2026 Goals For The Year

A new goals list for the year…I’m so in! I absolutely love these threads and take part every year (and rest assured I’ll be happily keeping up with every post that others make too.) I always find it so interesting seeing what others are planning for their dolls every year. Personally, it’s a wonderful opportunity to take stock and keep track of plans for my crew, and it gives me a place to check on my progress throughout the year.

1. Same as last year…no new dolls! No, don’t feel sorry for me. I’ve been collecting these amazing dolls for 20 years…my crew is complete and I’m simply out of display space!

2. A few of my dolls need faceups and/or extended artwork:
a) Tatters ( Doll Chateau Gladys) needs checker-board artwork added to her body parts to better illustrate her story connection to the Mad Hatter and White Rabbit.
b) My blank Mystique (Dream Valley Ghost Moth) needs a faceup and blushing of her various winged parts.
c) Will this finally be the year Barrio (Luts SeniorDelf65 2015 Wintery) finally gets his religious back tattoo?

3. Sewing…someone is always needing something it seems, and I’m always coming up with fun new sewing projects.

4. Buy any small things they might need to enhance their characters.
a) Currently having some doll-sized monster plushies being made by a talented artisan for my Ringdoll Jade, Imaginaria.

5. Photos! Now that my collection is finally complete, I really need to do better with this. Here’s hoping!

6. Keep up with my doll profiles here on DoA.

 

Oh no 2026 is almost there already????

- Like every year, the general plan is not to buy more dolls (never works out)... I will allow myself one doll just to give myself some slack into my inevitable failure I've ended up missing something I sold this year, so I aim to buy the same mold back if I find them

- I want to do lots of sewing. I've gotten on a good roll with my sewing project journal so continuing that won't be hard, and I want to build up to doing slightly more detailed projects without getting frustrated about them. I also just want to use up some fabrics and yarns I have.

- I bought lots of wig hair this year but hardly made any wigs... perhaps '26 is the year for hair.

- finish (and actually start ) a cosplay project I've been planning for ages. Make costumes, wigs, accessories and a set for a photoshoot. Not gonna name it this time because I jinxed my Angelic Layer plans I had for 2025 it seems.

- Set up my analogue camera again and take some doll photos on film! I struggle photographing my 1/3s, but I think this could be cool to do with them.



Otherwise I'm pretty relaxed about the coming year in this hobby - I'm not planning to do a lot of buying because importing doll stuff will get more expensive next year it seems, and I don't yearn for lots more dolls (I've been actively trying to reduce the number all year and am happy with the balance I have now). I'm looking forward to just enjoying the resin's company mainly!

 

me @myself: please don't buy more dolls, there's just not space anymore (unless it's a Unoa Chibi)(or any really well price Unoa, actually).

I do hope to sew more. Several dolls need updates to their outfits which are a few years old at this point, and could be better. I also hope to find shoes for everyone, and to give all my dolls a strong style, instead of just dressing them with what I can find for sale/what I have laying around.
My mature 1/6 have been particularly neglected, so I'd like to give them some love again...

And it'd be nice if I could get myself to enjoy taking photos again. The more years pass, the less I'm statisfied with what I do. Maybe I should give myself a challenge for weekly/monthly photos...

 

I dare not make any goals more ambitious than:
- finish the 1/4 chair (only needs upholstering)
- sew something
- do at least 1 photo shoot

"You can dream" goals are:
- make some magnetic brooches—in theory an easy project for which I have almost all the materials, and yet I haven't touched it all this year
- go to a doll convention or meet-up

I've got rather a busy year ahead of me, and my health and finances are still a little shaky, so I'm trying to be conservative with my expectations

 

Are you getting new dolls?
I shouldn't, but I probably will. I've got a MYOU Aron that I'm just waiting on being shipped right now and honestly, I might get another tiny/YoSD. No more SDs though, I simply don't have the space. I really have to stick to that this year, I got two this past year...

Want to sew up some clothing?
Like every year, I want to try and sew something, but I don't have the best set up right now to use my sewing machine so it's kind of... non-existent. Maybe if the house gets cleaned up (finally), I can have a space to do so.

Try your hand at modding?
Modding scares the heck out of me, doing it personally at least. So nope, not for me

Give new face-ups?
Possibly, if not by myself then by others. I'm going to ship two off to a friend soon, but that's all my plans for right now.

Make that perfect prop?
At the moment, I'm thinking of turning my incoming doll into a sort of casual Pure Vanilla Cookie (we'll see how long that lasts), so I'd have to make his staff. I might also make something for my favorite YoSD, Oliver. Don't know what though!

Take a lot of pictures?
Always take more pictures! I did a decent enough job this year, all things considered, but I'd like to try and go to different places for photos. It's just hard when I have no one to go with. I'd love to bring some of my bigger dolls out for nice photoshoots, but I can't do so solo. However, I'm planning on taking a photography class and get a different lens to learn and take better pictures! My mom wants to learn photography, so I'm joining her on that at the nearby community college.

Organize better?
I've got a pretty good organization system now, but I want to make it even better. Though, with the limited space I have, I don't know how I'm going to manage especially since I want to get more YoSD clothes.

Something else?
Getting more custom outfits! I'm hoping to get some type of outfit for my SD version of my D&D character. My MSD version has his Paragon outfit, so I'm thinking my SD one might need his Epic Destiny look. Or his general casual clothes. I also want to get more YoSD clothes but be picky about it. Finally, diorama work. I have three dioramas that are about 90% finished, I need to complete them.

 

- No additional dolls. Also, zero shopping for accoutrements, in the current climate, instead, continue to be creative with the stash I have!
- I am currently enjoying slowly working on my Cha Cha, once she is finished,I plan to take my time in 2026 to enjoy the working on Ghost Moth girl!
- If/when life allows, do more sewing.
- If/when life allows, do more (re)face-upping/ (re)blushing/modding-- maybe try a dye bath for my whiteskinned DollsTown Seola elf who has mellowed beyond buttery to actual yellow.
- In left-over time: there are always some of the crew who could use a nice restringing!

 

My 2026 goals can be summarized as so much sewing! Unfortunately the only fabric shop near me closed recently, so I guess step one is actually getting more comfortable with online fabric shopping. It'll also be a learning curve for 1/4 sized clothes, I've sewn a decent amount of 1/3 but this'll be my first venture into 1/4 size, so I need to adjust all my patterns down. I've had these designs drawn out for ages though, I'm excited to finally make them happen.

I've also picked up my first watercolor pencils and sealant to start learning how to do some body blushing, I'm not bold enough to try face-ups but learning on some of the blank pieces that came with my Dream Valley Ghost Moth and Twin Bird feels more approachable.

 

I want to at least have an idea of who she is as a character, if possible. Complete with a backstory and such. I had a backstory but she’s evolved into her own doll, and I’m keeping her name but the origins…I feel like I need to get reacquainted. I also want to come up with a nice face up and get her sealed so I can finally take photos. Also to make new clothes for her.

No. Can’t afford it this upcoming year. My focus is on just the one. Although I have considered getting her an alternate body that is more mature than her default. I’m not sure if I can afford to make that purchase 2026 or to do it the year after.

Yes! I’m brainstorming ideas for what to make. I haven’t sewn anything since a recent diy project, which was last year in 2024. I’ve been really into playing “Fate of the Empress” lately and the costumes are GORGEOUS!!! I’ve thought of making a costume inspired by the ones in the game.

I don’t think I’m that confident yet, although I considered giving her facial piercings.

YES, the girl needs a new face and I’ve been a perfectionist about it. I need to get it done so I can enjoy her company more.

I’ve considered it, though I may keep an eye out for something in the thrift stores. I could make her some cute angel wings. I have some small skeleton keys I could play around with and make some jewelry for her.

YES! Just not in the summer. The place where I live now has high UV, so it may have to be seasonal.

Yes, but not BJD-wise. Not yet, anyway.

I’m considering giving her lashes once the face up is done. I also want to give her body blushing. It really comes down to aesthetics for this upcoming year and who she is as a doll.

 

Well I am scared of these plans cause I plan alot but dont actually do anything in the end
Alot of DIY in the plans cause it feels like the best way to engage in the hobby and "connect" with my dolls. I want to change my extremely passive approach cause why am I even collecting them when I dont do jack with them

1) I want to be more active in the hobby, do more with my dolls and maybe start posting them here or IG.

2) Try my luck on faceups. None of my eggs have a face because I wanted to do it myself but never did

3) Make wigs. It looks fun and I have very specific wants for all my dolls and those kinds of wigs are very much over the budget if I purchased them. I just need a kick in the rear to actually sit down and do it.

4) Sewing. Most of my dolls I want to dress in a more fantasy/cottage core style and I believe I can follow a beginner friendly pattern - and again I need a kick in the rear to start.

5) Where to store them. Either fix up my ikea billy to display them, or if I want to store them in drawers and only take out one or two at a time to display. Not sure yet.

Bonus 6) Figure out what to do with my SDs. All 3 are grail sculpts but I dont like the size.. Either keep to display or rehome when Im ready...

 

I need to do some sewing and I want to find another Art Bimong Dandelion head, I don't care for the body.

 

i haven't bought anything doll related since, like, march? i've gotten into a new hobby, repairing and refreshing vintage macs. plus writing a book. barely even touched the dolls i have, except acchan cos he goes everywhere with me.

i want to finish the two faceups i started at the beginning of the year, that's the most important.

but i do want some new dolls. if i don't get them in 2026, that's fine. i'm in no hurry. unless the ones i want are discontinued lol.
i really want a volks yosd ayu with the default faceup. that's the number one.

considering a minifee serenia to replace my impl eudora, but i'm still thinking on it cos minifees tend to not stick around, even though i love them a lot. it's either reshelling her into a minifee or getting an impl body. and whatever i decide for her will affect whether i get another chalco head and a 68cm impl body or a minifee lami. honestly minifees would save space. all that can wait another year.

a longshot, but i'd like a dear sd with a four sisters head. i can get her head and body separate, and that's fine. again, i can wait until next year.

 

My top priority is to finish my last few resin stragglers by sending them out for faceups! The finish line is in sight! After that, I'm down to just general maintenance stuff for my core crew (restringing, sueding, etc).

After that, well...

• Properly get to work on Mina and Nysus, who are currently floating heads with nothing else going on. Eyes/wigs/faceups/bodies, oh my! I don't need them completed in 2026, but I'd like to be working toward completion this year.
• Also finish off my vinyl girls -- several are almost done and just need faces, which I'm hoping to do myself once the weather warms up.
• Go to a local doll meet! I've been trying to get to one this year, but it never worked out between work schedules and our move. I'm hoping to change that this year!
• Take proper photos and make doll profiles -- I decided to take my dolls' names out of my signature, so I think committing to pictures and profiles would help people be able to reference my collection in a more concrete manner. Speaking of profiles...
• My long shot desire would be to make a proper independent website for my doll blogging, assuming I get into the financial position to fund my own blogging domain and/or learn to code one myself.
• I do have a few heads that I would like to snag, but those projects would be just for fun and I'm not particularly committed to them at this point (TV head, cat head).
• I want a third boy at some point (we're a real girl gang over here!), but that's also a long shot that I'm not particularly committed to at the moment. We shall see!

 

2025 year end for me is finally treating the cause of my years' long zombie-like fatigue due to low iron levels in my body. So in the year 2026, I hope to be alive for one -- to set aside real time and energy into crafting and doing faceups like I should have done (more) this year but was always too tired to do.

No new dolls -- my collection is complete and it's just a matter of perfecting their look and style. Perhaps I'll give Cori a tattoo and blush both of my girls' bodies. I will try to get a new artist faceup or two. Decorate their shelf. I would like to start doing doll photography as well. Oh, and since I dropped out of the Doll North convention last spring due to my energy-crashing sickness, I'd love to be healthy enough to finally attend a doll convention for the first time!

 

I'm going to focus on "completing" my Metis doll aka getting a wig and faceup for her, also going to start sculpting shoes because I keep putting that off. I'd also like to order a Pasha gen 4, but I don't know when in the year my preferred head sculpt will be available and if I'd be able to order her at that time, so we'll see.