Doll Plans 2023

Mostly plan to get a few wigs, eyes, and accessories for my existing dolls; only plan on buying 1 doll (if I can find one or if FL starts making pukipukis again), and learning to do faceups and blushing.

 

I selected "not buy new dolls" but I could have checked off several of the choices. My space where I live now is very VERY limited. I only have one shelf where I can keep my dolls. They are crammed in together, and It is not a happy situation.. So I just bought my FINAL doll until I can get more space.

In the coming year I am hoping to move, and will have more space for dolls and for sewing and crafting. When that happens, I want to learn to do faceups. I am also itching to get back to sewing for my dolls, but right now I don't even have enough space to set up my sewing machine.

 

1) Finish the third iteration of one of my OCs-basically, pay off the layaway I have going for a body for her head. Done!
2) Pay off my other layaway, for a body for an already shelled character. That's a long one, so it will take most of the year.
3) Sew basic clothing for all the new dolls I bought last year-and the big Ringdoll boy coming in any time now.
4) Sew medieval/fantasy clothing for the dolls who are those characters.
5) Work on an old book case I have as a home for my MSD and smaller dolls. My family is way too big!
6) Work on learning to make eyes. I'm not buying any more until I do! I am doing this and making progress, but I bought some anyway...
7) Continue working on my wig making.
8) Keep working on my faceups. They're getting better, but my hands are getting shakier.
9) Refine my storage. Worked on it some last year, but it's still not organized the way I would like.

So far, I've bought one doll I had not intended to buy, and have a head for a hybrid on layaway, should be arriving next month. My Fortunata will be paid off in June, at which point I'm looking at getting a body for my Sun Ce head and a new body for my old DIM Sergei head. But no actual plans for new dolls....

 

I’m getting back into the hobby, so my plans are mostly re-doing face ups, sewing and knitting clothing, and buying probably 1 or 2 at the most. I have so many projects going currently— including writing up a knitting pattern for an MSD sized cardigan. I also have been playing around with clay trying to sculpt a little art doll amidst all of that. Probably won’t be anything crazy, and so far under 20cm.

 

My goals for 2023...

• Buy my 2nd BJD - This will be an off-topic vinyl doll.
• Buy more clothing, shoes, accessories, props - Since I've only been in this hobby for a few months, I'm still very much in collecting mode. I tried shopping secondhand in 2022, but a lot of folks seem to be trying to sell used stuff at new prices. This doesn't work for me.
• Customize accessories - I like to make things my own so I will try my hand at modifying handbags, shoes and more jewelry. I don't plan to invest in raw goods or tools e.g., sewing machine as my time and space is limited.
• Attend my 1st doll convention - This is proving to be quite an investment based on my research.
• Get Marketplace - Try to post more and be more active in DoA so I can start shopping in the Marketplace.

 

1) Complete my last 2 dolls. I am currently waiting for all of the components - heads are getting mods/face-ups, clothes are in the mail, etc. In theory there is nothing left to buy but we will see...

2) Once they're complete, I want to take photos and create a profile for them on here. Also update the other dolls' profiles since the photos are years old at this point and out of date on how they currently look.

3) Hopefully receive the 1/3 scale Victorian couch I ordered on Etsy some months ago. I don't have the motivation to do a full diorama living space, but I would like to spruce up my dolls' display area and that couch will be the focal point so I kind of need it so I can design around it.

4) ...that's it, I think? I have some stuff I want to sell too, mostly eyes and wigs and unused clothes. Not sure if it's worth the trouble though.

 

I recently got into collecting BJDs so 2023 will be my first full year in the hobby, I'm pretty excited! My main goals are:

• enjoy my first resin doll when she arrives!
• get a faceup for the blank head I have, and a body
• practice sewing more so I can make clothes
• cut down on buying clothes + accessories unless they are shoes
• figure out a better organization method for my doll stuff

 

I want to avoid buying new dolls. I have plenty as it is.

I also have some long term sewing projects, like an entire Victorian natural form wardrobe, which I need to complete. If not finish, at least make some progress.

While I now have diorama space, there's still a room or two I need to complete.

 

Next year I'll probably not be buying any dolls since I'm running out of space. Instead, I'll be focusing on finishing incomplete dolls and revamping older ones with new wardrobes and accessories!

One is a blank slate, so he'll be needing new everything plus a restringing. For the other three I have, I'll see if I can revamp their looks to better fit my vision of them now. That would entail new wigs and wardrobes, and for for one a dye job with full body blushing. I hope I'll be able to see these plans through!

 

I want to make furniture for my doll. I've started making a bed frame but I also want to make a bookshelf and maybe a couch!

 

My plans involve mostly creating new backgrounds, doing props and sewing/making clothes and accessories for my current dolls.
I hope to buy one doll body next year, that's my only plan for expanding my current doll crew next year. I wish to get grey skin Idealian. I also hope to save money for Peakwoods FOC, but grey skin Idealian will be my priority.
I also want be more active and write more indepth doll profiles/talk about my characters more etc. I am currently only active in instagram, so maybe I will start a blog or something like that to push myself to be more active.

 

I didn't do too well on some of my goals for 2022, hopefully 2023 is better!

Orders made in 2022 to arrive in 2023-
1. Dream Valley Bow and Arrows and bow hands for Morrigan (Dream Valley Rosa)
(Package lost by customs, accepted dealer's offered refund instead of having it reordered)
2. Dream Valley Paris (Arrived September,11 2023)
3. Miracle Doll LanQi
Dolls ordered in 2023-
1. Dream Valley Izzy (Arrived November 4, 2023)
2. Dollzone The Hanged Man
3. Dream Valley Freyja head and muscular male body in red resin

Other plans-
1. Sell the one doll I know I don't want to keep, and any others I may decide to let go of. (Listed the the first one)
2. Sew more clothes for everybody (3 outfits for MSD girls made)
3. Fully sand my artist cast tiny Off Topic Doll from Cirque de Fantomes (Started)
4. Do Face-ups on at least some of my many blank dolls. I've got the supplies, now I just need to put in the time to get decent at it.
5. Make more furniture and props
6. Ensure all dolls have a suitable wig and eyes (All current dolls have suitable eyes)
7. Post more doll profiles of DoA

Maybe find/ make bigger display space for the MSDs?

I'd like to limit new dolls ordered to 3 or less, as I am already close to 30
Instead, I want to focus on finishing and clothing the ones I have
Ordered a 4th that was in-stock (Fairyland Minifee Jiyu) Oops.

 

I just placed orders for my first BJDs at the tail end of 2022, so I’m super excited for 2023 because I’ll be able to finally see my dolls in person very soon if all goes well.

There should be two full body dolls and a head that I plan on customizing to look like my OCs. I’m both nervous and so excited to customize them and learn how to get them as close as possible to how I want. It’ll definitely take a while to learn but I’m still just so excited. It’ll be fun to bring my characters to life in doll form

 

The most important thing I'd like to do is to be more active in the hobby again. Post more regularly on Instagram. Play with my dolls more. Post on the forum more. I feel like I've fallen out of it a bit recently and I miss it.

I have a Breakaway head that's been floating for a while, and I'd like to get him repainted. I'm hoping I can find someone who would be willing/able to try and create a similar look to his company face up (he arrived to me with a company face up but it was damaged, and I can't get over it, hence why he's been floating around not doing anything for so long). Would also like to try and find a body for him if I can, but that might be difficult as I'm very particular about my delfs and refuse to hybrid them

Aaaand I might change my mind about this, but, but, but... I'd really like a Migidoll Ryu again if I can find one (third time lucky am I right ) (wait... is it the third time? I can't even remember anymore At least I'm 100% sure which body I want for him this time) (Migidoll Ryu was my first dolly love, the one that got me into BJDs, the first one I wanted, etc. He's never stopped being important to me).

Lastly, I need to find a look/name/character I like for my Sleeping Soony. She needs a new wig and for some reason I'm not clicking with her name. I haven't really taken the time to bond with her properly. I need to do that because she is WONDERFUL.

This got kind of long. Apologies. I will end it here before I think of anything else

 

This next year, I want to:

• Avoid buying any new dolls glares at self
• Get "Glow ups" (faceup+body blushing/painting) for Khafra (DV eagle Rah) and Chu (Miracle Doll Dio)
• Chu needs eyes
• Finish making Khafra's accessories so he has a complete outfit
• Make Leander (Impldoll Joshua) some custom t-shirts, experimenting with iron on vinyl
• Make Hanfus. For Chu and Leander
• Get a wig that makes Duan Duan (OT cattuar) happy. And some clothes - can make too
• Fill out an actual wardrobe for Leander that he's happy with

 

Eh..how I hope that next year I will buy the doll I dream of, only recently started looking for it convulsively, but not very successfully, maybe in 2023 I will take away saint from dollshe. By the way, I recently wanted to create my own ooak, I think next year will be grandiose

 

I shall make no resolution about doll acquisition because I cannot predict it. 2022 was especially unpredictable with many unplanned acquisitions these past months. xD

Same attempted focus as 2022.

• Sculpt more stuff
• Craft more stuff

Sculpting has gotten a bit frustrating. Bleh, improvement is a wiggly line. Being in the slow improvement phases sucks. I feel like I learned to sculpt one face really good, but my variety sucks. I love the Lejeune head I sculpted, but my other faces are like missing some je ne sais quoi.

I felt kind of burnt out with sewing for a while, but I feel more inspired lately.

And I am also trying to add cobbling to my skillset because faux leather is terrible and no one makes hessian boots anyway.

And since 2023 SD BJD Con is medieval fantasy themed, I will be working on sculpting armor and making a medieval horse gear.

 

It's the third time that I'm taking part in this challenge (I like to retreat to these threads and revise my plans against reality I hope this year's keeping the tendency to improve So, the plans:

(+Monthly updates)

1. Use up as much fabric and craft supplies as possible. But make only high quality pieces that look like jewellery. Lots of beads, ornaments, complicated patterns, etc.
January: a hectic time + my defence, so only one piece that was a long work in progress. A creme cotton + lace dress.
February: still busy, despite the holiday plan. I finished the creme dress and now began another.
March: I'd been planning to use up some, but I ended up using very little. Still, I've used a bit I had to focus on other life things (moving overseas in a couple months!!!)
April, May, June, July: on the move back home - nothing
August & September: Made top and skirt, finished a brassiere & skirt set.
October & November: nothing
December: ...

2. Sell some stuff that's been stored in the "for-sale" boxes. Take the time to list it, cross post it and bump it.
January: I exchanged some clothes for a doll head. Didn't list any other.
February: nothing happened here
March: still nothing ;(
April, May, June: on the move - nothing
July: I sold a lot of handbags I had for sale for ages!
August: &September: happy with my sales thus far, taking my sweet time to relist items.
October & November: nothing
December: ...

3. Bring back my character of Vic Richmond. He used to be 3 dolls, including a Migidoll Jina. Now i want to try with a petite SD boy, but I don't know yet which of the two incoming heads I'll use for it. This is really important, because that'd mark my 10th anniversary in the hobby Like... going back to the origins. Vic's character was my very first OC and a BJD.
January: Vic is back, now doesn't have his own clothes tho
February: nothing happened
March: still nothing ;(
April, May, June, July: on the move back home - nothing
August: & September & October: On the shelf, enjoying a fishnet top I'm not super happy with tho lol
November: repainted him and ordered a suit
December: ...

4. Sell one or even two girls. We'll see about that. But I will be most probably selling at least one of them soon.
January: hasn't happened yet, but still in the back of my head.
February: still debating.
March: decided not to sell anyone for now
April, May, June: on the move - nothing
July: I sold both BJD heads for sale yay
August: & September & October: Listed one doll for sale, taking my sweet time to sell, no time pressure anymore. It goes when it goes.
November: ...
December: ...

5. Re-learn to paint some basic, decent faceups. I used to suck less and I dont know what happened over the years, but now my faceups look more amateurish than ever. I know I can do better...
January: hasn't happened yet.
February: nothing happened
March: still nothing ;( And I've just given away my pastels, so I'll buy new (and better) on the "other side".
April, May, June, July: on the move back home - nothing
August: & September & October: nothing
November: Re-did the faceups of all those in my crew who needed it. Not as scary as I thought YAY new faces!
ACCOMPLISHED

6. Make some wigs. I have the fur, the dyers, the glue... I only need to get down to making it. I might, but the fabric is my priority since it's taking up so much space!
January: hasn't happened yet. Fabrics and sewing supplies first!
February: nothing happened
March, April, May, June, July: on the move back home - nothing
August: & September & October: nothing
November: ...
December: ...

7. No hard limits on minor shopping since I always only buy what's super necessary and impossible to produce by me. E.g. shoes. I may be tempted by anything else that'll be available at Mori Time's (My fav place to shop aside from Alice's Coll.) But generally not too many supplies either.
January: I have plans for some shoes.
February: still just plans xD
March: nothing
April, May, June, July: on the move back home - nothing
August & September: Nothing
October: doll heads are still "minor" right? right...? and 2 pairs of shoes
November: just some wigs and clothes (5 pieces in total)
December: ...

8. Downsize on all the shipping BOXES and wrapping material and envelopes and all... that I (should) have been using to pack the sold items in. I want some space for my dolls and the paper and bubble wrap plastic must go!
January: have used the boxes for other stuff meanwhile, but still only a minor dent.
February: I did manage to use up, bot only a few.
March: I used up a few, but not much
April, May, June: got rid of the boxes!!!
ACCOMPLISHED

9. Maybe downsize significiantly on my Barbie collection to make some room (mostly in my mind) for the BJDs. The Barbs don't take up too much space, obviously, but the sole fact that they're on my mind bothers me, frankly.
January: have consulted many people and been given lots of insight and advice. Still pondering.
February: still debating.
March: still debating
April, May, June, July: on the move back home - nothing
August: & September & October: decided to "freeze" one NRFB to resell within a couple years. The rest is staying, but... still debating xD
November: ...
December: ...

10. Take out my dolls for photos :P As simple. Not just sew, craft and pack the clothes back into the clothes box, but actually photograph my dolls!
January: DID IT one solid outdoor session has happened yay
February: nothing happened
March: not going to happen any time soon because I've packed them all up for moving :P
April, May, June, July: on the move back home - nothing
August: took the doll out once.
September: school and work so no time
October:did one outing and one tiny indoor session
November: ...
December: ...

We'll see how this one goes...

 

I don't *plan* to buy new dolls, unless finishing layaways counts, and then i need to finish my layaway for Hua Cheng and for LS Bai Jue.

I need to do a LOT of customizing work, which will include making the clothes, faceups, accessories, and hair styling both for Bai Jue and the LS Ying Zhou I already have (whom i'm currently trying to decide how best to approach dealing with the color he ended up when i dyed him a few weeks ago).

I plan on learning to do some modifications like elf ears, and will have to figure out hairstyling. And I'm not new sot sewing at all, but it will be my first time making any kind of hanfu, which I'm looking forward to!

I'd like to go to some meetups in 2023 if everything works out!

 

I'm not necessarily PLANNING on buying new dolls, but I suspect I will be because the doll I've been waiting for hasn't been released by her maker for a little while, and this maker usually goes in cycles. She'll be my darling Dot, the character my iMda Amellia was supposed to be until I got her in person and realized she worked better for someone else.

I would need to buy a permanent wig for Leonie still, instead of the one I trimmed myself, and also at least a wig and a dress for Dot (I have eyes and maybe shoes for her already).

I would LOVE to find a doll that suits Peppermint, but that has been a struggle. Also if I somehow stumble into money, I'd love to get a few dolls that look more grown-up, because they're an entirely different collecting experience.