am very happy to be more active in the community again. I do not have people in my real life to share my doll interest so it is very nice to be able to talk about dolls with others again

 

Gosh, how long was my hiatus? Years and years...to the point I can't exactly remember how many. I would describe it less as a lost of interest, and more of a change of priorities/focus as life went on. I got into dolls at the very end of 2005, when I was only 15 or 16, and as I aged, life naturally progressed and forced me to focus on other things. Once I established myself in the adult world, I did start pursuing an additional "hobby," fulfilled travel dreams, etc.

But I am finally ready to re-establish myself in the doll world again! During the hiatus my love for my boys never waned. They were always kept displayed wherever I was and in a safe spot. I knew I'd be active again eventually, it was just a matter of when.

 

I've been on long hiatus... about 7 years maybe? I can't even remember; this was because I moved and left my dolls behind.
Honestly I though seriously about selling my collection, and basically re-entered in DoA to start planning my selling but... things changed, I started remembering good times and I'm in the hobby again since few months ago.
Now I've got 3 new girls, and one in the way and planning to bring back my girls that are currently at my parent's.

 

I had a very long hiatus due to the chaos of college and the my first job. Being away from my dolls for periods of time had my interest wane and even when I got back home I didn't have as much of an interest in then as I used to.

However, as I decided to sell a couple of my dolls I rediscovered my interest in then as I started looking into the specific sculpts and how much they were going for and such.

I still went through with selling a number of them as, in the time I had been away from the hobby my taste in dolls has changed quite a bit.

You will have hiatuses, some short, some long, especially as your life evolves.
That's okay. Sometimes other things just take priority and you should never force yourself to stay in a hobby.

Despite my newfound love for BJD's I've now been pretty inactive for almost 2 months as my fiancee and I moved in together and it has been an experience what with covid measures, from going to look at places to firniture shopping. Doesn't mean I don't get excited again now that I have time for then again.

I wouldn't force yourself. Take some time to reacquaint yourself with your dolls and see where it leads you. Have you truly lost interest? Have you changed taste? It's al possible and nothing to be afraid or ashamed off. You've grown in your time away, let your hobby grow with you.

 

Is anyone else snooping through DoA after a hiatus?
Yes 2020 brought me out of a 3 year hiatus!

How did you get back into the hobby?
If I recall correctly, I saw some posts from a BJD Facebook group I joined way back and also found out about April Story being under new management. Right before I left the hobby I was pretty sure I would not be able to get AS Diana due to all the issues with that company. The fact that there was a better chance of getting her now really caught my interest. I originally made an account here on DoA to see peoples opinions on the "new" April Story and to check the second hand market. I found that posting is pretty fun so I'm still here haha.
I also thought that I should try to do some things for myself this year. I put all my dolls on display for the first time and decided to work on getting them finished. All of them are now fully clothed and I can enjoy looking at them so much more.

How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
Mostly shopping this year! New doll, head, clothes, wigs, and accessories. I am working on finishing my current dolls and am trying to focus my purchases to meet that goal. Finding a wig I like is turning out to be quite a challenge.

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break? Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection?
I was still pretty attached to all my dolls. The only one I'm maybe not so attached to was because I couldn't really remember my motivations for buying him and he never had real clothes LOL (I like him better now that he has pants). But otherwise, I thought it was pretty easy for me to think I still liked all of my dolls.

Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
Recall the original reasons you wanted a doll/sculpt and see if you still like it for those reasons or if you have new reasons.
I personally also like following a few BJD accounts that have interesting character stories.

 

I've definitely been snooping around DoA after my 7 year long hiatus haha. I became interested in BJDs in maybe 2007-2008ish and then got my first two dolls in 2013. I got too busy and stopped paying attention to them probably only a year or less later. I started looking at all the new sculpts and companies just this past December since my roommate was getting interested in BJDs for the first time. It definitely made it easier to get back into the hobby through talking about it with her and sharing companies, sculpts, and other info. I never actively thought about returning but here I am. My love for customizing, sewing, and photography makes it hard not to get back into BJDs now that I have the time for them.

My first BJDs are back at my parents' home so I haven't been able to see them in person. My sister did send me pictures but my first reaction was that the faceups I gave them were pretty bad. I definitely think I can do a lot better now since I'm also into customizing Nendoroids and those are much smaller to deal with than MSDs haha.

I don't think I feel too attached to my BJDs but I do feel partial to them just because they were my firsts. I did briefly consider selling them once but didn't think about it further so they just sat around longer. Once my sister sends them to me, I'll give them another shot with a makeover before seriously considering selling them to fund sculpts that I like more.

One thing I noticed after returning to the hobby is that my preference in sculpts has changed a lot. I no longer feel strongly about a lot of sculpts on my old wishlist now. They're still beautiful, but just not what I want anymore. I also prefer SD sculpts over MSDs but am on the fence about making the size jump.

 

I was out of the hobby for seven years, though I always skirted at the edges ; lurking instagram, compiling inspiring dolls in various boards on pinterest, etc. Randomly, a year ago, I decided to finally join DOA after years having avoided it, somehow. And from there, I joined a few resale facebook groups, and the rest is history. My back-to-the-hobby purchase lulled me back into the world of collecting, and now I'm waiting on my second before my first has even been completely assembled.

I sold all of my (few) dolls save for one before exiting the hobby the first time, and I sold the one remaining doll upon returning. I wanted a fresh start and unlike some other people coming back to the hobby, the memories and also general displeasure of the other dolls were definitely one of the reasons I hesitated coming back. My headspace and aesthetic has changed so drastically that I am glad I cleared house before and after returning so that I could really, truly enjoy the hobby now.

One of the things that's helped me re-fall in love with the hobby is following more independent bjd sculptor accounts on instagram, as well as more faceup artists. I'm exposed to so many new sculpts and companies that way, as well as the ways you can really make them come to life through customization.

 

This is so very interesting to read...considering I also went through a hiatus I never imagined I'd be back to the hobby.

My hiatus was probably around 2-3 years. Honestly the time flew. The causation: I was in an unhappy relationship. When it dissolved (although a good thing) I found myself in a state of depression I hadn't experienced before. I threw myself into work mostly and left most of my hobbies behind.

Fast forward after much needed self improvement and growth I found my creative energy resurging again. I wanted to create and had many blank dolls to work on. I did sell a few, but overall I got back into the groove by doing what I love most, painting.

Now that I'm back... Holy crap I can't keep up with all the new companies lol. I'm just taking it as I go. If I see something I like... I explore it, if not...eh. I'm not as hardcore INTO the hobby as I used to be. Just enjoying having fun again.

For anyone who is coming back... my only advice is that a hobby is something that should be enjoyed and add happiness to your life. Don't come back and immediately stress yourself out about what dolls you do or don't have, what LEs you're missing...what's popular/ what's not. That tarnishes a fun hobby quickly and why many leave in the first place. Just have fun and enjoy your dolls again.

 

How long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
I fell out of activity around 2015, came back in 2020.

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break?
I realized that I finally had the means to get some dolls I always wanted and I went a bit.... well let's just say my collection doubled in a year from 5 to 10.

How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
Research. I looked at what people post in the marketplace and the gallery first. I also love to look at various new dolls in the profiles because that is where I was seeing the biggest variety of sizes, sculpts, and styles. I found a lot of inspiration from those profiles.

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection?
Mostly a reset. I didn't have all that many to begin with so when I reshelled three out of five of the old ones that was a big deal. Everyone is still in the process of getting new faces, too (both new and old). Last year I got all new eyes and wigs etc. So style-wise they all got an update.

Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
Not really. You should do a hobby if it makes you happy; forcing yourself to enjoy something is counterproductive. Maybe if you're feeling burnt out, be careful about what you sell as you could regret it later. If you feel inspired again, then great! If not, that's fine too since there's lots of paths to happiness.

 

How long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
I really lost touch with the hobby around 2016 and have only just recently started making my foray back in! Between the sociopolitical state of the world and my college education, I just didn't have the time or energy to spare for almost any of my hobbies. I lurked on the outskirts and still followed people on Instagram and YouTube, but I really didn't touch my dolls for years (even the ones I purchased during my hiatus).

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break?
I found myself falling madly in love with certain dolls and deciding to wholesale part ways with others. I really found myself leaning into the Konmari "does this spark joy" question one night and decided to sell half my collection on a whim the very next day, which was terribly refreshing and reinvigorated my love for the dolls I kept.

How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
I really wouldn't say I'm "back on track," as it were, as my lurking meant I was able to keep relatively decent tabs on things like releases and companies. That said, my goals got a massive overhaul, as I now want to focus more on the styling and customization aspect of the hobby than on the buying new dolls aspect (save for a few exceptions). My wishlist honestly hasn't changed much, I'm just now in a place where I can afford to go back and track down the dolls I always loved but were out of my reach before.

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection?
I did a "soft reset." I'm still very attached to certain dolls that I've had since before or acquired during my hiatus (Feeple60 Juri 2012, DD Mariko, etc.), but because of that attachment, I was able to finally confront the reality that I wasn't attached at all to a large swath of my collection. I think I managed to strike the right balance!

Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
My biggest advice is to look at it from the Konmari lens. Ask yourself "does this spark joy" and allow yourself to be truly honest about if it does or not. Only make space in your life for the things that make you happy and bring you fulfillment, then let everything else go. The hobby is so much more fun for me now than it ever has been before, and I hope I can keep that going for as long as possible.

 

Due to illness, I have very little energy and money to spend, so my hobby-adventure has always been with up and downs in activity. Everytime I return, there are so many new companies, that I've kind of given up learning about them. I don't intend to buy new dolls anyway... aside from two bodies for my floating heads.

The most difficulty I've had was discovering what is the primary social media platform for people in this hobby nowadays. DoA seems strangely empty now, and I've noticed that many have turned to Instagram - a social media account I only use for Freakstyle activities, since I don't have a smartphone and it's a real hassle to post pictures there without one.

As for the dolls: I'm still as fond of them as I was when I first bought them. I did think of a new way to style them, though, which includes having to send them to face-up artists, having to make wigs and costumes for them. The past few months (well... years), I've been looking at tutorials for wig making, and costume design etc to become at least moderately proficient at it. I've recentely come across someone who makes historical outfits and they've taught me a lót about how to make fabric hold shapes it doesn't want to do naturally.

As for tips: Don't care too much about popularity and what 'other people' might think. This is your hobby, you're allowed to enjoy it anyway you want. And don't stress yourself about 'unfinished' dolls. I don't think these dolls are ever finished . There's so much we can do with them, they will change several times at least throughout their lifetime.

 

Love this topic because fun as dolls can be, it happens.

How long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
Just a year, and mostly because of unemployment (tightening my budget) and adopting a kitten. Suddenly the dolls felt like an afterthought when it was all I could do to keep kitty from snatching their wigs!

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break?
I'm actually pretty enamored. I was tempted to sell my most expensive Volks a couple of times but now that I've trimmed her wig and ordered new clothes, I'm so excited to make the beautiful Angela sculpt shine.

How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
Honestly I didn't, my tastes have changed a bit so I've adjusted in that regard. But the most I ever did was scroll through my favorite companies' stores for new faces and browse Taobao for outfits. Some missed opportunities here and there, but this is a hobby of such abundance I'm really okay with missing out on a few things.

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection?
I'm pretty minimalist, so the break was a good time to face my possessions and sell 2/5 of my dolls. Still afraid to acquire more because I do like most I get, but that's why it's good to acquire things very slowly and take the time to decide and save up for stuff EVEN IF you have plenty of cash.

Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
Don't get FOMO! This hobby is way too big and complex for anyone to know everything. Also, being honest about the amount of effort you're willing to put in helps. As much as I'd like to be the person who sews, mods, makes wigs, and does faceups, realistically I only feel up for faceups and basic maintenance. Don't be afraid to forego DIY and purchase whatever else you need.

 

I’m so glad to see other people are in my boat! I have had maybe a 10 year hiatus after I hit some financial issues.

I used to be “in the know,” but now I’m totally lost. There are so many doll companies, and I’m a little overwhelmed. I only know the old school ones, and some companies are gone. I do like this forum a lot though!

 

I've had a couple years Hiatus of sorts and sometimes it's so overwhelming I think about selling my dolls but it's been so long for some, it'd be a pain to find them again secondhand if I change my mind. What I'm doing now is just kind of boxing up the big project ones, and will work on one doll at a time. If I can't find what I want to do with it or wouldn't miss it if I sold it, I'll consider selling it. Otherwise I'm going to slowly put the character together, like buy a wig or clothes one month, look around for a faceup artist to commission, and try to finish them before I move on to the next doll. Here's to hoping I can finish one of them and be satisfied with the result! : D

Like I want to make a feather wig, but I'll never get around to finishing it so I figure I'll commission one instead. That's as perfectly valid road to take.

 

How long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
It's been around 5ish years since I've last actively sought out the BJD hobby, mainly because I was still a student then and the budget of bjds were definitely beyond my wallet. I actually stumbled across a mutual friend who turned out to be active in the BJD hobby and whilst being reminded of such, I checked my grail doll's company only to see them up for sale after years of waiting

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break? How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
Hmm, looking at my current doll, he definitely needs a faceup reworked but I'll most likely use him as a practice doll since he's so old and slightly yellowed now. I actually ended up instantly preordering my grail sculpt's head when I realised that he was available for preorder and now just waiting for his body to arrive as well ^^
Been exploring other companies which have a similar style since and expanded from switch to smaller individual sculptors such as kanadoll!

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection? Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
I'm still slightly attached since they've been through so much, but I'll most likely reset the collection if the shelf gets too cluttered. I think it's nice to take it slow and steady in pursuing your wishlist instead of getting sidetracked by every new release if you ever dive back into the hobby. It's definitely going to be overwhelming and harsh on your wallet if you do jump at every sale if you're worried you'll miss out!

 

For people who've experienced a long dolly hiatus; how long was it and how did you get back into the hobby?
Mines was about 3 years. When I moved into a place that I could have them out and not stashed away, I made sure to take them out.

How did you react to your dolls after such a long break?
I was so happy, it was like seeing a long lost friend after a few years. I remembered just smiling and looking at them. It was nice.

How did you get yourself back on track with new releases, companies, faceup artists, goals, wishlists, etc.?
I kind of just jumped back in, not knowing what was going on. But when I returned. I didn't really return on socials, just something I did solely alone. Eventually after a few months I wanted to see what was new so I just looked into all the shops I've purchased from before my hiatus. And then I remembered I had an account here, but wasn't sure if it still existed so I tried logging in and here I am. Before when I initially made this account I was too timid to say anything and just lurked. Now, when I have the time I'll browse and leave a few comments. It's nice being back.

Were you still attached to your dolls after your hiatus, or did you reset your collection? Any tips for people trying to get back into the hobby?
Yes, I was still attached. Honestly, I missed them when I was on my hiatus, but I couldn't do anything about it because of my living situation. When I was on hiatus, I would take them out every once in a blue moon, just too see them for a moment and then put them away.
My tip would be to just embrace the dolls you have. Take some time to bond with them if needed, have them out where you can see them and if you feel like you cant bond with them, try and change some things about them. Give them a makeover, vamp up their wardrobe, face ups, new wigs. I love the two dolls I currently have, but wanted to see them in newer outfits, so I did a little shopping spree and got them new wigs and clothes. It really helps.

 

... Or maybe more.

So, I have 5 dolls (two are off-topic, technically, but I count them), and I've wanted the motivation to get back into the hobby and stick in it for a while, but I just haven't had the motivation. Moving sapped my energy, I accidentally messed up one of my dolls (now two, my Doll Chateau Mephisto fell off the shelf and chipped an ear!) and I haven't been able to make a faceup on my Mephisto I've been satisfied with, so I guess that combination kinda messed me up.

So what do you recommend after coming back to the hobby after a hiatus? Check out what dolls you missed? Reevaluate your list of what you want? Spend time with the dolls you have? What?

 

Well, one thing that helped me when I tried to give my Volks Heath a face-up, was finally giving up and getting a real face-up. I was so happy with him after that!

I also enjoy taking pictures and redressing my dolls to fond a look I like.

 

I got my first BJD maybe 12-15 years ago when I was into other off topic dolls and he was pretty much kept in a box for years until the last year or two when for some reason I decided I wanted another BJD or two. At this point I can't even remember what enticed me. I also have many other dolls of different kinds which were stored away for a long time. I now have them on display and I'm glad I kept them. I think anyone picking up the hobby again will work out what they like and don't like by trial and error.

 

I went through a phase in my senior year of high school where I lost all interest in my hobbies, and pretty much sold everything doll related except for some random accessories and eyes. I then moved out of my parents house and for some reason took those remaining things with me (glad I did!) when I started college. I was unhappy for the longest time and stressed with school, and didn't understand what was wrong. After dating my current partner for awhile, he encouraged me to open up about my previous hobbies even though I felt ashamed of them, especially the doll hobby. To my surprise, he was quite supportive and openly listened to me talk about it without judgement. Although money is a high concern of mine, I've allowed myself to slowly get back into my old hobbies that I enjoyed, and I feel like I'm getting better with bjds back in my life.

 

I've started all over twice.

I took a several year hiatus because life was just really bad and I couldn't focus on anything that made me happy. My dad got really sick so then it felt like dolls were a waste of my time, but I always missed playing with them. When my dad got better, it felt like I could breathe again. I went to pick up my hobby but I didn't feel the same about my dolls anymore, so I found them all loving homes on good old DoA and bought "new" ones from DoA as well.

My second try I was still figuring out what kind of collection I wanted. I like uniformity so I felt a lot of stress about the hobby in simply making a cohesive doll collection. I made a few mistakes, got too adventurous and had to start over *again*.

Third try I've got a well paying job, got the house, the life, the adult-y things I felt I needed to get first before I go after the dolls I truly wanted. Could I have those things before? Absolutely, but I'd feel guilty spending thousands on dolls if I didn't take care of my family first. Now I can buy my dream dolls, guilt free, and take my time! No more starting over, I don't have the space for a mismash of doll bodies this time around!

 

I started with msds and didn't bond with them. I realized I'm more of an SD person.