Do you buy dolls and finish them later?

My first and second doll I bought as a full set because it was easier and I didn't trust my face-up skills.

My dolls after that are all works in progress because I got two of them as heads and I can't stand floating heads and had to get them bodies. The three of them need new face-ups and/or clothes/shoes.

 

Do you buy dolls you plan to finish later?
Yes, all the time. Also because the dolls, to me, are the most appealing and fun while they are still works in progress. Nothing so happy as to sit down with dolly body parts and sanding paper or nail files for modding, or paints, or a wig in the making etc. My DollChateau Colin was my christmas present, and just now is restrung and has his eyes modded open, his wig nearly finished. Hdelf Lolly was a valentine day gift and I received and finished her a month ago, now it's back to working on Colin

I need to pace myself and take my time, because when all dolls are "finished" is when the evil itch starts to buy another one, so as to have another to work on again So then I try to combat the itch by sternly telling myself that an old one needs taking apart again.

 

I bought my doll's head first. He's still waiting on his body... though that's because I want him in a size he isn't sold as by the company... by default anyway. But, if I'm going to buy a doll, I'd like to save additional funds to buy them a set of clothes, their wig, eyes, all that... for now.

Once I get deeper into the hobby, I want to learn to do faceups, sew clothes, and maybe I can buy the doll, wigs, eyes, and shoes(I'm not gonna try making shoes XD) and make everything else myself.

 

All of my dolls have been in pieces, or nude dolls, and are still in progress - I think this may be because I haven't quite settled on the "perfect" look for most of them yet. My first doll in particular has gone through 6 wigs, simply because they don't seem to suit him. I'm not crazy about fullsets, as I think they usually come with a story to them (I.e. the priestess-themed doll is a priestess, or something).

That's not that to say that all people think this way - I just think that when they come blank I'm free to do whatever I want and not have a starting point other then the doll itself. And it's easier on my wallet. XD

 

I definitely buy with an intent to finish later - when I buy dolls, I try to get them with at least a face-up and some variety of clothes, otherwise they would sit around in the nude waiting for me to eventually getting around to their face and clothes, haha.

 

I have gone blank for my past dolls, but then I realized I'm a terrible procrastinator with dollie projects. I don't like having my dolls incomplete anymore because I don't enjoy painting them all that much. Now, I prefer to buy them with everything or make sure I have the money to send them out for customization as soon as they arrive. I always buy a set of clothing, eyes and a wig before or during the wait. :3 That way I don't have to see them blank or nude for too long. XD

Personally, I think it's up to you on whether you should buy another doll or work on your current ones. If you can handle the workload, enjoy it, and know you will finish your dolls in good time, then feel free to go that route. :3 But if you aren't happy and getting another doll will be a problem, then you could always finish your current dolls and save up for the other one later. ^^

 

I think this is the case with a good number of owners. I'm considering my third doll even though my second doll doesn't have proper elastic to make him stand, yet. I guess I can always buy the elastic when I start buying my doll.

Other than that, I think I consider my dolls finished because I have nothing that really needs to be done.

 

After thinking about this for awhile, I think it really depends on what your definition of a finished doll is xD I kind of feel like all my dolls are WIPs, because most of them don't have their own set of clothing, or are lacking shoes... or worse, no eyes, wig, or face-up LOL

Honestly I think I'm too addicted to the rush of receiving a new doll to ever have a completely finished doll. There's almost always another one on the way. I've never had all the stuff ready for the doll when it arrives, so they usually end up with temps until I get around to ordering the correct supplies orz...

 

Yes! Working on them is half the fun! Realising that they too have something of a preference for clothes or hair that throws all your plans out the window!

That is the most fun I have had, I think, when I realised that my girl should wear mostly striped dresses.
That made me really happy and I set out to buy a few.

But still, there are always more wigs, dresses, shoes, jewellery or furniture to get them. And also new friends. This is what I feel is "working on the doll", because I don't paint face ups or mod them (Sueding is included though, but I haven't even done that yet).
My work on my dolls is getting things for them, that suits them, that they should have.
My boy is not complete without a phone or computer. My girl needs a tea set.
The fun is hunting, saving up for and waiting for this stuff to come home. For me at least.

 

Do you buy dolls you plan to finish later?

I often buy LEs, which means that if I don't buy the doll now I might have to pay twice as much when they get to the MP. This is why many of my dolls come with a pair of eyes and perhaps a wig at best. Usually I do face-ups and order clothes within the next 1-2 months because for me, the BJD hobby is mostly about photography and interesting concepts rather than anything else.
It does happen though that some floating heads can stay tucked away in their boxes for over a year while I continue to buy full dolls ^__^;; But that's usually connected to my inability to choose a body rather than anything else. Once I make the final choice, clothes, faceups, wigs etc. are bought and done within a month ))

 

Usually fullsets look too expensive in my eyes to buy, so I just buy the doll and their wigs/eyes/clothes later on. Also, fullsets might not match the character I plan for the doll, so yea. Till now, I don't think I've bought a fullset yet (or a doll with face-up, except the crobi tinies that come with it anyway).

 

Unintentionally. My first doll came in with make-up and stuff so I was able to play and photograph him as soon as he arrived. My second doll arrived blank, the clothes I have for him did not fit him perfectly, and still waiting for his face-up slot before I can send him to the face-up artist, so he's only left with eyes and wig on him. Technically he's still unfinished and I just bought my third doll.

 

Right now my boys are all works in progress. There are aspects of them where I have exactly what I need, nothing to change, and different things that need doing, and some things that are just... open to being in flux all the time, I guess.

Which is not to say I'm against full-package-from-the-start, not at all. I just... don't have a doll yet who feels totally complete, and I have yet to order one with faceup.

=^__^=
Anneko

 

Even my finished dolls are works in progress, because there's always something more I could do. I often buy dolls and finish them later, especially if they will not be available later or if I find a doll I want at a very good price.

 

So far, I only buy basic dolls. I get their clothes, wigs, and other things separately. Individuality is important to me, I don't want my doll to be just other company doll of this or that sculpt. I want her to be My whatever company doll of that sculpt.

But with me, I don't want to get another doll until I finish with one or at least get started with the one I currently have. I'm a bit scared of falling out of love with the unattended one if I do have too many. So until, all of them have a proper faceup with clothes, wig, and few photos I took, I don't want to get another yet.

 

Less than half of my collection is finished. xD Some of them only need a little work, others need pretty much everything! Doesn't bother me in the least and I'm perfectly fine with finishing them at my own pace.

Having dolls in need of work isn't a matter of stress or worry for me. It's something to look forward to. Like tanjalalie above, having something to work on is one of my favourite aspects. I definitely wouldn't say that I would get bored with the dolls who are finished (I'm glad to have some of them in that state and I adore them!) but I'm happy I've got some that need something to work on when that mood hits me and I have the time.

In regards to your concern about getting a new doll, I get the dolls I adore when the time is right - the progress I've made (or not made) on a different doll has nothing to do with that. I can see why some other people might work in a different way, but for me they're entirely separate issues. After all - dolls may yellow and face-ups may fade over the years, but dolls aren't little cartons of milk waiting to "expire" if we don't get to them by next week. They'll be fine waiting until there's time to get them all finished.

 

Do you buy dolls you plan to finish later?
Yes I do. In some cases, that's because I can't afford to buy fullset. Or maybe it is not a full doll from the start.

I bought my Rion separately. Head first, then body. I like Winter 2009 mold and because I'm also curious to do the faceup myself. But Winter 2009 mold is not sold in full ^^; That's why I have to wait up to 3-4 months until I can finally finish Rion. The same thing also happen to my two other dolls, Noir and Aro. Noir is Winter 2010, and Aro is SSDF Dew. I bought only the plain head, wasting 1-2 weeks for faceup research until finally I finish them~ While for my Nono twins, I can't really afford buying fullset for now.
Thus I focus on the heads, and will finish them later with sexier bodies, hehe.

Or do you like to have the full package from the start?
Well, actually I do prefer full package. It is less troubling because you get everything completely from the start ^^ Like my Nao n Orin, I bought them in full package, and it is very nice to be able to play with them directly. Although for Nao I have to change his faceup first.

Would it be better to work on the dolls I have first before adding a new addition?
Well, it is actually no problem which one is your choice, I think. Any way which is easier and pleases you~ Especially if the doll you want to add is time-sensitive, like only being sold in a limited time or so, it is better to add first rather than sorry later.

 

Do you buy dolls you plan to finish later?
Yes!
I buy dolls and finish them later, often when a doll becomes available even if it is just the head I have to rush the snatch it up and finish up later. Sadly its hard to "finish" a doll if you has a big wishlist, I bought a bw f01 head 2-3 years ago for my birthday, and I am just now getting her body that I wanted, she had to share because after I got her, I started collecting yosd's so getting her a body was put on the back burner.

Most of my girl's have default face-ups still and need custom ones plus wigs and eyes..

Or do you like to have the full package from the start?
That's really hard to do, you have to wait for the wig to be in stock, wait for eye preorders to open up (the eye preorder I need won't be until 2013) then their is aquiring the doll

Would it be better to work on the dolls I have first before adding a new addition?
No, because its really hard to find the dolls on my wishlist so I have to be quick when I see them and buy them, that or I miss out on a chance at getting them

edit:
My dolls do have things to wear and I can still enjoy them maybe that's why I'm not bothered by getting a new one before its finished. If they didn't have anything or even bodies, and I was just buying new ones I think in that case I would be bummed and would fell the need to work on what I have. I get fullsets mostly so they do come with things to use.

 

Do you buy dolls you plan to finish later?
If I only ever bought dolls after the current ones were completely finished, Id probably only own about two or three instead of twenty O_o I personally enjoy the customization process, waiting for the perfect wig or customizing some incredible eyes. I like doing commissioned costumes and accessories, and finding engineering solutions to tricky other costume elements. My dolls are all very fantasy so they have all kinds of interesting things going on ^^

That being said, it sounds like you don't enjoy the customization process as much, since you said you haven't been paying attention to your nude dolls =/ I think this is something you should carefully consider for your own happiness. If your dolls wind up being a source of anxiety because you don't have the motivation to "finish" them then maybe you should focus on finishing at least one so that you can see what it feels like to have one finished Also, through the process of finding costumes and wigs and such, I really got to know my doll and then understand more what I want out of certain sculpts and body types. I found that I only like mature/slim 1/4 scale dolls and I only like 63cm+ sized 1/3 scale dolls. I found that my favorite types of eyes are Soom Silicone, and my favorite wigs are Leekeworld, even if the dark ones tend to stain the hairline of the doll's head. I found that my Luts Ani needs a wig cap. I found that I HATE wigs with bangs. Small details like this are very valuable to naturally discover, because all the research in the world can't prepare you for natural preferences.

Or do you like to have the full package from the start?
I have had a few fullset dolls, and I had a hard time bonding with them. For me the customization is part of the process Almost all my fullsets have been rehomed with the exception of my very special few. I don't even like getting default faceups much anymore because I enjoy getting custom ones to have a more unique look to a doll, especially if it's a common one that everyone has seen, like a Soom limited edition.