Greetings

My first doll should be delivered tomorrow *** if all goes well ***. She is from DoDollsDream, from the Miss Marionette line: Charlotta in angelic pink.

I'm new to BJDs, but I'm a sewist and have been making tiny clothing for plush toys (BtSSB Usakumya pochettes) for 7 or so years, and I've even built a roombox and furniture for said plush toys, so I'm somewhat experienced in scale modeling and whatnot. I draft my own patterns and have been using BJD scale fabric for the plush toys. I haven't sold a piece yet, but have been gifting my handcrafted items to my local community friends for several years. It was my goal to start offering items for sale this year, and then the trade war started and it has not been financially feasible quite yet, so I've just been building up my stock and refining my process. I want people to be impressed with the quality of my creations, but not offended at my prices, which is a tricky balance to strike.

My goal is to (eventually) sell handcrafted BJD clothing, and it'll be EGL clothing (my specialty). This is a community full of craft-minded people, so I am hoping the skill and effort that I pour into my sewing is fully appreciated. I'm excited to get to know my doll as I make her face-up and start drafting patterns for her. She will be my muse. I'm also excited to be able to use more complex sewing techniques in her garments.

 

Noted. I don't wish to break the rules. It's a goal of mine, but a somewhat distant one. International shipping is a mess (US tarrifs, EU customs brokerage, Canada Post strike). I'm part of a secondhand sales community for EGL fashion so I am familiar with the problems, hence my hesitance to offer anything valuable at all. I'm going to be spending the next several months making patterns and trying them out on her first.

Do you have a favourite doll atelier?

I don't think I'll make a room for Charlotta, she's so immense compared to the plushie I scaled my last room off of (33cm height). The room I made is just a corner (2 walls and a hardwood floor, with a removable roof) but its permanent so it cannot be disassembled easily. The scale of a pullip or DoDollsDream Teacup would be much easier to store a whole room for like that. But I really like those lasercut rooms that can be assembled and disassembled that I used to see 5 years ago when I was making mine
As for furniture... maybe. My dad has a resin 3D printer that I'm eager to try out for props, and I'd love a wardrobe to put her clothing into.

Do you have a favourite furniture maker in this community?

 

She has arrived!

I'm not 100% certain on her name. Her sculpt is named Charlotta, and I love the nickname Lottie. I may just call her Lottie but I haven't settled on it yet.

 

Thank you! The heterochromia wasn't intentional, but one of each eye colour broke (iris popped out and needed reglued) but it's been a popular feature so far!

 

I am! I'm collecting the materials for it. I got my pastels yesterday (Rembrandt) and the Jacquard micropearl for highlights, and I've been collecting brushes for a few months, but I'm still trying to hunt down my sealant. I really wanted to use ZM Finishing Powder Spray, but it's sold out on VOLKs USA, and is otherwise proving difficult to locate shipping to Canada. May have to settle for MSC, Tamiya, or Army Painter for my first faceup. I have an airbrush that I've never used,I suppose I could go for an acrylic sealant if I was feeling saucy.

Any tips for a first-time you wish you'd known?