Discussion The One Thing

The one big thing I have learned is that my dolls make me happy! I could spend the money on clothes for me, or things for my house, and it would not give me 1/10th the pleasure of seeing my dolls, picking them up, playing with and dressing them. Life is short, we should have things that bring us joy. Yes, the money I spend on dolls could be used for "better" things--but to me, dolls are food for my soul.

 

My One Thing is simply this: do not be afraid. I was afraid to get into dolls because of the cost. I was afraid to keep sewing after my first couple of tries failed. I was afraid to buy Alora the proper wig because it would be hard to maintain. I was afraid to try face-ups because I wouldn't be good at them right away. And that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. Everything that I have been afraid to do, I have somehow gotten the courage to do anyway, and it ALWAYS turns out better than I thought it would. Not necessarily perfect, but better. And if it can be better than I expected the first time, then I know it can get better from there too!

That first time Alora gave me "the look" that her character is legendary for, I could not have been more thrilled. None of it would have been possible if I had kept holding myself back!

 

I have taken a lot of time to think of exactly how to word my "one thing." I have really enjoyed reading what everyone said, and could relate to most of it, but there's something more that collecting BJD's and being a member of the forums has given to me that I wanted to make sure I described just right.

My One Thing is realizing that being artistic, unique, and expressing yourself through BJD's doesn't have to alienate you from other people. When I joined the forums almost three years ago, I was 18 and still in high school. One of the nastiest things I picked up from high school was this "lone wolf" type attitude that had me truly in the mind set that I didn't like people. At the time I didn't know a single person who also collected BJD's or could even fathom spending over $100 on a doll, let alone the $300 I spent on the naked, face-upless first doll who would eventually become my Uetena. I was never a team player in high school, and hated working with people. I was always the teachers pet who sat in the front of the class and never spoke to anyone, except when I was raising my hand to answer the teacher. I pride myself in being an individual, and at the time I kind of felt that it meant sacrificing being a part of any kind of group or community. BJD's was just another thing I picked up that made me feel more distant from other people.

I went through lots of phases on DoA, most of which aren't really documented because I didn't post very often, but I recall at least one post where I came off seeming really whiny, and kind of bratty. It was just me feeling like an outsider again. "Nobody likes me or my dolls" ect... After people started to respond though, I felt really embarrassed. It made me really think about who I wanted to be in this community. After getting over myself, I realized there are so many people in this forum who I love to pieces. People I don't even know! I can relate, they can relate to me. I can be friendly and respectful and when I am, others are friendly and respectful in return.

Summing it up, collecting dolls made me realize that being an individual doesn't mean you are alone. And you can still be unique, but have a lot in common with people. Being part of the group is now my favorite thing about collecting BJD's. It hasn't only changed how I see them, but it's changed how I see myself. I still am not as active in the community as I would like to be. I'm always afraid I'll say the wrong thing T_T But... I'm getting better. Sorry about the crazy long post @_@ I just really wanted to say it right.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

Body swapping. I had big issues with my Elf Yder, I knew his face was perfect but when I got him he was just so wrong that I almost sold him! I ended up putting him on a totally different body and now I love him to death. He came alive in that moment.

the second thing was one person's trash is another's treasure. I bought a body second hand off the marketplace. It was an old Iplehouse body, the one BEFORE the one BEFORE the current ones. Back in the day of non long leg versions when they were 60 cm. It was sold very cheap as unposeable, I was told wiring and suedeing did not help. Well I got him anyway, and have never regretted it since. His body is old, it is single jointed, it is skinny compared to all my other dolls and CP clothes fall off being too big, but gods I love that body. One of my best posers, so elegant and perfect for the character. You have to remember that what does not work for one person may be perfect for you, if you know it is right you KNOW it is right

 

The One Thing I've learned (after much consideration) is that it's okay to do something for yourself. I've spent so much of my life making other people happy. And I also went through a really bad point in my life where even our Christmas presents were donated. It's made me really thankful for what I have and really reluctant to spend money. I find myself always nervous when I go to ask for things... but at least I'm asking now instead of keeping my wants to myself. I'm learning very slowly that it's all right for me to spend money on me and things that make me happy.

I know it's supposed to be only one thing... but there is another thing I learned from dolls that is also important to me. I learned to be social. Not everyone snickers at me behind my back or whispers to each other about how annoying I am. There are really nice people out there and now I am social enough to go out there and meet them. Because of dolls making me more social... I actually have several really amazing friends right now that have really helped me. They in turn have made me more confident, comfortable, and have even helped me open up and start talking more about things. They are really important to me (and may even be reading this now! ) in more ways than just dolls.

Dolls have made me a happier more balanced person! Thank you dollies! XD

 

Someone actually READS some of my stories!

The first time someone squealed/shouted "Ichigoooooooo!" at a meet up.
After I nearly wet myself in fear, I thought that was just so cool that someone actually recognized my doll in person!
And it made me realize that there was someone out there that I was writing and taking pictures for, besides my close friends. It just totally makes it all worthwhile when some story makes someone out here laugh, or brightens their day. All the cursing, cajoling, sweating, trying to get the right pose (or something close to what I had in mind, that the doll is willing to do for me at the time)... is suddenly worth it all.
And we can connect across distances with a resin smile... or "oro!" as the case may be.

 

My One Thing: I can get it commissioned. I don't HAVE to do it myself. I don't HAVE to buy clothes or eyes or even wigs that are standard, "stock" items.

My faceup skills are decent, but I truly dislike doing them, and thus have no inclination to practice enough to be good at a wider variety of styles. But you know what? That's okay. I can commission someone else paint my doll just how I want it, or even *gasp* get the default! ^_~ And if I want particular things for my doll that I just can't seem to find anywhere, I can commission those too, or do a custom order with a company that takes custom requests. I don't have to learn to make it myself!

I do find customization to be a fun, integral part of this hobby, but it really helped me to admit that I'm just not that interested in doing a lot of the crafty/artistic stuff involved. I've never been all that artistically inclined, so the realization that I didn't have to be to enjoy this hobby really opened up a lot of possibilities for me. ^^

 

Ok so i've had a couple of "hobby changing moments" including one a few minutes ago. But my number one thing has to be:

Natural lighting

I've seen countless photos and never realized how much of a diffrence it makes until I took my Lestat to the park and did a mini photoshoot there and compared it to the pictures from the night before, in my room with the light. Granted, my current favorite photo was taken at night, in my room, but its a one in a million shot. Natural light is best and i shall always stand by that!

 

The moment I realized I was actually capable of making my dolls clothes, and more, I wasn't half bad.

I still can't make pants, but I figure progress is in the baby steps.

 

My one thing: It is okay to like dolls as an adult. It's just like any other hobby, and it is infinitely more productive than most hobbies!

It's silly, but it took quite a while for me to come to terms with doll collecting as an adult. I've finally dodged that guilt/embarrassment and am the happiest I've been in a very long time. Dolls bring out the creator in me, and I have rekindled my love for photography and craftiness. I just love having something to escape to as life gets more stressful!

 

That is so cool! I started out just making clothes. My family was the only ones who supported me. The people that I work with thought it was crazy to spend that kind of money on a doll. They just don't know what they are missing!

 

Perseverance. I definitely learned perseverance through collecting abjd's.

To learn how to do faceups/mods/wiring/sueding on my own.
To actively search, save and buy the dolls I couldn't be without. Especially the hard to get LE's.
To take the critiques with an open mind and become better at doll photography.
To know my character well enough to get the right wig/clothing/eyes for the doll within a few tries.

To become better through all my trials and errors. I do not give up easily, anymore. That's what this hobby has taught me.

 

Only one thing? Hmm... Character.

I realised you can love a BJD for how they look and play with them all you like without a character. Although for myself, I began to be dissatisfied with the hobby and I didn't know why, assuming I was just getting out of the phase.

In a desperate attempt to keep loving my BJD, I changed his character. Twice. Then suddenly, as I set the new character in, whom became the Messiah I love, something suddenly clicked. It was the most bizzar feeling. I saw the hobby from a whole new light. I was more interested. I was more involved. &I just loved him alot more then I had before. I realised that personally, I find it more interesting to view the hobby from a writing pov, as it turns out, I now have alot of character from Messiah's story that I love just as much as him to fufill into amazing BJD's.

Needless to say there's been a few things that made me shift my view on the hobby, but that's probably the biggest.

Edit: Another huge one was the same post as above me ^^ (Perseverance)

 

The One Thing for me is that I'll die before I learn everything there is to know about resin or polymers. I have reshaped it, cast it, drilled, milled and turned it, chemically and thermally bonded it, evaporated metal on it, patterned it with an electron beam, and even cleaned it with an oxygen plasma.

 

The one thing I learned about in this hobby is when it comes to photography, lighting really does play a big thing. I was used to digital cameras before I got my Rebel, and the automatic flash and focus was somewhat of a challenge to do without. I'm still learning about lighting, and it's even crept into my everyday photography. So, this hobby has made me better at one of my favorite skills

 

EYES.
I've discovered that eyes are one of, if not THE, most important things to get right about dolls. Gwae started off with nasty grey Glibs, but when I put her blue Dollmores in, the change was unbelievable. She suddenly had so much more life to her. It's amazing what a good pair of eyes will do for a sculpt -- or not do. I've also seen a lot of dolls who have oodles of potential but end up just being meh because of their eyes.

 

I learned that I can finally make almost life sized figures of all my characters and that they're not as hard to customize as a barbie or porcelain doll.
(heh. Sorry mines not that great. ^^")

 

That hobbyist are pretty much the same no matter the hobby, there's always going to be cliques and people who think you suck because you don't walk their line, but there will also be people who love you for being a renegade too...

When I first bought my boy, I felt bad because I couldn't spend money to get him fancy clothes and brocades, but one day I printed some pics to send to a friend and looking at them as I walked back to the truck, I stopped dead in the middle of Walmart, my mouth hanging open. My boy was BEAUTIFUL! He shone out of those pics! After that I stopped looking at the pretty clothes and started looking at the dollies. I can tell which ones are loved members of the family and which ones are just something to dress up and take pics of... it shines through in the pics.

 

My one thing was realizing it was okay to buy what you like. Some people think I'm nuts for only buying Lucas-based scupts... but you know, it makes me happy. I love looking over and seeing their ridiculously pointy noses and hard, beautiful features. They're so fierce and beautiful.

 

if there is a will there is a way! that's the one main thing i learned so far Cx