Doll plans for 2025

Bah, I got the 'VID (first time), and I have zero energy. Like, none. Nada. Zip. I haven't touched my dolls in close to a month. I am sad.
C'mon, body, hurry up and heal!

 

STOP buying dolls. I mean it!!! And finish the dolls I have - I want everyone nicely dressed and with hair.

 

My new year's resolution was to get more involved with the hobby.

Last week I went to my first ever real life doll meet. I had a great time and will definitely go to more events.

 

I didn't have a specific plan before, but now it's definitely going to be "work on my current dolls" since "buying more dolls" is probably not going to happen unless there are major changes in the political/economic situation.

But it's not a bad thing that I'm going to take a break from acquiring new dolls! I really want to learn to make wigs, do my own faceups, and now I might finally have the motivation to start learning to sew, too.

 

I'm hoping to get more involved with the community! My local group tends to meet up more in the summer, and I can't wait to start going to in-person meetups again. I used to absolutely love them and go every chance I got. Now I'm just waiting for one to pop up close enough for me to feel comfortable making the drive there and back in one day.

I'd love to buy more dolls, but the America situation is definitely putting a damper on getting anything new. I'm keeping a close eye on secondhand markets. The urge to just buy-buy-buy is SO strong, but this hobby demands so much patience. It's honestly theraputic for me to have to unlearn the instant gratification I've gotten used to in many of my other hobbies.
I'm also focusing on sprucing up the two dolls I have, so they both have new wigs, new eyes, new faceups, and new clothes. I'm leaning hard into learning new sewing techniques, as I'm a competent seamster for human-sized things, but dolls are a completely different ballpark. I have four giant tote boxes of fabric to play with, so I'm set in that arena for a while!

 

After spending years collecting fashion dolls, I had intended this year to be the one where I finally branched out into resin. Found and ordered two dolls I am very excited about -- and now daunted by the prospect of those orders being fulfilled and paying tariffs on them. But I am hopeful the year will not be a terribly expensive bust!

Machine sewing for 1/6 scale is intimidating, but I am having my old Singer serviced and intend to finally get over my nerves and try it out!

 

Once I get my two dolls I think I’m going to just stick with them for the next 4 years unless some drastic things change to semi-normalcy.

I’m going to start looking at sewing tutorials and how to make my own patterns for clothes for my dolls. I’ve already started watching tutorials for yarn wigs and that doesn’t seem too difficult, and making eyes with resin might be fun too, and I can get all the supplies at a craft store.

I might move money around to pay off my in-stock layaway sooner so I can practice on her and distract me from the paranoia with my pre-ordered girl.

 

I've gotten most of the head sculpts I wanted, so I am focusing more on buying clothes, hair, accessories, and bodies for some selected few, floating heads. I'm really hoping to add a few more completed dolls to my display shelf.

I get FOMO at the most random times, so I can be impulsive when it comes to purchasing new items. So far though I am doing well. I'm just happy I got most, if not all, of the head sculpts I've been waiting/searching for, so this definitely helps with my spending.

I'm also selling a few floating heads that no longer fits my collection, hopefully they can get rehomed.

 

1/3rd through the year already... let's see.

(1) I currently have no resin on order and have been for 2 months already! (Prior to this I'd been waiting for one doll or another, for something like 2 years non-stop.) I still have a floating head to complete, there's a BJD body in prototype that I'm really keen on, so I'm waiting for news. Hopefully I'll buy that body in the middle of the year. In the meantime, it feels so good to not be waiting for resin.

(2-3) I did receive a doll earlier this year, I got her up and going right away and have been assembling things for her. I think she has all her basic appearance at this point, so now I'm just refining and adding to her wardrobe. I still have to sew kimono for her and my other new-ish doll, but I've been putting this off because I'm not feeling the urge to dress everyone in kimono yet. I'll get there eventually.

(4-6) Ah, sewing projects... I've been pretty half-hearted about sewing this year. Still making doll clothes here and there, but not as energetically as last year. But there's still plenty of time time to tackle cosplay project (5). Project (6) is very low priority for the year, but I expected it and I'm fine with that.

And I have a 7th goal now... doll dioramas. I've finally gotten tired of seeing the same places in my home in doll pics, and I want more backdrops! Currently brainstorming where else in my home I can use for doll pics, what materials I need to make backdrops and craft a "corner box" diorama.

 

Doing a check-in partway through the year because I'm feeling great about my progress. Nearly done everything 4 months in

• Buy new dolls/ heads / bodies -> Mostly looking for an El, but may allow myself 1 other 'temptation' doll (like Peakswood haha) Still looking for an El head. He used to be everywhere, and now it's so hard to find him! With the tariffs and all in the USA, I think I will target just finding his head and then work on acquiring his body in the future.
• Sell some dolls -> I have 1 full doll and a couple heads / body that I'd love to sell Sold a full doll!
• Do at least 2-3 faceups on existing dolls Completed the 2 priority faceups
• Buy or ensure that all of my existing dolls have at least one character specific outfit Definitely could do with some refreshed clothes, but at least everyone is wearing character-appropriate clothing
• Attend a BJD con and acquire some goodies there! Really looking to replace my group's eyes with resin eyes - Probably the highlight of the year for me, hobby wise. I had such a good time at the NYC Doll Con

 

Given the tariffs and general economic uncertainty, now seems like an excellent time to take a break from doing stuff with my dolls and work through my massive collection of needlepoint kits. I don't need to buy any extra notions for them.

 

Huh, let's see where I've gotten with 4 months!

I've acquired no new dolls despite the numerous temptations! I did rehybrid Asa, though, but I'm more interested in full doll listings these days.

I haven't really been remaking wigs but I've been making both sewn and hardcap wigs without mixing the two methods. They're getting better!

Nope, still haven't gotten around to it, it just keeps being bumped back in the idea list. I did make an Evangelion cosplay, though!

I was super eager to compile a website and had fun doing it, but absolutely hate updating it so I'll probably not take on any further labour-intensive work on it for now.

I'm yet to take a proper break but I've gotten better at walking away from my dolls for a moment when I get too zany about it, and spending time with my other interests. I definitely feel that I can respect a balance better these days.

 

Who is Hina going to marry?

 

@topazrain Me, of course!!!
As for progress, none yet

 

Time for an update. Some good, some bad.

• I've gotten a couple more bodies for floating heads. Waiting on two currently, and have plans set for one more. Last head is still so up in the air for what body to even CHOOSE, let alone get.
• Did one faceup and I goofed it and haven't done any since, but feeling mildly motivated to do one today. We'll see.
• I have actually kept up with monthly doll anniversary group photos!! Also been keeping up with restringing dolls from each group as they need it. Basically doing monthly tlc on dolls and it's so nice.
• I...have failed in my goal of no new dolls and have 2 incoming. No excuses, just weak willpower and 'shopping therapy' when my mood is garbage. Really want to work on this.
• Have not done any writing or photostories. But still plan to try and get something done this year!

It's early yet, but I feel I've done pretty badly so far...but I will take the small wins I guess. This is likely my last year I'll be able to hard focus doll stuff so I need to make the most of it.

 

This is so cute!

 

well, i was pretty excited that my finances were looking a little less dire this year and i could body the last of my floating heads...which was the only buying i'd planned to do this year.

i did get two of the last bodies i still needed, and they are already with me thanks to the relative immediacy of buying secondhand!-- and then i ordered one more, new from Impldoll thru Alices, right before all the trade war crap blew up

so now i have no idea if or when i'll get it, and i definitely won't even be trying to order any of the replacement hands i'd also wanted to get this year.

kind of unpleasant to have that stress injected into things, since 2024 had been horrid and my main goal for my bjd hobby in 2025 was to have fun with it again

attempting to refocus away from the possible fate of that doll body: i do still have three bald, eyeless, naked hybrid dolls to work on right here and now, so hopefully i can end the year with everyone i already have dressed, painted, eyed and wigged!

 

My doll plans for 2025!

Definite Plans

• Photograph and craft/sew more for Midori, she's my avatar and I love her!
• Possibly look at some optional hands for her and blush her current hands.
• Attend more doll meets! I got to visit a dolly friend this year already.
• Make a dedicated doll space!
• Get a new doll bag because the one I have is from 2008 lol

Maybe Plans

• I have a future plan of having four different four sister dolls in different skin tones. And each doll will be modeled after a different season. Midori is my Spring girl. I would love to start moving towards purchasing the next doll in the series!
• I got an excellent deal on a WS body earlier this year and would like to start working on my Winter doll, Miyuki. I'll need to get a WS four sister's head, a pair of hazel eyes, and starter white blonde wig and outfit.

 

I hope things get better for you and you're able to realize your dolly goals! I hate for dolls to be incomplete too. But maybe this year will be kinder and you'll finally get there!

 

My doll plans in motion are:
Make some simple photo backdrops - waiting on supplies
Make a lil website to document my dolls and their stuffs - got a few pages up already

What else I want to do:
Make and share patterns for crafts that I've made my dolls
Annnnd I found a dolly head that's been in storage for over 10 years so I guess time to learn face ups? Maybe find her a body on secondhand market?