Are you worried about telling your friends? What if they think the hobby is a waste of money? Well that's just fine. As long as it makes you happy, why worry about them?
Although, I (Katie) must confess that I was one of these friends. When OC told me about these dolls I thought she was crazy to even think about buying such an expensive doll. I didn't see the point in it. But of cours, at the time, I was majorly into roller skating and chose to spend $500 on a pair of skates. Unfortunately for me, the value of my purchase depleted the second I put them on. Her's, however, increassingly goes up as time goes by.
Anyways, back to ball jointed dolls... Everytime I would go and visit her, she would talk my ear off about face ups and moding, but me, not understanding any of it, just judged her about what I thought was a rediculous hobby. Little did I know, that
soon I would be just as into it as she was.
Later on, I ended up moving in with her. After only a month, I found myself looking them up (in secret of course...I was a little embaressed :/ silly me) but without her help, I really didn't know what I was doing and was soon glad that I had her to help me.
So, what's the point of all this? Well, no matter how much someone can be against something, opinions are rarely set in stone and can be changed. It may just take a bit of time. For me the major change came when I was around it everyday. Not to mention the fact that I quickly bonded with my best friends Soom Heliot, Siren.
Do you haveanything to add OC?
Of course I do Katie! This is probably one of my favorite posts so far, as well as my favorite BJD related story to tell. A lot of people in this hobby struggle with other's opinions. It's hard not to be upset when you put so much thought, money and time into something you really love just to have someone put it down. Not everyone is going to change their minds about your dolls, or this hobby, but my advice would be to remember they only have as much power over you as you give them. Not everyone you come across is going to be supportive of everything you do, you just need to learn how to shrug it off and remember its just their opinion, not a fact. If you let everyones opinion get to you, you will never be happy in anything you do.
I just remind myself that my doll makes me happy and thats what counts. I did not buy him to impress other people so it doesn't matter if they think he's a waste of money. It's much more fun when you have a friend who loves these dolls just as much as you. So I'm glad Katie changed her mind, but if she hadn't I would still love Siren and not let anyone's opinion change that.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Is this one right for me? How do I know?
Many people struggle to find the right doll for them. Epecially their first doll,and unfortunatly alot of people go about choosing their first doll the wrong way, by settling for the cheaper doll.
The most important rule for finding the doll you will love is to go for the one you REALLY love. Now, by this, I dont mean if your doll happens to be a rare, limited edition, or discontinued doll, that you should save up thousands to get it, there is nothing wrong with figuring out your price budget and aiming for it, but if you find a doll you really love for 600 and a doll you think is pretty cute for 300, i recomend getting the $600 one, yes it will take alot longer and yes the cute doll might work but your more likely to be happier with the hobby by getting the one you really love. There have been people who left the hobby for years because their first doll wasn't the right doll for them so they thought BJD's just weren't for them, and then come back a few years later with a doll they adore and wish they hadent given up so easily.
The first thing i would recomend doing when searching for your first doll is to look through threads on doa (denofangels.com) that have pictures of dolls and owners and pictures of dolls next to odd measurments (like how many soda cans tall a 60cm is) and figure out which size is right for you. Many people get out a ruler and look at the measuerments and are still shocked by the size of the dolls.
From there, start searching through the dolls that size, you may change your mind on what size you want at this point if you see the type of dolls that catch your eye are fewer in the size you thought you'd prefer (for example if you want a childlike bjd but you liked the 60cm dolls you might have better luck finding a doll you would consider buying in the MSD's)
By now you should know what size you want as well as what style of doll you like the most (more anime styled dolls such as the ones found at eltus.com or more realistic dolls like the ones found at http://ail-dolls.com/) you will probably have a favorite or two picked out as well. By deciding what kind of style and personality as well as what your dolls hair and eyes will look like should help you narrow down your options.
During the time it takes to save up for your doll your tastes could change drastically. You will also probably be torn between two or more dolls, this is normal.
When you have picked out a doll or two your considering buying for your first the next thing i would do would be to search owner pictures of the doll (on doa or deviant art) as well as the database for that doll on denofangels. This will not only show you if the doll looks like it does in its company photo's but also how versital the sculpt is and how well it might pull of the style you have in mind for your doll.
Eventually you will have to make the desicion on which doll will work better for you, and you may still make the wrong decision. Some people have to actually have a doll in hand to realise its not the right doll for them. There will be future blog posts on things you can do to try and bond with your doll as well as other things you should know for getting your first doll.
I wish you all luck on finding your perfect doll!
until next time -OC
The most important rule for finding the doll you will love is to go for the one you REALLY love. Now, by this, I dont mean if your doll happens to be a rare, limited edition, or discontinued doll, that you should save up thousands to get it, there is nothing wrong with figuring out your price budget and aiming for it, but if you find a doll you really love for 600 and a doll you think is pretty cute for 300, i recomend getting the $600 one, yes it will take alot longer and yes the cute doll might work but your more likely to be happier with the hobby by getting the one you really love. There have been people who left the hobby for years because their first doll wasn't the right doll for them so they thought BJD's just weren't for them, and then come back a few years later with a doll they adore and wish they hadent given up so easily.
The first thing i would recomend doing when searching for your first doll is to look through threads on doa (denofangels.com) that have pictures of dolls and owners and pictures of dolls next to odd measurments (like how many soda cans tall a 60cm is) and figure out which size is right for you. Many people get out a ruler and look at the measuerments and are still shocked by the size of the dolls.
From there, start searching through the dolls that size, you may change your mind on what size you want at this point if you see the type of dolls that catch your eye are fewer in the size you thought you'd prefer (for example if you want a childlike bjd but you liked the 60cm dolls you might have better luck finding a doll you would consider buying in the MSD's)
By now you should know what size you want as well as what style of doll you like the most (more anime styled dolls such as the ones found at eltus.com or more realistic dolls like the ones found at http://ail-dolls.com/) you will probably have a favorite or two picked out as well. By deciding what kind of style and personality as well as what your dolls hair and eyes will look like should help you narrow down your options.
During the time it takes to save up for your doll your tastes could change drastically. You will also probably be torn between two or more dolls, this is normal.
When you have picked out a doll or two your considering buying for your first the next thing i would do would be to search owner pictures of the doll (on doa or deviant art) as well as the database for that doll on denofangels. This will not only show you if the doll looks like it does in its company photo's but also how versital the sculpt is and how well it might pull of the style you have in mind for your doll.
Eventually you will have to make the desicion on which doll will work better for you, and you may still make the wrong decision. Some people have to actually have a doll in hand to realise its not the right doll for them. There will be future blog posts on things you can do to try and bond with your doll as well as other things you should know for getting your first doll.
I wish you all luck on finding your perfect doll!
until next time -OC
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The perfect doll! Oh... They discontinued it?
I (Katie) found a doll and absolutely fell inlove with it, only to find out that it was a very rare, discontiued dollshe bermann, and not being able to get one of these magnificent dolls, I had to search for a sculpt that I thought matched the look. Which I found in the Unidoll Jace. As soon as I fell for him, I was informed that he was recently discontinued as well. So, what do you do now? Give up? No. Never give up, if you want it badly enough, you can find something that will work just as well!
This is the one that started to neverending search for perfection! (This is Sabriel's picture from DoA)
LINK http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87425&highlight=favorite
This is the second one that was found. He is a Unidoll Jace.
LINK http://miracuel.deviantart.com/art/Evil-eye-100501608
So naturally I kept looking. And found disappointment after disappointment. All of the dolls that I thought would be a fantastic replacement for the two molds I had really liked had also been discontinued. Luckily for me, OC woke up and helped me look.
We soon found the almost perfect Unidol Berkut. Now the only thing left for me to do is create his character.
LINK http://www.unidoll.com/
That's right, it's not enough to just have the dolls of your already existing characters. Sometimes your perfect doll will come along, not matching any of your already thought out plans... So what do you do? Just not give him a character? HELL NO! You make one up for him/her :)
Not everybody's dolls have a set character, some people don't even name their dolls. But most people find that you're much happier with your doll (and you're doll is probably much happier with you as well, unless they're a grump but ;)) if you know their personality. It also helps cut down costs because you may see an outfit you love, but you know your doll would never wear it.
I do not mean to be disrespectful by putting up pictures that are not mine, so I've posted links to the exact place where I found the picture. (If you would like to comment on the pictures, plese post them where I've linked you so that the rightful owners get the comments and not me :]). If one of these pictures is yours and you do not want it to be posted in this blog, just let me know and I will gladly take it down for you.
This is the one that started to neverending search for perfection! (This is Sabriel's picture from DoA)
LINK http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87425&highlight=favorite
This is the second one that was found. He is a Unidoll Jace.
LINK http://miracuel.deviantart.com/art/Evil-eye-100501608
So naturally I kept looking. And found disappointment after disappointment. All of the dolls that I thought would be a fantastic replacement for the two molds I had really liked had also been discontinued. Luckily for me, OC woke up and helped me look.
We soon found the almost perfect Unidol Berkut. Now the only thing left for me to do is create his character.
LINK http://www.unidoll.com/
That's right, it's not enough to just have the dolls of your already existing characters. Sometimes your perfect doll will come along, not matching any of your already thought out plans... So what do you do? Just not give him a character? HELL NO! You make one up for him/her :)
Not everybody's dolls have a set character, some people don't even name their dolls. But most people find that you're much happier with your doll (and you're doll is probably much happier with you as well, unless they're a grump but ;)) if you know their personality. It also helps cut down costs because you may see an outfit you love, but you know your doll would never wear it.
I do not mean to be disrespectful by putting up pictures that are not mine, so I've posted links to the exact place where I found the picture. (If you would like to comment on the pictures, plese post them where I've linked you so that the rightful owners get the comments and not me :]). If one of these pictures is yours and you do not want it to be posted in this blog, just let me know and I will gladly take it down for you.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
First Outing!
One of the things that attracted us to Ball Jointed Dolls was the bonding that comes with creating such a customized doll. Today my roommate and I took out our doll Siren (soom heliot) for his first official photography outing. It's amazing how you fall in love all over again with these dolls with every little thing you do with them.
Looking through the lense just reminded us of all the things we adore about this doll. BJD are not for everybody, it's an expensive hobby that can grow more expensive as time goes by (cost of face ups, clothings, accessories, and upgraded cameras) and can be very time consuming,not to mention, people who are understanding and supportive of the hobby are few and far between.
But if you're lucky enough to obtain one of these dolls, you might be one of the people that feel that your doll is something very close to your heart. It's something you've created from the bottom of your heart that can't be replaced by any Wal Mart Barbie. And this is what makes them worth every penny.
Today we drove our boy to Jordan River Parkway, where we found a most perfect landscape to put behind him, it was almost impossible to return home, and cease taking pictures. But with cameras dying and fingers freezing, we grudgingly leftwith what we think are very few, but also very beautiful pictures.
We intend to use ball jointed dolls as our artistic outlet. There are so many skills we could develop with our dolls, that we can actually have a lot of fun doing. Such as: photography, painting (face ups), sewing and designing, writing and character development ( background history), sculpting, ect.
This blog's purpose is to allow people to follow us throughout our ball jointed dall journeys :), as well as keeping a record for ourselves.
Between the two of us we are planning on having atleast 15 dolls (wow that's a lot... better get saving) So this blog will record the homecoming and makeovers of these dolls, and give those people who are not able to yet obtain one of these amazing dolls a chance to experience what it's like to try to fit a character from your heart into the perfect representation. We'll be recording the ups and the downs, such as: getting a doll and realizing it's not right for you, as well as finding something that makes the doll pop for you.
Until next time, we hope you enjoy this post.
Katie and OC
Looking through the lense just reminded us of all the things we adore about this doll. BJD are not for everybody, it's an expensive hobby that can grow more expensive as time goes by (cost of face ups, clothings, accessories, and upgraded cameras) and can be very time consuming,not to mention, people who are understanding and supportive of the hobby are few and far between.
But if you're lucky enough to obtain one of these dolls, you might be one of the people that feel that your doll is something very close to your heart. It's something you've created from the bottom of your heart that can't be replaced by any Wal Mart Barbie. And this is what makes them worth every penny.
Today we drove our boy to Jordan River Parkway, where we found a most perfect landscape to put behind him, it was almost impossible to return home, and cease taking pictures. But with cameras dying and fingers freezing, we grudgingly leftwith what we think are very few, but also very beautiful pictures.
We intend to use ball jointed dolls as our artistic outlet. There are so many skills we could develop with our dolls, that we can actually have a lot of fun doing. Such as: photography, painting (face ups), sewing and designing, writing and character development ( background history), sculpting, ect.
This blog's purpose is to allow people to follow us throughout our ball jointed dall journeys :), as well as keeping a record for ourselves.
Between the two of us we are planning on having atleast 15 dolls (wow that's a lot... better get saving) So this blog will record the homecoming and makeovers of these dolls, and give those people who are not able to yet obtain one of these amazing dolls a chance to experience what it's like to try to fit a character from your heart into the perfect representation. We'll be recording the ups and the downs, such as: getting a doll and realizing it's not right for you, as well as finding something that makes the doll pop for you.
Until next time, we hope you enjoy this post.
Katie and OC
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