Aesthetics My first BJD. A running blog of my first everything in this hobby. (pic heavy)

I just got my first BJD today. A Gem of Doll 1/3 Mona. I also bought an extra head from Doll Family H, Xiao Xin. Im going to attempt my first face-up on it. I guess this will be a blog of sorts. Im going to post about my body blushing and restringing here as well. Basically a documentation of my first experiences as a BJD owner. I do have many years of sculpting and painting experience so I'm hoping it transfers to the world of BJD haha. Feedback is always welcome and I don't mind blunt criticism. If it sucks let me know it sucks haha.



Prepped by washing the surface with rubbing alcohol. I'm using Citadel Purity seal. I have tons of the stuff for miniature painting. Using armature wire for a hanger. Just using some blue tac to mask the Doll family plate.

 

Well. Thought it may have been a blog but I got carried away and got in the zone haha. Here is the progress for tonight. There are definitely some things im going to clean up tomorrow but I think I am off to a decent start.

 

Made the purple brighter and redid the cheeks.

 

I'm actually pretty happy with this haha.

 

Cleaned everything off, re cleared and ready to go again!

 

Thank you! the heaviness is one of the things I identified as needing improvement on this next go. Im going to go lighter this time but I will bring some color to the forehead too. Especially around the brow.

 

got the acrylic down and sealed. Now for the pastels again.

 

First pastel layer down!

 

Layer two pastel done and sealed.

 

Lips finished and sealed (lol) Just need to gloss but ill wait until the rest of the face is finished.

 

Thank you!

Done for tonight.

 

I may add some eye shadow but im liking the natural look. My wife had some old DoD clothes that I used.

 

Unstrung and ready for body blushing. She as also strung very tight so ill be using and extra set of string to redo it. Her hands wouldn't stay straight, she was very kicky and her torso and head had a tendency to lean. Ill make it better Also because I have her apart, Im going to hot glue suede her joints.

 

Getting ready for an alcohol wash and a couple base layers of clear.

 

Thanks for your comments so far!

I do it first because im using acrylic paint. If I really mess it up and need to strip it, I would rather do it first than after the blushing is down. If I mess up the blushing i can erase the pastel

 

Some blushing work in progress.

 

Yeah. I did have to do some touch up. I think ill try acrylic last on my next one.

 

Hands!

 

All done with the upper and lower torso and the hands!!!! I also changed here eyebrows and eyes a little.

 

Glossed the lips and eyes. Darkened the eye shadow. Head is complete. The blushing of the feet is done. Just need to paint her toenails.

 

Fancied up her toes!

 

Went to Fabric Friends and Dolls today. Picked up 2 wigs, some new elastic, spare hooks, and a string puller.

 

Blushing of the arms is done!

 

Upper torso done Restringing. Made it a little longer so she wasnt as snappy. She poses a lot better now.

 

Thank you! Yeah. Now that I have chosen her wig, I will darken the brows a little more. I was originally going to have her hair lighter or red But I liked this wig so much. I didn't want to darken them before the wig was decided. Its easier to go darker than lighter without having to clean off parts of the face-up

 

The legs are blushed. Time to finish restringing her.

 

All done with the restringing!


Got some clothes on her.

 

Started on the Mona Head. Doing freckles on this one!

 

Mona's Face-up is done!

 

Mona has eyelashes now




Starting to sew. I made a new belt. It's a new sewing machine so I'm still getting used to it.

 

Her first article of clothing is done! Getting into the sewing portion of this hobby now. I follow patterns like I follow recipes. I don't haha. I just measured her body and kind of came up with this as I went along. Its just the slip that will be under a dress I have planned.

 

Thank you

Took advantage of this 3 day weekend I rarely get. Got the lower portion of the dress mostly finished and I finished her corset.

 

Made her cloak today!

 

Been pretty busy and slacking on the uploads haha. Here's the catch up. Starting to get into mold making and casting. Ive done it before in other hobbies I have though. Fixed a magnet placement in a gift squirrel and added some fur to his tail.

 

Making eyes now too

 

Working on a mermaid outfit
Casting the crown and Chest shells

 

Painting the Crown and chest shells

 

Pics might be currently unavailable. I am resolving the current dumpster fire that is Photobucket and will replace all image links.