Evolution of a Mouse

(in a dress by Smilga)

This is how she looked when she first arrived to me. Notice that she had a full face-up, body pushing and even adorable mani-pedi! My dream doll:



I have later discovered that she can wear PukiPuki clothes (and even stretchy RealPuki ones). Here below she is wearing a Puki miniskirt and RealPuki top (hand-knitted by Smilga) with a wig sold by Jpopdolls especially for her:



Eventually, I somewhat corrected this awful look by giving her a haircut and putting her in a matching Puki outfit (made for my Pukies by Poltorakota). I also swapped her eyes out for more natural-looking ones (I also tried some with smaller iris, but they were a disaster):



Then, I ordered a wig by catesch with a flower wreath, a couple of dresses by Rella and on top of that, totally accidentally, traded my PukiFee Ante for a GORGEOUS dollhouse by bevwales (there are also more for sale). Under the jump, there are many pictures of her showing of those dresses and the new home. Enjoy!

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 30

Q: Have you ever been to a doll meetup? Did you enjoy it/do you plan to go to one in the future?

A: I imagine these meet-ups to be a lot of fun, but I have never attended one. I want to, however! And I probably will, at least one time, and probably many more unless I get disappointed - or grounded by my husband for spending too much money :)

The biggest European con - LDoll - has always been my dream destination, but something always came in the way (like, kids; ha!) and I still don't give up home to get there one day. In fact next year, if I'm still in Germany (which is uncertain at the moment), i have tentative plans again to come to LDoll with my first ever dolly friend. I think she would enjoy it and we'd have the time of our lives!

If I miss LDoll... I'll just die! (joke ;)) Seriously, if I miss LDoll and even if not, I'll probably try to go to one of the big US cons - there are several ones throughout the year in different states. There are also amateur collector meet-ups which can be lovely too. I think I would only go to those if they were not too far from wherever I live, though.

BJD 30-Day Challenge: Day 29

Q: Post a picture of your dolls exploring the outside world!

A: I looooove to take pictures of the dolls in the garden! I was surprised I didn't do it more often :) Here's one, for instance:



This is one of my finest roses she's sleeping on :)

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 28

Q: Post a crazy/silly pose!

A:



She doesn't want to be seen without face-up! :)) (Part of the box opening shot)

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 27

Q: Do you have a favourite out of your own dolls? (Don’t worry, we won’t tell the others ;D)

I always say that BJtales Mouse is my grail doll, the pinnacle of my collection. In fact, judging by the amount of spoiling it receives (handmade dollhouse, exclusive dresses and wigs, etc.) it is easy to see that she is, in fact, my favorite BJD. But deep in my heart, I'm attached to Nefer Kane's weird, anti-cute, unique, amazing Humpty Dumpty. One day I will make a separate post about her, for it's not just the doll that has my heart, it is also the story of its purchase and, most importantly, of my and Nefer's friendship.
So here are both of them:

Mouse with the house :)


Humpty Dympty -

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 26

Q: Done your own faceups? (Again, do you think you’d do that?)

I should try, as I have pastels and paint and can easily get MSC. Experimenting could be fun and waaaaaay cheaper than getting professional face-ups. But... Probably this won't ever happen, for two reasons:
- No. Effing. Time.
- 99% of dolls I buy already have faces-up. Especially artist dolls: this way, they are completely formed by the original author, start to finish.

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! :)

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 17

Q: What is your favourite item of dollie clothing?

A: I keep on buying kimonos / yukatas for everyone, so you'd think it's my favorite :) , but really, I like elaborate pieces that take a while to put on but then look great and really put together - full-set outfits etc. Like this one that took, well, two nights to just put on:

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 16

The original Day 16 question was as follows:

16) Can any of your crew stand on their heads? (Show us~)

But to be honest, I couldn't possibly be any more bored by the question. Well, yeah, Fairyland tinies probably do a pretty good job at that, and they are a snap to photograph, but I just don't feel like it. Being 41 weeks pregnant kind of makes me rebellious and cranky :) So instead, here is my self-invented Day 16 question, answer to which will also prompt some picture sharing:

Q: Which one of your dolls looks best in the photos and why? (with samples)

A: As much as I adore Real Pukies and other tinies, they can be a PITA in terms of photography. Even with close-range macro on they sometimes work out blurry. On the upside, however, I have the most props for them.

But somehow, my best pictures ever were of an MSD-sized girl Mikhaila by Leekeworld. Her grayish / dusty rose colored skin and the way she had enough area of body and face to actually capture light and shadows... Here she is, with pictures from different shots and types of lighting. Enjoy!

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 15

Q: What do your family think of your dolls?

A: Hard to tell :) Knowing how important (and often therapeutic) this hobby is for me, they support it wholeheartedly, which includes faking interest also in the cases where the dolls I'm interested in are obviously way too 'weird' for them. At the time I was into cuteness above everything, they were for the most part really on the same page with me, even if they did think I might have purchased too many at that stage. Post-Fairyland, however, they are often not impressed by the unusual dolls with character I often select. Does that upset me? Not at all. They don't have to share all my tastes to support me, and I wish they knew that so I would know their true, even negative, opinions of my dolls. Not that it would influence my choices ;), but then when they really admire a doll of my photography of it, it would be more valuable.

BJD 30-day Challenge: Day 14

Q: Have you ever had a floating head? What about a headless body?
A: Actually, after vowing I never would, I had this year - and for a while - a floating multihead (Fairyland) head that I planned to put on a PukiFee body but failed to to procure one for the longest time. Only in late July did I finally buy a PKF body on Dairyland forum. I actually tried earlier in the year: bought a cheap PukiFee Ante for the purpose of using her body - but her precious custom face-up made me keep her as-is. You've seen her in the previous post, she is a darling! And here is my multihead Cupid - the wig is on the way from DDE:

And no, no headless bodies here. Hopefully none ever, really...