Did you ever fight with yourself

Hmm. Well yes and no. Lately, after having practically no money (I'm a student) I have become very distant of dolls. I haven't been fighting myself away from the hobby, though. I have been trying to convince myself back INTO the hobby, haha. Does that make sense?
I have loved dolls all of my life, but in phases. I can never stay on one particular subject for a long period of time, but I always do end up going back to the hobby.
(I can't explain things very well.)

 

I think everyone at some time or another has wondered "is this the right hobby for me" with any type of hobby. It's good to re-access sometimes because then you can figure out if you really want to do it. I was in a hobby once that I just spent way too much money on and didn't enjoy in the least...and when I re-accessed my thoughts about it, I realized it just wasn't for me at all because I was no longer having fun doing it. But I was also in the hobby for the wrong reasons (friends wanting me to get into more so than me wanting to get into it so I thought I'd give it a try).

With BJDs, the decision for the hobby was my own and everytime I've wondered "is this hobby right for me?" I've always walked away with the answer "yes it is!"...Sometimes I sit around going, I can't believe I just bought ANOTHER doll! But then the minute he/she arrives I remember all over why I love this hobby so much and why I do keep on with it. As others have said, BJD collecting for me is very therapeutic. I do play around with photography and I immensely enjoy still life, but sometimes still life can't inspire you. With BJDs, I have never been uninspired. If I'm feeling like I want to shoot something but have no idea what to shoot, I take out one of my resin crew and instantly I have a little muse standing in front of me and I've got so many ideas flashing that I don't know what to do with them all! They help my creativity, they help me hone my photography skills, they even help my writing (most of my BJDS...okay all of them...are based on OCs of mine or OCs have been made after getting them...so they really help my writing to be able to look at them and visualize something their character might do). When I'm feeling sad or lonely, I honestly feel better just sitting with one cuddled next to me. It's a comfort with me. I'm very attached to my resin!

Also, like it has been said, we are all so very varied within this hobby, you shouldn't feel as if you wouldn't fit in or that you're not the typical doll owner, because honestly I don't know that there is a "typical type of BJD owner." All of my BJD friends are so very different from one another! That includes me in there as well. But we all share a love for dolls and that's what matters! I really hope something I've said might help, but honestly, only you can decide if a hobby is right for you. Best of luck to finding yourself within the hobby! If you ever need to talk about anything at all - shoot me a PM to my inbox! I'm always open for a chat about the hobby and talking with other enthusiasts!

 

Ah, but the interesting thing is, with time and a little money, sometimes you can! That's the cool thing about this hobby, you can learn more and more!

 

Just saw your post above mine =)
There's always going to be people who disapprove of what you spend on. If it's not BJDs they'll have a problem with something else, so just buy to please you. And I don't make my own doll clothing and stuff (I'm trying to learn but the sewing machine I borrowed is so old its falling apart ha!). I have 16 resin babies right now and more on the way...so I do know that buying for them can get mega expensive. I just save up when I need something for them. If I catch myself almost making a ridiculous purchase I think "Now do I really need this? Or do I want Rumael's wig more?" something like that. I was surprised how many things I would pick up ($1 or $2 items) and almost buy even though I really had no use for or anything but would think "oh this is just $1 I'll pick it up." ... those little $1 and $2 add up and for everything I pick up that I know I won't end up using or that I don't really need...I could put that $1 or $2 to something doll related. And you can find some really good deals on the marketplace!

 

I thought that too, when I first saw the prices! I remember when I first saw a BJD picture that a friend had posted online. It was so beautiful and I wanted one immediately. When I discovered what it would cost, I immediately ruled that out. But I couldn't get the dolls out of my head. I joined here and looked and looked. Finally, I decided to buy one of the cheaper dolls that I liked to see if the interest stayed in me after I got her. And it certainly has so far! I have quite a lot of crafty hobbies, and so this is just one more. And I really don't buy much stuff for my dolls as i can now make doll clothing, jewelry, shoes, eyes, even sewed my first few wigs! I will buy a pair of boots or tennis because I don't yet make those. And my jeans are not as good as the Guess Doll ones. Other that that, I make it all.

If you are a SAHM, I highly encourage you to splurge on a doll. Heck, if you are really worried, get a bobobie tiny for around ninety dollars. I have one, and it's my current favorite doll! You do deserve to have fun. And when you break it down, you would spend about that much taking a family of four to a movie and dinner. And you will get so much more time and joy out of a doll if you are anything like me. There will be time and money to go to the movies with the kids, too. But if none of the time or money goes to what you enjoy, you will begin to develop a resentment toward your family, unless you are a saint. That's the last thing your kids need, a burned-out martyr for a mom who will soon need prozac, valium, and therapy! Dolls are cheaper than therapy! And a let less expensive than some other habits unhappy folks get into. Be happy, get a doll! You sound just like me, and love mine!


I love QueenObvious' comment that she wishes her mom would spend a bit more on herself. What a loving daughter! I felt the same about my mom when I was young and at home, and I know my grown-up kids are glad I have things I love to do! Keeps me out of their hair!

 

I have to say that my answer to this question is a big, resounding "YES!" I always wanted to start collecting, since probably around 4 years ago, maybe more, when I saw a photo of a BJD for the first time on Deviant Art. At the time I didn't have a job, and after that I started college, so I REALLY didn't have any money. My dad is also a bit of a penny pincher, and I got that from him. I'm always agonizing over spending money, whether I can afford it, whether it is a good purchase, etc, etc....

It wasn't until June of this year that I finally threw in the towel and said, "You know what? Let's do this!" I had a lot of encouragement from my best friend who is also a collector. I decided that BJDs are just another way to exercise my creativity, and the instant I decided to start saving and get one for myself, I felt a huge wave of relief.

Sure, I'm still feeling a lot of anxiety here in the home stretch of saving for my first, but I don't feel doubt that it's the right "hobby" for me. I'm already excited about learning to sew, make accessories, and take photos. I started making a few small things for my roommate's MSD, and it's been a blast.

I'm glad the BJDs won the internal struggle.

 

Wow, little_sapling, you hit that spot-on. My creative outlets have either relied on others' participation (gaming), or painting figurines that, I'm afraid, are getting too small for my aging eyes. Once upon-a-time I tried to own a tiny Volks doll, but really could not justify it, so let it go. Always felt a bit guilty over that. Apparently it was a battle I lost.

More recently, since I had a mile-marker birthday, my daughter bought me a wee Puki, which, though it certainly lacks the artistic qualities of the larger dolls, certainly fits my personality and needs! She's not too expensive to buy for, but I still "fight" with myself over things like wigs...I like her eyes, poor thing needs more shoes, and she can NEVER have too many clothes! Sooo, those are my current battles. I never would have splurged and purchased her myself (well, maybe I would have)

 

Yes - all the time in fact. I do go on long hiatus' where I just want nothing to do with the hobby (and most especially the community) in any form. Just lately I had been considering selling everything and completely pulling out, mostly for some of the same reasons you've mentioned; do I really need bjd in my life? I sometimes think I'd be more content to simply look at photos rather than own one myself...orz

 

I wouldn't say I've fought with myself, but I have sat and thought very hard about getting into this hobby. I learned about it when I was just about to transition into college, so money would be hard to come by. Now, I'm finally having the chance to save, but I'm out of school and just starting work.

I had to look at *everything* that could be involved in this hobby, learn all I could and decide if it was really worth the thousands I will likely be spending. Of course, in the end I did decide it was worth it, otherwise I wouldn't be active on these forums. However, I do still....question myself, just for the sake of proving that this is still something I want to do.

 

I know how you feel. I have done so much research, and I'm still constantly reading, day after day, making sure that I'm prepared and that I really want to take the plunge. I think my friends and family are starting to think that I have some kind of OCD.

 

I'm broke. That last NS Chalco destroyed my bank account so badly that I'm desperately selling stuff, and I can't spend my first paycheck. I've spent ridiculous amounts of money on wigs, outfits, and most of all, shipping. Sometimes, ever so often, I stare at my dolls and wonder why the heck am I collecting them when I function perfectly well as a living doll myself. I have wigs, I can change my eyes, I can make myself pretty costumes and go on shoots, so what do I need the dolls for?

Unfortunately for me, though, I'm a bit of a collector, and it's really hard to let go of something once it's in my collection, so the dolls are staying until I can dispose of them at jacked up prices or they depreciate in value to zero. /doesn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

Well, while they are around, they bring me joy from just looking at them. I wonder why, when they are such money-suckers, but they do make me irrationally happy. I guess that's why I'm still in it. Now to go look for a job. QAQ

 

All the time, I hate that the most expensive thing, by far, that I have ever brought is a doll. I go from "I love this doll and couldn't be happier" to " I'm selfish and people out that are struggling and I'm 'wasting' my money plastic".

 

I'm little between in spending so much money on this hobby but for now I keep being okay with it. Also I think fourth of that money goes on fabricks so I can sew things to my little princess

And the manga/anime thing I know many doll owners that have nothing to do with anime/manga and suck. They have families and many are adults so nothing to worry about on that

 

yes of course, because of the money anytime, but anyway if the doll is here then it's all fine again!

 

I don't fight with myself over whether I feel like this is the hobby for me, because I know that it is -- yes it's expensive, but it brings so much enjoyment with it that to me it's money well spent. Abjd hobbyists aren't any one particular way -- it doesn't matter how eccentric (or not as the case may be) you view yourself, what style clothes you like, or what kind of media you read/watch. There are many ways to involve oneself, and no one right way to do things.

Obviously it's up to you whether or not you feel that this hobby is worthwhile enough for you to continue, but don't worry about what other people are doing or are into.

The one thing I do fight with myself over since I'm a bit strapped for $$$ right now, is what purchases if any I should make. I have to pick and choose very carefully, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, because it's caused me to really have to stop and think about what direction I really want to go in terms of my dolls.

 

Iv wanted to be a part of this hobby since I was 13. I got my first doll when I was 16. There was never a doubt if I should spend so much money on a doll, I knew how much I loved them. However I AM fighting with all the stuff Im buying. I have four dolls and I'm stressing on figuring out how to buy three more. I have buckets of doll stuff, yet I'm still saving my money to buy more. I'm going to college next year and moving out of state for the first time, so I constantly wonder if I should instead by saving my allowance instead of always buying doll stuff. But I think once Im in college with a job, Ill feel alot better about everything.

 

When I got my first doll I felt no regret. I found one on the cheaper side and I worked hard saving up for her. I also had wanted one for such a long time that they started popping up in my dreams. Now however I really want a second one so I can have a male and a female. and because I fell in love with a sculpt. It's more expensive than my first one though and I feel guilty buying another one after I told my self I would only have one but I figure if I save up spare change instead of cash it will make it easier on my conscience. I mean what else can you do with a jar of nickels? However when I think about adding all the prices together of the dolls I would want it makes it seem a whole lot of money spent on dolls.

 

I don't really fight with myself over whether I want to be in the hobby itself. I don't care what 'type' of person 'should' collect dolls - all I care about is that they make me happy (and I can at least discuss the characters of my dolls with people, even if they don't 'get' the hobby itself).

I do sometimes fight with myself over whether I want to commit to a certain doll, though. Because I almost always buy dolls on layaways, I often have to rationalise tying myself to a company for 4-or-5 months. I often find the idea of being in 'debt' quite uncomfortable (even though I never purchase outside my means), so long layaways are very intimidating.

Not only that, but I very strictly limit my dolly spending money (largely because there are just too many dolls I would get if I let myself spend however much I wanted, and I simply don't have room for them all!). That means that committing to a layaway on one doll means potentially passing on another - which is no trivial thing when my favourite company is Soom, and they release a new stunning doll every month!