The ^ < v Game! - Part 5

^ Natural. I started out with a Comics, action figures and art hobby, which led to me making my own characters for my own comics, which led to trying to customize action figures into those characters, which led to my failure to customize action figures, which led to frustration and me quitting. Then I discovered BJDs and that worked.

> Then I started customizing BJDs into action figures and now I'm back to trying to customize action figures again XD I AM A CIRCLE

V Same question because I'm interested: Were dolls a natural progression from another collection or aspect of your life, or were they some weird vortex that you fell into randomly?

 

^ A weird vortex mostly. I liked playing with Barbies as a kid, but their poor posing frustrated me. When I got older I searched for more poseable dolls and found out about BJDs. But their price kept scaring me off. Finally I joined DOA solely to get a closer look and, well, here I am. Though I have always l liked making characters and stories, so maybe not that weird.

> I'm tired of stress waking me up in the middle of the night.

v What's the most daring photoshoot you've ever done?

 

^ I don't do risky at all either... XD The riskiest thing was probably making Saki stand on the window sill because of the risk of her dropping all the way down to the floor if she had fallen... (A pic of that day is on my instagram if you wanna see. ^.^")

< Work is currently taking up all the time... And soon I'll have even less time due to me needing to study... >.<

v Soon it's going to be Valentine's Day. How does your character(s) celebrate it? Or do they do it at all?

 

^ if I had both of them complete, Chromis and Seren would absolutely do something for Valentine’s Day. Chromis hasn’t the first idea how to be romantic, because he’s spent most of his life training for war. Seren, on the other hand, actually knows how to do things that aren’t stabbing. So she plans a date for them. They probably go rock climbing up a mountain and then sit on the top and watch the sun set.

Rina is also just bad at dates. She also was not raised in an environment where that was really considered. She’s been an assassin for years. But she and balik have been together for a few years, and so they go out for a flight, up north-ish to watch the northern lights. Balik has to help Rina fly there, cause her wings are less broken than rina’s.

<guess I should get on finishing that paper...or figuring out Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend...

V are any of your characters single for Valentine’s Day? What will they do?

 

^ They are all single, so let's see... Gobbie does not know or care. She would look around for any stray sweets and about that's it. Elliot would feel a little lonesome, but bury it under his usual "I don't care" attitude. Ollie would see it as a Singles' Appreciate Day and try to do something nice for her friends. And Ji-han might cook up something sweet.

> I keep forgetting about Valentine's Day. Once they stopped making your classmates give you candy, I lost most of my interest.
I hope you feel better soon, @Jany

v What are your doll's hobbies?

 

^ Imiko enjoys hiking. Contessa and Lady model. Taylor is obsessed with video games and anime. Alessa and Nathanael like board gaming.

> Super excited to be going to a doll meet today!!

v Do you dolls celebrate holidays?

 

^ Yes! I love celebrating holidays with my dolls! Costumes at Halloween, gifts at Christmas and their 'birthdays' and of course cute bunnies on Easter!

< Had a good birthday, sadly without my dolls but I did get an action figure!

v do you like to collect other types of dolls too?

 

^ I have some Collectors' Barbie Dolls (and 3 normal that I had as a kid and kept to customize them - they are my Gotham City Sirens - Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman). With my brother we have a small collection of Funko Pops and video game character figures/statuettes.

> So tired, work weekends are the worst

v Do your dolls collect something?

 

^ Does collecting followers count? Like people working for them and doing jobs for them and stuff. Saki is my little wolf demon princess and in their world she just recently inherited the throne of her father. And she loves 'collecting' people to work for her. But she doesn't do it in a way like she wants lots of servants. All her people are also like family and friends to her and often she takes in younger people that are having a hard time and gives them a home and a purpose by doing good work or saves them from former bad working places. ^-^
Otherwise Jia does collect fashion items of all kind~ ^-^

< I needa study.. but I am too lazy... X.X

v I like the question so I pass it on: Do your dolls/characters collect anything?

 

^ Gailan collects samples and specimens intended to prove the existence of faeries. Uri casually collects vinyl records, gig flyers/band paraphernalia, and... damaged guitars he’ll fix and flip one of these days...

< Not allowing myself to feel guilty over needing a nap this early in the day when I’m growing a human. It may be gorgeous outside but it’s -19/-2 C/F so it’s not like I’m missing out on time outdoors.

v Do you have anything on order right now? How well are you handling the wait?

 

^ I have one of my favorite characters on order I hope to get him soon. I wait while continuing to write their story and plan on making clothing in the style of the novel I'm writing. I may or may not have ordered another doll too.

< I went out between rain falling, took some photos and returned with wet knees. The things we do for our dolls.

v What do you do while waiting for a doll to arrive?

 

^ I either try my best to forget about it completely, or I spend all my time on etsy looking for clothes he/she can wear!

< I’m so glad to pay 1/5 of a $800 bill for a snow plower who comes around like twice a month :-) so worth it (not)

V what is the longest you’ve waited for a doll?

 

^ I think it was only about 6-7 months (a cake walk compared to some waits I've seen!), for a large FairyLand order that included dolls for three people including myself. I ordered them the same day I ordered a doll from another company, and she showed up about halfway through the wait for them!

< Finally getting caught up around here... it feels like it's been forever since I could get enough time to get through my watched threads!

v What's the shortest you've waited for a non-in stock, non-secondhand doll?

 

^ One month exactly, from ordering to arriving at my house. Guu Doll is fast like whoa.

> All that's left to do now is wait.

v What do you consider your cutest doll?

 

^ This guy

> Jumanji 2 is so funny on a Tuesday morning. Next week my one and only granddaughter will be 21, yikes.

v What is the next thing you want to do for your dolls?

 

^ I wanna learn how to make wigs! I've been wanting to do lace wigs for dolls for YEARS, but I spent too much time trying to visualise how to make the wig cap instead of actually trying to make it

< I am way too out of shape

v if you could have only ONE skill related to dolls (faceup, photography, sewing, eye making, etc), which would you want?

 

^ Yes and they're a big part of how my collection has gotten so large! I was only going to have one, and we all know how that goes... but even after I resigned myself to getting all the characters around Gabriel, I was still certain that Ed would be my only character doll, full stop, no need for others. Now his crew is the other half of my collection. And both sides still have "friends of friends (of friends of...)" to add...

< Working from home is a challenge when the biggest cat insists he needs to be a lap baby constantly.

v How many dolls did you originally think you were going to have in your collection? How does that compare to where you are now?

 

^ One. Then two. Then five. Right now I have four with plans for six and my limit is ten. Here's hoping...

> To think I was so excited for work to start and now I'm just worried.

v What doll worries do you have?

 

^ Right now? Shipping trouble and getting a broken doll - I am waiting for my first doll, (well, actually, the first doll I ordered is a Dollshe, so it's gonna be a long wait, but the second doll, well... his head, just crossed the borders of our country, so he should be home by the end of the week,) so I am getting anxious.

> When you find out, that you don't really have friends to go out with, so you agree to go to 80'-90' themed disco with your parents at Friday night. I am a failure when it comes to social life, I guess.

v Let's get some good vibes. What doll worries you were able to overcome?

 

^ I've been able to overcome worrying about the quality of my faceup work through the help of friends who have let me paint their dolls

< Two jobs a day is too many. Three is just ridiculous. I know it's only 11 hours total, but still...! I'm so stressed out y'all.

v List your top three favorite dolls in order. I dare you.

 

^ I'll probably make someone mad so 1. Ash (Ringdoll Sol) 2. Julian (Dollshe Saint) 3. Captian Londen (Soom Dia)

< Weather is totally crazy 70F in the morning 41F at night. I can't complain too much with the even crazier weather elsewhere.

v Name your least favorite doll (or doll problem) and why...

 

^ My doll problem is restringing! I know I'll have to learn to do it sometime, but it's so intimidading!
< I'm excited for all the new announced Nintendo stuff! Mario Maker 2, yay!
v If you could make one, and only one character of yours magically appear fully shelled as a doll (with faceup, appropriate clothes, modding and all stuff finished) in front of you, which character would you choose?

 

^ My dolls are pretty perfect, I don't really have trouble with them. My characters have evolved with time, but I don't find them difficult.

< I hate feeling so unsettled and anxious, I hope it goes away soon.

v why is your favorite doll your favorite? What's the reasoning?

 

< Uh, I don't have a favorite doll..but if I had to choose I would probably say Kouriel. He just found me...literally. I initially wanted a Dollshe for him but one day browsing DoA I found a Migidoll Cynical Yuujin. He looked. Exactly. Like a mock up sketch I had of him. It just seemed magical and meant to be.


< It's official I'm changing one of my doll's to another character.we just didn't bond.

v Have you have changed a doll character years after having them?

 

^ As a relatively new bjd collector of 1 year, I can't really answer this ^ ^ ; But I guess I wouldn't want to, as it would feel "wrong", I guess, because I have known them as this particular character for so long!

< I can't wait till the Easter holidays so I can bring my three SD boys home >w<

v What is your funniest story regarding non-dolly-people? (< is this the correct word to describe people who don't know about BJDs?)

 

^Funniest story, eh? Having a boy get mistaken as a girl when he obviously had pecks? People wanting to peek down the boys' trousers to see what they're packing? Yup, had both of those happen

Also...being in the middle of answering the question and having someone get to it before you've had a chance to post it?

And...because I don't feel like deleting it, I'm keeping my answer here, ha!

Maybe not years per se, but I have had a couple I've decided to change sculpts on lately. After having him with the Loongsoul Phaurar head for over a year, Tahno's now a Dikadoll Floyer. After being on his current one just about a year, Tahmos is also in the process of going from an IOS G to a Simply Divine Thomas (head proportions of G were starting to really bug me). (Oh, also---in Tahno's case, I guess he also got a body swap as well, from his original Doll Leaves 70cm to the Popodoll 68cm).

<Funny thing about both those boys: Tahmos' character was inspired by Tahno. I find it humorous that I chose to reshell them around the same time

V Do you prefer to shell original characters, base them off existing characters, or just give them a name and have them just be something pretty to look at? Also, do you have a particular reason why?

 

^ Kind of both, I like to have characters but I pick the dolls out first and make characters for them. I like to have small stories for my dolls, but nothing excessive. Why? I think it's just preference. I prefer to have pretty dolls that I like than ones based on characters.

< Can't wait to move and finally get my dolls back!

v have you ever changed a character once you had the doll? Or did they stay the character you made for them?

 

^ Right now, upended. I just got reemployed and all I want to do afterwards is sleep. Plus, I am not at my permanent place yet. But hopefully once things get properly settled I can get back to it.

> Heck, it really is cold here!

v Do your dolls have any winter clothes?

 

^ sadly, no. I would like to get some eventually so I can outdoors photoshoots

< I am looking forward to spring though. Really tired of the sidewalks not being usable <_<

v have you ever had a sculpt you loved but couldn't figure out their style and/or character? How did you resolve the situation?

 

> I usually buy sculpts for characters so I don't have that problem, but there have been a few times I have gotten dolls just for their sculpts and it has taken months to years to really figure them out. I have a FLF60 elf Karsh head from their very first release of that size that has gone through many styles and been both a boy and a girl and had about 5 bodies. But I love the head so it sticks around!

> omg found a doll that is 100% perfect for what I want and it's almost $1000 and not available now anyway *cries*

V How do you feel about full sets and Limited Editions? ALL THE LE's!! or Not worth the price? Explain!

 

^ I'm not into fullsets, personally; they're nice, but I'm generally buying to fit a character, and I'm here for the customization anyway. I do have some fancy fullset-style outfits, but only because the whole thing fit a doll I already had.

Now, LE sculpts? GIMME GIMME GIMME! I may not like every one I see, but they tend to be more unique or daring sculpts that appeal to me a lot, and often fit my characters well, which means there's a lot of (blank, non-fullset) LEs in my collection.

< I really need to work on this panel presentation... Anyone want to offer up their Flickr for credited appearances by their dolls?

v Pretending money is no object, what new release would get you clicking the "buy" button right now?

 

^ The boypink muscle body and the redesigned MDR Fang in caramel. They are the last two on my wishlist. If I were able to get one of them now, I definitely would.

> To think I was so stressed last night. I think I've got a handle on my budget now.

v How do you budget for dolls?

 

^ My budget strategy for the 2 years I've been in the hobby is limiting my dolls for one per year! I've managed to hold this up until now, and I hope I don't fall in any temptations xD

< Weekends are always good.

v Which ones do you like more: realistic or fantasy face-ups?

 

^ I like more real faceups but pretty ones, I like my dolls to look soft and delicate and not too heavy or crazy lol

< Stressful dreams aren't fun.

v what do you do when your stressed out? Play with your dolls? Redress them?

 

^I love playing with my girl, mostly redressing or changing out eyes/wigs/etc. Sometimes i do a little photoshoot and pose her. That always seems to calm me down!

<I'm so hungry and tired I should really just go to bed lol

vWhat's your top 5 clothing items/accessories for your dolls?

 

^I'm going to interpret this to mean wearable items. The leather cavalry boots my first boy has, and two of the other pairs of shoes I've bought my dolls, the whit tailored dress I made one of my ladies, and the skirt I made another woman out of an old silk shirt.

<I'm waiting for a Dollshe tiny Hound, and ordered a head for a hybrid I'm planning. Now trying to decide if I should order the body for the head, or wait until after a doll I've only seen instagram pics of becomes available. And there are other Dollshe dolls too...

V Do you prefer to find dolls for existing characters or create characters to fit your dolls?

 

^ I like to make characters for the dolls, that's how all my characters were made. I think its nicer to love the doll first, but that's just me!

< Its storming so much, I hope it stops soon!

v passing it on! Do you like character first or doll first?

 

^ Character first

> *screams into the void*

V what are your doll plans for 2019?

 

^ Well I just got a surprise Elfdoll Soah yesterday..so my doll plans are now to work on the women in my collection, lol. I'm also changing my LTF Rachel's character. That's about it. No more new dolls for me this year. But I do plan on helping my SO get another Smart Doll.

< Alasdair should be here today with any luck...though knowing my post they won't even try delivering.

v Same question, what are your 2019 doll plans?

 

^ I was just planning on getting my Mylas and a new Ha head but Granado whipped out a tiny Napoleon and I wound up getting a 43cm one too. My plans were to work on Mylas and Aveese and doing a photostory of my book about them. Who knows what will happen since I now have a little tribe of tiny mature boys running around. Tiny pub seems like it will have to happen.

< Post office here I come.

v Same question, what are your 2019 doll plans?

 

^ Sewing, doll profiles, buying a camera. I'll see how it works out.

> Whose bright idea was it to build a room with no lights?!

v Any doll conventions planned?

 

^ I am afraid that in my small country aren't any. I haven't trully found anything planned here, there have been some doll meets, but it seems to be irregular and dead now.
So unfortunately not.

< I should go to bed, in couple of minutes my family starts to wake up. It would be embarassing meeting them.

v Planning any photoshoots?

 

^ I'm planning to do a books and dolls photoshoot next month. I own over 200 books and I thought it would be fun to do an actual photoshooting in which each doll is photographed with a few books that somehow remind me of them. Because truth being spoken: Most inspiration I have for my own characters is coming from a lot of books I read and in every book I read I see my characters too. I just don't know yet when I will find the time and how exactly I will do the shooting.

< Have been away quite a lot lately... School's killing me...

v Spoke of inspiration up there so I want to know: Where do you get your inspiration for your dolls from?

 

^ music is a big inspiration for me. I have songs I think of when I think of my dolls and their characters history with me. I also get inspiration from my favorite character's and movies/TV shows. I pull bits and pieces of everything together to form my own characters. Its one of my favorite part of owning dolls, making them so cool is the best part!

< Feeling good today, let's get some writing done!

v What would you do if you could only own one doll for the rest of your life?

 

^ Oof, that's rough. I'd probably just keep Gobbie as a sort of momento of my time in the hobby and say goodbye to the SDs. Really, they feel like they need friends and to keep only one of them doesn't seem right. Besides, Gobbie is so portable.

> Can't wait to finally get paid. Almost there...

v Waiting to make any doll purchases?

 

^ No, just waiting for those (3 full and 1 head) I've ordered to arrive. I've plenty of heads at home to mess with if I need another character shelled.

< I want to take photos outside but the mosquitoes, gak!

v Where do you get inspiration for character names?

 

^ I look on those baby names sites. Otherwise I would never name any of them

< I wanna see How to train your Dragon 3

v if bjd didn't keep their resale value, would it change the way you collect?

 

^ I guess not, I am not going for full sets or limited sculpts. I have my dolls for myself. I don't plan to sell them and I am not sure anybody would even want them.

< The con is near and I still haven't started working on my costume. I guess I won't have any new one this year...

v If you could get any doll (limited, discontinued, rare, ooak, special set, too expensive - just any), which one would you choose?

 

^Ooh, right now it would be Volks SD16 Lady Oscar. I've already got my other grails.

< I want it to be Friday already. D:

v Repeating an earlier question. If bjd didn't keep their resale value, would it change the way you collect?

 

^ oh boy have I xD in nearly 10 years collecting, any one doll usually stays with me for about 6 months because I am too damn impatient. I have calmed down lately. I have a floating head who celebrated her 2year anniversary in January! I think she’s the third doll to manage that.

< Coffee is..... not good.

v who is your oldest doll currently at home?

 

^ I have three of them that are ten, and all arrived within about six months of each other - one is a Soom, and the other two are Iplehouse.

< So glad the dog has a vet appointment this evening - his scratching is driving both of us crazy!

v Do you imagine yourself possibly losing interest in the hobby and selling your dolls eventually, or are picturing yourself old and gray and surrounded by so many dolls that you can't see over the top of the pile?

 

^ I guess they will stay with me - I don't really let go of things easily... The only question is, how long will I stay in the hobby - and how high that pile would be.

> Feeling like I always get too late into the fandom/hobby/etc., because it always seems like the good things already passed and good things were sold out.

v Passing the question: Your dolls' future?

 

^ No chance of me leaving the hobby. Every time I handle most of mine my love for the is renewed. Not sure how to fix some of those I'm less happy with, though.

< Decided a body for a floating head is next. Will be my first hybrid project. Unless I order the Luts body soon enough that I get it first.

V Are any of your dolls hybrids?