How do you play with your dolls??

I design seasonal and holiday dioramas for my dolls and bring them out into my living room and call them 'holiday decor'! Usually they are hidden in back rooms, so this is a good excuse to show them off and bring them out of the shadows. I even made a Santa Claus bjd doll for my Christmas scenes!

 

I don't have a full set up doll house or doll roombox, but I like to pose them with their props and furniture, and sometimes with each other. Not even necessarily for photos, just because. I don't really "play" with them the way a child might play with barbies, like making them walk around and stuff, but I guess it's similar. I also dress my dolls frequently, change their accessories or hair, and sometimes even eyes. Maintenance can be a good activity, since dolls will eventually need restringing and such.

I'm mostly guilty of the like, "hanging out" sort of interaction, like I'll keep them with me in my work room while I make things for them, or have them nearby while I'm doing other things. I absolutely talk to them, but then I talk to just about anything. If you craft for your dolls, then having them be part of the project can be fun, using them as a model or to fit things.

 

I just tend to talk to them or pose them for photos. I like to redress them, try new looks with wigs and eyes. I used to RP some of the characters but not recently. I also use them as protection at night? I figure if anyone was to come into my room, they would get freaked out by an army of elf dolls staring out towards them. They do face my bed but I view them as protectors of my dreams.

I also really like taking them out into nature for photos too.

 

My main method of playing with my dolls is role play. My sister, our friend and I have an entire world built for our doll characters, and play them almost nighty, so they have some pretty extensive character development and storylines. I also like to change their clothes, take pictures, take them to doll meets and conventions, sew for them and do their faceups. Sometimes I just have one of them chill with me while I watch tv or play online.

 

I used to RP with a friend online be it through Discord or on Tumblr or on Dreamwidth. But then we just kind of stopped - ran out of energy/ideas/time. My dolls - 2 at least - are representations of those characters. So I act out whatever scenario I want with them and take photos. I admit, most of the time I make up their stories while looking at them then actually posing them these days.

I have taken them to a localish dealer when they still had doll events to meet up with other doll collectors. I also took them to that dealer when I was shopping for something specific. But that store isn't allowing people inside at the moment. It was fun for two of my dolls to win costume contests just for being themselves!

I guess I use my dolls to live out my fantasy story dreams!

 

I'm currently obsessed with hanging out with Jupiter (Rap1993 Danni) while watching movies and/or making her new eyes and clothes. I can't wait to get her faceup done so I can take her out for full glamor photos

 

I 'play' with my dolls in various ways. I do craft them stuff, bring them outdoors to take pictures, take them to do any activity, I draw them or just play with their wigs.

 

I pick them up and just generally play with them a lot of the time. The reason my doll shelves are usually so maessy (other than overcrowding) is that it's seldom worth arranging/posing them in a specific way becuase it will only last until I pick them up again (or pick up another doll from nearby, thus disturbing the posing of any in their proximity), so they end up just plonked back in place most of the time. They sometimes sit with me and the cats while wthcing TV.

If I'm sewing for them, they're often kept in the sewing room so they're handy for fittings.

I take at least one in to work with me each day (although, at the moment as I only go into the office one day a week, so my dolls are here all the time when I'm working from home) for "company" on my desk, and when I unload my bag when I get home from work, they tend to sit whereever in the house I happened to be when I pulled them oout of the bag, for days, or possibly weeks, before being put back on their shelf.... but that's usually the sewing room so they're in company with whichever dolls are still in there from my most recent sewing session(s).

They come to visit friends with me, or to doll meets, and dolly days (usually hosted at home by myself or a friend at their place), When I was an acvtive historical reenactor, dolls went along to events with me, I take one or two along if I'm visiting an historic building or site, or museums etc., to parties, and barbecues, to conventioons (music, costume, Sience Fiction, and/or doll conventions - generic or for for specific dolls).

I think faires/amusement parks, and treetop adventure places are some of the few things I don't take dolls along to. I took two on my honeymoon.

Teddy

 

I do the same thing…only mine are always on display as part of my household decor, grouped in little vignettes throughout my home. My decorating style is “Bohemian” which suits such display perfectly (embracing a collected look with lots of colors and textures.) So I feel like I’m constantly interacting with my crew as I go about my everyday life. I can always pick one up, change them, rearrange their position or location, and make up stories in my head through their interactions with one another at any given moment. It’s a bit like wandering through a fantasy world, and visiting with the fascinating characters you find along the way.

 

I don't have any furniture or a diorama for my dolls. Right now, they are in their boxes, but I plan to "display" them soon. I've been on a very long hiatus and they've been in storage for their protection.

My idea of "playing" is changing their clothes or taking photographs. I love Christmas, so this year I might get them a mini tree or find/make them Christmas outfits or something. If I had a very small doll (and I mean very small) I'd consider carrying them around in my purse for spontaneous photos or just for comfort. My big concern would be potential damage (pen marks, scratches, etc.) from doing this, though.​

 

I get all kinds of good ideas for a diaorama, but I don't have the space for one. I do collect little things that possibly could go into a diorama, but they live in a box and probably won't get used. It's fun to find and collect them anyway.

I do write stories about my dolls, and have detailed histories of them. But as for what I actually DO with my dolls, they mostly live on a shelf in my bedroom where I can see them all the time. They give me comfort and a sense of being grounded and peaceful.
I also will keep a doll or two on my desk next to me, so they keep me company. Currently I have my Bobobie Apollo and my Resinsoul Mi sitting on my desk. Mi is here because she is waiting for part of her new outfit to come in the mail. Apollo is here because I just think he looks cute sitting next to Mi. I'm trying to decide if they could be a "couple" or not.

 

I basically display them, take pics and dress them up

 

I understand your point, well mainly my way of playing with them is to change their clothes and take picture.

I'm sorry you can't have them around to go with you to watch TV or hang out, really that's what makes me happiest, it gives me a lot of peace to have them around, I rotate and choose who is next to spend time with me LOL

maybe you can meet people close to you and make meetings and meet people and other dolls, if you are good at knitting or sewing with machine you could try making clothes for them.

 

Once the whole Covid situation calms you will probably find there are meets organised near you (for relative values of "near") tht you might be able to get to.

Teddy

 

I love photography! sometimes my friends and I will meet up for photoshoots. I also like to use her as a model for drawing sometimes

 

I change their clothes or wigs every couple of years. Mostly they are just for display. I have some on my desk (where they are off screen for video calls in case they make anybody nervous) so I can look at them occasionally. I have them more as art pieces. Right now I'm on a maintenance and re-painting spree, though. Lots of painting and sueding going on.

 

I sit down and dress them all up every week! I also compliment them and make clothes for them or props.

 

I wish I could be organised enough to do that, but with over 50 of them to change I wouldn't have the time anyway.

Teddy

 

Definitely dress-ups and wig changes. Like keeping them around when I remember them. Maybe when I am brave enough I will attempt face ups.

 

Now there's an idea worth considering - thanks!

I already do this (sort of) with picking a doll to take into work with me each day (only in the office onc day a week these days, working from home the rest) so I could possibly use that choice as the basis for picking the doll of the week or the dolls of the month.

Teddy

 

Usually I fully change everything!

 

Oh my! That is a lot of dolls! I enjoy having few dolls and a lot of clothes (if 13 dolls could be considered a few...)

 

I lean a lot into the writing aspect, between the story of the world their characters live in and role playing. Along with that, I like to draw. For my work, I do a lot of cute anime style girls, but my dolls are almost all male. When I'm art blocked, want to do a study (clothes, lighting, etc), or just want to draw something else, I'll go to my dolls and draw them, whether that's realistically as they appear sitting on my shelf or as their characters in some scene.

 

I display and take a look at them every once in a while. Most dolls dress the way they are from day one because I give each one a plot and a character. Just looking at them makes me feel happy. Also, I like to change their poses to make them more dynamic.

 

I...don't really? I mostly have them to look at and say hello/ good night to. Most of the dolls I have/ want are of existing characters, so unless writing fanfic counts I don't really write for them either. It's the same for the fashion dolls I customized before being able to start getting BJD's. Once I finish them I mostly just have them on display and don't really play with them.

 

I thought I was silly for thinking of my dolls as protectors so I'm glad to know someone does this too.

I don't really like the thought of my dolls just...sitting there...so I am currently in the process of getting a dollhouse built for my 1/6th dolls (I collect mostly mature 1/6 dolls). I would like to take daily life pictures of them once its all set. Kind of like the sims but more hands on LOL

 

@ghostmilky I think it's because they don't look like haunted dolls! They just look like beautiful elves/fairies who can take down evildoers in my sleep!

Ooooh I have 6 mature minis - Soom and Myou - are their more out there? A doll house would be nice! I hope you can get it done!

 

Oh there are so many more! Granado, Blackcherry, Atelier Momoni, and Merrydollround make some just to name a few. There's a thread here with a lot more.

 

I think I am following that thread - it's on part 3 at moment. I guess I will have to go back to the other parts and find the other companies!

 

I don't physically intereact with my dolls often. They're mostly just displayed, but I love just looking at them. Every now and then, I enjoy changing their clothes and re-posing them on the shelf. Other than that, I like to write backstories for my dolls that do have characters.

 

When I do take them out of there boxes I do photoshoots ., And been thinking now since the holidays are coming up to have a movie night with them or kickback and play a good board game with em ..but I have taken them to the feild a few times with me when I fly my model rockets ..but they sit far away don't want one of the rockets going wild coming off the rod hitting one of snice the model rockets I build and fly can reach speeds up to 360 + MPH

 

I have a bad habit of sticking mine in travel bags to take with me, then it's too sunny / not enough time / I don't feel like asking the clerks of the shop I'm in if I can take photos. But beyond that, I do play with them. Even if it's just to randomly pose them in my hands, have them sit beside me while I work on other art, or dress them for the sake of it, they get handled on a weekly basis. Some of them less than others, but sooner or later, everyone gets a turn. I take so many photos that never get uploaded and edited. I need to get back into that. It used to be my joy.

 

Cool.. taking them with u I bet is alot of work being all careful an all. I was looking at some BJD travel bags myself.

 

dress them up and just let them to stand there!

 

i like dressing them up and letting them hang out on my desk mostly

 

Omg i was trying to find a reason to bring them out in a way that the rest of the family wouldnt be like "wow lol wtf?" and i LOVE this idea!! Theyre holiday decor so deal with it xP!

Im going to use this for next holiday get together >w<!

 

I mostly just dress them up and pose them. I want to get back into photography so i might look into making some backdrops/dioramas.

 

I'll be posing, styling, and restyling outfits!

 

I'm a writer and I very occasionally draw, so every time I think about my characters or write about them or draw them, I am playing with the characters. The dolls don't get played with as much, but they do get dressed and pampered with faceups and clothes, and I want to get into taking more pictures.

I actually have to give my dolls birthdays to give me excuses to do something with/for them, whether it be buy them an outfit, restring, or refresh their faceup. For example, on my SD guy's birthday this year I finally got around to stringing his girlfriend together so they could take couple pics.

 

Dressing up my girls is the first thing I ever liked doing with them. I really enjoy getting new clothes and shoes and everything and trying them on. Or going back to old ones and enjoying them all over again. Sometimes I coordinate their outfits.

Taking photos of them is also a big part of what I do with them. I enjoy doing fashion shoots or whatever. Sometimes even outdoor scenic shoots.

I also enjoy doing photostories and exploring their relationships. I have a few different kinds of relationships going on. A couple of my younger dolls are my dolly daughters. They enjoy spending time with their Daddy I also have mature ladies, and many of them are paired with other mature ladies. My Dollfie Dreams are actually married. I love depicting them doing all kinds of different relationship things. One of my favorite recent photostories was movie night. My Leah and Eva were eating popcorn, snuggling, and heckling or defending the movie. I love showing my ladies in love. Getting them to kiss on camera can be a big challenge, too!

I also do doll meets though not so many these days.

 

I like dressing them up and posing them! Or just bringing them into a room with me to “hang out”.
In general I think I spend too much time admiring them lol

 

Absolutely love dressing them up/shopping for them.

 

Coming from vinyl, I just like having my girl sitting in my lap. I'm still waiting on a wig for her before I do official photos (because I don't want to mess with her stock wig). I'm not brave enough to do much with my girl, because she feels so fragile. Generally, I do photos, change them. I used to do photo stories and I love doing photo challenges.

 

I used to do photostories with them; but haven't in years now. I want to get back into it, but I'm currently on the mend and my recovery saps most of my energy right now. For the time being, it's just talking to them and figuring out plans for the future

 

I was going to say I don't roleplay any of my dolls, but... Jack is my last D&D character shelled into doll form, so I technically have roleplayed him, in a roundabout way, and Eddie is... maybe just a step sideways from a current roleplay character. But mostly I don't roleplay with my dolls because they have such set stories in my head, and I'd rather write those stories solo.

Once the weather is ready to cooperate, I want to do some painting for some of mine, and in the meantime, once my wigmaking supplies come in, Eddie's getting a wig made (the one I got when I first got him doesn't play nice with his ears and likes to pop off). Mostly I just like repositioning them, dressing and styling them... just having some friendly little faces around.

 

Ha ! I totally get that. I just started collecting a few Dollstown BJD - I think of them like pieces of art. I have a group of them with 3 vintage child mannequins - in a corner of my bedroom - facing me. The mannequins I have had for over 30 years - and they are a comfort, an aesthetic joy and a constant part of my decor - they look over me at night. I frankly don't care what other people visiting may think. Aesthetics are very personal.

 

I'm sure it's been mentioned in some of the other comments; but here's how i interact/"play" with my dolls.

I love to change their outfits every now then; re-pose them in their shelves; try to make them interact with each other.
I also like to have a doll or two on my desk when I play games, and I make them "interact" with each other or with the screen, and such things.

 

Honestly, having them hang around me is enough. I'm considering traveling with one though so I can take pictures!

 

Sometimes I'll just place a doll on my desk for a few hours to look at while I work on stuff. Also, dressing them up, organizing their things and making new stuff for them. Taking them out travelling is always fun too.

 

I have them on my desk when I work at home and am constantly fiddling with them!

 

Dressing them up mainly, but also styling them… I don’t have a story for my dolls but each of my main dolls has a very specific personality. I also like to sit one of them with me as company when I work or just watching TV. When I have a bit more time I’d love to start doing photoshoots with them again!