How do you collect?

one by one...not all at once...I even did a layaway on my first MSD...
whenever i have the money, i purchased the wig (1 wig first)...then i purchased shoes...
i like sewing and buying BJD is absolutely because i want to make doll clothing, clothes that i wouldn't and couldn't wear in real world (-.-)'

I'm glad that my first MSD included some eyes.

 

I wouldn't say any any of my dolls will ever be 'complete' as such, since they are more of a personality, rather than a fully fleshed out character, so clothing and what not is really subjective. Faceups on the other hand, are one of the most important things on my dolls, not only is it part of bonding for me, but if they don't have one they don't get played with much. Also, once I've done a faceup I'm happy with, I don't really want to change it for a while. Sometimes I find that certain things suit them better, so when I find eyes that I think look nice, or a wig that suits, then I can stop looking for that thing and concentrate on finding something else for another doll.
I don't normally get eyes or wigs before I get a doll. Once they're here I try on what I have spare so I can get a feel for colour or length, so then I can go looking for the right kind.
Yeah Limiteds can really mess this up though ^^; to the point where one of my dolls has been barefoot for 9 months because I haven't gotten around to buying her shoes yet.

 

Well at first I only wanted my first doll, but then he got a twin and I've got a littlefee on the way My main goal is to own a SD and yo-sd that looks similar to the BlueFairy Louis mould, because I love the shape of his eyes.

At first I had a set look I wanted for my first doll but after I got my second doll, I've stopped thinking that way. I just buy what I think will look nice on them lol

 

For example, do you get one doll, get it a face-up, new eyes, new wig, clothes and shoes first to get one complete doll and then move onto getting a second doll and doing the same? Or do you get the dolls first, then wigs and eyes or what?

I buy dolls as soon as I can afford them. Things like wigs, shoes, etc., come along the way after I have the doll in hand and decide who they will be. I often play with the looks of one doll while I'm waiting for another to be shipped.

I'm sure there are things which pop up that cause little 'glitches' in your collecting plans, like a company releasing a new set, doll or wig. But for the most part, what sort of order do you use? Or is there no order at all and you just get what you like when you see it and save for other stuff later?

Dolls first for me, other stuff later.

And also, what sorts of things pop up which cause you to change your names and re-order things? Like if you were saving for one doll and a limited edition doll came out, would you switch to that one and go back to the other later since it's a standard commonly available doll?

I've done this many times. My wishlist isn't in any particular order, but if I knew that a doll I want will be discontinued or is on sale, that's the sort of thing that would move them to the top of the list. Also, if I suddenly got a lot of money, like a bonus or big tax refund (I wish), I might buy one of the more expensive dolls on my list.

 

The dolls I wanted for my collection came first...and I really agonized and saved for them like crazy. I knew I wanted to keep my collection quite small, limiting myself to very few in number and in size, as well as limiting myself to MSD and smaller-sized characters. Having made the initial mistake of collecting "too many" big, pretty faces once upon a time (which never made me happy), I knew I wanted my new collection to be far more personalized, controllable and interactive this time around. So I worked very hard at searching for just the right dolls.

As one doll arrived, I would begin searching in earnest for the next...and so on. But while I was searching, saving and buying, I would work hard at finishing the one I already had. From the moment I purchase a doll, I'm hard on the hunt for eyes and wigs to complete their unique look. I do my own faceups too...that is part of the bonding process for me. I also make all their clothing myself...another part of the bonding. And yet another bonding activity I do is to make them unique rooms (vignettes) to live in. All this has been very successful in allowing me to complete my collection on a shoestring budget and be very happy and closely bonded with the dolls I have.

 

I like to have a wig, eyes, and something for them to wear before I get a new doll, but that doesn't always happen. I had to quickly - and rather poorly - whip up a shirt and pants for my first doll to wear, because I got his body coincidentally when the opportunity arose (before Luts released the SDF bodies for sale separately). He's still not "complete" in the sense that he's not dressed accurately to the time period his character is from, but he's not naked!

I tend to but the accessories I need for a doll in stages; eyes one month, a wig the next, ect. I save very slowly, so this is the best way for me to prepare for an eventual incoming doll. Then, once I have a little collection of things for a specific doll, I start saving for the doll itself. Then, by the time they come home, I have at least SOMETHING to stick them in. Otherwise I'd feel badly. x3​

 

Since I already owned over 300 70's dolls of vinyl, after falling in love with the Sd's I thought I wanted only one. HA! The one I bought was not my first choice, but once I saw her, I knew she was the one for me. I ordered her with eyes and default face-up , since my painting skill stops with painting walls.

She arrived naked and bald, so I began buying shoes, wigs, sewing clothes, and otherwise treating her like an only child. Then another doll caught my eye, and I fell again. Had to bring her home.
I did not get a face-up, but got a friend to do it, even tho she had never done one. It is gorgeous.

Two more joined the family, each doll one I had to have. Meanwhile I am constantly buying things for all of them. Since I am 'into' costumes, each has a selection of wigs, styles, and accessories.

I buy what catches my soul.

 

Ideally, I would love to take care of one doll at a time, and get its eyes, wigs, outfit before moving to the next.

Practically, it takes me so long to customize a doll, that usually the next one is already there before I'm finished, so I end up having to juggle between multiple customizations!

 

I constantly keep an eye out for new dolls and companys. If I see one that is love at first sight, then I aim for that one. (Even if I was eyeballing another mold entirely that I still madly love XD). After I decide what doll I'm going to get, I begin to look for an outfit. I hunt and hunt until I find one that I think is 'so them' and then save all the links. I order the doll and then immeadiately order the clothes/wig next.

And, even if I don't mean to, I keep seeming to buy dolls/clothes that reminds me of characters from Alice in Wonderland DD: (In my sig for example: Mitsu- Alice, Aidan- Mad Hatter, Cherry- White Rabbit, Pandora- Cheshire Cat (she has ears on her hood), and Jaden- Queen of hearts (red/black and he has a heart pendant)! And not yet in my sig: Apollymi- The Duchess, and Desari and Lilium- Tweedledee and Tweedledum

 

I usually (as if I've done it hundreds of time, which I haven't LOL) get doll with at least a wig and eyes, and 1 set of clothing, so that he won't be naked.

I tried to set a goal and work toward it. Keyword here is try, cause it seems like something got in the way all the time. I'm saving for another kid-delf and then... bam... a special ver. lati. *sigh* little Lemon will have to wait.

 

For example, do you get one doll, get it a face-up, new eyes, new wig, clothes and shoes first
I get the head first and immediately line up a face up for it. Then I plan the eyes, and depending on what type either order them if they're rare or sit back and wait if they're easy to get. The body acquisition comes next, and then once the body has arrived I start planning clothes. Once the head arrives I buy eyes, wig, and the actual clothes.

I used to have multiple dolls as works of progress but I can't afford that anymore, and don't like how it made me overlook some dolls.

I don't change my plans anymore even if new dolls get released. There will always be something nice coming out, and I can't get it all, so I'll just enjoy the new doll I started working on and ignore temptations.

 

One come and one go, so that I have small numbers, of dolls and doll stuff. I try to...

 

I tend to go for the dolls that I like that are cheaper. I have a small doll budget so I like to get the best deals I can and then make clothes wigs ect for them.

 

I would want my doll to have at least one wig, a pair of eyes, a pair of shoes and 2-3 outfits (and of course a face-up and body) before I buy another one

 

I generally try to complete a doll before buying the next one. I'll buy the doll first and, depending on how much money I have left over or how much I manage to save while waiting for the doll I try to get its clothes, wig and eyes ready for when it finally comes home. I do this mostly because I know that if I don't then I'll probably never complete the doll and just end up with a whole lot of incomplete dolls sitting around waiting to be finished ^^;

 

I would like to complete my doll before I go purchase another. Or at-least wait a year or two if I can help it. ^_^

 

I typically buy the doll first then when she arrives I get her a wig. I fortunate enough to have a doll store nearby where I try different wigs. So I never have to worry about them not fitting. Idk if any of my girls are complete, but a couple of them are getting close. But only one so far is an actual character so the others really will never be "complete." I'll keep finding things for them as long as I have them.

I make some vague plans for dolls, but when I see a doll for a good price that I was interested in, I usually cant pass it up. Thus why I have 9 dolls with 2 on the way in just under a year in the hobby lol.

 

I usually buy a doll with their faceup, after this I get them eyes and a wig and an outfit that suits their character. I try getting these all together because after this I like getting them more clothes and different wigs to experiment with the looks. When I think they're complete I usually see if I can find better body parts for them and once that's done I move on.

 

I've never purchased a fullset doll. I always see a sculpt and have my own vision about their wig,eyes and style,and I might have to go to several different sites to find everything I need. I enjoy doing faceups myself,but I learned that if I ever get another tiny doll I'm ordering one with a faceup! I had the worst time ever trying to do a faceup on my Realpuki.