'Cabinet Babies' or Playthings?

Heh I play with mine...but I also think it depends on why u got into the hobby in the first place. I mean I got into by friends as a way to express characters that were already in a an elaborate story world I had created. So I think that maybe someday I might get a cabinet for them and display them as I do my cherished teddies but until then to each their own. I play and pose and photograph along with anyone else. I think that some of mine get messed with more than others but I think that it depends on the relationship to the character. I show them off when I can, and keep them to myself at times too. I think both are wonderful ways to enjoy the hobby.

 

When I first started collecting, my dolls were put into an outfit that I had bought especially for them and then displayed on a shelf. They were not played with and I didn't spend any time changing their outfits, etc, I just looked at them (how sad that sounds now!). Then I discovered Flickr and my doll collecting grew into a proper hobby as I realised that I could put together whole wardrobes for them, pose them both inside and outside the house, photograph them, and then share my photos with other collectors. And then I discovered forums!!! I can't now believe that I ever owned dolls that just sat on a shelf! In my opinion, dolls should definitely be played with.

 

If you ask me, I just paid a large sum of money, ranging from a hundred, to upwards of a thousand dollars, for a toy. I'll be damned if I'm not going to play with it >w< Then again, I'm not really afraid of breaking anything anymore. These guys are suprisingly durable, even if the faceups and certain other doodads aren't. I want to have fun with my dolls, and the way I do that is through play. Some people have fun by putting them together, and keeping them in a cabnet, and thats perfectly fine too. If that's how they get satisfaction and enjoyment from their doll, then I say do it!

 

Before I give my opinion I would like to state that it is my opinion, and not meant to offend anyone. You can do whatever you want with your dolls! That said:
I think keeping them as cabinet babies is kind of silly. I hear some people say they keep their dolls in a dark room in a cabinet wearing either white clothes or nothing at all and only touch them with gloves on and I think "Where's the fun in that?" If they were some delicate porcelain dolls or something, sure, that makes sense. But I find more and more that these guys are actually pretty durable. Try not to throw them down the stairs or run them over or drop them on concrete and you'll probably be okay. Staining can be cleaned and yellowing is unavoidable!
Play with your dolls!
And now I get off my soapbox. Please don't take offense! If you have cabinet babies and like having cabinet babies, then that is totally cool. Whatever makes you happy! I personally couldn't do it though.

 

I don't even own a cabinet, so mine can't be cabinet babies even if they wanted to be. 8D I play with mine lovingly and when they're not being played with, they hang out on my bookshelf. I have no qualms with what people do with their dolls - some people love to just look at them like my mom does. I like to sit mine around my room and mess with them from time to time and I LOVE taking them out to meets. To me, taking them places it one of the major fun parts of the hobby. Well, that and blushing/faceups. ^o^

 

Mine are a combination of both.

If I'm "iffy" on keeping one forever, I will so gentle to it and store it well. I don't take them out or play with them much.

I have one doll that I won in a competition, and for that reason I could never sell her.
I play with her a lot. At bed time and during the day light I warp a silk sheet over her to protect her.
I carry her around and really enjoy her company.
Also, I gave her a faceup myself. So I'm not as worried about ruining it, as I can just redo it if it gets damaged.
She's "mine forever" so I'm not worried about hurting her as much as the others.

 

I play with my dolls a lot, even if it's not photographing them I enjoy dressing them up, having them sit with me while I do stuff and such but I don't like having them sitting out. Especially when I work most of the day I think it's a bit pointless them sitting out in my sun-trap of a room, getting sun damaged over time, if I cant even be about to enjoy their presence.
So while I'm at work or not playing with them they go in a drawer that they have all to them selves in my clothes chest of drawers. It also keeps the wig thieving cats away from them. =D
They certainly don't get a gloved hand treatment though.

Because of how much light my room gets I wouldnt even want to keep them in cabinets because it would defeat the point in them. XD

 

well you can see both sides of the argument because of the price of the dolls but i think ill prefare mine out but if i ever have kids i think ill invest in a cabnet i think... and i can see why they were gloves they dont want to stain their dolls i hear even the oil from your skin can do that! but i would like to carry mine around cons and things

 

Depends on what a person is looking for. I couldn't keep my dolls closed. What's the point in buying then then? It would be almost the same if I hung a picture of the doll and look at it.

 

I manhandle mine and I'm not ashamed. I don't drag them around by one arm or flop them back and forth, but I love doing stuff with them and sometimes they take a tumble or a prop falls on them. Just wrangling them into an outfit sometimes is a feat of strength. :P If someone enjoys dolls purely for display then more power to them, but that's just not for me.

 

My dolls are pieces of art to me. They are pretty and I love looking at them. They sit on a shelf 99% of the time where I can admire them. Sometimes I sew for them or do a photoshoot but not regularly. Every customization or aesthetic task you can think of, I have done to my dolls at one point or another but it has always been to make them even prettier to look at while sitting on my shelf (faceups, mods, etc...) or to help with posing in photoshoots (restringing, sueding, mobility mods) not because I enjoy the tasks themselves.

I'm just curious what those of you who are "anti-display" actually do with your dolls?

 

I have mine on display, but not in a cabinet, and sometimes I "play" with them. Not in the sense that I sitt with one in each hand and roleplay with them, but more that I take pictures of them, changes theire clothes and pose them for display ^^

 

I think, dolls are the special instruments. They have to "work" (be played, be painted, go for a walk with me). At least, I don`t buy a pencil or hummer only to looking for

 

The general answer would be... It's mine and I will do with it as I please.

Now, my dolls are halfway between cabinet babies and playthings. They live in my glass door cabinet where my dogs can't get to them, where they are safe, where they are protected from the sun, and where I can sit on my bed an look at them. But I take them out every few days and fiddle with them. I take pictures and sit them with me. I pose them and play dress up. Brush the wigs and change eyes. But back in the cabinet they go when I'm all done.

 

I think this all depends on why you joined the hobby. I wouldn't be able to buy one only to look at it through glass! I have to pose and play with my dolls, and even though I probably wouldn't take it out in public randomly I would take it out at meet-ups.

 

I play with my dolls. My big girl sits in the chairs nearest where I sit. When i'm sewing or reading in the dining room, I bring her in there. I like to, at least, be able to see her. I think dolls in boxes are sad and in my opinion, feel neglected. It makes me sad to think about all those MIP and MIB modern dolls that for the last 40 years have been standing in their boxes. I do have an antique doll who lives in a case. But mostly it is because I am bored with him. Shhhhhh......

 

I play with mine, too but I don't bring it with me whereever I go. Actually I usually play with it just inside since as a photographer I suck.
For me it's just important to make them look pretty, sew them clothes and make them pose.


But I don't really care how people play with them; cabinet baby or plaything, it doesn't matter for me as long as the owner is enjoying their dolls

 

I have a curio cabinet that I've wanted ever since I was a little girl. So, I put my favorite toys/fragile objects in it. This includes my dolls. They look beautiful, and I enjoy looking at them. I simply haven't had the time to take them out for photoshoots or dress them in new things (I'm graduating with my BS in a few weeks, working on my exhibit, working part time, planning a wedding...you get the idea). Plus, I like redoing face ups all the time and can't use the aerosol sprays or do modding because I'm pregnant. So they spend 90% of their time in the cabinet looking beautiful. I usually like to have one near me while I'm working, so the bunny sits there keeping me company. I like to take them on trips with me for neat photo opportunities, that sort of thing. I imagine as I get more time I'll do more with them. Since I don't have the time, I just enjoy them for what they are. (Except for my newest SD girl...we're just not bonding. I'm blaming the time issue....)

When I had more free time, they definitely weren't cabinet babies and I never thought they'd be. I'm fine with how I enjoy them now.

 

I understand that people don't want them to get damaged, but I don't see the point of having something just to keep it locked away all the time. (Then again, I'm the kind of person who will put something away for safekeeping and end up completely forgetting that I even own it. Out of sight, out of mind...)

 

My crew spends a lot of time on a shelf, mostly because i work too much.

But i play with them and take pictures and haul them around to local meets. I considered getting a cabinet or them mostly for protection with the knowledge that they'd come out a lot to play. Also some of my friends are scared of dolls so a cabinet makes *them* feel better.

The idea of having them and not playing with them seems counterintuitive. They embody people who live in my head; not doing things with them just doesn't seem right.