Does becoming a "crazy doll lady/person" concern you?

I had BJD fever before I met my fiancé, and at first I wondered what he'd think of it. I did worry he might think I was crazy. But he bought me doll shelves and built me doll shelves and before I broke my camera, he used to go with me to parks to take photos of them. I've never felt like the stereotype, yet his aunt with a living room full of porcelain dolls behind glass thinks I'm nuts for having dolls I change and photograph. In the end, I can't care. My hobbies don't hurt anyone, and they make me happy, so that's that.

But...Maybe there is a line for the sake of comfort. I found that I did indeed have a limit to how many dolls I could actually handle and keeping the ranks within that limit just helped.

OP, I hope you can find the peace not to worry too much about what other people think of your pursuits and can be happy with your hobby. I can't offer much advice, but I have confidence you'll be fine.

 

Some of my friends definitely think it's a bizarre hobby and they just don't comment on it at all. Whenever I've made a tentative mention of my dolls they've just not reacted in any way. So I do tend to keep it a secret from most people as the likelihood of bumping into another BJD enthusiast isn't very high. However, I don't really care about people judging me, I just hate being met with those pointless silences. If other people have hobbies I'm not interested in I at least try to ask them questions about it so that they can talk about what excites them.

As far as my own self esteem goes, I don't worry about my interest in dolls. They're pretty and give me a creative outlet - there's nothing wrong with that. I'm more likely to become a fanatic old cat person In all seriousness though, creative play is for all ages, not just children. I will never understand people who have to cut the joy out of their life to feel like a competent member of society.

 

Nope.

My house is full of dolls, I bring dolls to work with me most days. I've collected dolls and bears for as long as I can remember. Anyone who knows me knows about the dolls.

Teddy

 

To be totally honest, I think I'm already there.

 

InkyBear, I think Cynthia in FlintHills put it the most eloquently. When you're in your twenties and still trying to find your place in the world and juggling responsibilities you've probably never had before, it's easy to be swayed by external forces. While it's not always a bad thing to look for guidance from others (though hopefully these are people you trust), also keep in mind what you want/need. There really isn't a straightforward or right way to becoming a functioning adult, so give yourself a little slack and have confidence that your interests are completely valid.

Kittzel also makes a very good point about how you present your hobby. It's basically faking confidence until you have it: if you act apologetic or ashamed, people will feel like they have a license to openly judge you; whereas if you act like it's perfectly normal and awesome, others will feel less confident about sharing their negative views, if they even have any.

Also, you might be interested to know that many of the world's most renowned designers (who generally aren't accused of being immature or un-elegant) played with dolls as a child and still do (though they might call it creative inspiration). I remember watching a video where the creative head of a major fashion house showed off his vintage Barbie and wardrobe with obvious pride and affection. Alexander Wang designs dolls in conjunction with Integrity-these dolls are geared solely towards adults; Karl Lagerfeld designed a Barbie that sold out pretty much immediately, and I have a feeling there were some pretty "elegant" people shelling out a pretty penny for it. I'm just saying there're probably people you admire (and might think project a very elegant presence) that collect dolls, and you just don't know it yet.

 

I am a crazy doll lady.

 

Not at all. I have loved dolls my whole life so far and will for the rest of it I am sure. It is part of who I am.

 

I am about 300% more likely to be a "crazy cat lady" than I ever would be a "crazy doll lady", so I've never even worried about. The important people in my life have no concerns with my hobbies (or my cats, for that matter), and they're the only ones whose opinion I'd care about. My mom, my grandmother, my husband, my friends - they all just want me to be happy and do what I enjoy. My best friend is the one who got me into BJDs in the first place.

 

Yes! But hey, if that's the way it's going to go, so be it. If you spend your life trying to maintain a facade for the neighbors, wow. What the heck kind of life would that be?
I'd much rather be a CDL than a hoarder, or animal hoarder, or any other horrible thing ie. drug addict, Satan worshiper I could think of.

 

Everyone is entitled to collect what they like. My mom collects glass figurines her friend collects TYs my fiance collect monster high dolls for faceups. Me I collect cute things! I too am in my mid 20's and from one person to an other Im leaving you with this advice "do you booboo", if someone does not agree with your hobby thats okay! If they start poking fun at you Thats a different story. Surround yourself with positive people choose your friends wisely. I have a friend who used to collect porcelain dolls but when I told her about my new BJDs I just ordered she said she grew out of that phase which was followed by why do you collect what you collect? my response was "Its what makes me happy i enjoy this about the hobby just like how(insert her hobby here) Brings you joy" showing someone confidence in your hobbies or what you do gives you respect and admiration. now every time I visit her she asks if my dolls are here yet and shes really supportive even if its not her thing. And were still best buds. Give it a go step out of your shell and dont be afraid of what someone else may think because at the end of the day it doesn't matter what they say, listen to you. Also, adulting is hard don't push yourself, at our age were not suppose to have all the answers we're still very new to the adult world. My mom said she didn't get it till she was in her late 40's lol

On an other note keep track of your collection and do some spring cleaning once in a while to prevent clutter there can be a balance with elegance if your space is tidy. =)

 

If you have no more space in your home to display your collections, then do not display them in your bathroom.

 

I have bjd and blythe and they are part of my bedroom decoration. I love it when I can look around and see so much beauty around me, it's awesome. I'm in mid twenties and I don't care what people would think of it. However I don't talk about them either, only to people I trust. So I guess I'm a bit insecure about it somehow.

If I'll become a crazy doll lady, ugh whatever so be it! Hahaha

 

Sounds wonderful to see your dolls before sleep.

 

concern me? I'd consider it more of a goal! I've always been eccentric though, I used to need to fit in and tried so hard during my elementary and early teen years but then I realized that it's my weirdness that I like. Sure, I enjoy having other people that also share my eccentricities with me but I definitely embrace it now. I am also in my mid-twenties.

 

No because it is one of many interests I have, I'm into my artwork, I like my music, I like anime and manga and I feel like doll collecting is in line with a lot of my interests and hobbies. I think I'm more likely to be known as a crazy creative.

 

I don't really care. If you're "weird," you're "weird" and thank god for internet because you will always be able to find your people hahahaha

.............and the enablers who talk you into even more dolls.....

My dolls are just an extension of my creative endeavours anyway. I can sew, I can paint, I can make wigs and style hair, and I'm getting into hat making!

 

I'm probably already going to be a crazy cat lady, so why not take the title of a crazy doll lady too?

 

I'm not concerned at all.
I really doubt that I'll ever get to the point of it becoming a real problem (although some people seem to think that by having one doll that was so expensive and buying her more than one outfit that I have already crossed that line).
If someone has a problem with my doll hobby and/or any of my hobbies or me in general then they are more than welcome to stop associating with me.

 

Nope, I'm way past the point of no return on that one! I started making cloth dolls when I was 11 and have been known to be eccentric even before. Everyone who knows me beyond just meeting me is pretty aware of my craziness for random things. Most of my friends are so accepting of it, I often forget that it's considered strange.