The ^ < v Game! - Part 4

^ Literally the other side of the world I'm from Australia and I went on a month long holiday to England (for a tour and also to finally meet my mothers side of the family). I didn't bring any of my dolls with me either. I did order one just before I left though!

> Still procrastinating on buying a MNF boy body for Starr. Also procrastinating on applying for a Masters degree; I should probably do that before the enrolment period closes...

v In keeping with the traveling theme; have you ever taken a doll with you on an overseas holiday?

 

^ No - for the plain and simple reason my last overseas holiday was a good while before I got into dolls. Today ... well, depending on where I'd go and who I'd meet I might take a doll or two. If I were to go to New Zealand I'd have to take the Hobbitses, obviously.

< So much sewing on the agenda today and none of it is doll stuff.

v Do you think you'll ever be done buying dolls? If you are done, how did you know you were?

 

^ Maybe these are famous last words, but yes, I actually think I'll be done buying dolls after I purchase one more. That'd bring my collection to only three dolls total, but I honestly think that's all I'm going to want. I have one MSD at home and one male SD ordered, and I'd like a female SD to round out the collection. I guess the way that I know is that sometimes even just having that one MSD out on my shelf feels overwhelming to me? The hobby is so expensive, buying a doll always causes me a lot of anxiety. And besides, dolls really do have a significant presence in a room, and for my current living situation, I think three will be about all I can handle! That being said, I imagine I'll still be sorely tempted by tinies -- especially animal ones like Dearmine beans.

< I'm kind of terrified of the SD I have ordered -- I keep thinking about how big he'll be!! But at the same time, I'm like compulsively checking my emails for a shipping notice, haha.

V Interesting question, so I'm passing it along: Do you think you'll ever be done buying dolls? If you are done, how did you know you were?

 

^ I don't think I'll ever be done with buying dolls. I am becoming more 'picky'. I am very carefull when I choose a new doll. Any new arrival must provide a new dimension to my collection. I don't like to have dolls that ressemble one another. I love my 2 Littlefees though if it had to be redone, I would pick only one. I would wait to see if I can replace the 2nd by one from another company.

< I need an 8 inch open ended zipper to make my boy's hood. In fact, I'd probably need an 7 inch one...and I need it in ivory ... which does not exist in this part of the world. So black it'll have to be and 8 inch long .

V Do you make your doll's clothes? What are you making now?

 

^ I kind of make some clothes? I've made all of Ilya's outfits, because they're really specific and complicated. I've kind of been working on some "normal" clothes, but they're mostly Halloween costumes. Aelic is getting a sheep costume and Tenshi is gonna be a little jack-o-lantern!

< I think I've finally decided on Tadpole's eyes! Hopefully they get here before he does.

v What's your biggest doll surprise been? (Getting a doll as a present, having a doll show up without a shipping notice, etc.)

 

^ The very, very rare occasion of dolls flying through customs without a charge. Given they usually stop every little thing, even single heads, something as big as a DiM kit slipping through was very surprising.

< This weekend is powered by FrayCheck.
@Lilla, where are you from? Maybe there are online shops that ship to wherever you live?

v Zoooom - a wormhole opens, and your dolls are transferred to another world / universe / setting! Where do they end up, and how do they get along?

 

^ Since they are dolls in this universe, if the teens got transferred to one where they are people, be it fantasy or regular life, they would be baffled, then start breaking the fourth wall left and right, only this time it doesn't give them powers. Ollie would be trying to enforce tropes, Elliot would be trying to avoid them, and Ji-Han would try to keep a level head in the inevitable mess, especially since they aren't used to having to take care of themselves. As for Gobbie, she would be skulking in the background because she does that no matter where she is.

> So bored. If this keeps up, I'll have time for NaNo after all.

v I like this question so zoooom - a wormhole opens, and your dolls are transferred to another world / universe / setting! Where do they end up, and how do they get along?

 

^ I'll take the cheap and easy way out. John ends up in the DC universe. Which is pretty much normal for him since those are the dolls he is usually with on my shelf....XD

He'd be ok. He at least tries to get along with most people some of the time.

> When you get an idea for a new doll and want to do it right now but have to wait for the head you haven't even bought yet to arrive....

V when you suddenly get that idea for a doll what do you do? Start shopping for new resin? Look at the shelf and wonder who you can change up a bit? Ignore it and hope it goes away? Or something else entirely?

 

^ Depends. If it's just some vague idea, it'll usually go away. If it's connected to a particular sculpt, I'm in trouble. (Exhibit A, exhibit B.)

< Why do I put up with those fuzzy monsters. Opened doors and cat puke all over the sofa, good morning to you too.

v What's your current doll project?

 

^ making shoes for everyone. I am starting with sandals because my boots' trials weren't the best. So basic footwear first.

< @Jany , I found some on ebay. Aliexpress are selling very short open ended colourful zippers as well though they say they take 40 days to deliver. I am hoping I haven't spent recklessly.

V when you are feeling down, which bjd related goods do you look up on the internet?

 

^ diorama props, dollhouses and clothes! Moreso than clothes, there's something so enchanting about positioning a doll in a tiny, detailed room...
< I sure do love dressing things up
v have you ever used dress-up games or character creators to recreate a character when you're having a hard time shelling them in dolls?

 

^ yes! whenever I saw a new sculpt I liked I would go play dressup games to get inspiration on how I could style the doll before buying it

< I'm tired and my back hurts. Time for retirement.

v would dolls be more or less interesting to you if in the near future they were upgraded as tiny robots?

 

^ less. They’d cost more, be heavier and they’d have less potential for hybridization, cause if all the mechanics getting in the way (circuitry not being compatible and Et cetera) and they’d be probably less poesable.

<I really want to phone my best friend and rant at him for an hour, but he doesn’t have any time... plus I can’t deal with his best friend and the way he’s just a jerk but his life seems charmed and guhhhhhh.

V does your doll character have someone they can’t stand?

 

^ I would have to say that seil can't stand kai. And the sentiment is mutual, they really dislike each other for many reasons, the main one being there feelings for destiny.

< I'm kinda disappointed that i still haven't found a sculpt i like or want for kai.

v how would your doll characters react if they became real people in this world?

 

^ Elliot would freak out, sure he could not function in the real world. Ollie would go out fully confident and run into all sorts of trouble. Ji-Han would start doing research and desperately try to fake it till he makes it. I think that once they had all calmed down and made a few mistakes that they could hopefully recover from, they would eventually be able to fumble their way through life. Gobbie probably would not notice the difference.

> Hopefully I don't get horribly lost again. I don't want to make a habit of being late.

v How is your doll's sense of direction?

 

^ It is completely lacking in Reann. Dash would just rely on his phone/tablet to tell him where he's going. Kyle couldn't tell you north from south from east from west, but he can remember where he's been and how to get back to where he started--so his is pretty good.

< I think I'm going to stare at the next doll I want to buy and deliberate when would be a good time to actually do it. . .

v Have you ever been to a physical bjd store? If so, what was it like? If not, do you want to?

 

^ No I haven't been to a physical store but I would love too. We have a tentative plan to visit Colorado so a trip to DDE would be fantastic since I'd be so close.

< Too many projects, I need to finish a few of them up quickly so I can get to the others.

v What gets priority for a character once you decide on a sculpt - wigs, eyes, clothing?

 

^ Depends on the character, but lately i've been doing hair myself and I have a hard time buying eyes lol. I mean, like, paying for the eyes. Usually because I need to buy about 20 pairs and I tend to like eyes in the $25+ range so it's going to be really expensive one day...and I keep putting it off.

So clothes. A lot of my dolls are "made" by their wardrobe, that's important. I mean, without his one outfit that he wears all the time, John Constantine is just some blond dude who smirks all the time...

> I don't think I have enough time this week to get ready before I go to chicago D:

V What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to a doll? Do any of the dolls you already own have this issue (whatever it is)?

 

^improper eyes. I only like really high quality urethane eyes, like doll bakery and enchanted doll. And if have a few dolls who just don’t have their final eyes and look ridiculous in my spare acrylics (Rina,Lilith, Mercy, Miracle,) and a doll whose eyes are a size too small and she looks like she wants to kill me in my sleep. Not to mention, I think way darker ones work best for her character. And tacet’s glass eyes just... they’re too dark, so she’s getting urethanes for Christmas

< what is a writer that doesn’t write?

V what defines your dolls characters?

 

^ John actually has a problem with this as his job used to be the thing that defined him. Now he doesn't have that anymore so he's kind of lost and trying to find the new thing that he is. (I would say his look defines him lol cause he's a weirdo, but you can't have that in a character...)

> Nanowrimo is starting next week and I am so not ready D:

V with holidays approaching and events popping up everywhere (or at least they will be soon), are you saving up for any particular BJD purchase?

 

^ saving would imply that I have a job. Which I currently don’t, do I can go home as often as possible, because I put my heart before my wallet a little too much... but I am conserving as much of my doll funds as possible for an event I call doll-mas, where the whole resin family gets gifts. I have to make three things and then feel guilty for ordering all of the rest... but if we’re talking about resin, I crunches some numbers and if I do a no-buy November while I’m doing NaNo, I might be able to afford my doll chateau order that I’m always putting off. Or I’ll do it next year, when I have a job... so possibly a dz Raymond head and a dc y body 06 for two separate characters.

<I want my eyes nooooow they’ve been out for delivery for 24 hours!

V anyone else saving up for a bjd purchase?

 

^ A girl doll! I've been looking for a female sculpt to fit a ballerina, and ideally I'd love to dress her as Clara from the Nutcracker for Christmas ... Of course, with November right around the corner, it's might be too late to expect a doll to arrive by Christmas, depending on which company I order from, but still -- a girl can dream! In the meantime, I'll be working accordingly on a Nutcracker outfit for my male SD. c:

> I totally forgot about Nanowrimo. I should totally do it this year!!

V Following along with holiday questions -- what's your favorite holiday, and do you do anything special with your dolls to celebrate it?

 

^halloween! Though ironically it’s christmas I’m celebrating with my dolls this year. They’re all gettin gifts!

< oooo @lavalunar we should be NaNo buddies! I’m totally gonna make a brigadoon thread for NaNoWriMo in November for everyone

V passing this along: what’s your favourite holiday, and do you do anything special with your dolls to celebrate it?

 

^ It's a tie between Halloween and Christmas. I don't currently do anything with my dolls for Halloween (though I probably will eventually give them at least some sort of costume), but I have been working on getting them all some sort of formalwear for Christmas.

< I'll join your Brigadoon thread, @Chameleon, and I can't remember if I've got you added yet... @lavalunar I'll add you too as a buddy if you want! (I'm the same name as both). I've been getting geared up for NaNo today!

v What kind of book would your doll write?

 

^ A book of spells. John isn't really wired for fiction.

> I would love a Nano thread here. I feel like we could be a better support group than on the actual site XD

V what genre (movies or books or other) is your dolls' favorite?

 

^ All my guys like either sci-fi or fantasy or both. Evz is the only one that is a history buff so he is my odd one.

< Can we make a NaNo thread in Brigadoon since they left it open? I agree with your sentiment.

v Do you have a character that doesn't play fair or very well with others?

 

^ I do have plenty of characters who don't play fair or well with others (a lot of my favorite types of characters to create tend to be shifty, shady characters; lots of grifters of various sorts) -- but the ones I have shelled are fairly straight shooters, I think. Ambroz might be a bit up tight and frigid, but he's generally a moral sort of man. He's a dancer nearing the end of his career, however, and is having some trouble adjusting to the idea of passing the torch. He hasn't been the most forthcoming and helpful with the younger dancers.

< @vicemage & @Chameleon & others -- I'd love to be included in that! But forgive my newbie self ... I don't know what Brigadoon is! hahaha ;;

v What sorts of things inspire your doll aesthetics? On what sorts of things do you base their outfits and other stylistic features? For example, do you look at the work of certain painters to think of ideas for color pallets or outfits? Maybe watch fashion vlogs looking for outfit ideas?

 

^ I usually figure out doll aesthetics by their personality and backstory and sometimes just because I’ve always wanted to try a certain style. Tacet, for instance, came about because I was on Pinterest with my mom and I was creeping pastel goth looks and came up with this character. As much of a trope as it is I kind of wanted a pastel Fairyland doll. And so Tacet happened. And she’s my problematic fave, but she’s easy to dress.

< /threads/nanowrimo-2017.759880/ guys I made aNaNo thread!!!!

V what would your dolls do as a job?

 

^ Most of my dolls/characters have jobs or careers (or at least the grown-up ones do). It's a pretty long list, so here goes:
Tyler - lawyer
Michael - Executive Assistant to the owner of a public relations firm
Andromeda - continuing care assistant
Aubrey - actor
Sky - part-time bakery employee
Gabriel - model
Élise - nurse
Noé - paramedic
Scarlett - elementary school teacher (2nd grade)
Fiona - nurse
Reid - educational assistant (he's also a former soldier)
David - records management clerk
Caitlin - fund development coordinator
Sapphire Rose - photographer
Liam - super badass action figure / instagram personality (he's POSITIVE that both of these are jobs)

< IT'S FRIDAY!!! Also, my Alice's collections order that disappeared off tracking for nearly two weeks finally made a reappearance, so I get to pick that up today after work.

V Do you dress your dolls or do anything else in particular with them for seasonal holidays like Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.?

 

^ I plan to! It's a little late for me to start a Halloween project this year, but especially for Ambroz, my SD male, I plan to make seasonal costumes based on various ballets. So for Christmas, naturally, it's my goal to make him into the Nutcracker. For Valentine's Day, maybe something like Prince Charming from Sleeping Beauty, or Romeo? We'll see! Once I get a female SD, I plan to do the same for her.

< HE SHIPPED!! He's due home on Monday! Unfortunately, I have a training session on Monday. Gah! I hope I'll be home in time to sign for him!!

v Passing this question along -- do you dress your dolls or do anything else in particular with them for seasonal holidays like Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc?

 

^ I plan to, but unfortunately I couldn't dress him up for Halloween this year (didn't end up buying his costume soon enough), and for Christmas, I might have a similar situation until I save up some money. But I'll probably at least watch some movies with Ian for something to do.

< Why can't it be Christmas yet? I love Halloween but I have too many things I want to buy for my boy!

v Are you able to save up for purchases for your dolls, or do you need to wait for money to come in a lump sum and then do something for them?

 

^ I'm not good at saving, at all. It's so slow that I end up spending my money on other, less expensive things I've also been wanting to buy, or things that make me happy in the short term. It's not the most admirable discipline, but I think if I just balanced my spending and saving a little bit more, I'd be able to afford short-term pleasures and long-term ones! So, I definitely need a lump sum of money, haha.

< That doll is so cute... and so is the other one... will I get one in time??

v Have you ever based a doll's design around a motif, only to feel restricted by it (even if it's a beautiful idea and you loved it otherwise)? What did you do?

 

^ Would basing a bjd on an existing character count as a motif? If so, I can't really say it's been too restricting, as I'm going at their characters on the basis of a fanon design rather than canon (which gives me more leeway, really). Outside that, I'm not sure if any of mine really are applicable for the concept of motif, as they're based off characters I've been developing and shelling bjds, and not so much a concept or idea (like taking a theme and creating a bjd character out of it, for example).

>Been extremely busy with classes lately, and can't wait for the semester to be over so I can get to bjd related projects again...

V Your crew has the opportunity to go on vacation to some kind of park. Which one would they go to, and what would they do there exactly (ie: nature reserve, theme park like Disneyland or Six Flags, water slides, etc.)?

 

^ pretty sure that both Shaylee and Clover would love to go to disney. Clover would go around meeting all the characters and shaylee just for the whole over all experience.

< aww I miss Disneyland now

v Do you share any of your dolls sense if style? If not is there a doll character that you would like to have their wardrobe?

 

^ Sort of? Mostly in that I have a doll of an anime character I like to cosplay--and according to my friends, with whom I share enough fashion sense that I can easily "closet cosplay" him as well. It's not exactly a compliment, his sense of style isn't all that great, honestly, but I've never claimed mine is either. At least I have plenty of inspiration for other clothes to get him?

< Ugh, what a long day... I don't think I've ever been in the office until 6 before.

v Who are your most and least stylish/fashionable dolls?

 

^ Ji-Han is the most fashionable. He is very meticulous about his look. Then it goes Elliot, Ollie and finally Gobbie. Gobbie doesn't care about fashion, just making sure the right bits are covered and protected.

> First real assignment tomorrow. Can't say that I am not nervous.

v What doll would you trade for one that you currently have trouble getting your hands on?

 

^ I guess it would be this bolt bin that is the perfect size for 1/3 scale books.


< What a beautiful morning!

v Same type question: What's the best doll-related item you've gotten at the thrift/resale store or garage sale?

 

^ Nothing I ever found can hold a candle to my sister's awesome find of a mini viola (ignore the Crobi violin on the far left). My mum found the other, both were resale store / flea market finds.

I found a mini reading light that makes a nice doll desk lamp, and hand warmers that look like SD hot water bottles, but those are nowhere near as awesome as the violas.

< All human sewing commissions have been conquered! Yay. Two optional projects left, and all the doll stuff. All of it.

v Aside from actual job / work, what tends to get in the way of your doll play / craft / you-name-it time?

 

^ Weather, chores, prior commitments, family, friends...life.

> It's halloween and all I can think of is I have to start Nano tomorrow and I'm not ready.

V Did you do any halloween stuff with your dolls this year? (or I guess "are you going to do" also applies since it's not quite over yet)

 

^ I didn't, and I didn't think I was going to. But as my chat "play date" didn't turn up, I just might.

< Why am I browsing the MP if I haven't even got enough time for the dolls I already own?

v Show us your favourite doll Halloween pic!

 

^ my goal is to have a set up for Christmas. This for my shay and clover if there presents come in on time.

<this year has been going so fast XC

v do your doll characters celebrate chrismas? Or yule tide?

 

^ Ian does, but he's not very over the top. He'll put up a tree once it hits December, he plays some Christmas music around the house, he watches A Christmas Story with his friends and family and cooks a small ham, and he gets a gift for each of his close friends. But he hates the commercialization of Christmas, and just wants it to be a nice little sit down holiday with the people that are important to him.

< I forgot how much Ian's wig wants to go one way when I want it to go the other.

v What sort of winter holiday(s) does your doll celebrate?

 

^ One of my dolls is partially based off the mythical figure Icarus. He's a winged sculpt, so it was hard not to take inspiration from Icarus, haha, and I've always found Greek mythology inspiring in general. I'd love to see more dolls based on mythological or literary figures!

< I don't want to go to work sleep! I want to stay up forever watching ballet! Hahaha.

v What's number one on your to-do list right now in terms of doll projects?

 

^ Oh. This is tough. I have a lot of right now. Honestly #1 on my to-do list is probably to take stock of all my WIPs and figure out who needs what first. I just got a new head for a body I've had forever and she needs a wig and some stuff I'm actually hoping to get at a local doll show this weekend. So maybe that's my actual #1

> After day 2, I am actually excited to write again. But as usual I also want to draw.

V Any kind of genre(?) of doll you would like to see more of but don't?

 

^ strong girls and not strong boys in the 58-60cm range. And I mean proper beefy girls with big arms. And for guys, I don't want "skinny with an 8 pack" I mean NO muscle definition whatsoever.

< weeks should be 4 days work/school and 3 days off

v are you planning to buy a doll for youself as a christmas gift this year? If so, which one?

 

^no full dolls, but I bought three heads from IMPL (hannah, Joshua and Iris) as my Christmas gift, and clothing or eyes for all my other dolls as christmas gifts. Depending on how much Christmas money I get I might order a DC body in December (or break down and order now cause no impulse control...)

<it’s literally day three of NaNo and I’m feeling drained. Can I just not go to class?

V anyone else buying themself a doll Christmas present?

 

^ Probably not, but if I end up getting a large enough chunk of money combined with Christmas and my birthday (which is January 7th) I might spring and get Eris' head and body! Or maybe I'll get Tyler or someone else. Probably not Odette (because searching for the right body secondhand) or Austin (who's way too expensive because Minifee) though.

< The weather is right to redo Ian's tattoos. But I am a lazy bum. What to do, what to do...

v Do you tend to procrastinate with doll projects, or get them done right as you're able to?

 

^ Depends. If I'm not really "inspired" in the first place, I procrastinate ... or if I hit a problem I can't figure out, because I'm afraid of messing up the whole thing if I half-ar$€ it. But if I have an idea and the time to get into it, I do my best to get projects done.
What with life and other hobbies, all of my projects tend to go in fits and bursts. That's partly why I like documenting them in project journals, keeping track of what I've been doing and how.

< Whew! That was a lot of Real Life / adulting (bleh). Can I get back to doll stuff now, please?

v Have you ever gone on hiatus with your doll things? How did you get back into it?

 

^ I kinda did... For around two years everything in the hobby just stopped for me. My boy Reito sat on my shelf while my two floating heads where packed away in boxes... I once in a while looked at pictures of other BJD collectors online but I just had no time and motivation to work on my babies... Then I got myself an instagram account earlier this year and started following many people I followed on DeviantArt before or found new amazing doll artists and seeing dolls every day again made me want to continue in the hobby. I bought myself a new dolly for a reason to start new and some new clothes for Reito who had been in the same clothes all the time... ;-; Posting some pics on Instagram I got to talk to other people and started doing new things in the hobby (like making yarn wigs! *-* I love doing that now!) And now I already bought my second doll for the year (or rather say one of my floaties finally will get a wonderful body!!!) and will start again with sewing things. So all in all Instagram got me back in the hobby... XD Paired with the fact that I am not in a pitch black hole anymore like I was two years back when I had no motivation or interest in anything I loved anymore.

< Somehow writing this I feel like crying... I never before have thought about how my mental state back then had influenced my hobbies, not only the BJD hobby but everything... So glad to be back now!

v Halloween is over and Christmas is coming: What do your dolls write on their letter to Santa? What do they wish to get?

 

^ Ian is a man of simple pleasures, even when it comes to gifts he wants for Christmas. Some new journals, that new best seller that came out this year, maybe a new red flannel to replace the one he wore so much that it has some holes in it... That's probably the most he'll ask for. However, he is in need of a new computer, but he feels weird asking for something so expensive.

< Hmmm, do I want to deal with setting up my ventilation system again or do I want to wait to do more of Ian's tattoos...

v Do you prefer doing your own faceups and/or tattoos or commissioning someone to do them for you? Or maybe even just going with the company faceup/what the doll comes with?

 

^ Goofy animals make all of mine laugh. Katie will sometimes laugh at random things. Some have pretty dark humour, too ... and Sven is a goofball who'll try and make people laugh just because he can, so his antics go on the list as well.

< Are we there yet?

v Your doll is impatiently waiting for something. What is it and why is it so important?

 

^His fiance is coming home! I honestly never thought I'd have that whole group of OCs shelled out, but I just started a layaway for my Soom Chalco this morning

< I'm just too cold to function today.

v Are you impatient when it comes to waiting for things? Are your dolls' characters impatient?

 

^ two aren't. My F65 and F60 need pullovers and long sleeved t-shirts. My F65 is the worse off. She is the doll that led me to buy SDs. Surprisingly, she has less clothes than my F60 that I received last. I was a bit shocked when I discovered this. So she is going to be my project doll for the next few months.

< I am hungryyyyy . I want a brie and grapes sandwich though I am not allowed unpasteurised cheese at the moment .

V is there any jewellery that your doll wants but you postpone to make?

 

^ HAHA...HA yea, so destiny's character has this bracelet/ ring thing that acts as a seal. It's something very defining of her aesthetic, for her chacter. I have no clue how to make such a thing so i might be pretending like i don't know it's something i need for her lol.

< i have to go in to work an hour early just cuz arizona doesn't do the whole daylights savings thing...hoping i also get to leave early or the next few months are going to be long.

v your doll characters worst nightmare? Or do you have a character who just never sleeps?

 

^ John rarely sleeps (he's too over-caffeinated and has too much adrenaline) and his worst nightmare is being locked away and forgotten in a mental hospital. Also rats.

> Today is a new day! And I will do a thing!! I just don't know what that thing is yet.

V Passing this on cause I like nightmares: your doll characters worst nightmare? Or do you have a character who just never sleeps?