2024 Doll Goals/Resolutions

And end of year update:

Minimize purchases of new dolls (I'm not gonna say no dolls at all. I know myself.)
I think I've only brought in like... two? One of which I purchased last year. Not bad.

Touch up a couple damaged faceups in the crew when it's not 11F out
Yep, they got touched up!

Find a wig and do the faceup for the incoming doll when she gets here
She's got those! As does the other purchase for the year!

Decide whether I'm going to DollCon Dallas alone or a queer reader con with my mother!
Long decided! And I might go back to the reader con this upcoming year!

More doll sewing and knitting, especially for my odd-sized dolls
Ehhh unfortunately the poor souls are still rather under-clothed.

More furniture for their cabinet. If I can find a loft bed that fits and doesn't have crap underneath it, perfect
Not much success here, unfortunately. I really ought to clear out a bunch of the clothes and other doodads that got scattered in it.

Maybe redo Ara's faceup? He's adorable but the bright red lips aren't my thing
Didn't happen, not gonna happen now that it's getting colder. Ah well, he's still cute.

Spend time enjoying them! I've got all these lil stinkers for a reason
Kind of? I got surprise sucked into quilting really hard this year, and that's become the hobby du jour! But I've recently been making a conscious effort to bring them out a bit more.

 

End of year update - I don't think anything will change in December ^^

1. Doll goal ...
All my outstanding preorders from 2023 finally made it home, including my Bimong Narin68 who took practically the whole year to come. I ended up waiting almost 2 years for this bad boy, what a saga. It's over now, thank goodness.

I ended up buying 2 full dolls and one floating head this year, so I didn't succeed in my no-buy goal or get a break from being in a waiting room. (Although one of the full dolls was to get an alt head for an existing doll, so I don't count it as new resin.) No regrets though! These new ones will be nice projects for next year.

I'm also glad that I'm calming down on buying new dolls -- 1.5 dolls in 2024 is much more sane than the 6(!!!) dolls I bought in 2023. I want this downward trend to continue in 2025!


2. Photography goal (flight studio)...
I initially thought this was a failure, but it turns out I may have succeeded in my goal of creating a "flight studio" after all. I'm doing my flight photoshoots using doll stands in a different way (such as this gallery thread, and this on my blog), and I've bought more stands that can help with dynamic posing and photos. So I think the flight studio is happening after all, it was only my initial idea that didn't work out.


3. Sewing goal...
I learned a LOT of sewing this year, made some breakthroughs, and have gotten more familiar with the craft overall. I took this photoshoot where almost all these clothes were made by me. Sewing doesn't seem so daunting and confusing anymore, so I'm really happy with what I've learned already, and I'm keen to learn and make more next year.

And something unexpected that happened late this year... I started taking sewing commissions for kimono/hakama. I'm still amazed that a couple people have asked to commission newbie me So I don't think I'll get around to my 3b stretch goal (making a cosplay outfit for a doll) for this year. I'll bump it to next year!


4. Faceups...
As mentioned, I abandoned my vague ideas for faceup commissions early on. But I'm getting sewing commissions instead?


5. Doll website...
Very happy that I made my doll profile website - now that all the markup/coding groundwork is done, I'm having great fun with adding new pages. I recently updated all the profiles with tons of photos, so please check it out!

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This year's plans were rather unstructured, but it worked out for me - I got a lot done and I'm also calming down on the new resin buys. I think it's been a pretty good year!

 

Well...failed step 1 ^^; I did finally figure out a way to finish sculpting the ear mod, but I've suddenly become really anxious about trying out the airbrush to color match it to the head, so haven't progressed beyond that >< I'm getting there though.

I did get the head for my dnd character in, and decided to roll with it since it's cute, even if sculpturally it doesn't really match her face shape. I also got one for her friend, and their bodies are ordered and should be in here in around a month! The fabric store near me is closing, so I need to get fabric to make their basic outfits, but those are already designed and pretty simple, so I should be able to make them fine. I'm a little nervous about the wig for my girl, since I need to both dye and style it, but I don't mind the first, and if I can't figure out how to alter the wig I ordered into a fitting style for her, it's not the worst thing in the world if her hair is down. I want to have them ready to bring to the con in NYC in March, so having a deadline is helping me plan better than for my customs.

And I *was* able to sell that doll (as well as some other things I've been trying to, both for doll money and in preparation to hopefully move next year)!

 

I love hearing about everyone's updates! Here's mine before I head off to the new thread for new resolutions.

1. Done! I have 3 Billy bookcases now and I'm very happy.
2. Getting there! I had some collection changes, so there are some new faces that need faceups.
3. Nope. This one is a fail.
4. Not in the way that I wanted. I've been spending more time in my office where my dolls are and this means that I passively enjoy them since they're on display, but I've been interacting with them less.

 

Last update about 2024 for me :
1 - Done! I got two new doll + pre-ordered 1 practice head.
2 - WIP, as always, slow but progress!
3 - Still not finish this one, this might go to my next year goal

 

Spoiler: My old post

Well, it's nearing the end of the year so I thought I'd check in and update on my progress so far.

Hybrid Elf Girl Project:

All parts I wanted for her are acquired! I'm super pleased with everything. She's become my most posable doll. I'm really looking forward to seeing her finished.

Modding was a no-go. Turns out the apoxie I bought last year had spoiled by the time I opened it. I was really disappointed! Thankfully I only bought the smallest size containers, but it was still pretty expensive. I haven't bought a new set of apoxie yet, so it's unlikely that I'll meet my modding goals this year.

Since I can't mod yet, I won't be able to try my dye experiment. I have all my supplies ready though!


Kiryu Project:

Kiryu is my Dollshe Neo that I've been customizing to shell one of my favourite video game characters from Yakuza/Like a Dragon. I made decent progress with his tattoo until the unthinkable happened. While I was working in the garage the chest piece slipped from my hand and onto the pavement creating a little gash in his back along with some other minor chips and scuffs to the resin So... my work was ruined. I'm just thankful it wasn't worse, like the piece breaking completely. I ended up wiping the whole thing and then did my best to sand out all the chips before starting over. I managed to get as far as getting some of the outlining started, but that's all.


So, all in all it's been a pretty disappointing year for meeting my customization goals.

Aside from that, I did get some things accomplished that weren't on my goal list:

✔︎ I restrung three of my four dolls and made plans of what dolls need sueding and where.

✔︎ My hybrid girl has a name and character now! Her name is Kai'ri and she's based on a very old OC I created when I was 12 My old OC was originally a cat girl, but now I've modified and expanded her character as an elf.

✔︎ I made some bracelets!


I also bought a few new things for my dolls:

✔︎ Kai'ri has eyes!

✔︎ Made an order for a Charm Doll Merlin to share bodies with my oldest doll and act as an alternative sculpt for the same character. The doll will be coming with wing parts which I will be giving to Kai'ri.

✔︎ Finally ordered jointed hands for Kiryu. The Dollshe hands he came with are quite large for his scale but I've grown to like them so I tried getting hands that are similarly large. I'm hoping they'll fit okay. I may have to sand the wrist joints, but we'll see~

 

Recap time!

Creative
o Finished not just one but like a dozen pieces of clothing, 4 of those being a full outfit. But what I'm most proud of is that I FINALLY started to work on an outfit for my dragon girl, which I had been too intimidated to do for 4 years!
o Made 3 wigs that I'm very happy with!
o Continued writing, probably wrote even more than last year.
o Managed to go take proper pictures once (did a short photo story).
o I think it was this year that I worked on the Impldoll Leona head, but I ended up changing my mind about shelling a character on that head and lost all motivation to continue that project for the time being, it didn't help that I had also underestimated the amount of work left on it. However, I did start a head shrink project on my Impl Sicily and that's way further along, almost finished.
o I think there was some progress with the Ida head + bust but I've been feeling so uninspired with this project that I wouldn't be too surprised if I end up abandoning it entirely.
o For the first time since I started doing faceups I ended up deciding to skip doing any this year and holy crap, that was such a good decision because now I'm actually feeling excited to do them next year! And in general, I've been more productive with doll things probably mostly due to this decision.

Maintenance
o Restrung almost all dolls! I made it a habit to restrung dolls as I sewed for them or otherwise handled them long enough to notice and get annoyed with their looseness. I had originally thought only a couple of dolls were like that but it was actually pretty much every single doll that needed tightening up, whoops.
o Sueded all but one doll that needs it, I'll do the remaining one once I'm able to restrung her as well.

Goals depending on finances
o Bought a new Impldoll body, way sooner than I had meant to because of a great event deal. Hadn't originally been interested in the free Vilma head but once I realized that if I were to slightly sand the eyes it might just actually be the perfect head for the character I had originally meant to reshell to my Impl Leona, I ended up jumping on it as I wasn't so sure about the head working out that I would have been willing to pay for it later on, and though my financial situation got uncomfortably tight for a while due to making the order sooner than I had planned I'm so glad I did because the Vilma did indeed turn out to be the perfect shell after just a little eye mod! Afterwards I also realized that oh yeah, her previous yosd shell had also required a little bit of sanding at the eyes, so it felt even more fitting that the new one needed the same teeny bit of eye modding as well.
o Skipped doing faceups so didn't buy any filters. Did buy the box for keeping the heads in after spraying sealant though.
o Bought a lot of mohair, was able to buy a lot more of it due to not having to buy the gas mask filters, yay.
o Also bought some wig caps and so on.
o As well as eyes.
o Decided that selling at least through the internet isn't worth the hassle for me. Packed away to the cellar the one doll that was causing me anxiety, have been thinking of offering it to the only person that I'm aware of IRL that's in the hobby but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
o Didn't buy any clothing since I sewed some myself.

Overall, this has been by far the most productive year in the hobby for me! I've also done many things I hadn't thought of when planning the goals, such as painting/glossing nails and drilling holes for earrings for all the dolls I want to have them which is something I had been putting off for many years. Also made more jewellery, including some earrings which was a new experience and when I put the first pair on a head I found out that handling dolls with proper dangling earrings gives me the same "" feeling of absolute joy as doll shoes and food props which was a nice surprise, I had thought that for sure this hobby wouldn't be hiding any more of those for me at this point.

 

Despite a doll that tempted me for a few hours, I succeeded in not buying dolls this year.

I made enough headway in my sewing projects that everyone now has at least one complete outfit. This means this man here (https://denofangels.com/threads/formal-portraits.884406/#post-13206146) is dressed enough to go on display rather than hiding in his box.

 

Weeellll... I definitely improved my sewing skills, that I can check as done.
The two unique outfits one, well uhh, I went from 2 dolls to 6 this year so the amount of outfits needed tripled but I managed to dress everyone, so everyone has at least one outfit! So resolution half done.
The last resolution did not happen- I did manage to pay off a significant chunk of my student loan (yippee!) but not half, and I decided I can wait for my grail a bit longer.

 

It's probably safe to do a final tally now, right?

• Bookmark list has been regularly added to and re-weeded
• Eyes and wigs acquired, claimed by dolls, and in need of restocking again...
• I bought far too many 1/3 and larger dolls, none of which were a tan Dokkebi Garion
• I've sold very little, but have sold heads?
• Was ghosted by the person who was going to do Cyprian's face up So I guess that's back on next year's list...

 

Not working on a side hustle freed up a lot of time. Everyone got re-assembled and cleaned. I completed 15 doll characters (history, outfit, accessories). This project made me realize I needed to reshell a couple OCs. I have 15 bjds left and plan to finish these in 2025.

By changing my plan to fit everyone into my Free Lands world with a set character stretched my creativity and helped me really enjoy my dolls. I even figured out how to fit Owen, my Volks YoSD Kuuta into the world as Sam Doyle’s brother. Or is he?

mwhahahaha!

 

Updating the progress I made for my 2024 goals, happy to say that five out of six was completed XD XD XD. The final one that did not make to 2024 goal was a dorrie body I got Q2 of 2023.

Oh well, time to add the last one to my 2025 goals then.

 

Time to reflect on what I did last year vs what I wanted to do!

Well... I sort of did this? I actually sold the 08 Breakaway and replaced it with the 05, which is the one I really wanted, and it has been painted! I am currently waiting for him to return from the faceup artist (I also renamed the new one Caid)

Yep! I did lots of this! And it is still my favourite thing!

I think this is actually the most important thing I did over the year. Doll stands have changed my life. The SDs are all on display and they look amazing and aaaaaahhhhh how did it take me so long to do this? I'm enjoying my dolls so much more now that they are posed and safely standing on display. Restringing Blue was also a life changer.

Yeah, I went ahead and sold the whole doll. Not just the head. Glad it's gone to a new home where it will be appreciated.

Okay, I didn't do this BUT I did get a Woosoo. And the only reason I never had "get a Woosoo" on my to do list was because I thought it was so impossible it would never happen. So, yeah. I am happy. I also got a dreaming El which pretty much satiated my need for a dreaming CP Delf sculpt. I'm no longer really that bothered about getting the dreaming Shiwoo (It would be nice but it's not like, top of my to do list anymore)

 

Well this didn't age well. I had such easy goals too! I think the only one I completed was finishing two outfits, and I only barely finished those at the very end of the year. I dusted everyone at least.

I got laid off part way through the year and then started a new job both of which really took my focus off of anything doll related.