How do you play with your dolls??

I use my dolls (Barbies at the moment) for stop-motion videos on my YouTube channel, occasional models for doll clothes and accessories, or for checking scale on miniatures. I plan to make more videos with them soon.

 

I like to change their wigs and outfits and pose them all together - sometimes for group photos, sometimes just for the heck of it. Since they all live in their boxes mostly, it takes a while to get them out and posed but it's so fun to look at all of them mess with each other.

When I don't have time for all of them or for crafting or a photoshoot, I just grab one or two for desk buddying while I work in the room they're in (I get more fiddling around with the dolls than work done that way though oops). They're like little house goblins, I love hanging out with them

 

I usually have them beside me when window-shopping (or shopping xD) for them, change their clothes every season or more, photograph them, change their poses within the cabinet, make clothing or wigs or furniture for them, write about them while having them close... It depends a lot on your definition of "playing", I guess.

 

For three years, my mom and I and my husband celebrated "doll christmas" for our little doll family which included actual wrapped doll presents, a living room set up with a fireplace and group photos and christmas outfits, but I got kind of tired because I was doing all the work for that and all our other christmas celebrations, so this year we didn't do it. This christmas coincidentally was the worst Christmas we've had as we were all sick with Covid and my stepfather was in the hospital and we couldn't even visit. So maybe, next year we will go back to having doll christmas again.

 

That's the cutest thing I've heard @Isoldana4 (the doll Christmas, not the Covid ). I hope your stepfather is doing better, and fingers crossed you get to have doll Christmas next year!

 

For me it’s by styling them and creating outfits for them. Recently I have realized the way I play with my dolls now is similar to how I loved playing dollmaker games like Stardoll, pixel dollz and also the Sims when I was in my teens. I actually didn’t really have barbies or other dolls when I was growing up as they didn’t interest me but I loved paper dolls, fashion plates and those sorts of things. The first doll I really remember wanting was a Blythe when I was a teenager as I had actually played a Blythe styled dress up game which is how I discovered her. I love BJDs because they are customizable and you can really play with their appearance/aesthetics etc

 

I guess changing up their outfits would count as playing, here. I also take photos of them - or attempt to at any rate. I also like working out stories for the characters I see in each BJD.

 

I intend to do a portfolio and story collage for my dolls. But due to busy schedules, I am limited in doing random photographies at the moment. Most of the time, my dolls are just displayed on their glass shelves.

 

Ooh, that sounds interesting! Can you explain that a bit more?

 

I love creating outfits for mine as well as I use my bjds to show scale for my miniatures I make.

 

I have a story for my dolls which I intend to create in a portfolio.

 

When I'm tired after work, I like to have mine sitting next to me or just muck around with posing them. I also sew clothes for them.

 

Nothing too fancy but I do take pictures of them, change outfits, and also do small hangouts with my other doll collector friends

I do also write bios and lore for my characters but I’m too shy to rp with anyone

 

I change their clothes, their wigs, I put them on my bed close to me so I can see them. I even put my Dell on my lap when I watch a movie or something since she is hugable because of her sice

 

Honestly nowadays I don't play with them much. They are just there and I enjoy looking at them. Roughly every month or so I change their outfits and share pictures of the new outfits. I really enjoy looking for new clothes for them - collecting the clothes is nearly as fun as collecting the dolls themselves!

I have written stories about some of them, or dreamed stories up in my head.

I don't hang out with them nearly as much as I used to though because I don't like moving them out of their stands, and I also don't do as much with them creatively (like, making things for them) because I just don't really want to? I have other creative hobbies that I spend my time on instead (writing, drawing, knitting etc)

 

I mainly change their clothing/wigs, sew for them, and try to work on them as Ocs! I also keep one or 2 on my desk just to look at while I work! I would like to photograph them more eventually!

 

I’ve been having a lot of fun sewing clothes and posing my doll. I haven’t done a full on photoshoot yet, but I’ve taken a lot of more casual photos of my doll whenever I pose him.

 

The thing I like the most is trying different outfits, also in different styles. Dressup is fun and shows different sides of a doll's personality. I like to take photos (though I still need to get proper photo equipment) or just posing them around. Right now I want to get better at arranging drapery.
I'm picking up drawing again and I think I'll have them sit as models, which is something I didn't get around to but have wanted to do since the beginning.

 

I mostly play with my dolls at home or take them along with me if I go to the American Girl Store, conventions, or lolita/doll meet ups. I love dressing them up or catching a quick photo of them doing something cute or cool using various props.

 

Like the majority I also enjoy dressing them up, taking pictures and posing them.
I also enoy having them sitting close by when I draw or work and whatnot. I still have to get in the grove to pick them up to sit with me or hold them when I'm gaming or watching something.
Taking them with me for pictures outside of the house is also something I want to increase.

 

Drusilla currently hangs out at the table at the end of my bed, so I can see her in the evenings when I'm relaxing in bed. Sometimes I hold her while I read books or watch tv.

 

Like a lot of doll owners I’ll set up scenes with props for my dolls and dress them up for fun. Also, because I prefer tiny dolls, I like to bring them with me when I’m shopping or going to the movies, I have purses and bags with clear fronts so they can be displayed.

 

I talk to my dolls too, especially when I'm brushing their hair or readjusting their clothes.

I like to dress them up in a signature outfit, pose them and write about their personalities.

Unfortunately my dolls are hybrids with off-topic parts so I can't use the awesome doll profile feature DoA has, but I write about them in private for now. It's very important to me that my dolls feel complete. To me this means having that specific outfit that shows off who they are and a faceup to match. A doll also just doesn't feel done to me without having a stand to help them pose. I feel a lot more secure about them not tipping over with one because I have cats who love to walk all over the place.

It's also super fun sharing doll ideas with my friend! We come up with silly behaviors our dolls would do and headcanons with each other, as well as ways they all interact together. It's fun even if they're not the same scale. Two heads are definitely better than one with dolls imo!