BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 25

Q: Have you ever modded a doll? (Do you think that you would?)

A: No, I didn't. Nor do I think I would. Artist dolls I own I would never mod as they are a finished product - customization isn't really the point with them. A few more traditional ABJD I own I wouldn't mod either as to preserve resell value. For a while I was toying with the idea of a removable pregnant belly for one of my dolls, but gave up on it as I realized magnets would also have to be mounted into the doll's stomach - too invasive for my taste :)

BJD 30-Day challenge: Day 24

I realized I accidentally answered the question no. 23 twice, but since both answers are true - I'm going to keep both of them!

Q: What about your favourite part of the hobby?

A: I think photostories. We all do photography, but the challenge of a story is to have a meaningful 'script' and to make the dolls look 'alive' - which to.me is the ultimate goal of the hobby anyway, hence the jointedness :) At the same time, demands placed on the quality of every single picture are a little lower in photostories, which is liberating...
Here is my first (and so far only) complete and published photostory:

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjuF6rEE

(It's a Flickr set, just click every picture in order and see text underneath)
I also bought a couple of stop-motion apps and plan on taking photostories to the next level of actual moves starring my dolls. Oh, if only I had time.... :))))

Updated census:

Dollzone Bunny
Pipos Cheese Mouse
BJTales Mouse
Doll factory Kiki the Piggy
Latidoll Yellow Lami
Fairyland RealPuki Tyni
Fairyland RealPuki Soso
Fairyland RealPuki Roro
Fairyland RealPuki PuPu
Fairyland PukiPuki Pipi
Fairyland PukiPuki Piki
Fairyland PukiPuki Mary
Fairyland PukiPuki Sugar
Fairyland Multihead Cupid (PKF body) ¥
Fairyland PukiFee Zoe
Fairyland MiniFee Soo
Elfdoll Mir
Leekeworld Mikhaila
Soom Dolomi
Doll Chateau Hillary ¥
Mushroom Peddler's Hoot the Owl
* Mushroom Peddler's Willow + Buzz
* Mushroom Peddler's Flick the Dragon
CharmCity Verse Philia
Dreamhigh Studio Piko
Nefer Kane Humpty Dumpty + doggie
Nefer Kane Suzy + blob
Nefer Kane Iracebeth + * big ear
* Nefer Kane Aleah (layaway)
* Nefer Kane Maheya (layaway)
* ApoDoll Bonnie
Nympheas dolls Nymphette Moka
* Nikkibritt's Studio Faun

* - incoming
¥- Face-up needed

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 23

Q: Is there a part of the BJD hobby that you dislike?
A: Yes. Selling :) It just so happens that I'm a rather impulsive buyer and even though I'm usually pleased with my purchases, sometimes my collection needs pruning and trimming. Like now I need to sell about 3-4 dolls and I dread it because:
- selling on DoA takes daily updating of the posts;
- I have this phobia, a terror really, that I might unintentionally upset the buyer and get bad feedback;
- shipping is always more expensive than I expect;
- waiting for the doll to arrive is nerve-wrecking.
And finally, but most importantly: there was a reason I bought the doll, there was a specific reason I liked it, and so separation is always sad even if its for the best... So yeah, hate selling, but it's a necessary evil I guess.

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 23

Q: Is there a part of the BJD hobby that you dislike?

A: Not so much dislike... Let's say, not so excited about. It is the need to restring a doll. I've never done it, nor I plan on doing it myself, yet the day comes for every doll, sooner or later, when elastic gets too loose - for me, this will mean shipping the doll to the aesthetics' place and paying the fee and... Just this whole hassle for the service that won't even make a drastic visible difference - of course I will notice if they pose better, but...

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 22

Q: What’s your favourite doll scale prop?

A: I really like chairs. Yes, simple (or not) chairs. They are versatile and can be used as a stand (back) or as a seat, and they look natural with just about any doll. Plus, it's rather easy to find a chair in correct scale. Some examples of a chair coming handy:











A chair is often invisible, but invaluable helper!

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 21

Q: One doll you love, but will never (probably) buy?

A: Not one doll, but rather the whole brand: I really love Kaye Wiggs' dolls, they are unusual and well-made and 'solid', as in, do not look or feel fragile... But even then, I don't get, I simply don't, why the heck are they so expensive. One doll runs upward of 700, and they can be over 2000 on secondary market. Shoot me in the head... Even the clothes people make for them, although beautiful and usually very high quality, can easily run 200 and more. So as much as I love them - I'll probably never buy one. I may ask for a gift... But that is too much even for a birthday present, really.

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 20

Q: What is your dream doll?

A: Wow... That's a toughie. Lately I was heard saying, on many occasions to many people, that my BJTakes Mouse is my dream, 'grail' doll that I already posses. But since then I fell in love with Nefer's dolls and now my dream is always whatever next doll she has coming out :)

So just let me post my updated state-of-the moment dolly wish list :) ::::

- Mushroom Peddler's Mini Dragon (currently sold out)
- Mushroom Peddler's new (tall) impling (incomplete prototype at the moment)
- Nefer Kane's Maheya, Bloop, ...
- Kaye Wiggs: MSD (most likely tan Miki)
- Nympheas Dolls: Nympheline

BID 30-day Challenge: Day 19

Q: A least favourite company?

A: There are tons of companies I don't care for - I am very particular with my tastes; it is easier to list the companies I'm interested in.. But I must say I irrationally dislike Dollzone. My first doll was from them, so I don't actually know what my problem is :) , but I don't think I would ever buy from them... I have an anthro bunny from Dollzone, and it is very cute (especially for the extremely low price it sold for), but it was a gift. I would never buy it myself, today.

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 18

So, exactly a month after having a baby, I am happily making my way back to this blog - kind of easing into it with this meme as my time is still very limited...
Q: what is your favorite BJD company?
A: Taking 'company' in a strict definition of a business with several employees, palace that mass-produces their dolls from start to finish (including casting and so on all the way to face-up), my favorite has to be, hands down, Fairyland. Their dolls are really easy on the eye (although more cute than beautiful, frankly), they pose wonderfully - practically the best in every size range, from RealPuki to an SD. By the way, they are making those amazing RealPuki!! And if that's not enough, their prices are very very reasonable, for the industry, that is.
Now if we stretch the definition of a company to lone artists who may not cast their own dolls, but sculpt and face-up them and who have their own brands and stores... The winner is, of course, French artist I am honored to call a friend - Nefer Kane (CircusKane is her company's name). She is amazing! As a person, as an artist... Her dolls are special and all unique. Right now, for example, Iracebeth the Red Queen is on pre-order:




There has not been a doll by Nefer that I didn't want! :)