The ^ < v Game! - Part 3

^ Oh man, I have a few... Big!Jace is a good one, though. Years ago I'd gotten a Soom Amber as my first large doll (the majority of my collection is minis, with a few tinies, and much fewer back then). Gorgeous, but simultaneously too clunky and too delicate for me. So I never worked on her, never wanted to handle her or do anything with her, and started to kind of resent her. So I sold her off and washed my hands of large dolls. Then a couple of years ago, after I'd gotten Ed's new sculpt, I decided that, since I really liked the Shiwoo sculpt, I'd see if I could find a secondhand Delf and try large dolls again. After all, I could always sell again if it didn't work, right?
Well, I loved Big!Ed enough that I needed to get a second one, and decided on an El for Big!Jace, but for the life of me I just could not find one on the MP that wasn't heavily modded in ways that just wouldn't work for me, or wasn't snapped up before I could get it, or wasn't an expensive and more rare variation. In a discussion thread, we were talking about sculpts we wanted, and I mentioned my quest for an El... well, another person there had an old head she'd used as a practice head. It was stained, missing its ears, and needed the eyes opened, but she was willing to send him to me for the cost of shipping so he could have a new life as something other than just a forgotten head in a box. And of course I said yes. Both my Delf boys are now slightly imperfect rescues, and I love them even more than I think I would have if they were perfect when I got them.

@Geo-Earthling, Minnesota was actually colder than Mars for a period last month!

v What was your most unlikely/unexpected doll acquisition?

 

^ Probably my Ringdoll Norman Dark. On a thread here a couple of us were discussing molds to use as an SD sized Joker - my pick was IOS Jaguar - someone mentioned RD Norman Dark...I'd never seen the mold before so I went and looked, and sure enough, he would have been perfect. I wasn't in the market for a big one though (ha) so I didn't care.
Until a couple weeks later when I changed my mind out of nowhere. Norman Dark was an LE head from a while ago, and several WTBs were already up on the MP, so I didn't have much hope, but found one literally 5 minutes after I decided I needed him XD
I'd actually bought an IOS Jaguar as well in case I didn't find Norman, so I have both....but RD Norman Dark was totally unexpected for me. I really didn't think I'd find one - he was a fluke too, I've been looking. There haven't been others, at least that I've seen.

> STL weather is insane. Two days ago it was in the 70s. Today, mega-horrible ice storm that shuts the whole city down. *binge-watches SVU all day*

V Do you have a doll you never thought you would own? Share!

 

^ I can't say I do yet -- but if I get my way with this one I'm watching at the moment...

< I can't believe I've worked at Lane Bryant for almost three years and only just now have actually gotten one of our sports bras. This thing is industrial-strength bra and it's not even the max support one. I can't help but wonder just how max that support is because I am not moving an inch in this thing!

v Your thoughts on doll undergarments -- necessity, or unnecessary?

 

^ Mostly unnecessary, because most of my dolls don't have enough room under their pants for anything but going commando. However, I do feel like they're necessary when any kind of "open" bottom gets involved. (Skirts, kimono, robes, etc) Anything that might make "flashing" a bit easier should have some kind of protection in place. Now I just need to get enough underwear to actually do that...

< @Tez, I think I might need to get myself one of those!

v Do you have a doll that ended up preferring a different fashion style than you expected?

 

^Rina's styling has evolved. Originally she was supposed to be in very simple black clothes with little personalization, from her training, and now she's getting elaborate armour, and a red dress that her character wouldn't wear outside the house. And a harness covered in moonstones, as a power source. And pants that she can hide daggers in. Basically, she refused to wear any kind of uniform.

< and don't get me started on Tacet. Just when i think I've figured her out...

V did you ever have a doll character 'evolve' either within their storyline or into something new?

 

^ All my characters have evolved somewhat over time. Jes probably evolved the most over her storyline; she went from a somewhat rough-around-the-edges minor provincial noble to a super-spy and very talented mage. Love that girl.

< @vicemage -- do it, they're made of epic and amazing. Get the underwired ones though. Those things mean business.

v What's your next doll purchase going to be?

 

^ I'm definitely a character over doll type person, and I haven't gotten far in the story, but I feel like a tan Doll Chateau Colin and Doll Chateau Fergus are pretty similar to some significant characters that are to come. So maybe one of them. I wouldn't order them till summer time though.
< Time to drop money on textbooks.

v Do you use dolls to shell your OCs, favorite characters, and/or just to have as conversation pieces?

 

^ mainly hair and eyes, but in the best case scenario I had a lot of money to spare and ordered a complete wardrobe too

< I hate when I feel hungry, but no food is appetizing

v most of the time do you shell your pre-existing characters into dolls, or do you create characters for the dolls?

 

^ Almost always, I'm shelling a pre-existing character. I've had a fairly sizeable cast of characters for ages now, and especially in the past couple of years, it's become easier to find dolls that fit the looks of many of those characters. On occasion, though, there'll be a doll that I either just love too much to pass up, or that fits one of the less-common aesthetics I'm working with well enough that it's tough to pass up, so I'll create a new character around it as an excuse.

< I think my cats learned to turn the heat on while I'm at work...

v How do you know when a doll is "complete?"

 

^ Oh, that's really hard... I don't know if they'd ever be completely finished, 'cause I'd always want to buy clothes and stuff. But after I get the right sculpt and faceup, eyes and hair and a basic set of clothes that work for the character, I'd feel pretty good!

< I could really go for some french fries right now...also a DZ Carter, I've fallen so hard.

v Do you have or want any doll that goes against your "usual style?" (Like if you usually like cutesy dolls but suddenly come across a really realistic one you just have to have?)

 

^ I bought two DiM Love girls when they discontinued their old sculpts - Lestia and Marcellina, neither of whom really fits in with my crew. But I always wanted them, and as they were 50% or more off with unassembled body kits and all that, I just had to.

< Just to have Iple discontinue half of my favorite JIDs and KIDs. Why?! And they only do 10% discount on full dolls and head prices are deliberately overblown ... but my Hobbits ... ! Now what?

v If a sculpt you wanted threatens to become unavailable, what do you do? Risk breaking the bank or shrug and move on?

 

^ Depends on... I don't believe that Dollshe or Soom can be really unavailable later Others - I'll immediately decide: buy or find alternative.

< Is it too early to ask about shipping yet?..

v How do you deal with waiting? Do you hate it or can keep calm and wait for shipping notice patiently?

 

^ Hmmm, I'd say waiting is pretty torturous the first few days, but I kind of get in a routine and can push it to the back of my mind after that. (Of course, once I get a shipping notice it's back to "why is this taking so long I'm gonna explode...")

< Guess who is not ready to go back to classes...uni whyyyy...

v How big a part of your life are your dolls? Do you think about/play with them all the time? Or just have them sit and look pretty until you want to get them a new outfit or faceup?

 

^ I'm retired so I play with or make stuff for them everyday. I like to sew for them, my collection is finished as soon as my last orders come in so I will be making props and some outdoor settings.

< I'm enjoying this mild weather rn. Taking photos outback is fun but I wish the wind would calm down.

v I like this question so adding it again. How do you deal with waiting? Do you hate it or can keep calm and wait for shipping notice patiently?

 

^ it depends on the doll. Sometimes I am so excited I stay awake at night thinking about it and looking at pictures, sometimes I practically forget about it until it's here.

< an entire childhood of not liking cake and sweets, and now all I wanna do is est lollipops!

v do you have any doll on order/layaway? If not, are you saving up for one, and which?

 

^ My Granado Vipo (head) is stuck in transit somewhere, so I guess that counts as "on order" as he isn't home yet. With him, everyone will have made it home ... but I'm seriously debating grabbing one or two of the about-to-be-discontinued Iple JIDs for hobbits. I've wanted to do that for a long time and this is as good (or bad) a time as any.

< O motivation, where art thou! Bought all the socks for all the sock sweaters and yarn for Lestia's wig, and can't be bothered to actually do anything with it. Too many arrivals lately, I tell ya.

v What's the most resin you ever had on order at any one time?

 

^ Just one doll! I don't have the money to order more than one at a time.

< I'm really looking forward to food...I'm starving.

v How in depth are your dolls' characters? Do you have backstories and everything or just give them a name and a style and leave it be?

 

^ no depth whatsoever. I just have basic guidelines for their personality and interests, but I don't know them enough to fill out the myers briggs test. I wouldn't know how to answer questions like "how would your characters react to finding out their parents were MURDERED" either. i dunno man most people would cry I guess???? XD;;;

< orange and cinnamon tea is not great

V I like the question, so passing it on! How in depth are your doll's characters?

 

^ currently, a trilogy (plus a potential fourth book, a spinoff on the villain, and all the backstories...) in one series, and an undisclosed nimber of novellas (upwards of ten, I think) and a trilogy in my other series, If not two... So... very in depth. All it's missing is future generations, although one series has that. Laura is technically Katherine's daughter but she's unpurchased...

<work. Is. Over. Thanks deities.

V what kind of jobs would your dolls have?

 

^ Ooo this is a fun one! I'm not 100% sure about Aelic...maybe a teacher of some kind? (He's only 15, he hasn't started thinking about that. ) ((And I'm adding Ilya even though I don't have him yet...he wants to be a professional soccer player!))

< I think one of my favorite shows has a new episode today, I'll have to keep an eye out for that.

v What skin tone do you prefer on your dolls? Paper white, pinkish, yellowish, tan, dark; what's your favorite?

 

^ BLACK. But only if it's a Pipos Baha. *has always had pipe dreams of a tuxedo kitty*

< Three more days 'til payday. Three more days 'til payday. Three more days 'til PAYDAY (and you bet your sweet ass I'm hitting BUY on Mandarake the moment that check hits my bank account).

v What are you saving up for right now (if anything)?

 

^ I am saving up for beach holiday for my characters. I really need to take beach photos with them, they have to visit white sand and blue ocean!

< Got my STAND lookbook today! Awesome quality, awesome photos! This doll lookbook is really gorgeous!

v If you write your characters stories: Do you make photos according to it? Or just random pics?
If not: How do you decide what photo you \want to make?

 

^ I make photos according to my character's scrapbook/diary which relates to the story. But I do sometimes just take random pics.

< It's almost Friday. Four years, I can make it.

v What type of doll customization do you enjoy the most?

 

^ I like basic things like changing eyes and wigs, especially when I'm changing them to match the character the doll is based on. I don't do any other kinds of modding or anything by myself, so I don't have mch experience with that! My dolls have only had one or two basic faceups each and no major mods, so...

< I'm so excitd to order my DZ Carter! I know he'll take forever to get here, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.

v How often do you take your dolls in public? Have you had any particularly good/bad experiences with outings?

 

^Yes! (click to embiggen)

When I took my little fairy LTF out to our local Renaissance Festival for some photos in the Fairy Forest (it's a perfect setting, after all!), she was catching a lot of attention from both other guests and cast members, so I asked several of them if they'd mind posing with her for a picture or two. Most of them just thought she was a cool little thing (and some of the guests thought she was part of the exhibit), but the faun above recognized her and we had a nice chat about bjds while doing the photos. She did misjudge Akane as a Soom, but admitted she'd been away from the hobby for a long time and only remembered Soom for fantasy sculpts. (I also got my best cast-member photos with her, since she knew how to handle and pose a doll.)

< This D&D prep is going to kill every last one of my printer cartridges, I swear... they'd better appreciate all this stuff I'm printing for them.

v What's the most unusual place you've taken a doll, and why?

 

^ I can't say I've really taken my dolls anywhere unusual.

< DUDE. So not only does my new coworker know what BJDs are, she actually knows exactly what the doll I'm chasing is. What are the odds? BJD people in unexpected places indeed.

v Your thoughts on fantasy resin colors?

 

^ Love 'em! I just recently got my first fantasy colored doll, and she's gorgeous ♥

< I need to make more clothing for my dolls. But I am oh so tired.

v When was the last time you took a doll for a photoshoot? Bonus points for pictures!

 

^ Last Saturday I took photos of my Cheetah


< Too cold today...

v Does someone of your dolls prefer winter most? Why?

 

^ Jo goes ice skating with her friends, while Katie, Timmy and the kids are having the snowball battle of the century, forts and all. The elves run outside and enjoy the glittery foresty winterness ... and have a snowball fight because kids will be kids, no matter how pointy-eared.
The adults probably go for a walk in the prettiest frozen place they can find. The less outdoorsy ones huddle up with a blanket, a hot beverage and a good book.

< So many projects, so little time! What next - Ana's outfit? Lestia's wig? A little bit of both? Also, pizza or no pizza? Life's too short to be stuck on decisions!

v Passing on the q because it's fun! Your dolls' favorite cold weather / winter activity?

 

^ Aelic would probably like sitting inside and reading or drinking hot chocolate. (And I don't have Ilya yet, but his would be swimming! In freezing lakes. [He's a selkie~])

< I hope I can return this thing to Amazon even though it's broken... I guess I'll have to email CS and see.

v Flipping the question around! How would your dolls want to spend their summer?

 

^ On the beach. We live only blocks away, while dolls shouldn't be in the sun their characters would love to play in the bay. Windsurfing, paddleboarding, sailing, water skiing, all of that. My boys are very athletic, except for the vampires who stay away from water like the plague.

< A year wait on this doll and I'm going nuts over a few days during the shipping wait.

v Water sports or court/field sports or lazy couch potatoes, how do your dolls spend their time?

 

^ Depends on the doll. Kiyo is ALL about his tennis courts. Tooru (who isn't here yet but will be soon) lives on the volleyball court. Cecil is a fencer (for lack of a better sports equivalent). Everyone else is in shape, but not really an athlete.

< Just a few hours more...

v How do you store your dolls?

 

^ I use open shelves only. I love to contact them so cannot use any displays or so on.


< Want to go home and meet my dolls...

v Like the question, so passing down: How do you store your dolls?

 

^ Aelic sits on my desk beside me most of the time, but for extended storing I put them in their boxes in the closet (that's where everyone but Aelic is right now).

< Guess who's ready for the weekend? Hint: it's me.

v What's your best doll related memory?

 

^ Probably when Jes' previous owner offered to sell her to me out of the blue. That was one of the coolest things that's ever happened to me in this hobby.

< SCREAMING OH GOD I HIT THE CONFIRM ORDER BUTTON NOW I JUST NEED THE PAYMENT INVOICE

v Waiting for anyone?

 

^ My twins, they're away for faceups.

< Speaking of waiting, I'm sitting by the door waiting for two parcels (none doll related) and anticipation is not kind.

v How do your dolls handle waiting and the anticipation that comes with it?

 

^ lol I don't. I literally go crazychecking tracking numbers obsessively, and looking out the front window.

> The mail man tried delivering the doll I've been waiting on today during the one hour that I was gone from my house today.... gahhhh.

v have you ever had any interesting experiences with the postal/shipping service and your dolls?

 

^ There was the one where a MP purchased doll arrived while I was out of town. I was having my mail held (because I wasn't sure if the seller put signature confirmation on the box or not), and had it released when I was home all day to receive it... and the postman didn't knock or buzz, he left the pickup slip anyway. I called the post office and chewed them out about it, they called him and chewed him out, and he came back and apologized. And then there was the package that DHL delivered... I wasn't home at the time, and instead of a pick-up slip, they "hid" the box. By putting it under my welcome mat. That was half the size of the box. You tried, guys, you tried. (Thankfully now I live in a complex with a proper office, no more weird deliveries.)

< Come on, Luts, ship that MoC order!

v What's your ideal way to store your dolls? (If space/money/window direction wasn't an issue.)

 

^ Ideally? The way I intend to store them when I get a little more room in here -- on a shelf. There's a glass one from IKEA I've got my eye on. But I've got a spare bed I need to get rid of and a bookshelf to install, so those are higher priorities right now. Until then, everyone lives in their carriers.

< Oh god oh god oh god. Some people obsessively refresh tracking orders. I'm obsessively watching my email for an invoice from Mandarake. I cannot believe I am this close to my almighty grail, the doll I've wanted for ten goddamn years.

v What does the term 'grail doll' mean to you?

 

^ For me it means the doll i can"t just get without some strugle... like i need to work for it or its sold out

< Depressed and hello hungry

v Do you got a regret buy witin your curent crew? if so what made you buy them in the first place?

 

^ I usually watch youtube videos with them, pet their heads. If I'm not really in a video-watching mode, I work on their story or scrapbook. When the weather is right a face-up will probably make the list too.

< I'm making slime! (The boredom is real)

v Have you created any dioramas for your dolls? Is it a bedroom setting or a major scene in their story? If not, do you plan to? Why or why not? Extra points for picture!

 

^ I haven't! I currently don't have enough room, especially since my boys are MSDs. I don't think I'd ever do a large diorama, like MSD sized or larger, but maybe if I got some tinies I'd get a few little pieces of furniture or something and set something up. Not sure if it'd be permanent though.

< I am constantly reminding myself that work is worth it because "money = faceup and clothes for Ilya when he gets here." Not sure if it's working...

v Do you have any close family or friends (not online) that you frequently talk to about dolls or that have dolls themselves?

 

^ I do have a friend I talk to about them regularly (we talk online, but she's not an "online friend"); she tried to get into the hobby, didn't get into it and gave me one of her two dolls, but still likes to see new sculpts and work I've done, so I link her the more unusual new things, cool things I find here, and pictures of what I've been working on here. (And she generally links me her main hobby; previously fishtanks, now fountain pens and fancy ink; there's some really cool inks she's been getting!)

< Hurry up and get back to boiling, chili, I need to boil off some of your liquid before I leave... I might just have to transfer some to another pot to boil it off there instead...

v Where's your favorite place around you for taking photos of your dolls?

 

^ When I have time and the weather is good -- two things which rarely come into conjunction -- I like to go down to the Japanese garden downtown. It's pretty, it's peaceful, it's a good combination.

< INVOICE PLS

ETA: GOD DAMN IT. I DIDN'T GET HIM. Someone beat me to it. SO HELP ME GOD I WILL GET THIS DOLL.

v How do you fund your dolly habit?

 

^Definetly iplehouse. I could spend hours just ogling at all the dolls I'll never be able to afford.

< Aaaaaaaaaaah why can't I just decide on a doll already it's been like two months

v What was the most damage you have ever accidentally done to a doll?

 

^ A small dent in a headcap when it fell off outdoors, and rubbed-off blushing. Nothing worse than that, unless you count crumbling super-thin resin while moving Adrienne's hand the way it was supposed to move, but as that should not happen in the first place I don't really count it as my fault (upon closer inspection, the resin was see-through thin).

< Why. Why am I sick again. I'm fed up with the BS, I'm going to work.

v Tell us about your current doll project(s)! Can be anything - customization, crafting, shopping, saving up, planning looks ... anything goes

 

^ I guess that would be planning for Ilya! I already ordered him, so while I'm plodding through the DZ wait time I'm saving money for clothes and his painting. I have to figure out who's gonna do his faceup, I need to make sure it's someone okay with painting fnatasy stuff and teeth, and I should probably buy some clothes. Maybe plan how I might make some of his more original pieces. He's also gonna need eyes in the right color, unless he magically comes with them.

< "I've never actually looked at Doll Chateau's lineup before, I'll just check it out for fun, I won't find anyone I want." Ah, I was so wrong...

v Do you prefer having "finished" dolls or being in the middle of projects constantly?

 

^ The tiny maid cafe diorama I'm making for my Mini Kitty ! I started out with a pretty basic idea but now I'm getting really ambitious with it and it seems like every day I add a little more complexity, I'm really hoping I can pull it off but I think everything I have in mind is pretty achievable, it just requires commitment.

< Random idea: I want someone to paint a DZ little bean like Ponyo... this is what happens when you watch ghibli movies and lurk DZ's website.

v Were your dolls pre-existing oc's, pre-existing fictional characters, or characters you made up for them once you got them? Which dolls are which ones?

 

^ Most were pre-existing OCs, except for IoS Bel Canto who is George Weasley (and my only pre-existing fictional character) and DiM Lestia, Dollshe Bernard, and AprilStory Adrian who I'm still kind of figuring out. I don't usually buy dolls without knowing who they'll be - got Adrian mostly for the body, and Bernard/Lestia as floating heads because of threatening discontinuation. Lestia got to keep her body because the head I got it for didn't really fit ... Bernard was supposed to be a bit of a tribute doll and I guess he sort of is, but I'm not doing enough with him because he's The Flopmaster ... we'll see what happens once he gets his nifty new body.

< Too many projects. *meditatively separates strands of yarn for Lestia's wig*

v How do you figure out what to do with your dolls? Do you have plans before you order, or do you just kind of let things unfold when the doll is in your hands?

 

^ I always know what I'm going to do before I buy, mostly because 1) my dolls are always OCs, so I'm looking specifically for a doll to flesh out an idea I already have and 2) quite frankly, I don't have the money to just buy a doll and hope something cool comes to mind when they get here.

< It rained all day. So much for working on my photostory.

v What is your/your doll's (dolls') favorite outfit?

 

^ John only really has two outfits...a (very expensive) suit, and sweats and a t-shirt. The suit is his favorite.

> I want to do doll things. But the weather says no. Looks like I will be working on hair....

V What is the next doll project you're planning on?

 

^ Room boxes, though it's going to be a long-term project. And not cheap. (Hopefully once I get serious about it, I can find some more-affordable AG knockoff furnishings and "lucky finds," but there's definitely a few things that'll be coming from that very expensive store.) I've kind of wanted to do it for a long time, and the destructokittens have finally given me the push I need for the enclosed shelving that'll make it work.

< Weekend finally caught up to me, I guess... I feel like I just wasted my entire day after "leaving" work. (And working from home doesn't help with staying awake...)

v What's a doll-related skill you haven't learned yet, but are planning to or would like to?

 

^ I'd love to learn how to make feather wigs! I think they're so gorgeous. (Of course I'd love to learn how to do faceups and body blushing, but I don't think that'll ever happen. I don't really have any artistic talent in that way.)

< I really need to stop looking at new dolls...why doesn't anyone have a Gem of Doll Moky?

v When did you first realize you were interested in dolls? Did your interest start with BJDs or other types?