At what point did you just want to 'do everything'?

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
​Not in particular? I do what I need to do. The only thing I fear of doing is because I lack faith in my own physical strength and that is restringing SDs alone. I've restrung MSDs before so I'm not afraid of the process itself, just that it will be impossible to handle something like that on my own.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
Depends on what it is, what I want out of the doll. I do faceups by myself, I sew clothes and I've one eye-opening mods before. However recently I had the need to commission someone to do a mod for me because it was something I knew I couldn't do myself. If I want a faceup in a different style I'll also commission someone to do that for me.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
I think I got into deep very early on. It took me but a couple of months since getting my first doll to start trying things.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
My Wintery 11 girl needs a new faceup and perhaps some light sanding to remove some persisting stains on her face (I don't even know how she got them as I've never stained a doll before). I also need to restring my Crobidoll DD Lance as he's the floppiest thing ever, suede my SSDF's arms, sew some more outfits and wigs...

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I'm never completely satisfied with my work, however it did take a few tries until I started to see improvement.

 

I ordered my very first doll with no faceup and within the first week I had faceuped and restrung him, and made him an outfit. Soon after I blushed him and sanded his seams. I was all about that stuff from the get-go. The one thing that I was kind of nervous about was mods but I got into those after a few years. Good times ^_^

I have a project planned that will be the most extensive thing I have ever done by far, I want to take the cheapest SD I can find, sand off its face, sand down most of its body and completely resculpt it with miliput, dye it red, and make my Sith pureblood character from SWTOR

I don't remember how long It took me to be happy with my work, but I really sucked at all aspects when I started and now I think my faceups, clothes, and mods are ace XD

 

I definitely will not try to do these sorts of things myself when I get my first doll. I'm just too scared of ruining her. I'm getting the default face up, definitely - and for everything else, I'll probably bug my girlfriend to teach me or get her to do it for me. She knows what she's doing and I definitely don't. All I want to do is sew clothes for her, and maybe learn how to restring her.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?

Yes -- it took me a few months after my first doll to feel more comfortable about really tackling projects.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?

I like doing faceups, but I don't sew a lot for them -- it's just really not my thing. I'd rather buy especially since I've gotten pickier about their clothes. I just don't have the skills to make things that I'm really happy with for them. I know I could improve with practice, but it's not something I enjoy as much, so going through the work for a subpar item of clothing is more frustrating than anything else.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?

Yes. I went to town on my third doll -- did his faceup myself, took him apart, body blushed him, and restrung him.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?

I have two that need faceups, and a couple that need their strings tightened.

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?

I find that with faceups that I would be content for awhile, then think 'I can do better now,' and then redo it.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
I'm terrified of doing faceups!! I have two plastic hujoo's and one practice head that I work on all the time. I'm terrified of touching my completed dolls with a brush or even sealant. I had a horrible accident with staining with my girl Cossett and it took me forever just to work the courage to give her a bath to fix it. I got rid of all the staining though.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
I prefer to have professionals work with my dolls. But money is tight, and I have strung a doll before and practiced painting faceups, sueding and done lots of sewing, so I have no excuse other than that I have high standards. Hopefully one day I will have confidence in my work.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
Right now, I feel like if I was given a doll with a basic face I could add to it and not ruin it. I could not do an entire face, but I can add eyeliner and lashes and paint lips and cheeks without ruining the doll. I can blush bodies pretty well on my own. I am sewing clothes for my dolls but I don't like them. And so I don't have any pictures of my dolls in my clothes. In fact, I've thrown some away because they're just.... bad. I know how to string a doll now, thats for sure. I was going to send my doll away to be tightened, but one day a string came undone and I had to do something or else he would fall apart. So I just, got my pliers and it came together by itself. I took apart a few yosd and put them back together.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
I am going to paint Bartlebee's face so that his eyes are darker and have proper streaks beneath them. I'm going to paint it on my practice head first, then Bee. I also am going to paint the nails of Bee and Silas and maybe Cossette. IDK if she's the kind of girl that would have nail polish. The boys are though. xD

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I'm not happy with my work at all. I am always painting a face, then erasing all of it without letting it dry or sealing it. I don't have any pictures or anything. I have one corset that I allow pictures to be taken of but thats it.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
I'm kind of afraid of piercing ears because I'm sure the holes won't be in the same place.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
I do all painting, sanding, and modding myself. I prefer buying clothes and shoes though.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
I've always been fairly confident in doing things for myself.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
I've always got a doll that I need to paint or put back together. I also
have a few dolls that I'd like to hot-glue suede.

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I've been happy since I first started doing things myself.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
yes, I'm terrified of messing up her company face-up because while it's not the perfect face-up that I'd like for her I do like it and I'd never be able to give her a face-up myself. Also afraid of modding her.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
I'd love to be able to do everything myself but I don't think I'll ever be brave enough to do anything like face-ups or mods so I'd prefer to pay someone else who's experienced and will do a much better job than I will.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
after actually receiving my BJD I'm not scared of restringing her anymore, or taking off her head.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
I'd like to give her a new face-up someday and maybe separate her fingers and toes, sand her seams.

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I haven't tried to do anything to her yet but it'll probably be a long time before I'm happy with my work.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
I will NOT ever take a Dremel to them...

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
I prefer to make clothing for my dolls. I will let those with some talent do the faceups.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
I am getting to know more about each doll as time goes by.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
Tons of cosplay outfits.

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I've been a costumer for 40 years. I judge each product on its own merits.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
I don't dye

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
Do it myself. The only thing I'll buy are wigs and shoes

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
Not really. I've always been an artist and a seamstress, so i jumped right in.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
Finishing their outfits, especially drawers

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I'm always happy with my art, be it dolls or rawings, for a while, then I look back and see how I've improved since, and redo it
​

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
YES. I was really afraid to restring my first doll for the first time. I'm also afraid of changing her eyes because I don't have any other eye putty or anything for her....

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
Well for me, it's too expensive to buy everything including services for my doll. My first doll and my now incoming doll both don't have face ups. However, With my next possible doll purchase I think I will spring the extra money to get him a company face up.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
hmm nope. not yet. still pretty new to the hobby....so still too nervous to do much.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
Both my dolls wont have face ups. While my pipos looks cute and just fine with out a face up my kanguk will definitely need one. unfortunately I don't have the materials or the money needed to spend on materials to do the face ups myself...

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
N/A

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
Other than faceups/body blushing, I don't think I want to touch my doll with any modifications by myself. It's something I'm not into. But I don't mind to give them pretty faceups. I am currently working on how to sew for them too!

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
I do tend to still buy clothing/hire seamstresses, but I hope in the end I will just do them on my own like I do their faces!

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
I'm still a newbie in a way (Owned a doll for a year now) but I just got straight into it! It's what really lured me in!

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
Just pretty faceups and clothes!

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I'm always happy with my work; whether or not I'm proud of it is a different thing. It all takes patience, practice, and improvement!

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?

My first two dolls where, and still are, perfect as they came. I really, really wanted to try it all, so I got myself a third, cheaper doll on which I tried it all. Basically changed the entire face-shape etc. Then I got a forth and from there everything went crazy.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?

I would strongly prefer to do more myself, but lack time. Also, spraying and sanding with a baby crawling around is a pretty big NO.
Or does someone know where I can get a dustmaks for a 5 month old child (LOL).

At this moment in time, i am planning a lot of commisions.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?

For sanding, restoring and modding almost instantly. Face-ups, not yet.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?


So, so, many plans

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?

I dont think I will ever be comlplety satisfied and will always try to become better.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
In the beginning, yes ... a little. I was scared to change my first doll's feet because she came strung super tight and I was scared I wouldn't be able to re-string her should the elastic get away from me. (My boyfriend helped me in the end and we got the feet changed.)

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
Definitely do it myself, even if it takes some working up of courage.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
It's evolving steadily. I'm a big DIY person anyway, that's part of why I got into dolls in the first place ... I did my own faceups from the start and I've always been into sewing and crafting so I make all my dolls' clothes and most accessories myself, too. (Even though I'm still not happy with the shoes I make. -.- )
Another big step happened just the other day when my Doll In Mind event package came in - unstrung, without directions, parts not labelled ... dolly puzzle! I got her together in the end and noticed that not only is stringing pretty easy, it's also kind of fun. Same goes with modding, I had to take a dremel to the neckhole of the head so it would fit the body, and it worked just fine, even with next to no dremel experience.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
All three of them still need body blushing. I'll wait until the weather gets better, I was able to pull off faceups with tricks like warming head and MSC before taking them outside for spraying, but spraying a body takes much longer ... so that will be my spring project. Also, having seen the perfectly seamless DiM body, I'm seriously considering sanding the seams on my Iple girls. I didn't notice it so much when I had only the two Iples, but next to the DiM body the Iple seams do stand out.

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
I'm happy with how I'm even able to do anything even though I'm a bloody beginner. Buuut - being a perfectionist, I don't think I'll ever be really truly completely happy with my work. I'm pretty satisfied with the faceups (even though eyebrows still are one darn nuisance!) and most of the clothes I make turn out okay, but there's always room for improvement. (Especially in those pesky shoes! And eyes ... those don't look anything like eyes yet, either. Eye-ther? They just plain defy me.) So I've still got quite a way to go, but that's part of the fun, right?

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?

I still have not ever re-strung any of my dolls and I've had some since 2004/5 !!!

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?

I prefer to buy stuff, but occasionally I'll sand seams and blush and do faceups myself.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?

Pretty much after the first doll... although I touched his faceup up a little, too. Then, the second doll wasn't offered with a faceup. I was going to send out for a faceup, but for some reason I have a bit of an aversion to sending doll heads around, so I haven't ever, and pretty much am stuck doing the faceup myself.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?

Finish a few faceups and blushings...

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?

Nine years now and I'm not really happy with it. But I can live with 'em, which is OK. And I think I'm not the type of person to be happy with my work--I always think it could be improved... and I don't mind that.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll? I was terrified of modding and restringing at first.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself? I buy shoes, eyes, wigs and about half the clothes. I do services myself.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself? About 2 years into it, I decided I wanted to make them as good as they can be, without sending them off to others.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls? I ALWAYS have things planned that I need to do. Right now, Mike needs a new faceup, Parker needs a minor hip mod and Olli needs body blushing touch ups. They ALL need more clothes.

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work? I'm pretty happy with my sewing and faceups right now, but they could always use improvement. I've been happy every step of the way, I only look back after improving and see how bad it used to be. lol

 

My take on this may be a little unconventional, I personally love to see how things work and restringing my doll was actually the first thing I did when I got one. My first doll was also an hybrid so I had to do lots of researches about sizes and skin colors.

I've only paid for faceups twice, plus a body blush because I'm still not good at those.

There's my ghost doll project that I'm nowhere near finishing. I still need to sand a lot, paint the new parts and reattach the arms. And I'm also in the middle of reshaping the eyes of another doll with epoxie.

There's one thing that still scares me and I don't know when I'll get to do (but I'm even more scared to send him away), one of my dolls need to have his wrists drilled because they can't move at all. That's a delicate part and I can't get replacements if something goes wrong because he's out of production.

 

Have you ever been afraid to do anything to your doll?
Trying something new with any of my dolls has been a bit like this, stringing, face ups, gluing magnets in, etc. Usually once I've tried something once, I'm a-ok to do it again a second time. My current worry is piercing the ears on my RD Lucifer permanently.

Do you prefer to buy everything (including services) for your doll, or to do it yourself?
A bit of both. Depends on who and what it is, and whether it's within my skill level. I'd say it's an even mix of both.

Was there a particular time in the hobby when you got more confident about doing things yourself?
Oh yeah! I was probably about a year in from that point. By that stage I had done full blushing and face ups, made clothes, and completely re-strung several dolls.

What jobs do you have planned that you need/want to do on your dolls?
More face ups and blushing, making eyes, making wigs, props, furniture, clothing, backdrops...the list is endless! There's always something to keep me entertained.

How long did it take for you to be happy with your work?
Well...to be fair I'm still not 100% happy with what I'm doing now. But at the same time, I'm constantly honing my skills so that I can get to a stage where I feel good enough about my work.