Volks Dolpa - Dolls Party in LA 2017

Here is my photos: Volks Dolpa in LA 2017
Sorry I didn't have every dolls I saw with camera, but I do have some in my phone. I'll update those photo later.

 

We're back home on the east coast after a long travel day. What a fun event! I really enjoyed both days, even more so than the Tokyo Dolpas I used to go to I think. With the workshops and tea party, LADP3 had more going on beyond primarily shopping. Air travel is tiring but I'm glad I made the trip.

Did anyone manage to get one of the tatami mats Volks advertised? I only saw two people carrying them whilst waiting to check out of the Sumika shop, so there must've been very few available. Never did see them anywhere on the tables. (Jealous. So wanted one. ^_^; )

 

I know Donna got one. Most of the prop items like that were on the large flat tables in the middle on the checkout line side, so I imagine they were easy to miss in the crowd.

 

Next time we should make some glam name tags so it's easier to find everyone

I always take a few photos of my dolls out of the box with their default outfit. Here's that beautiful dreamy Williams. I have NO CLUE how I will custom this guy. I never expected to win!

 

@Isenn, gorgeous photo of your Williams; he looks as if he sat for a 17th century painter. Truly romantic!

 

Wow, that's not a Volks promo picture?????? Amazing picture Isenn!!! I can't wait to see everyone's pictures. As always, my turned out crappy. Wish I was a better photographer.

 

Sorry you were sick @caddyvamp Glad you got to shop and pick up your doll. You couldn't gift a tea party ticket. We had to show photo id to get in. But if you told a Volks employee you weren't going to make iit. They did a lottery for people who were still hoping to get in. I watched Volks gathering the people waiting to see if there were openings/cancellations and some got in at last minute.

 

I talked to the people that were able to get in at the last minute - because of all of the cancellations and people like caddyvamp who were gracious enough to let Volks know that they were sick and couldn't attend, there ended up being just enough spots for EVERYONE to pay and enter the at the last minute. The head count ended up being just right and they didn't have to do the lottery. It was a tea party miracle this year!

 

It's almost impossible to take great shots at the event because of the lighting, so don't feel too discouraged.

I took the picture above at home with indirect natural light. I just move the doll back from the window and turn him so the light isn't straight on. That would flatten his face. You want some shadows to give shape to the face, so just rotate your doll until you get some nice lights and darks going. You can totally do it! I didn't use a fancy set up

You can see it better in the shot below. I just rotated W slightly to face the camera more and I got a soft shadow on the left side (his orientation) of his face. I didn't turn him away more because then I get a hard 50/50 split down the middle, which can be cool, but not what I was going for.

 

HI everyone, I created a photo thread in the events gallery. Hope i did it correctly......

/threads/volks-dolpa-dolls-party-in-la-2017.755645/

So, we can post photos there for memory......it's been very nice meeting some of you. I only WISH everyone had NAME TAGS!

 

Wow, that's awesome news. I'm glad to hear everyone had so much fun. I'm really enjoying all the stories and photos I've seen so far.

 

Oh, that's fantastic that people waitlisted to get into the Tea Party got in!!!

I was left outside in the Lobby the last time, but there were a whole bunch of us hanging out there so it wasn't so bad. But if there were only a few left out, that's sad.

And of course, it was nicer being INside the Tea Party.

St. James had a badge template so we could make them for our DoA names and avatars the last time--but barely anyone remembered to do that. I had a badge this year, but I kept forgetting to put it on! But even those blank sticky badges would have been handy to have for people to put on if they wanted... OR... be just try to introduce everyone to everyone and not mind it when they already know each other...

@stargazer_i -- Thanks for making a photo thread! I hope people will post their photos--good and bad!-- there. (Posting here is nice to see, too, but it's good to have one dedicated thread for them.)

 

There were probably 5-8 tatami mats available, I'd guess. And I don't believe there was a "one item per customer" limit this year, since I saw one member and her husband/guest with two tatami mats each. But Volks was very generous this year as there were definitely more limited items for everyone, especially in regards to outfits and props from previous clothing releases. I managed to purchase several outfits that have long since sold out on the international and VolksUSA sites.

 

I know I was having my significant other hold my items while I shopped so I had free hands. (Yes, I was shopping that much that I needed two hands to shop with ) So it's possible that a lot of people that were seen holding two items were holding items for themselves and someone else. My big excitement was the bunny backpack! I couldn't believe how generous Volks was with how many they brought! My girls are happily taking turns with it. I think everyone was delighted with the amount of DearSd outfits and backpacks brought - I thought it would be something like 5 or 6!

 

My apologies for the late post. Just wanted to let you all know that I made it home late last night, but I had a wonderful time at Dolpa LA 2017. It was my very first Dolpa, and now I understand why people attend. It's not everyday that I get an opportunity to see limited items up close in person, and meet the people behind the creations. To me, that is a huge honor. It was such an enjoyable time spent.

It was also great to see some familiar faces from my neck of the woods at the event. I miss you guys. One day, we should make plans for a gathering.

I still have yet to go through some photos that I took from Dolpa. I'll be sure to supply you all with a link to my pictures as soon as I'm done.

 

I've been to several JP Dolpas, but this was my first USA Dolpa. Sure, there wasn't the big mass of Dolpa Dealers and there wasn't a whole ton of brand new releases like Japanese Dolpas have. But between the workshops, the tea party, the surprisingly large variety of out-of-print and rare Volks items in the Sumika shop, the large amount of dolls with pretty good odds of winning (compared to a Japanese Dolpa's odds), and the smaller group of people (again, compared to Japanese Dolpa), it was more relaxing and fun than the Japanese ones.

LA is on the other side of the country from where I live so it's not exactly cheap to go, but I would consider possibly going again in the future if they have a USA Dolpa again.

 

What a weekend!
I hope everyone else had as great a time as I did.

It goes by so fast and in such a whirlwind. I'm so thankful to Volks staff and to everyone I got a chance to talk to and share the experience with. I am still in shock at my luck with the lotteries and am so grateful.

Did anyone get a photo of (or was the winner of) the scar tenshis? I'm dying to know what they look like.

 

Hey all, I just realized I was posting pictures in the wrong thread yesterday. I'm so used to hanging out in the Volks thread that I forgot I was in the events thread - doh. Apologies if I was posting sort of half on topic stuff.

++ for the Volks Staff at the event. They made the whole experience extra amazing.

 

Aha! Looking back at VolksUSA's FB photos of the Sumika room as it was set-up one day before the event, I think I spy the stack of those mats near the back of the table that the checkout line went along. So that's where they were. Yep, they'd definitely been picked up by other customers in that case, since there were DD Vocaloid outfits spread out in that section of the table when I first reached it. Interestingly, I feel relieved to know that I didn't just overlook them somehow.

 

I heard one of the staff tell someone who was looking for one that they had sold out earlier.

 

Had a great time at Dolpa and I'm glad to see it's grown since the last one! I really like that Mikey revealed that she spoke with American Volks employees to figure out what we'd be into (hence the tan skin Dear SD!), love that they're acknowledging that overseas tastes can be different than their native audience.

My wallet is glad it only happens every other year, but I kind of wish it was every year so I could do doll stuff more regularly!

 

I had a fabulous time. Lighting was awful, so I don't have a lot of photos. I am editing them now, so I will post them soon-ish

 

@eleniel, congratulations on winning a "mate" Ai-Tenshi for your other one! They'd make quite the statement as earrings

I always thought of the Ai-Tenshis as netsuke, down to the subtle detail and ivory color.

@CathyM, I have to agree about the lighting, though sometimes I think it seems bad because we're, ummm, old? *snerk*

 

Lol!! It's so true

 

Wish this was a yearly event here as well.

Tan Yo-SDs would be a dream.

 

I'd take tan versions of every model in a heartbeat.

 

Here as well. What I wouldn't give for Yo to be included in FCS

 

@eleniel: I saw your Ai-tenshi when it got passed around our table, so cute! XD Alas, a tenshi continues to elude me. Some year. XD

I got awesome stuff anyway. X3 The outfit I wanted, one I thought I'd missed out on and would have to track down second hand for $$$, the Yo-midis I preordered, my Dear SD, an ivory Fer and some ED eyes from the swaps... X3

Oh, the DearSD has already acquired a name, she's Tori. :3

And it's not just age, the lighting was super bad. XD Pretty much none of my photos turned out that I took at the Dolpa. I put a couple of afterphotos of my aquisitions and a picture of me and MIKEY at the tea party on my instagram: Nai Calus (@nai_calus) • Instagram photos and videos

Hope there'll be another one soon(ish), but not too soon, my wallet is still on fire. XD

 

Just rolled in after the flight home. I'm shattered but what an amazing time! My brain isn't really organized enough with the time change to even do an adequate summary, but yes yes yes communicate with VolksUSA and thank them and /keep letting them know/ what we want over here. The whole reason Vanessa was made because Sara and Chiyo at VolksUSA kept communicating that the North American market wanted DearSD and tan skin! Sending those prayers to Mother SD (in the form of emails) works!!

 

Really happy to get Yo/midi Williams. I am great full that Volks offered these yo/midi pirates to all of us going to the tea party.

I did some quick photos of yo/midi Williams on a Sdc boy body.

/threads/volks-yo-midi-head-on-msd-sdm-and-sdc-bodies.668336/

Also on the thread is photos of yo/midi Cecile on the sdc boy body and the sdm boy body.

 

Really enjoying see all the picture albums - this means I can live vicariously through all of the travelers! Big thank you for sharing.

Almost wish I hadn't seen pictures of the beautiful Shinku one-off - it makes me want one even more! Suffice to say, I'm in love!!

 

Reflecting on my first dolpa:

1. Never carry a big resin doll when shopping.

2. Rush and grab the item I want, STAY FOCUSED. I only managed to grab 2 pairs of SD17 boys' shoes when I needed 2 pairs of Yo-SD, 1 pair of SD13 and 2 pairs of SD17 boys' shoes.

3. Be very patient when standing in line to enter the vendor's room (Sumika room). Complicated.

4. Consider carefully the one-off models because they are to die for! They are the reason why it is important to attend the Tea Party. I deeply regret not entering the lottery for one off Williams not that I expect to win but that I should have at least tried.

5. After a decade of collecting BJDs, I still prefer the big resin boys. When all the dolls are lined up, whether online or in real life, it is always the big resin boys that capture my heart. I already have too many big boys but still, I should have at least entered for the one off Williams.

 

Oh @stargazer_i If it makes you feel any better he is very loved. Hopefully at the next Volks event there is someone who catches your heart that you can enter for.
I definitely agree with your points about the Sumika shop. It is so hard to stay focused with so much surrounding you and items can disappear quickly so it's good to go in with a plan.

 

In regards to the shoppe, there was one outfit that caught my eye, and then from right behind me, another attendee grabbed it and placed in her basket. I thought, "bummer! It was the last one, too!" So... I had to circle around the shoppe at least three times to see if I could find another outfit for Mini-Me Lady Saiyan. Alas, none of the outfits looked appealing to me. But then, as luck would have it, the attendee changed her mind and put the outfit back where she found it. At that point, I saw the outfit, picked it up, and shrieked like a little girl, "I love you! I love you!" and I was hugging the outfit. *lol*

But yeah, sometimes you just have to keep circling around the shoppe until you find something that tickles your fancy.

 

Glad everyone has made it home safely! I'm also back home, flew back to Hawaii Tuesday evening. Lucky thing my flight was in the evening too, since the FedEx store was closed on Monday for the Holiday, which I had totally forgotten about, so I couldn't ship my boxes out until Tuesday morning! Fortunately it all worked out well time wise. It's a Good thing I've had plenty of experience with using clothing for padding and to protect things both in suitcases and shipping boxes, since I couldn't purchase any bubble wrap on Monday either. The boxes I shipped are due to arrive today, so I'll be unpacking and seeing how well everyone survived. Still have to unpack my suitcases too, as my furry boys came back from 'camp' yesterday, and Peewee had to go to the vet's in the afternoon to get his stitches removed. So I spent the day resting and just hanging out with my little four legged guys, I miss them so much when I'm away. Peewee's biopsy results were in too. Bad news is the lump was cancerous, some type of skin cancer but they couldn't pinpoint which kind. The good news is there were no cancer cells detected around the edges of the lump, and no indications that the cancer had spread to anywhere else. So now I just have to be vigilant, and keep a watch in case that lump reappears or a new lump shows up somewhere else. I'm just going to take it one day at a time, and give him as much extra love and attention as possible, while staying vigilant and hoping that the cancer doesn't come back!

 

Peewee's diagnosis is serious, so sorry to hear that, you should treat him extra well, eat his favorite food, do his favorite activity, lots of love. Yes, taking things one day at a time is good. I missed my four legged guy also, gave him lots of kisses and hugs when I returned. He growled at me, angry that I left him for so long in PetSmart Hotel. I can tell, he enjoyed the day camps there. you are lucky you managed to Fedex your boxes! That was a close call!

crpsaiyan: You got lucky you managed to get the outfit you wanted. I circled the room many times, hoping to see at least one pair of Yo-SD boys' shoes but no luck. I am very disappointed. Nell: I got side tracked by the displays. Now, my only option is to order the shoes online but that would mean shipping to Canada which is a hassle. Since moving back to Canada 1.5 years ago, I only bought 1 BJD dress (Sadol) and nothing else because I refuse to let Canada Post handle BJD purchases. I am also wary of Canadian border tax. Online purchases of BJD items without marking down prices is to me not acceptable because of border taxes. Buying Volks dolls and accessories online will be difficult. Sadol usually participates in Doll North in Toronto every May, they bring things over to Canada, so getting clothes is easy but not the shoes. My boys will only wear Volks shoes!

 

I'm sorry about Peewee, but I'm glad it hasn't spread and they caught the lump early! Best of luck to you two!!

 

Thanks stargazer_i and orangediscord, I'm trying to think positive and remain optimistic, while being mindful of the reality of the situation.

Sorry you weren't able to find the YoSD shoes you were looking for, stargazer_i. I don't remember actually seeing very much of anything for YoSDs in the store, other than a few of those hamster suits. While most of the shoes that I saw seemed to be girl's shoes for the DDs and the various SD sizes.
Come to think of it, I don't recall ever seeing all that many YoSD shoes being offered by Volks, and I think the few pairs of Volks Yo shoes that I own actually came as part of different outfit sets.

I was really happy I was able to find a pair of MSD jeans, Volks makes such nice clothing, and their jeans are the best I've found. They fit really well and look right on the dolls, like real jeans do on real people. Volks hasn't had any basic MSD sized jeans available for a long time, like since before the LA store closed! I also found a couple of MSD sized boy outfits too, that weren't too preschool looking.
It was wonderful to see all the traditional Japanese style clothing sets for the big guys, that Volks brought from some of the Japanese vendors. I used to drool over the beautiful kimono sets for the SD girls at the previous US Doll's Parties, and at the Volks stores in Japan. Not having any SD sized girls, I just couldn't justify buying them. Lol, at the time, Lue was my only boy who would willingly wear a girl's kimono, and they were all too big for him. Volks always brings such incredible stuff from the Japanese vendors, I wish there was some way to let them know just how much their beautiful goods are appreciated!

 

Glad to be there, met many pretty dolls and had fun at the tea party. My little cyndy got a very beautiful treasure maps as a gift, sure will be there for the next DP!

 

I received an email from VolksUSA yesterday. There will be a Dolpa in LA3 After Event on September 22.
It says:

A category will be updated for it on the web store soon.

 

I got that email as well. Why are they doing it on a Friday? I will be at work.

I posted some photos in the Dolpa photo thread.

 

I have to ask a stupid question here so please be kind...what exactly was the little cloth we received from Mrs. Shigeta at the end of the Tea Party? I wasn't able to hear what the announcement was.

 

@Scissorhand, in Japan many people carry a little "personal towel" for use in public restrooms, as there aren't always paper towels. You can buy them in stores in assorted fun prints, and give them as gifts. So... now you have a very special towel you can take to Japan with you if/when you go

BTW, I didn't hear the announcement either. Not sure if it pertained to Mrs. Shigeta's gifts, or what.

 

@Scissorhand It was likely a handkerchief or small hand-drying towel that you received in the envelope, as @beamlette mentioned.

Mrs. Shigeta's gifts were various small items from Kyoto, where Volks is headquartered. In our two envelopes, my family and I got one handkerchief like you did (though it might be a different design!), and one small decorative haircomb, reminiscent of what a geisha or maiko from Kyoto's Gion district might wear.

 

Thank you both for the explanation!

 

In case it is any consolation, Sylvie is very VERY loved. I felt numb with shock when Mr. Shigeta actually called my name at the tea party, but my family said I had the biggest silly grin on my face and more or less ran up there to get her, as if she might leave on her own! She's already claimed a sword and a spyglass, and has begun appropriating some of my other dolls' belongings into her pirate treasure hoard. I adore her something fierce so she's going to have a good life.

 

She's so beautiful @Holo's Apple Tree and a true pirate indeed it seems!

There is now an After Event banner on VolksUSA store (just the banner right now, item details aren't up quite yet)

 

Congratulations Holo's Apple Tree!
Sounds like Sylvie's the one who won the lottery.
Arrr! She looks a proper pirate queen, she does!
Glad she has a good home where she'll be loved and spoiled.

Kudos to you for making such a generous donation from Volks possible, the Make a Wish foundation is such a worthy cause.

 

After Report!

 

I wish Dollparty had more room for their fans. It shouldn't be a limited number of people for this event. I may have tried to go but I cannot plan my days off in advance sometimes. It's a great event I wish a better location could be approved.

 

The only thing that's limited is the Tea Party, but the rest of the Dolpa is open to the public and they increased their capacity by almost double from the last time. I got the impression that people that came but weren't able to go to the Tea Party still had a good time.

 

I think those who came and couldn't get in to the Tea Party were allowed in because they had extra seats from people who got in but weren't able to go...

But yeah, the rest is free and open to anyone. And several years ago, I went without being able to get into the Tea Party, and it was OK. (Better getting IN to the Tea Party, though!)

 

RE: I agree. The tea party is just the icing on the cake when it comes to the entire occasion. Otherwise, it is a wonderful event to go to, and if you have a Volks doll, I would highly recommend that you attend. It was absolutely beautiful.

 

I should have been more specific. I was referring to the limited number of seats available for the tea Party.