'Cabinet Babies' or Playthings?

These dolls are your property, you can do what ever you want with them. What ever makes you happy. If you like to handle them fine, if you like to have them in display in a glass case then, what ever works for you.

Personally I like to play with my dolls.

 

For me, I'm pretty sure they'll be in the cabinet. I only have a limited head now, but I worry about handling that. I don't want to smudge them or break them. I think they are kind of like 3-D, almost living art. I love to look at them, but I don't see myself carrying them around. However, I think that is up to the individual. Do what you like with your baby I myself am currently cabinet shopping LOL.

 

I only have one doll so far. And I love him to the point where I can't leave him alone more than 24 hours. I bring him everywhere I go... well, almost everywhere. ^^ I like playing with him because that was the reason why I bought him in the first place. But I agree with everyone else, that these very expensive dolls should always be handled carefully... ^^ But I will never put my doll in a box for more than 24 hours... >.> It feels... inhuman.

 

My own dolls were purchased to be held, loved, and cared for in my arms and not in a cabinet; my biggest problem, however, is getting over the mental hurdle of having "toys" that are designed to be taken apart and customized. If that keeps your doll in the cabinet then go ahead . . after all, I get nervous with mine!

I simply figured that after spending this much ($200+ to $600+) per doll I was entitled to think they could come down off their shelf for a hug and change of clothes when the mood strikes me.

 

I play with my dolls in the sense that I have an "apartment" for them. Angelica and Ispae shares apartment. I have 4 small tables put together and that functions as the floor of the apartment. They got furniture, toys, wall decor, accessories, clothing, shoes, etc. I recently got a Samantha from Herrendolls. Her "personality" is beginning to form and understand she's a luxury woman. So she demands an apartment so she can live by herself with her Vuitton bags and expensive furniture... Well, I'm working on it. She will move in in the "apartment building" my two Ellowynes lives in.

I love to change clothes on them, build up their apartments. They're like miniature people like me. I consider them as art objects meant to be interacted with. A reflection of life and aspects of myself. Couldn't even think of letting them sit in a cabinet. I love them to much. They're made to be loved. I don't consider "cabinet babies" dead. I just think a bjd deserves a "life" because that's the purpose of the long process making them.

I never bring them outside, as I don't know anyone else besides my best friends who has an interest in bjd's. But I would if I could go to meetings and conventions and such.

 

I have some (like Cassandra, my Iplehouse Tania) that seem fragile and too perfect to play much with. She gets her clothes changed pretty often, but other than that she doesn't play too much. I've had others that I felt were too fragile, and I wound up adopting them out because they were getting ignored. My favorite (Lucy, my Customhouse Petite Ai Sariel) gets played with constantly, and goes everywhere, and I feel like I really enjoy her so much more. I don't see the point of having a doll in a cabinet, but I guess I can see how some people would treat them as art. My mother collects antiques and keeps them all locked away, most don't even have glass to peep out at the world!

 

It really depends on the person, but I know I could never stand to keep my dolls in a cabinet. I paid for them and I want to enjoy them as much as possible, and to me that means playing with them and taking them everywhere. Though some people might get just as much enjoyment from just looking at them.

I can't imagine keeping my dolls in a cabinet because they each have their own personality and are almost like real people, I would feel so bad for them being cooped up in there all the time.

Since they are really expensive I am careful when I play with them and when I'm not playing with them I put them somewhere my pets can't get to.

 

As for me, i would take my doll out to play, even if they are expensive and require alot more attention and care outside. Cause i would treat my doll as more of a friend than some relic not meant to see the sun. Werent they all made to be interacted with? But of course it depends on what each person is comfortable with.

 

My crew get handled a lot because I use them for patterning. After all that work it seems unfair just to shove them in the closet or something, so I'm going to try to get them to meet-ups on a regular basis. Don't have a cabinet, and can't see getting one, but they might get a dedicated shelf eventually. Right now they're sitting on my kitchen island in the center of everything.

 

My dolls all have their own personalities. Most of them really hate being in their box and would prefer to sit around my work space. They're cheaper dolls so I don't really mind them visiting me... not like they are really an investment except as clothing models for my Artist Alley booths.

I just have the frame of mind that they are "working dolls" so they need to be out and earning back what I paid for them. They also represent their maker, Bobobie and the dealer who sold them to me since the dealer goes to the same conventions I do. I just hand out business cards and direct the interested buyers to the dealer's room where they can get their own.

I call my working dolls "employees."

 

I agree with Taco that it isn't for me to decide what people should do with their dolls.

As for my own dolls: yeah, of course I want them to look at beautiful and perfect as I can for as long as I can. I am as careful as I can be (which is relative to me). I change their wigs, eyes, and clothes all the time without gloves and I play with them. Then I put them in their boxes for a while. I know that all resin will yellow in the box or out and clothes get wrinkled when you put them on and off. I am careful in a very hands on way.

 

Im pretty much on the same page; I love to take Esmee with me everywhere practical; and I bought her to play with. I don't see the point in paying so much money to just sit and stare at something ( probably why I dont like paintings) Most dolls seem to be pretty hardy; I know mine is! Shes faceplanted already a few times and done just fine with the exception of her headcap falling off. Point being, My vote is playthings, but to be handled with discretion.

 

I"m a hands on person so to me, they are playthings, if not more. While i see the reason for sticking them on display (my grandma displays various kinds of dolls) i've just never been one for that kinda thing (hence my lack of interest in my porcelain dolls). The thing i don't understand is leaving them in their box, unseen. I think if you are going to spend that much money on something, at least display it, if not use it to its extent. But thats just my take.

 

I have pets that love to chew things up, so for safety's sake my doll will have to be on the top shelf of my cabinet whenever I'm not playing with her.

 

Personally, I like to play with my girl, but I still handle her gently. I definitely do NOT use "kid gloves" with her, but I consider her like a little person. I like to take her places with me; she keeps me company. I think it's nice for her to be able to see the rest of the world.

 

To each it's own, so if someone thinks of them as art and want to display them, good, want to protect them a have them in their boxes, good, want to play with them, good. Everyone should decide what to do with their dolls. Me... i'm going to see, i tend to display dolls a figures, but BJD's looks to me as cuddlies and beg to be held.

 

Well, I see them as some kind of expensive 3d art, I like styling and taking photos of them, but for the rest of the time they sit safely in their glass cabinet. And yes, I even wear cotton gloves when I'm taking care of them like restringing or changing parts. It's just this better safe then sorry thing, they have been so expensive and I would be mad if they would get scratches, stains or even worse.

 

I for one am really looking forward to getting my Renny and playing with her a lot. She's really not going to be the type of girl to sit around and look pretty for long periods of time. She's going to go places and do things and look pretty instead. Yeah, I know, I may have to magic eraser off some yellowing of the resin, but you know what? She'll be my doll and I'll love her all the same!

 

It's completely up to the doll's owner for what they want to do with them, but I personally would play with my doll a lot (while being careful with it of course). Then when I'm done I'd probably put it somewhere safe when I'm not taking photos of it or doing anything-- I don't think I'd be satisfied with just looking at it through a glass case as a collector's item.
It's the complete opposite for my friend; she told me that if she ever got one she'd be reeaaally careful with hers by putting it in a case and never touching it since she's scared of breaking the doll.

 

Owner's choice. I play with mine! That's why I got em!

Maybe if I had fancier ones I'd be more particular, like the SOOM monthlies. But nah, I wanna customize and cuddle and pose and dress them up.