Doll research *or* Buying too soon?

Well I'm new and I've already bought my first doll. However she is going to take some time to arrive so I'm learning as I patiently (read impatiently) wait for her. I haven't really bothered to learn about face-ups etc though as I bought her with one. And common sense does go a long way, ie., sharpie = BAD. If she arrives and I don't like her company face-up I will research then. I certainly wouldn't have at her with nail polish remover and crayolas, LOL. I suppose I learn on a 'need to know' basis.

 

Like Avea, I'm fairly new, but have already ordered my first doll.

Before I ordered her, my 'research' was more focussed on the aesthetic side of BJDs - their range of motion, the different styles, how they photograph and... well, basically all the things that I needed to consider to decide whether I actually wanted one.

Now that I've ordered my first girl and started paying for her, I've started reading the more practical things - stringing, basic care, types of clothing that risk staining, dangers of sanding resin inside, etc.

I guess I tend to see research (when it comes to dolls, at least) as a pragmatic thing. I didn't see the point in reading detailed instructions on stringing when I was still just trying to work out whether I wanted a doll at all or not (except in the vaguest sense of 'oh, that seems tricky - obviously these dolls are a bit more work than smaller, simpler articulated dolls').

And I probably won't really start researching sewing or customising until my girl gets here. I do read those threads casually (and did so right from the beginning, before I'd even decided I wanted a doll), but I don't consider that 'doll research' as such - I'm interested in threads like that in all sorts of hobbies, because you never know when a technique from one hobby (even one you don't follow yourself) might suddenly prove useful in another (for example, I know to avoid oil paints on resin dolls because they are a no-go for other dolls I already have experience with, and I know that sharpies can badly stain plastics and resins because I used to customise My Little Ponies).

I think that as long as someone does research before acting, it's fine. It doesn't matter if their doll is on their lap, on layaway, or still just a possibility for the future - as long as they ask the relevant questions before acting, I think they're doing things right.

(Now, the people who use sharpie on their doll and then run to the emergency board asking for advice on how to fix the horrible staining... well, I can't say I think they're doing things the right way =-=; )

 

I believe fully in researching what you're looking for. I have to really fall in love with a doll to acquire it. I'd feel bad if I didn't bond with one after receiving him/her.

 

I've been doing "research" for a long, long time now, mainly because I find BJDs fascinating, but still can't have one of my own. (It sounds pathetic, I'm sure, but...)

Naturally, as long as I'm genuinely interested in a topic, I'm fully prepared to study it in theory if need be, so I've read what I like to think is almost every topic under the sun - but of course this isn't true, as there are far too many things about dolls to possibly just sit down and learn. But basic care, stringing, faceups, and so on... I'll probably still have difficulty doing them when I get my doll and have to do it, and it really won't make much of a difference, but reading up on it is a - and I shudder at using these words; fun and educational should not ever be paired together - fun and educational time-killer.

I'll be honest - I hate people who 'jump in' without doing any shred of research at all, especially in an expensive hobby such as this. And the worst offenders are those who ask questions that could have been answered if they had simply read the information following the pretty pictures that they saw...

 

I strongly believe in research and also in search engines vs. just asking the same questions all over.
I'm new to BJDs, but I've been in the doll collecting community for a while, so I kind of know the "basics" on handling an expensive doll. I also love sewing, so getting clothes for my future gal shouldn't be a problem.
But for the last couple of weeks I've been lurking on DOA reading about body types, joint types, wigs and shoes, where to get, what to get etc. Now I finally feel confident that I really do want to own a BJD, even if I'm not 100% sure yet which one will be my first.

 

i have a sort of contradictory answer for this question....

right now as it stands, i do a lot of research before buying dolls. i look at different molds, i search the threads here, i look at lots of owner pics...i havent just up an bought a doll at all since my first one. i have only been disappointed once, and that wasnt in the doll (she was wonderful as a doll) it was because i couldnt make her the character she was supposed to be. since then ive been dead on in finding molds to fit my needs.

that said, if i had been a member of DOA, and done that kind of research for my first boy, i may have been swayed by all the opinions here and ended up with a different doll....and been horribly disappointed. my first doll is by far my favorite (so much so that i have him twice now) and from head to toe the ONLY doll ive ever seen who is perfect for the character he is meant for. from the time i found him (nov 2007) to the time i finally ordered 6 months later and then when i finally joined DOA more than a month after having my first, Dollmore was not a hugely popular doll company. there still are not that many on DOA in comparison to other companies and mold...had i been a member then and done all the research youre "supposed" to do i know that at the very least id have been horribly confused as to what to do, and at worst i might have settled for another brand, whether it was because it was more popular or cheaper for a practice doll....and im sure that if id done that i wouldnt have been happy and probably wouldnt have continued in the hobby at all.
so if any of that ramble made sense at all, im still up in the air about tons of doll research...its definitely a good idea, but sometimes it might make things worse...

 

Hmm, I think I'm actually in the middle of this one. One one hand I do know the basics in regards to BJDs and I am fully confident enough to own one (or two) and being able to fully look after them. However, on the other hand there are still alot of things that I don't know.

Also, I learn through doing really. I've researched what I need to know, for example, putting eyelashes on a doll because my girls didn't come with them. I've also checked tutorials on restringing, sanding and face-ups, which will be my next challenges. I'm not going to rush into them before I have to correct equipment though.

I wouldn't say that it is so much of a bad thing to rush in because you can learn as you go along, however, common knowledge (and common sense) is an essenial.

So far with BJDs, the old saying of "you learn something new everyday" certainly does apply to me, which, I think, is a good learning experience for me

 

I completely agree. There are some things I could not have understood before I got a BJD of my own, but there are equally some things I had to have understood before I got one. I think a balance between finding out as you go and knowing beforehand is good...but you definitely need common sense enough to know that Sharpies (and other permanent markers) are a dreadful idea for faceups and if other people in the hobby swear by Mr Super Clear UV Flat there has got to be a good reason for that. There's no point making things difficult for yourself when the knowledge is out there for you to use.

I am learning all about my Dollfie Dream body. I learnt as much as I could before she arrived, but now she's here there's a whole lot more I have learnt practically. Like how super-fast staining occurs and how super-fast it can be to get stains out if you use the right stuff quickly

 

I'm kind of a newb, and I'm not afraid to admit it! =P I'm looking at ordering my first BJD very soon, and am rushing to learn everything I can before he arrives. I don't want to make any stupid mistakes. ^_^' Anyway, I think it's great that there are so many people here (and elsewhere) who are so helpful and don't mind my newbishness. XD Thank guys.

 

off topic, but Avea, i LOVE your avatar - i'm a huge Audrey Kawasaki fan :heart:

 

I wonder if anyone has actually been (I don't really want to say the word stupid) unknowledgable enough to use a sharpie on a doll? I mean ... yeah ... enough said

(p.s. I'm glad your doll finally arrived after the 'little' hiccup with parcelforce lol)

 

Yes, there have been lots of pictures on this forum and others showing Sharpie work on dolls. Usually by the time the picture makes it here it's an "aftermath" type photo where someone used the sharpie, then realized it was a bad idea and either tried to take it off or got rid of the doll to someone who does restorations or extreme mods. I recall in particular one head that had been horribly disfigured by Sharpie which was then sanded, and someone was fixing it up and posting before and after pictures.

 

Oh yeah, people have done it... The pictures are so sad, especially as it takes the tiniest amount of know-how to figure out that it probably isn't a good idea. If you wouldn't put Sharpie on your own face...you probably shouldn't put it on your £200 doll either...

(Thanks! Parcelforce drives me insane, but at least I got my Rheia home and dry!)

 

Being... well... me, I want to learn about things a bit, and know all I can just because I practically have no life and sit at a computer desk all day. :3 Why not do some research, yah?

I've been researching and researching BJD for almost a year now and I've finally decided on a mold. Granted, if i didn't have a job, i probably would still be looking at molds but....:3

I've learned so much by just reading around (and not even on here! I'm new 'round here, if you didn't notice~ XD) Even if I knew NOTHING about face ups or resin and how it reacts with things... why would Sharpie EVER be an option?! That's.... stupid. >.>

 

I almost bought a bjd at a convention I went to. Strange because an hour or 2 before Isaw a girl pushing around a full cartload of them and was kind of freaked out...there were so many and I was confused why someone would bring dolls to a convention, but when I saw 2 of them laying at a dealers booth ad the tiny boots and things you could buy for them I was locked on them. After passing the booth several times over I got the courage to pick one up and look at the price and...$400 FOR A DOLL!? Only problum was my mind just kept wondering to them and I felt sad I passed them up

I ended up reasearching them, not the toutorials and things but just the dolls and then about a year later I joined DOA and started really doing the research on actually OWNING one. Anyway I finally bought one, not a big 70 cm one like I originally thought I'd get, but a 44 cm DIM. After all the research I did it still didn't prepare me for how big she was. I feel prepared for her but I just didn't imagine her to be as big. I love my June to death and I'm still leaarning as I go, but I imagine even if I did buy one at Otakon I'd still be learning , I might have even learned more with having one around the past year. Research can only prepare you for so much you know, actually owning and expiriencing can get you that much further

 

well, i bought my first doll at an fair, it was love at first site, and i din not have a clue how to handle them i did not now how to face up ore anything at all.
i asked around and bought the things i needed.
me myself i am not the type to do research months before taking action, it is not in my nature.
t do have to say that it is better if you know what you are getting into, i did not had any clues how ore what, but it all went well and i learned as i gone along.

 

I was younger when I purchased my first doll, and in hind-sight, I don't think I did a huge amount of research. I still meet people who have issues with Dolkot resin and sculpts--things I honestly would never have noticed that alot of people seem to be very upset by. I'm still a bit intimidated by the prospect of ever changing my doll's face-up, and though I did sand and semi-suede her without any trouble, I still haven't worked up the nerve of restringing her.
As far as maintenance goes, I honestly wouldn't rank BJDs as a high-maintenance hobby...expensive, yes, but it's not like keeping livestock or anything, since you can really do as little or as much customization as you want. I do agree that knowledge is important, and now that I'm aware of more resources, I do far more research.

 

I think the same applies to a lot of things, and it depends on the individual. Some people may treasure their dolls (because they saved up for it, or loved it, or has sentimental value, etc) and others may not care as much (it's just a doll to them, someone got it for them, they can always get more, etc.).
In the same way, I treasure and research before buying my dolls because they are expensive to me. But I've also met people who bought the dolls spontaneously without knowing what may be harmful to them because they can afford it.
Still, I think as long as the dolls bring joy, it doesn't really matter

 

Doing research is obviously helpful, but it can only take you so far. Before I owned any bjd's, there were plenty of things I read about but didn't understand ("kicky?") Once I had played with a few, then the research made more sense, and I knew what to look for as far as information. Plus, no amount of online photos or posts will come close to actually holding one and discovering if you have a bond, which I think is more important than all the restringing or sanding or painting knowledge.

 

I just wanted to buy a doll as soon as possible.
But I needed to save money for it, so it took met about 2 months before I had my first doll, which was time enough for me to learn as much as I can about dolls.
X"D If it was up to me I would've bought my first the doll the first day I saw my dream doll.