How do you and your dolls interact over a day?

I don't think there a "normal" behavior, each person act as they feel like. On a normal day I don't interact much with the dolls at all, I keep them on my table and sometimes I stop to look them or change their pose but that is pretty much it. On days I'm working on stuff for them I will get them to measure it and maybe take photos of the process and send to my friend who also collect, I move them more if I'm drawing or taking photos of them. If I'm trying to write their story I may bring them to the room I'm working to look them from time to time to get inspired.

 

I look forward to seeing the answers on this too. I only have one doll so he gets all of my attention. I don't watch tv with him because I don't watch it too much (I spend time gaming). But when I'm on my tablet, reading or listening to music he's with me (which is every night) . He gets lots of hugs and cuddles which is something he loves. I just got him a little over 2 months ago so he missed the conventions I go to, but I plan on taking him to them when they come around again.

 

For me, I don't see them on an average day. They are on a shelf in my bedroom, where I am not. If I spend time in my room, I pick one and let them sit on my lap or beside me. If I am feeling lonely, I may bring one out, but not likely. I enjoy holding them and watching television with them, or reading with them, but I worry about having them down. I have multiple cats who love to rub against them and cuddle them, so I'm worried about damage to their faceups or having them fall. I know the dolls would appreciate getting to come out more often! I have taken a few shopping, but it is not the regular.

 

It depends on the day. On average, it's usually just having one of them in the room while I go about regular daily stuff. Sometimes I take pictures, change their clothes, work on them, clean them. Other times I work on making things for them, decorating their 'rooms'. Almost every night I roleplay online, alternating what dolls get played. If I go out somewhere with great photo ops, I sometimes take one or two. I take them to doll meets.

I don't think there is a 'normal'. Some keep them stored away in boxes, only looking at them occasionally, others take them everywhere with them and treat them almost like pets or children, and of course there's everything in between. I think as long as you enjoy your doll and aren't harming anyone, any way is the 'right' way.

 

Most of my crew spend their time safely behind glass in their display cabinets, where dust, sunlight and inquisitive, munchkin-sized houseguests can't get to them. They live a quiet, rather sheltered life on the whole.

That said, it's not at all unusual for me to have somebody out on any given day for restringing, or cleaning, or a wig swap or outfit change... or just for companionship's sake. Who I pick varies a lot. 'One of the older favorites or whoever was the most recent addition to the group are most common, but it could be anyone that I feel like needs some upkeep or attention. I never have more than one or two out at a time, though. When I have someone out of the cabinet, they're most likely to be either sitting on the corner of my desk downstairs or at the end of the sofa in the living room. If I'm working on an outfit for them, they'll be hanging out on the side-table next to my sewing machine. They might stay out for a day or two, until I swap them for another member of the gang... Unless one of the afore-mentioned munchkins shows up. Then it's straight back into the cabinet, away from curious little hands who might not be old enough to handle them safely.

I'm generally a fairly "hands off" kind of owner, though, with more of a collector's mindset than a storyteller's, so I don't feel the need to tinker with every doll in my collection every day. Only interacting with one at a time works pretty well with the way I approach the hobby... It might not go over as well for someone who was more emotionally invested in their crew as individuals. I think you really just have to experiment and figure out for yourself what suits your style of ownership and what doesn't... There's no One-Size-Fits-All when it comes to the hobby and we all end up having our own individual quirks and preferences.

 

Usually I'll adjust their wigs and slightly change their positions. They sit on my shelf!

 

I'm disabled, and also retired, so I spend a lot of time in my bedroom at my computer. My dolls live on shelves next to my desk where I can see them all the time. I love being able to see them, and just the fact that they are always near, makes me feel happy and comforted.
Occasionally I will bring one or two of them to my desk so I can have them near, but normally I don't handle them much. It's not that I'm afraid I will hurt them, it's just the way I am. I enjoy looking at them but don't feel the need to be holding them.


When my friend comes over she likes to get my big boy and hold him in her lap while we talk about dolls, but I don't do that myself.

I think it's "normal" what ever you want to do with your dolls. We all have different lifestyles, and we each enjoy our dolls differently. Holding and playing with dolls is perfectly normal and acceptable.

 

My dolls spend most of their time on the shelf. During my work week, I work 11 hour days and I have other responsibilities like my pet rats who need to be tended to, etc, so they don't get much, if any, time on those days. During my days off, I sometimes have one who sits with me while I'm on the computer. During my more ambitious times, I will spend a good part of an afternoon redressing them and maybe snapping a few pictures. Right now, though, I'm sort of in a slump with them so they mostly sit on the shelf, though I still smile seeing them there, so I figure that still counts.

 

I don't consider it interaction - dolls are objects and can't act back when you do something. I don't do much with mine. I just got them sitting around. Sometimes I have one with me when watching TV, sometimes I'm taking some of them out for a doll meet but that's it.

 

Fun thread!!!
For me, it will depend on the day and my mood. Usually, Bambuu by Sephie is the one I "Play with". He is a terrible scamp, gets in to all kinds of mischief and I can't help taking pictures of his shinanigans! Leon / Loon Souel is a bit of the off beat inventor with a perchant for machines. Normen /Ringdoll, as the newest, gets posed frequently. And Evan from Iplehouse is the one that will watch tv with me (we both are big fans of Teenage Mutant Turtles).

In terms of general play, it is my ever growing collection of Deja Vu / Tonner. This vinyl doll is greatly poseable, and can wear so many other fashions - including Gene and Madame Alexander. So ebay shopping for new outfits for her is a daily thing! (to the determent of my credit card).

 

On days when I have the time to play with them, which is definitely not every day, I usually work on one of the doll projects I have going, so whoever I'm working on something for is out on my craft table for fittings or because they're being worked on. And then of course there's dressing them and taking photos. If I'm not doing any of those things, most of them are in their boxes. I do usually choose one and dress them up in a favorite outfit and have them displayed on my mantel or some other spot in the main part of the house where I can see them. With all the work I put into customizing them and making clothing for them I do like to be able to look at them; they are aesthetic objects, after all and I really enjoy them as such. They take turns being the doll out on display in no particular order, but I don't like having them all out on display at the same time in a big mass. I prefer just dealing with them one at a time unless I'm doing photos with more than one doll in them.
I don't do cuddling/holding/what have you, though. Not into it. That's what I have puppies for. And it's a good thing I'm NOT into it, because my puppies are super pushy lovehogs. I could just imagine the damage that would be done to a BJD and their clothing/wig/faceup if I DID try to watch TV while holding one on my lap when a 45-lb bulldog shoved herself on top of it to get to me. They know that's THEIR spot and they'd cheerfully mow a doll down to get into it. They are basically four-legged toddlers.

 

I usually just keep my doll near me, I set him down and just enjoy that he's there. I also work on projects but not to often.

 

I love dolly cuddles >w< Since there's no good spot in my room for my doll she usually chills on a pillow on my bed. Thankfully I don't move a lot in my sleep but sometimes i'll wake up with a leg in my face hahaha xD

 

I worked homebased. I always made him sit on my lap. When I got bored with work, I pat his head and (sometimes) kiss his head. Like a son ;w;

I still havent take him outside. But I'll take him on a local con next week.

 

That is so cute omgggg

 

Right now all my bjds are in their boxes stacked in the second bedroom because it is ghastly hot in my attic doll/sewing room. (I bought one of those freestanding air conditioners but after the temp gets 86F it just puts more heat in the room.) I find myself going up to peek in their boxes at least one maybe three times a day!!!! I am having dolly withdrawal symptoms!! Can't wait for it to cool down so I can get them back out and start sewing some of the great ideas I have had while we have been apart!!

 

I don't know if what I do with my dolls is normal, but here I go.

Usually all my dolls are sit near my desk, inside of a glass cabinet, so I usually get at least one of them to be with me while I do stuff on the computer.
In fact, when I am searching for clothes or something for one of them, I get the chosen one and cuddle him/her while I look through the stuff. It is just a nonsense but this way I feel they kinda transmit me if they will look right with certain clothes or if that scaled item will suit them.

When doing other things in other rooms, like watching TV or playing video games, they usually stay at their glass cabinet.

But I also take them out for photoshoots in the little garden or in parks from time to time because I do not have beautiful backgrounds in my house and I love taking pictures with nature.

 

My dolls live on bookshelves in my living room, where I can see them when I watch TV or play around on my laptop. I'll usually go over and pose them, change their outfit, bring them to the couch and play with them as I watch TV, or take a few photos, though there are some days where I just admire them from afar. The really interactive days, I'll take them out for a photoshoot, redo a faceup, or tuck a tiny in my purse as I go about my errands.

 

My favorite dolls sit on my desk but I am usually designing new patterns or outfits for them so having easy access to them is wonderful.