The ^ < v Game! - Part 2

^ It's possible to complete the main cast from my main story, and I hope to get there soonish. Truth be told, that's the only dolly goal I dare set ... so on the one hand that would mean something is complete. But it won't mean I'll be done buying dolls, I've got too many ideas for side projects, "NPCs" and unrelated stuff I'd like to try. So completing the one clearly defined part of my doll collection, yes. The collection as a whole ... not so much.

< yay, yet another doc's appointment on Wednesday. Full bloodwork this time. Oh joy.

v Show us the last thing(s) you've made / bought for your dolls!

 

^ The last thing I finished is this star necklace for Austin to give to Rog.
Rog by SteamWitch BJDmama, on Flickr

<Rainy again, glad it has passed though we could have done fine without it. Thanks mother nature.

v Show us the last thing you made for your dolls.

 

(Oops, I answered VampireAngel13 and new answers meantime, sorry guys)

^ that's a great question because everyone's ways, reasoning and methods are so varied. For myself, I don't think mine will ever be complete as in finished because I always have another idea to try out and if everything was 'done', that would mean I was out of ideas or had lost interest but I do think I've reached a point where I think pretty hard about new doll additions and have not added a full doll for over 2 years by choice and thought of letting 2 go if I don't really get more interested in them by the end of this year. I've kept some blank because I love their sculpts and I don't mind blank dolls at all...but these just don't speak any ideas of how they want to be painted yet and that is what I wait for. Plus I'm a Unoa freak and those faceplates and option parts, guys...like candy. (Or doll crack!)

< Champagne in a highball glass is fine at home after lunch, I'm too lazy to get out a flute. :P (it's still crystal)

v Besides some financial crisis (which hopefully spares us all) is there anything that would just break you of the hobby cold and cause you to just say, "Nope, that's it. I'm done"?

 

^ All the hate, bullying and personal attacks, both anonymous and non-anonymous, I received from other hobbyists on Tumblr over my dolls with disabilities (among numerous other things) was almost enough to make me pack it in earlier this year. As it is, I'm still feeling shell-shocked from that, Aside from something else like that, or a major financial crisis, I don't know what else might provoke me to quit.

< ahhh home from work. Should I do housecleaning, or work on my writing, or play with my dolls, or read my book or...?

V What originally got you interested in the BJD hobby? How have your hobby-related interests changed over time?

 

^ My very first interest was in the customization aspect, but I didn't really carry that any farther than "Oh that would be fun to do, but they're all girls and that's not what I want to make, so..." (At the time, I'd only found Volks, and only the small off-topic dolls from them.) The idea that I could make my characters into 3D posable dolls stuck with me, though, and I kind of got tempted a second time when I started seeing more of them around anime conventions, but again I was stuck at "all girls" (where were all the boys back then? ), and no elves I could afford. The third and final time came from my then-roommate, who found some less expensive sculpts with more range to them (a dealer with multiple companies), who said, "Hey, let's get dolls and make clothes for them to sell!" followed by "Look, I even found one that looks like your character!"

I still haven't really gotten solidly into making clothes beyond for my own purposes, though I do have fun learning to work at that scale, and hope to do more of it when I get settled in on moving. My interests are still mainly in customization, and making characters "come to life" in doll form, though it's not just the few existing OCs I'd first planned on. I've added characters and entire groups, gone into levels of customization I hadn't realized were possible when I first looked at the hobby, and gotten way, way more dolls than I originally planned in sizes I never thought I'd buy.

< I'm feeling productive about all the unpacking today, yet guilty that I'm unpacking instead of going to work out... something about this seems wrong.

v Variant question! What first got you interested in the hobby? And what in turn got you actually committing to buy a doll?

 

^ well, I used to buy off topic dolls on eBay, and it would always reccomend me minifees, but the price seemed really steep. This did, however, get me curious about what exactly a bjd was. So I went online, to the tumblr bjd tag, and discovered the ringdoll Jack the Ripper rerelease. At the time, my girlfriend of almost a year, who I was madly in love with had broken up with me. Through a friend. By text. While I was on vacation. So I was really upset and willing to get spendy, because holy lord, he was pretty much the coolest doll ever, and he had awesome accessories. I had a decently paying job, and about $700 Canadian saved up as what my ex had called the 'someday fund.' I used a lot of this to start a layaway for him. By the time he arrived, I had two second hand dolls, and another doll on order. Oops.

<sidebar: the girl did come back to me, and we're going strong again. Two years now! And she loves dolls

V have your tastes in dolls changed since you started in the hobby? If so how?

 

^ Hm... It's hard to say. One thing I've noticed for sure is a growing love for tinies and animal/human hybrid creatures. I like having a desk full of desk-toy-sized dolls that I can play with leisurely as I do my homework.

< It's barely eight in the evening and I already want to go to sleep. Gracious.

v What was the last purchase you made for your dolls that wasn't a doll itself?

 

^ I got some cute necklaces and a miniature milkshake prop from MeltyCandy on Etsy

< I'm so addicted to Overwatch right now. Mei is bae

v What is the next doll you plan on buying?

 

^ Right now, I can't decide, honestly. I'm thinking it might be Iplehouse nYID Andrew, but I'm kind of trying to talk myself out of that. meh... decisions.

< Can it please not be so humid? ugh.

V passing on the question. What is the next doll you plan to buy?

 

^ I still don't know. To be honest... I stopped with making any plans "who's going home next". It always fails. But I'd like to order body for my poor Lui (Souldoll Juhl head). And maybe after that... LoongSoul MuXuan? Or Crobidoll Yeon-Ho? I just need to complete this "storyline"... But who knows what's going to happen.

< Just hugging my doll, thinking about another one... and looking at the pile of books I need to read in one week... 28 book. I still haven't read 7. From 130 to 600 pages. One week? Challenge accepted!

v Are you buying dolls in some order (this one on January, the other one on December and this after New Year celebration) or you're the type: "I like it, so you're going now, the other cutie can wait"?

 

^ "I like it, so you're going now, the other cutie can wait" this is what I say everytime

< Can't wait to get the trackers with my dolls, arrrrrghhh!

v How often do you buy unplanned dolls? or you have a list and get it doll-to-doll?

 

^ I try to never buy unplanned dolls because the few times I've done that, it's never worked out. I have a list, and although I don't always do it "in order" I generally stick to my list.

< Okay. need to get to work now.

V How many dolls do you currently own?

 

^ 18 whole dolls and 2 floating heads.Right now I am changing list of my dolls, trying to reorganize the collection. Some boys finally get their right bodies.

< Going to watch today the Warcraft movie. So excited!

v Want to reask @Chameleon 's question:
have your tastes in dolls changed since you started in the hobby? If so how?

 

^ Yes. And also no. I still like the midway between stylized and realistic, which is what the bulk of my dolls have always been, but since I first started collecting I've gone all the way to super-stylized and even toward super-realism with a couple MNMs. Right now I'm in to more mature-looking dolls, magic and super heros.

So my tastes have pretty much just broadened to include everything. Seriously everything. All the dolls.
Though I will say that I can't get into fantasy dolls that much, I never have and probably never will....

> Two more days of work and then Doll-A-kon! *wiggles*

V Reasking of the q: have your tastes in dolls changed since you started in the hobby? If so how?

 

^ Nope. I still love the same sculpts and style ... various companies' styles have changed to get closer to my tastes though, which means I have loads more choice than I had in the beginning.
Well, one thing that has changed is that I used to dislike Doll Chateau's aesthetic ("hate" is too strong a word, but for someone who struggled with eating disorders for half a life those dolls were pretty much resin triggers). After a couple years of doll collecting and getting used to the general BJD aesthetic they have grown on me - I still wouldn't get any because they wouldn't fit in with mine, but I do like pics of them, they can be styled so differently.

< Job stuff has been sorted. I is a happy bunny.

v Is there one single sculpt / company you used to dislike that's grown on you?

 

^ Not really. I never was a fan of Dollzone, Doll Chateau, or Fairyland and I don't think I ever will be. If anything, I've become more discriminating in my tastes as opposed to finding sculpts or companies growing on me that I used to dislike.

< I have peach herbal tea

V What's your favourite type of eyes? Glass, silicone, resin/urethane, acrylic or something else?

 

^ either glass or urethane. Leaning a bit more on urethane because of the bigger choice of colours, but at the same times I'm afraid that 20 years down my doll is going to have unevenly yellowed eyes o_o

< ugh I hate summer

v any doll you really enjoy seeing pictures of, but would never own yourself?

 

^ Pretty much all art dolls and dolls from smaller companies/individual sculptors. I would love to own them, but I'm at the point where if it does't work with my already-established groups it's not happening. And most artist dolls are very odd in size and sculpt. I barely have any doll room.....I can't compromise anymore. However I think they're gorgeous, so pictures!

> OMG say you love it, then change everything. Graphic Design, everyone. *tableflip*

V If you could visit any BJD company in person, which one would you choose?

 

^ I guess since I'm such a fan of Ringdoll, that is where I would visit to see how things worked and meet the new sculptors. (and see Huang Shan again, if he was there) Though I'd love to be the fly on the wall at Dollshe to see what the heck is going on over there.

< Doctors and a movie tomorrow, who ever thought my hubby and I would double date with my granddaughter and her SO.

vGood question bears repeating:If you could visit any BJD company in person, which one would you choose?

 

^ Probably Soom or Fairy Land, I would love to see how they come up with their fantasy sculpts that they release and how long it takes to decide which ones will sell and which ones won't.

< It's nearly two am and once again I am on this website... This is starting to become habit.

v What is more important to you when choosing a doll, the company or what the sculpt looks like?

 

^Most likely the sculpt, I'm not limited to a company, they should match the collection though.

> Mass holds a lot of energy, I have to stop watching videos on e=mc^2

v if you could start a doll company what would you aim to sculpt, anime or realistic (or a mix of both?)

 

^ Realistic sculpts for me! I like them "more". I think that they have more options for customization...

< I bought VIP ticket for Nocturnal Bloodlust show in Budapest... I am not sure, if I'm happy or scared. But... I'm really looking forward to it!

v Who is your dolls biggest hero?

 

^Saturday's heroes are all magical girls!

<BODYSWAP! Aww poor minifee, bodyless again.

vWhat is one thing in this hobby you feel like is too hard to find or lacking?

 

^ Mature / older male sculpts in the 65-68cm range. There's plenty 70cm and taller, but nothing in the range I need. I'd also love chubbier adult bodies - not too chubby since it would affect posing, but a guy with just a bit of a belly instead of the compulsory resin six-pack would be so cool.

< that moment you learn someone you knew has died (not a loved one, someone vaguely work-related and incredibly inspiring) and you're running around like a beheaded chicken, not knowing what you're even doing. JUST WHY.

v How would your doll's character cope with loss?

 

^ my Twigling would just sit very quietly mopping her eyes, her sister, Fpl65 Chloe,would behave as normal letting it slowly sink in, my Venitu would go to the seashore and spend some time there.

< my Venitu needs a roman 'skirt'.

V which of your crew stole your heart against all odds?

 

^ Ohh goodness, Amelia. She was never planned (in fact, I won her as a prize in a BJD cosplay contest) but the moment she entered my life I became a sucker for animal tinies.

< New month, new coloring page on my calendar. I'm actually really excited.

v Have your dolls ever gone out in costume? If so, got any pictures?

 

^ you bet they have. Lauren (IH Eva) is quite obviously the biggest costume geek of the bunch.

< I can get up an hour later tomorrow

v Is/are your doll(s) morning people or night owls?

 

^ Most of them are owls. Just one person is really morning bird.

> They are owls just like me

v Did you met any problems to describe your dolls in the Doll Profiles here on DoA?

 

^ Not when I get down to making one. I find I procrastinate but I'm trying to get them posted.

< Wish the politicals and colleges would stop calling, for the same reason. We don't want to hear your platforms or invites.

v How artistic are your dolls, music, painting, etc.

 

^ Very. Most are musicians (professional or in training), one is a ballet dancer. This is very much a "stage freaks" household Katie's Mom (not shelled, but will be IH Doria if I ever have the money and space to shell background characters) makes pottery and gives classes. Little brother Timmy (incoming IH Noel head) draws and plays the piano.

< Star Trek swimsuit. I needs it.

v Passing on the q because I'm curious. How artistic are your dolls?

 

^Saturday is artistically minded, but she can't draw or sew to save her life. Fiasco is adept at chalk and spraypaint street art.

<DC YOU DID NOT JUST COME OUT WITH GREYSKIN. HECK YESSSSS! FREAKING PERFECT!!!

vHave you ever done a doll mod? what did you do?

 

^nothing major, but I've modded some heads to fit necks properly, and done a minor fta mod.

<dc's resin colours I just need their tan

V what's the next doll you want to take home?

 

^ Someone from DC...I'm thinking either a Douglas or a Lance, but I haven't fully made up my mind yet.

< But no, that choice has nothing to do with their new resin colours XD I'm planning on WS

v What's your favourite resin colour?

 

^ Bambicrony's tan and Iplehouse's light brown.

< Downsizing...don't know who to keep...

V Which of your dolls is your favorite and why?

 

^ actually she's a doll I have a sculpt for anymore but her name was Ching Shih and she was my first doll. I spent so long developing her character and i love her soo much!
< started my fist day of drivers Ed today! It went really well.

V do your dolls have a them or common trend? If so, what is it?

 

^ Yes, all of them are humans. I tried to have an anthro doll, but realized I prefer to watch them, not to own

< Friday! Craft holidays coming!

v How do your dolls spend the weekends?

 

^ Hmm..... Naked? I like to work on them.... If they're not naked the sit on my printer lol

< Allergies.... Why?!

v How long do you wait to see if you'll bond with a doll before you decide to sell/trade/put them away forever?

 

^ there are two situations for me:
1. If I get the doll and disappointed with sculpt, skintone, proportions etc, I put him/her away asap.
2. If I love the doll (sculpt, color etc) I try to see the character in the doll. It takes ~6 month or less.

< Rain - I love rain!

v How long the character should exist to be shelled as a doll? Do you make only the "oldest team", or also your new created characters?

 

^both. I've got plans for everyone from the character I've written since grade two to a character I invented when I saw the doll (madly in love with doll chateau Zenobia!)

<I cannot stay awake in math

V passing this down: how long do you generally have a character before you make them a doll?

 

^Not always some evolve from my love of the sculpt.
<Lunch time gotta go eat now.
v Shoes - do you like casual formal, low or high heels?

 

^ casual mostly, not high heels. I like heels, but now have no characters for them

< a www, I love to take photos with no reason^^

V do you prefer to make one shots or photostories?

 

^ One shots. I like when everything comes together.

< 'Uncertain times' aren't as bad as 'interesting times' but they're still a pain in the butt.

V If your doll was looking for happiness, where would she/he go to find it?

 

^Saturday would go and rifle through Monday's closet. Cute clothes are excellent therapy

<So tired and agitated for no reason today. I need coffee and silent time to work on Minuet.

vWhat is your doll's go to show, book or game for comfort?

 

^ my Newkiru would start a jigsaw/puzzle in the hope it'll 'call' to the rest of the family. Something it does without fail. Within a few hours, the children and smaller beings are crawling among the pieces while the taller ones are either interested by the game or puzzled by it due to their slightly different perceptions of the world.

^ Great day today.

V what would your doll build for fun?

 

^ Kiki would build a pillow fort and then poke anyone in the ankle as they walked past her and growl claiming she was a dragon.

< maybe sitting up till two am watching tennis was a bad idea...

v What does your doll do when they miss someone?

 

^ Chris dives headfirst into her work. Katie picks up the phone and tries to get in touch.

< Next Star Trek Larp coming up and we got our mission orders. Cardassians. Why freaking Cardassians? I know one medic who will not be happy about that.

v Have you ever made a photostory, or would you like to? What did/would you do?

 

^Yes! I prefer photoistories more than oneshots It was a stories of my characters or some song-stories.

< Mooorning... There is no blood in my coffee

v Does your doll have the bad habits? Too much coffee or junk food or smoking or smth else?

 

^Azrael, who I'm still shelling, has some substance issues she's had since she died. Ways she sees it, if she's dead, she can do whatever she wants to. Rina also abuses drugs to avoid experiencing emotion. Both of them actually have really in depth storylines about their issues

<why must math

V what's one issue one of your dolls' characters faces?

 

^ Carlos has trouble coming to terms with the fact he lost his leg. It still hurts him even though it shouldn't, and he's developed a (mild) addiction to his prescription painkillers.

< old DS9 books! Those were fun times.

v Are your dolls' characters fans of anything? Bonus for pics!

 

^ Joker is a fan of Batman. Does that count XD



> Back from Doll-A-Kon and everything is everywhere. I would really like to play with all my new stuffs but I have to go to work. :P

V You have just been given a new doll that you really, really want, and it's free!!! Or almost free - the catch is you have to create a new character that never existed before for the doll.
What doll is it, and what new character would you make for it? (no excuses like "I don't make characters for my dolls." Today you do.)

 

^ Doll Chateau Kevin, and he'd be likely a new reaper. I'd give him a black wig and I'm thinking a certain set of saffrin eyes I almost bought for another doll. Yes, I'm getting this. He'd get jack's mask and be a doctor from during the Black Plague, who died of the very disease he'd set out to cure. (Possibly could be my missing horseman for pestilence during this apocalypse.) Hed get along with Famine, as they both wanted to do good, but were roped into this apocalypse, but could be swayed by war if he came to believe that the greatest disease upon humanity was humanity itself.

<oops... Now I almost need this character... Why?

V let's pass it down!!

You have just been given a new doll that you really, really want, and it's free!!! Or almost free - the catch is you have to create a new character that never existed before for the doll.
What doll is it, and what new character would you make for it? (no excuses like "I don't make characters for my dolls." Today you do.)

 

^Muahaha~! This is what I do every time I get a new doll! Unoa Zest or Dollfie Dream Mariko....and hmmm.... maybe a boyfriend for Maple, my little witch. He's have to be something creature-y. Maybe a werewolf or a vampire or something that would suit my little world of msd horror-type girls. As for the Mariko.... uhh maybe a sister for Saturday? Or I'd grow up Monday?

<Eeeeeee my little handmade bjd is coming along! I just tested her stringing and she can stand! Hurray!! But I broke her wrist and shoulder, so not that today. booo. She needs some adjustment, but little by little she's coming along!


vDo you have any dolls not based off your own characters? if so, who?

 

^ I want one... but I can't even find sculpt for him. Nothing is good enough for me 'cause I am really picky xD But I'd love to have my own Pip Bernadotte from Hellsing Ultimate. Aaaaaaaand... one of my boys looks like Natsume Takashi from Natsume Yuujinchou. But he's not going to stay like that. (but it's soooo hard to resist! O_o)

< I hate cosplay. I really hate that. And that's the reason I have list of almost 50 cosplays I want to do. And that's where my doll money goes.

v What is your biggest problem while turning your character into the real thing? Like - finding the right wig - colour trouble... and stuff like that...

 

^ wigs seem to be a problem these days! I used to not be picky, but now I have ~*A VISION*~ that needs to happen. I've been holding off buying certain dolls because I can't find anything close to the colour I need!

< I am full of pasta, finally at peace ^_^ (been craving it all day long!)

v passing on the question:
What is your biggest problem while turning your character into the real thing? Like - finding the right wig - colour trouble... and stuff like that...

 

^ All the time. Just now I looked at a doll I have and thought it was time to sell him. I'll replace him with a different sculpt, but the current one is moving on.

> Teeeennnnn Woooolllllllllllllllfffffff why am I so addicted D:

V Do you ever sell your dolls? Why or why not?

 

^ I don't, because I am a sentimental twat. I only ever buy a doll for True Love, so nobody ever gets sold. Well, once I had to sell a doll; I'd bought his LE (Iplehouse Noctarcana Tedros ) in the only resin color it came in, but he was later released in the resin color I'd originally wanted in the first place, and I didn't have room in the house for twins-- so I bought the new edition of Tedros and sold the original. But that's practically just an exchange.

Anyway, I got totally weepy having to say goodbye to that damn doll... even though the new one was closer to what I really wanted, and even though the old one was going to live nearby at a house full of girl dolls with enormous boobs, so he' be fine. I hate tearful goodbyes! It's just easier to keep the things I love.

< I have the most uneven tan. I must sit outside reading too much in that beach-chair, because I'm entirely brown except for the backs of my everythings. Unfortunately, I used up all my vacation time going to Japan this spring, so there's no PTO left for a beach vacation where one can lie on the sand with several cocktails all day and even out that tan. Lying on one's stomach on the tarpaper roof of an apartment building is not quite the same thing.

v What is your doll's dream vacation? Travel, or free time at home? Alone, or with friends/family/lovers? Do they like to spend their vacation time on relaxation, shopping, sightseeing, nightlife, cultural or historical points of interest, adventure or sports, etc.? Or no itinerary?

 

^ Eilis would love to travel to Paris. She would spend her days painting, visiting all the beautiful sites, and lounging around the Louvre. Nighttime would find her in the clubs with the prettiest girls she could find. Chances are she would bring her BFF Sonya with her.

< My English is horrible today. I am too sick to be attempting to write anything...

v Would your doll prefer to live in the country, the suburbs, or in the city proper?

 

^ Nial and Nigel prefer city center because they spend so much time on the streets. They need the rush of the city where they could slow down in some pretty café. On the other hand, Samael needs place without people because he's scared of them. But that's because he's not human and humans killed his family and lots of friends...

< Need to go to doctor... and after that... Aldnoah.Zero! Watching anime while I can xD

v I liked the question about vacation... but I'll ask differently: What is your doll's WORST possible vacation?

 

^ Non-stop action / museum visits / guided tours would pretty much be Katie's idea of a holiday nightmare.

< Wheeee, 19th Trekkie-versary! Need to find a nerdy way to spend this day.

v I like the travel theme, so: Three of your dolls go on vacation together. Who are they and where do they go?