Playing with dolls: what did you do with your doll today that made you happy? <3

I was just straightening up around the house, realized I hadn't taken a picture of Lakin and Kirsten with the Teeny Ty toys I bought for them, so took a quick pic. Here are the newlyweds and their baby seals:

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I had alot of fun designing a new dress for my Amara girl today, and cleaned off her faceup to make a new one once my new pastels arrive so she’s faceless right now. Her clothes are going to be tailored to her too so it’s a bit more of a project....I have her fabric though and it is GORGEOUS! XD

 

I finished making a wig last night, and it's the first one I've made that I'm actually happy with because I tried out a new type of fiber (ramie instead of yarn). The one I finished is for a micro doll that's technically OT, so I can't post it here (though I've added pictures to my Instagram if anyone is curious), but since it went so well I'm excited to try it again with one of my bigger dolls... Though that will involve dying the fiber, which I haven't attempted yet and am nervous about making a mess.

Also I moved Rebecca to the new shelf on my desk a few days ago, and now it makes me happy all day seeing her smiley little face watching me draw.

 

Took Eirik out for the first time in months, only to have his eyelash wonky Soooo I fixed his eyelash. Now I’m planning some stuff out for when my new layaway gets here.

 

Six months tentatively, though I’ll probsbly pay him off long before then. He’s a grail(Soom Chalco) and I’m sooo impatient.

 

I keep checking Daydream's website for Zero's dispatch date.

 

He'll be number 10, but I have another two on order as well. Zero's really special though, as he's a character I wrote years ago and really love. His sculpt is Ryan. ^_^

I also have one head on order, and a custom sculpt in progress! So lots of dollies incoming.

 

Yeah, wigs make such a difference in the doll's character and appeal, don't they? Even more than eyes in a lot of cases, I think, since they show more from a distance and have a bigger impact on the "first impression". And since you asked, here's the finger-wig (my instagram is in my signature, with the pic of the whole doll):


The style is based on the vocaloid IA, and the little braids loop around the doll's elf ears to hold the wig in place. I made the wig yesterday, so really the "thing I did today that made me happy" was taking the pictures.

And while I had my phone out, I took a picture of my happy little desk buddy (amidst clutter and in poor light, but still precious):

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4548/37656721044_b61ace2e90_c.jpg

 

I'm currently continuing making a yarn wig for my first bjd head

 

This is such a sweet thread ♥ I love hearing everyone's happy dolly experiences. I have been gathering supplies to start making wigs again, it's been so much fun! Oh yeah, and I finally got a body for a floating head !!

 

Eirik by Soren Markain, on Flickr

Wonky eyelash is fixed! I’ve missed my boy.

 

Thank you!

 

I graduated college in May and have been working like crazy all summer, so he's been stowed away in my room for the better part of six months.

 

I just watched a bunch of youtube tutorials for making doll wigs... They're mostly slightly different approaches to the same steps, like whether the cap is made hard with glue or soft with elastic, whether the wefts are sewn or glued, etc, so you can pick the way that works best for your style. The one new "trick" that I found really helpful for making a wig this tiny (the doll is 7cm tall, with a 2" head) was from @saharali 's tutorial here; if you cut a slit at the part and glue the wefts to the inside, it minimizes the bulk and helps keep the wig from getting clumped or poofy.
As for styling, you just have to be really patient, because if you rush then the cuts will be choppy (I still want to smooth up some of the layers on this wig, but my scissors are too dull...).
Use water to smooth and style the fringe or layers, or you can even use very watered down PVA glue if you want a more permanent gelled/spiky look.

 

Thank you!!! I literally /just/ came back after a two year hiatus, so I figured that an update was in order.

 

What a cute thread!

Today I pulled my girl out of her box, got her all dressed, and fitted the coat I've been making for her. It's so close to being done! Then instead of putting her away like I normally would, I put her next to my computer while I did homework and just looked at her whenever I ran out of inspiration. She's still sitting beside me now!

 

I just restringed (is it the right word??) my Souldoll Swinte. I'm so proud of myself (and my boyfriend since he helped me a lot) because I have never done it before and I was so scared of it lol. Although we had few moments where I tought we would never get it right xD
But now I can do it anytime! (well I prefer not have to do it again :p)

 

Thank-you! And I've practiced them before but never finished one, this will be my first one I finish

 

It's definitely not "easy" to make a more detailed style or a really small wig--it's very fiddly, and hard to keep all the hairs where they're supposed to be and not stuck to your fingers or falling in your tea, and on small scale every cut shows--but if you are patient and don't rush then the actual steps of glue-cut-glue-cut are fairly straightforward.

 

Haha you're too sweet. College and life just got in the way, but I'm so happy to be back. I've missed chatting with others about dolls and being a part of the community so much.

 

That is so sweet! I may have to do that in the future, but right now we are both bundled in blankets. I can stare pictures as soon as it's done! It's grey and it pretty much looks like a dress because it has a circle skirt attached to it.

 

I used to go to meetups regularly when I was in high school, but the local community kind of dissolved. I should take more photos with my dolls for sure, or just photos of them in general. Will definitely keep popping in and around the rest of the forum with stuff from my crew. I'm definitely going to try being more active and taking everyone out more. Quite a few of my friends are scared of them though, so it's hard to do outings.

 

Pshhh thank you I just worry about getting harassed. It's happened in the past and is easier to counteract with friends around. I feel you on the being alone, my best friend is studying abroad too.

 

Today I moved a ton of stuff around my house and made a plan for individual shelves for each of my dolls and my planned dolls. Soon I'll be able to give them spaces of their own. I am so excited.

 

I went to put my Dollmore Nayuta kenzo, that I just got in the mail a couple days ago into a sitting position, and laughed out loud when he just flopped over and it gave him the expression of "just leave me, I'm dead tired man". Solely because he's a 'glamour model' so it'd seem to make sense of his exhausted look. To have to hold poses all day for years and on top of it be put in a box for a week and sent across states to get here. Poor guys had it rough xD He only actually did it because he needs to be restrung, but I found it hilarious considered the circumstances. I'll maybe upload a humorous photo of him when I get home from work.

 

Oh that will be quite a while, but I certainly will once I have one of them in presentable shape

 

Today I tried making shorts for my boy Noya for the first time today! (they didn't turn out well but i had a blast dressing him up with them for a bit) And I re-posed him on his little rocking chair and tried a few new eye colours on him!

 

Today my dolls have been sitting beside me as I procrastinate write a little of their story down for National Novel Writing Month. ^_^

 

Aw thank you! And that sounds so cute! A sock would give the hat that perfect 'knit' look! I'm sure he's rocking it!

And yes! He sits on that chair when I'm not playing around with him, so I try to change up his pose while he's idle! It feels like a great way to get some time with him even if its only a minute of adjusting how he's sitting!

Eye wise I was trying out some tester eyes I made out of polymer clay! I tried a metallic copper colour (which looked really cool with his brown toned faceup!) and some glow in the dark eyes! I had to say the glow in the dark eyes were my favourite! It gave him such a spooky monster look!

 

I just started to make my own eyes! I found I couldn't find the styles i wanted for my doll, so I figured 'Hey! If i can't buy it then I'll make it!". Once I get the resin to fill them with I'll definitely be posting pictures! Right now I'm just making a mass batch of bases as we speak!

Aw! Sounds like he's comfy and cosy waiting for you! I have to keep the curtains closed in the room I have Noya displayed so he's safe from the sun!

Oh no I don't forget about him but I've had a few family members forget about him and shout in fear when they see he's moved xD It never fails to make me giggle. They call Noya Annabelle's cousin now.

 

Imgur works for me. On the drop down arrow on the image, click on "get share links" and copy the BBCode one, then paste it directly into your post. It should show up!

 

imgur or theres a desktop app/website called Gyazo where you can screenshot an image and turn it into a sharable url

 

I spent some time today working out the next steps for the repairs to my new-to-me/third-hand doll that just arrived. (Remove old faceup and eyelashes, find faceup artist, etc.)

Yesterday I ordered new eyes for the doll!

 

Well, it sounds WAY more difficult that it really is. It's not a pleasant task (because you have to be very careful to not damage the doll and yourself) but you only need to be logical and it's not that hard. But some help in my case was necessary since I don't have the right technic yet.
And never ever try to hold S-hooks with your finger when it's attached to string in the doll - my boyfriend cut his finger very deeply because of that.... And now we use chopsticks to hold the strings before getting of the S-hooks ^^''

And my boyfriend isn't really into dolls but he certainly is into making and seeing me happy ahah For some years I was really depressed and I couldn't find anything that made me want to do something. Then the day I came back to the BJD (after a loooong pause) it made me feel better: I had something to talk about with pleasure, something to motivate me and inspire me artistically. So he's glad to see me feeling better and he's VERY supportive, listening to me talking, helping me with my dolls. He will even go with me to my first doll convention! And this year he'll offer me a new girl for Christmas :p
and since he also is an artistic soul and he likes to imagine and create things, we'll build some furniture and dioramas for my dolls in the future... It's great to have someone who wants you to be happy and supports you in what you love I'm a lucky girl ^^

And you, do you have a special one with whom you can do doll things?

 

I'm working on obtaining some in scale props for them, and just heard back from the person who's offering to pick some up for me!

 

I found a nice fabric that'll go with a snowflake fabric I already had to make a winter/snow themed dress for Calli, and I bought a pair of Christmas socks to make a sock sweater for Caspar. Which means I need to get busy sewing.

Oh and yesterday I bought a wig for Crobi... so I think everyone should be happy since they're all getting something.

 

This was last night, actually, but I changed Maaya's outfit but kept her black cat theme going X3

 

I changed her outfit, posed and sat her on my work space. Having her beside me really inspires and motivates me.

 

Wonderful thread! My 1st BJD is on order. I already have a place for him on my desk. I bought a bowl chair for him to sit in and relax and keep me company.