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Softgirl ~ mature mini (Vala)

Feb 8, 2009

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    1. Hello all you artists and BJD-fans!

      I'm Dagger, or Daggerchan on here and DoA. late last year I finally got my hands on Creative paperclay, and around the end of november I dove in! I'd already laid out plans for a couple of projects, and I finally decided I'd go with my plan for a slightly fleshy mature mini girl. :blush

      http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2985036662_e2fdffeec4_o.jpg

      I must say that everything flowed into place quite fast, paperclay is obviously the perfect medium for me. I work long hours, and I would usually come home (sometime late in the night), sit down at my worktable (cough, kitchen-table, since we don't cook often). I'd spend maybe 1.5-2hrs on her in each sitting, or at least until my mind would start wandering (or the computer would be free for my abuse, hoho). Then I'd let whatever progress I'd made dry until the following evening, by which time they'd be ready for me to work on again.

      I'll include a quick step by step progress, but there are more in depth images and descriptions in my thread on DoA. ( http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256955 )

      First step! Sometime late november
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      19.11.2008
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      30.11.2008
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      03.12.2008
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      04.12.2008
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      07.12.2008
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      11.12.2008
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      14.12.2008
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      17.12.2008
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      18.12.2008
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      #1 DaggerChan, Feb 8, 2009
      Last edited by a moderator: Feb 8, 2009
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    2. 21.12.2008
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      25.12.2008
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      27.12.2008
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      And then photos of her as she was before I sent her to Bobobie!

      [​IMG]
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      (her arms look like they're too long because the joint isn't in place)

      facial shots;
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      And next to my Unoa, for reference;
      [​IMG]
       
      #2 DaggerChan, Feb 8, 2009
      Last edited by a moderator: Feb 8, 2009
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    3. Quoting this from DoA, if it helps. :)
       
      #3 DaggerChan, Feb 8, 2009
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    4. I also got some concept sketches scanned!

      [​IMG]
      In light tan.. *slaver*

      [​IMG]
       
      #4 DaggerChan, Feb 8, 2009
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    5. wow I hadn't seen your concept sketches before, these are absolutely stunning. You're so lucky you can draw AND sculpt. I really can't wait to see what your girl looks like all cast. -squeals- I'm so excited about her. <3
       
      #5 Audrey, Feb 8, 2009
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    6. I love the sketches!! I think this doll is really cute, and it'll be great to see her in resin. Do you have any pics of what stage she was up to before you sent her off to be produced?
       
      #6 twigling, Feb 8, 2009
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    7. I love your concept drawings!!! I'd love to see your last pics too....
       
      #7 patl, Feb 8, 2009
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    8. This one is it!

      [​IMG]

      I'd worked on her as far as my meagre income allows, I am unable to prime and finish her any further. Just getting the paperclay took me almost a year! :dead

      Before I sent her I worked on her structuring, symmetry, joints and general engineering as best I could. I plan to be even better prepared by my next project, this one has been a learning process from beginning to end. :D

      Edit; and thank you for your compliments on my drawings! Heheh, those helped me get through a couple of slow work-days..
       
      #8 DaggerChan, Feb 8, 2009
      Last edited by a moderator: Feb 8, 2009
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    9. She's so wonderful. #__# I simply can't wait to see her complete and finished. AND - I really like your art too. :D Do you have a deviantart account perchance?
       
      #9 Moony, Feb 10, 2009
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    10. I hope Bobobie does a good job finishing her and casting her. I have watched her for a long time of DoA. :)

      I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but how much did it cost you to send her to them for finishing and casting?
       
      #10 Miss_Pygmalion, Feb 10, 2009
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    11. I'm interested in this too. I've heard different things and I'd like to know what you dealt with if that's alright.
       
      #11 Audrey, Feb 10, 2009
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    12. Well,what Dennis of Bobobie told me is that the price of working on the doll for me would be around $600, unless I ordered more than 50 casts of the doll. Then the cost would be included in the price of each individual cast (so, technically nullified?)

      I was trying to ask wether I could somehow lessen the amount of casts ordered at each time, like say if I could do smaller batches of 5 x 10 dolls, but he insisted that to keep the cost down I would have to order 50 dolls up straight..

      He was also really evasive when it came to quoting a cost per each doll casted, I wanted to know how much one cast would cost and he just.. ignored the question? So, I'm hoping it won't be some ridiculous amount that I can't justify charging other people.. D:
       
      #12 DaggerChan, Feb 11, 2009
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    13. You should really nail down the costs before they touch your sculpt... I think comicbookartistboi on DoA had a bad experience with them, where he sent his sculpt and they kept changing the quote and jacking it up each time. He eventually didn't bother having the doll cast.

      It seems like some artists are comfortable going to them over and over, but I've also heard of a couple cases where the finished products had been simplified for easier casting (i.e. removing some little tabs that made the joints lock, changing hand position). You might also want to ask them about stuff like that... especially since they're going to do your cleanup and finishing, you want to make sure that what you get back is really true to your work the way you wanted it to be.
       
      #13 armeleia, Feb 11, 2009
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    14. Oh no! I didn't find anything about that! In fact, I don't think I found any sort of negative feedback for the company on DoA when I searched.. I didn't know about that case with comicbookartistboi, this is very stressing! :(

      I'd also been wanting to learn more about what they do with the dolls before they send them out, having seen pictures of dolls that had apparently been sanded with scratchy discolored patches (specifically on the tops of their heads)..? Also, tinybear mentioned having to buff the dolls when they came to her house to get the color even or something of the sort?

      I'm going to wait and see what Dennis says when he gets my doll. I think I will feel a bit silly if I go "um, I don't want you to work on my doll, can you send her back?"

      I think I am mostly worried about them changing her facial features or hands. If they try to I'm afraid I'll have to call them out on it!
       
      #14 DaggerChan, Feb 11, 2009
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    15. #15 armeleia, Feb 11, 2009
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    16. I also saw that Kaye had a good experience with them. I'll shoot one of them a PM soon and hope they have time to answer a few questions about their experiences with Bobobie.

      I came to the conclusion that they can hardly charge me much more than they charge for their own completely worked from A-Z mini size dolls? And people do seem to go to them again and again, which can't be too negative. *violently exudes optimism*

      Anyhow, a part of the plan of sending my first girl away was to make space for a new project! (I live in such a tiny apartment..) I've already made the armature for a torso and head of a tiny-ish girl. :arrr
       
      #16 DaggerChan, Feb 12, 2009
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    17. Daggerchan, it is true that Kaye has used Bobobie and she hasn't written a lot about her experience in public, but you might want to contact her and ask about her experience, because what she has told me in private emails was not necessarily very positive.

      When it comes to costs, it's important to get things in writing beforehand, and I got burned on this too when I first tried to outsource casting of the original twiglimbs. The problem with dolls is, even if the molding people get photos and measurements there are always going to be unexpected things that turn into hidden costs. This becomes extra difficult when you are operating across international borders. If you are unhappy with Dennis' quotes or concerned in any way once they receive the sculpt, you are well within your rights to ask them to send the doll back before any money changes hands and any work is done.
       
      #17 twigling, Feb 12, 2009
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    18. you did a pretty amazing job. [:
      i really can't wait to see her done~
      though, do you think you'll have to make clothes fit just for her?

      also! i went back to the doa post, and i see that you have quite a few potential buyers. i would be one, too. :D
       
      #18 deliquesce, Feb 15, 2009
      Last edited: Feb 15, 2009
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    19. Hey Dagger I was wondering if you had heard from bobobie? Or if you had gotten any of your problems answered/solved? I'm really interested in if their have been any more updates.
       
      #19 Audrey, Feb 15, 2009
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    20. She's so cute! I like her curvy body. Do you ever plan on selling them?
       
      #20 Allegra, Feb 16, 2009
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    21. Please refrain from discussing sales or potential sales on this forum.

      The Joint is not intended as a sales or "fangirling" forum. We really want to avoid having any sales or negotiations of sales happening here at all.
       
      #21 Administrator, Feb 16, 2009
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    22. Ahh, I'm sorry. ^^;
       
      #22 Allegra, Feb 16, 2009
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    23. I have been following this on DOA- wonderful creation :) I love her thighs !
       
      #23 littlepinkfaery, Feb 17, 2009
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    24. Ah it's great to see your girl here Daggerchan! I can't wait to see how things work out for you, especially when working with Bobobie. I love this girl to pieces and I hope that she'll turn out perfectly!
       
      #24 Caracco, Feb 19, 2009
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    25. Hi! I'm here from DoA, to watch this beautiful girl! :D
       
      #25 adriannrod, Feb 20, 2009
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    26. I still haven't heard anything from Bobobie, but I've decided what I'll be going for next.

      [​IMG]

      I haven't started her yet, but when I have I'll make her a seperate thread :) She'll be 20-25cm tall..
       
      #26 DaggerChan, Feb 21, 2009
      Last edited by a moderator: Feb 21, 2009
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    27. What a cute sketch!!

      It will be interesting to see you attempt that one. I'm not sure how those forearms and calves will translate in 3-D....
       
      #27 Miss_Pygmalion, Feb 21, 2009
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    28. ACK! What a cutey! I love love those eyes, and I've been dying to see a doll with exaggerated forearms and ankles like that. I'm really looking forward to this little lady, and here's hoping you hear from Bobobie soon...
       
      #28 Caracco, Feb 21, 2009
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    29. your girl is absolutely gorgeous! I'm looking forward to seeing her final cast :)

      when you were preparing her, did you use.. calipers(?) to help with the symmetry of her face/body?
       
      #29 robocluck, Mar 3, 2009
      Last edited: Mar 3, 2009
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    30. Hmmm.. things aren't going too well with these projects of mine..

      Since I finished my premier, I decided I'd try out a packet of Diamond paperclay from the same manufacturer that I also had on hand.. It's a lot more rubbery, warps, and isn't nearly as nice to work with as the Premier! Fooey on that!

      And then there's the second deal, which is that the prototype of softgirl has been lost in China since she arrived in the country on feb. 6th. That's one and a half months without a word for me or Dennis! We're both doing our best to locate her each from our end. A pox on the post!

      Ah well. I guess I'll try to get my hands on some more premier and then I can at least get down with making a new girl.

      Oh, and as for the question; I didn't really use anything besides my eyes and balancing the doll on an even surface when I was that far along into my project.

      I guess the whole mess with the mail teaches me to take things like creation lightly! HUMPF.
       
      #30 DaggerChan, Mar 19, 2009
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    31. Oh my, that is horrible! I really really hope she is found soon! I can't imagine loosing the girl I am working on, and she isn't even done! I love your work, I hope your future projects go well. Best of luck; I, as well as many others I'm sure, will be waiting for an update.
       
      #31 firefly5003, Mar 19, 2009
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    32. oh no! I'm really sorry that that happened! I really hope you can find your beautiful girl soon.
       
      #32 Mango, Mar 19, 2009
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    33. She looks pectacular... I love her impish smile - what joy!!

      I hope she turns up, like - yesterday!!! I'm sure Dennis is doing a mile a minute to help you locate her!!
       
      #33 whitewings, Mar 20, 2009
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    34. The pictures of working process are most clearly and details~^O^/
      I can't wait to see her finished photos!!!!
       
      #34 royalprincess, Mar 20, 2009
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    35. Gah!!! That is just AWFUL!!! >:OI hope she is found!!
       
      #35 Miss_Pygmalion, Mar 20, 2009
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    36. Like everyone else I hope you'll find her soon. This must be the ultimate doll-maker's nightmare. I wouldn't know how to react of something like this happened to my doll. Best of luck!
       
      #36 Silk, Mar 20, 2009
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    37. *dies* you are KIDDING me. :O That is so horrible. I'll be wishing you the best of luck from my end, DaggerChan. :( I'm so sorry to hear your doll has been lost.

      That aside, your new little one looks adorable. How tall do you think she'll end up being? I could see her as a really adorable, frisky little sprite.
       
      #37 muse, Mar 30, 2009
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    38. :( such a sad thing.. like the rest, I hope she will be found, and soon.

      omg! your newest project looks like a 3D version of Pinoko from Black Jack!! how adorable <3
       
      #38 7777777luck, Apr 3, 2009
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    39. Daggerchan, I'm so sorry your girl got lost.

      :(

      Hopefully she'll be found soon.
       
      #39 Wolfmammy, Apr 5, 2009
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    40. I'm with everyone else! I hope you find your girl :(
       
      #40 itsaplane, Apr 7, 2009
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    41. Dagger-chan, any news???
       
      #41 takeowizard, Apr 7, 2009
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    42. I just got an email from Dennis, MY GIRL HAS BEEN FOUND!! She's been lost in the mail since I sent her out on Feb. 2nd, and it was all due to some post-office laziness in China. Ohoho. XD
       
      #42 DaggerChan, Apr 8, 2009
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    43. Oh thank-goodness!! :dead What a relief... All excitement again, can't wait to see!
       
      #43 aneemal, Apr 8, 2009
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    44. OMG Yay! :D I'm so relieved for you! :XD Congrats, Daggerchan! I'm so glad she was found! I'll be looking forward to seeing her first resin-cast pictures! :<3
       
      #44 Lhianna, Apr 8, 2009
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    45. Fantastic news!! What a relief!
       
      #45 eskibaby, Apr 8, 2009
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    46. Fantastic that she's been found! That's great news!!
       
      #46 AstridRune, Apr 8, 2009
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    47. omg yay! now im excited again =]
       
      #47 kyo37895, Apr 8, 2009
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    48. I agree with everyone- I'm really glad she was found! I hope the process goes smoothly from here!
       
      #48 mrsmarks, Apr 8, 2009
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    49. Heh, your thread is the was the very last one responded to on DoA, so it has been immortalized ^-^
       
      #49 Water Witch, Apr 8, 2009
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    50. I'm so happy to hear that! I hope everything else will go without these unwanted surpises.
       
      #50 Silk, Apr 9, 2009
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    51. That's is wonderful news! I can't wait to see the resin pictures :) I want to bring this girl home no matter what. (one of my own, I mean xD)
       
      #51 itsaplane, Apr 10, 2009
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    52. Oh my! that's great! I can't wait to see how she turns out ^_^
       
      #52 YukiBombay, Apr 11, 2009
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    53. Dennis sent me some pictures!!

      [​IMG]

      [​IMG]

      [​IMG]

      So, I guess my part of this project is more or less just customization from now on. XD
       
      #53 DaggerChan, Apr 13, 2009
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    54. SQUEEE!!! Oh, she's beautiful!! I'm delighted that they found her. Will Dennis be sending her back to you, or will he be doing all the casting, etc. on his end? What kind of customizations will you be doing??

      Gah, huge congratulations, DaggerChan. She's as stunning as we all knew she'd be. ^.^
       
      #54 muse, Apr 13, 2009
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    55. She looks great in resin! Although her hips look slanted a bit... I hope it's just my eye. No matter though, absolutely GORGEOUS doll. She looks very pose-able!
       
      #55 eskibaby, Apr 13, 2009
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    56. Oh DaggerChan she looks WONDERFUL! This is so awesome i have so many plans for her <333 have you gotten her DoA approved yet or we still dunno?
       
      #56 Audrey, Apr 14, 2009
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    57. Hehehe!

      There are a few nicks I would like to have evened out, like that twistedness when she's standing? I don't know if it's just the posture or if her legs are not the same length.. Then I also want her neck shortened a bit, or at least the neck-hole enlarged. AND WHERE DID HER LIPS GO? She looks like she's making some strange face.. ^^;

      Ooh, but the shape of her body, and especially that butt! Make me squee. <3 I'm very glad you all like her, I'm so impatient now because I want to see her with a face-up and hair and clothes and everything! My friend who's going to be making clothes has already bought us a webspace (http://www.kvikindi.com), her boyfriend is a web-designer and will probably be in charge of making it pretty. I'm just waiting for a reply from the Mod Squad on DoA. :Ð *giddy and gleeful*
       
      #57 DaggerChan, Apr 14, 2009
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    58. She is really beautiful! I'm glad for you that things are going well! =)
       
      #58 tatianatofaneto, Apr 14, 2009
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    59. she's very pretty! But why is her body shiney? x.x was it super expensive to have her done?
       
      #59 cheshirepanda, Apr 14, 2009
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    60. what a beautiful sculpt! amazing hips! I'm curious about the shiny finish too, my resin work came out matte, although that could be because the finish on my sculpey for the mouldmaking was matte too.
       
      #60 Katsideswide, Apr 17, 2009
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