In a hobby for longer than 4 years? How is it going?

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
Since May 2008 - first doll ordered April 2008....so 7 years (almost)

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
Um. Not really? I mean I've changed my mind many years about what I want my collection to be - but for the most part the bulk of my dolls, or the "main"group, has not changed all that much. I've gotten a lot of dolls in the last few years that were dolls I just liked and wanted as opposed to shelling OCs...and I think I might be about half and half right now. I have a lot of different versions of the same characters over and over - something I didn't see coming when I started out. And I keep refining what I want in terms of size (I was done with 70+ and Pukifee sized dolls and now I'm looking at shelling some dolls in those ranges again. UGH) and aesthetic (Minimees....I didn't want them. Now I do). But again, most of my dolls are sculpts I've either had forever, liked forever and fit together in the one group.

I treat my dolls pretty much the same as always. Not sure if that's good or bad tho....

How many dolls have you got over the years?
I have no idea. There comes a point when you just stop counting....here is my list. at the bottom of said list is another list of pretty much every doll I've owned including those who have moved on....


How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
I wouldn't say any of my dolls have severe yellowing. They've yellowed, but that's what they do. They all seem to have hit a point and stopped tho, so I don't think of that as bad. I don't have a lot of breakage anywhere or damage or anything. Clothes and wigs and eyes are still good. No one has crumbled to dust. I'd say they've held up very well.

If anything my dolls look way better than when I first got them back in the day. I just stumbled across the first pic I ever took of my first doll and seriously, he looks SO much better now I kind of wish I could make all those old pics just disappear and only remember him as he is now....

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?

Since 2007.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc

My dolls have always been heavily played with and photographed, they just stay in a bigger cabinet now when I'm not fiddling with them and my photography skills have greatly improved since I started. I also have a favorite now, which was something that took me a long time and has changed the way I view my collection (he gets more stuff than the rest just on general principle). I've added a lot more girls and switched almost entirely to SD after realizing that they're just the best size for me. I learned a lot of new skills because of dolls - photography, jewelry making, sewing, and I've been pushing myself to learn faceupping.

I mean, when I joined the hobby double joints weren't even a thing yet and most companies only really did WS or NS so a lot's changed.

How many dolls have you got over the years?

A lot, between my wife (who is also a collector) and myself. I did a lot of reshelling as my tastes changed over the years and also as body types evolved -- I really love that dolls are bendier now and that there's a range of sizes around the traditional 60cm so I can have a group of characters who aren't all exactly the same height.

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?

Yellowing happens, but I don't think it's the super scary change that most newbies think it will be. I still have a Delf Moon from 2007 and a Dreaming Moon from 2008 and they still look great. Peacher than the pink they were originally, but it's still a nice NS. I have had other dolls that went yellow fast, but they tend to be the ones that started out a yellow skin tone, and in general I find that if I love a doll it doesn't really bug me that much. That said, if yellowing worries you I'd say that covering the doll shelf when you're not around is a good idea, because I can tell some of my dolls are holding out better than friends' who've left them on sunny bookcases 24/7.

I also find that replacing the faceup of and old doll tends to revitalize them. It's not so much yellowing that makes a doll look bad as it is the impression that it's faded or not cared for, I think, and if you've taken steps to counteract that they still look good even if they're not longer the same color they started out as. If anything my older dolls just look like they have slightly different skin tones than the newer ones, and I like that it adds a bit of variation in photos.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
Since 2007.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
Not really, my dolls have always been more collectables than characters who gained bodies. I have stories for each of them but they all introduced themselves to me, none of them started life as a character from my brain.

My family has changed, when I first started in the hobby, SDs were too big for me and tinies were too small. I now own two SDs and four tinies, so I stopped limiting myself to sizes and am instead choosing faces/ molds that appeal to me. Bad for my wallet, but good for my growth as a collector!

How many dolls have you got over the years?
I think I'm up to 11. Meep.

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
I think only one of my dolls is badly yellowed, and I got him second-hand. I can't even remember how old he was when I bought him, and he was my second doll. My first doll, a tan girl, doesn't seem to have yellowed or greened at all. Not that I have another Dollmore to compare her to. Yet.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
I bought my first doll about seven and a half years ago, but I've lurked around the edges for much longer.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I like tinies a lot more than I thought I would. Also I am far more willing now to pay or trade someone to do clothes/wigs/faceups than I was in the beginning.

How many dolls have you got over the years?
I have one MNF, three Yo-sized, and four pukis. I've sold one Yo-size doll.

and the question that interests me the most:
How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
Aside from the one doll I bought pre-yellowed, my dolls have held up very well. The biggest problem I've ever had is the elastic wearing out, and I'm sure that's replaced easily enough.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
First BJD is 3 yrs ago.


Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
Becoming lazy to take photo, and spend more and more money on them!


How many dolls have you got over the years?
6 heads and 3 bodies.


and the question that interests me the most:
How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
Seems to be alright just a slightly yellowed, because i keep them in the box most the time. Now i am studyabroad so i just bring 2 dolls with me

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
Four years last month.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
Oh sure! I've made mistakes, learned a lot, gotten better at picture taking, etc.

How many dolls have you got over the years?
Lola, Gabby, Feebee, Jouselle (rehomed), Sharlindra (rehomed), Zeebee, unnamed (rehomed), unnamed (rehomed), Amiga, Comrade (rehoming), and Mira's on her way! 11 total.

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
Nothing's changed color for me, unless I was stupid and left black clothes on them. Chipped an eyeball, my fault. Magically enough, I've never hurt a faceup. Oh wait, yes I did.. Well, they've taken a few hits, but I still love them and they love me! I hope...

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
I started oggling dolls in 2006, and got my first doll in 2011 (so four years almost exactly!)

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I started off with the intention of having only one doll that I would customize to fill the part of any character I wanted, but eventually I realized that I don't have to do that and it is fun to have more than one so they can interact and have their own unique personalities and characters. I am more confident about face ups and a bit better at sewing, and now I have more of a sense of overall style for my dolls. It took me a while to figure out what kind of character my first girl was, because she was originally a kind of chameleon, haha. I also learned that SDs are too big for me XP. I'm still learning a lot and discovering more about the hobby and dolls every day. (I just re-strung my girls for the first time last month LOL)

How many dolls have you got over the years?
I sort of ended up getting one doll per year, unintentionally. My first doll was a J.I.D Iplehouse Tania that I eventually named Ginny. Next I got a Dollmore Ha Yarn Cho (she was too big so I ended up trading her last week for a Soom Glot, I'm happy she'll have someone who will play with her) I also have a Doll Chateau Elizabeth Spider (Agelena) and a DC Alberta (Solana). I have become a Doll Chateau Addict xP. My newest girl is a Soom teenie gem Glot (Medley) and a Soom teenie gem Beyla (Merrin) floating head (they share a body).

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
My first girl has yellowed a bit on her chest and thighs (because of the dress I kept her in for a long time) but its not too dramatic and I still love her, even more now than when I first got her! She has been with me the longest and I've taken her on a bunch of outings, doll meets and photoshoots outside (she has had 5 face ups in 4 years haha). My Elizabeth is only a year old, so she is technically the youngest and I haven't noticed any yellowing at all. I got Alberta and Glot secondhand, so they have various slight imperfections, but that's it

I think its become more fun the longer I've been into BJDs because I keep learning new things and coming up with new ideas!

 

I am new to bjds as got my first a little less than a year ago. I have collected other dolls since the 1980s. I have 5 now, 2 on order, and sold one.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?

My join date here is 11/08, I think I got my first girl a month earlier at most.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc

There was a brief point in time where I kept them in their boxes when I was not actually doing something with them. Then I got too many and the wall of boxes in my bedroom was no longer feasible and went into the attic. So they stay out all the time now, in my bedroom, which is dark. I used to have some of them on the kitchen island.

After a series of freak accidents in which three of my babies broke fingers, I made little padded bubblewrap mitts for them to wear when I transport them. That seems to have resolved the problem.

I will say that my acquisitive fervor has become more reasoned than it was in the beginning, partially by necessity (lack of money and space) and partially because of a refinement of tastes. I'm on fixed income now and don't have the money to throw around I did at the beginning. I have certain characters I want to shell and I now have a very specific list, as opposed to just drifting in the wind and buying any doll who appealed to me.

How many dolls have you got over the years?

I've only ever sold one, and one head. I currently have 21 and 2 floating heads.

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?

I have an older Soom Supergem body that yellows quickly because it was dyed and I had to do a full body sand. My Elfdoll Vampire Red LE has yellowed to a slightly creamy color which I think looks good on him. My Loongsoul girl body has yellowed more than I would like, but I'm going to sand it soon. My old DIM MSD girl didn't yellow-DIMS just loose their pink and go paler with age. Other than that, they're all holding together well. My LT. Coffee BBBs are my oldest two dolls and they look just fine. The WS has yellowed slightly, but not much.There is nothing I can't deal with and nothing that really bothers me.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
Since 2009, my final year of college. I decided to buy myself a doll for finishing.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
Somewhat, but mostly due to my collecting XD. My 1st 2 dolls were loved hard, but as I got more, my dolls spent more time on the shelf and less time being toted around. While I love them all now, its a different kind of love. I sort of miss having just one or 2, but I knew it would happen ^^;

My tastes have become a bit more defined and I'm more selective now, due to both space and money constraints. Most of my collection was acquired when I was working a really stressful but well paying job, so I bought dolls to make myself happy and cope with the stress. Lol this of course didn't last forever, but I got a lot of cool dolls out of it. I try to be less impulsive now with my buying. XD I also shop on TaoBao now and hate paying Ebay $25 for an $8 pair of doll shoes!

How many dolls have you got over the years?
38 I think. Sold 1, traded 1 for another. I have 35 now so that sounds about right.

and the question that interests me the most:
How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
My 1st doll has been well-loved. He was from the first batch made by HZ, so he has some weird discoloration anywhere they sanded him (this developed over time) which is the reason his is actually on his 2nd torso (still has the problem, its just not as bad). He has also had a hand replaced and his mobility thigh joint has chipped due to thin resin. Lol he's been well-loved and is fairly yellow despite being EV resin which is supposedly less yellow prone. My 2nd doll hasn't had of any breaking issues, but he's white skin and has yellowed some. The rest of my kids are in pretty good shape, some of my 2nd hand dolls are a little roughed up and yellowed, but I'd like to think I take good care of them.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
A little over 4 years.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I do take more pictures of them because I got into the photography aspect. I also started doing more customization myself.

How many dolls have you got over the years?
I have 14 dolls and I'm waiting on 3 more. I also have 1 floating head.

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
They are holding up very well, none of them are severely yellowed though I do take precautions to prevent this. I have never chipped a faceup or broke fingers (knock on wood).

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
I've been in the hobby since.....2005? I think?

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I don't take as many photos of them as I had before. The "approval" and "attention seeking" was something that I quickly grew out of. I only like to show off my work if I am truly satisfied with it. (like face ups and putting an outfit together.)

How many dolls have you got over the years?
Quite a few, though I'm starting to slow down now that I am satisfied with the number of dolls that I have.

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
All dolls will yellow over time, taking precautions will help with keeping them more "fresh" but even if you seal them in an airtight bag and keep them totally in the dark they will still yellow over a few years.
To me, a yellowed doll is a very beloved doll. One that had seen many days sitting out for it's owner to see and enjoy everyday.
Unless your the type of collector that your dolls absolutely must be kept in Minty-fresh condition. then god forbid you even take them out of the box!

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
Been interested since 2008, and have been in the hobby since about 2010...

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I think overtime my hype sort of decreased. It's a lot harder for me to find a doll I can't say no to. That doesn't mean it won't happen, but it just hasn't for about two years now. I think Fairyland Minifee Celine was the last doll released that I just had to have! I have also tried SD again, with my collection of msd sized dolls... and it didn't work... now I'm stuck with an odd one in the bunch thats been hard to sell. As a result my buying dolls as slowed down. I've noticed I have been handling them less too but thats mostly because I have a child now so my time for things like that is more limited. I used to go to meets but moved and so that slowed to about once a year instead of once every two months,.. I still really like my dolls tho, and I'm sure I would take more pics if I found a good reason or became inspired. When I do find one I like I get that old feeling of being excited about a doll and thats always fun.

How many dolls have you got over the years?
The largest my collection became ever was 11 dolls. I currently have a collection of 9 that I'm happy with..

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
I've had my oldest doll, a minifee woosoo since 2010 and he still looks good. My mother recently sparked interest in dolls and kind of adopted him from me... But despite all he's been through he looks as adorable as ever. No crazy dramatic yellowing compared to my other dolls but his tone is a tad different. I've noticed white skin seems to yellow faster than normal skin.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
Since 2010

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I've gotten more experienced at restringing, posing, etc

How many dolls have you got over the years?
40+

and the question that interests me the most:
How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
Some have probably yellowed a bit - my Impledoll is developing freckles on her faceup after 3 years but it's cute so far. I have a couple whose head caps have gotten wig-stained but it doesn't bother me at all (plus I can always use magic eraser...)

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
I have been in the hobby for a little over 4 years.


Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I fell out of the hobby for about 3 years due to not having enough money to spend on my doll so I didn't really do much with her.

How many dolls have you got over the years?
I have 1 and a head.


How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
My first girl I got 4 years ago has no noticeable yellowing as far as I am aware, I keep my dolls in doors a lot of the time I don't cover them or keep them in boxes they are permanently out on display. Maybe it's something to do with the fact I live in England and it is normally overcast and my room is quite dark.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
I got my first doll in August 2008, so this year it will be seven years that I'm in the hobby.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
Totally.
In the beginning I would drag around my first and second doll a lot, even taking them with me into the city and such. They were sitting on their boxes in my room and I didn't care much about storing them in the dark (my room was facing away from the sun anyway, but still).
On meets we would do a lot of silly things with them and I have many silly photos of them.
I was never overly clumsy or rough when handling them though, I always am careful with my belongings, I just didn't do any extra things to keep them pristine.

Nowadays I'm a lot more careful and strict.
They are all standing in glass cabinets in a nearly completely dark room, I only take them out for pictures and I always make sure they are not out of character when dressing them up/taking pictures with them.
I rarely take them with me to meets anymore and I also keep an eye on them the whole time (there were a few bad incidents with my third doll on meets).
My preferences were already pretty much set with my second doll (70cm and male), and I nowadays have an even mix between realistic and more classic looks.
I also have a few odd ones inbetween like a DC Faramita or a Dollfie Dream.

How many dolls have you got over the years?

I made this timeline a while ago with all the dolls I owned and had intended to use for myself (I had a few heads I got in face-up commission trades, but I never really intended to use them for myself and only repainted and sold them).
If I had never sold any of my dolls I would be at 32 now.
Currently I’m at 19 (+ the never used again DIM head) and my personally set maximum is 25.
Two dolls will be re-shelled (my Ellen and my Saint), so I probably will get 8 more dolls till I'm finished, i.e. everyone is here/re-shelled and I have reached my maximum of 25.

How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
Majority of them are aging pretty well.
My currently oldest doll is my Soom Afi from 2009 and he still sports his default face-up (despite face planting and being accidentaly drenched in Mr. Thinner once) and has a nice tan.
Some of them have a bit mellowed out hands and faces, but nothing too drastic.
Nobody here has broken limbs, missing pieces or any other bad stuff, so I guess they are living good here XD

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
I joined DOA Oct 2006, I was a month away from being 16. I believe I got my first doll a year later.

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
I'd say no? But maybe... I don't let them sit out as much... I've seen the horror of yellowing in photos and "test" so I just don't want that to be my dolls. but other then that... I still do the same things.

How many dolls have you got over the years?
I've gone through 5 dolls. an I know have 5 new latis. 1 anthro, and a yosd... and a pet lati. (so I guess the count is at like 12?)
My lati dolls are forever dolls! an I hope to add in some msd or sd dolls soon.


How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
I haven't really kept any dolls over a long period. (besides my first doll that is now gone)
But my first lati, who is older... that I've had for a year now. She doesn't seem too yellowed. (she is like a 2011?) then I have another new boy coming in... and he is a 2012. he doesn't appear too yellowed either. I think its all about storing them, and keeping the direct sunlight off of them. (or keeping the room darker)

 

I last replied in 2011... time to check in again!

How long have you been in the BJD hobby?
Since 2004! Twelve years. And wow... it went fast. Seems only yesterday I was just getting into them. And it's been a fabulous time (although a huge money drain!)

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc
Yes and no. I have a TON of dolls now, so I don't treat them quite so carefully or pay attention quite so much... But I still love doing Box Openings and taking photos and gathering clothes and eyes and wigs for them. Now, I definitely LOVE to see dolls I DON'T want to buy!!! LOVE IT. Love seeing other people's dolls, and hope it doesn't make me want to have one. I don't care as much about buying clothes and items because I have a TON of everything! I do know more about what I like and when to buy. I'm a lot less worried about stuff. It makes sense because I've been doing this for AGES...

How many dolls have you got over the years?
Around 70. I still have never sold a doll! That adds up!


How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time?
Stringing-- None of my dolls have ever been re-strung! I've tightened a few knots, but that's it. I made an appointment with the Volks Dolly Doctor thinking he's suggest my 2006 doll would need re-stringing, but even he just tightened the elastic! So the elastic can last a long while! (Of course, with so many dolls, I'm probably not playing super-hard with any one doll.)

Faceups-- I have never had to re-faceup a doll--they all have their original faceups! I have had some slight rubs and scrapes, but that's it. The only faceups I wasnt to re-do were a few of my early efforts, just because they suck, but that's it.

Yellowing-- my CP beauty white dolls show some yellowing, but mostly in the MSC, which didn't have the UV-Cut back then. I had 2 French Resin colored dolls, from the early years and before UV-protection, and they changed color right away--so I have avoided French resin since then. Aside from that instance of French Resin changing color, and buying a 2nd-hand doll on Ebay that turned out to have unevenly faded parts, I haven't had any problems with yellowing. I do think about it a little--mostly how pinks can fade and yellow can seem to be more prominent, so I tent to go for pinker/reddish tones if given the choice, but I don't hesitate to buy all skin tones, and I really don't worry about yellowing.

 

How long have you been in the BJD hobby? Since the summer of 2011

Did anything change? like the way you treat your dolls, etc Uh when I originally thought I would just own one. And that I would sew all their outfits. Yeah not happening.

How many dolls have you got over the years? 3. A Doll Leaves Kiki, a Bobobie Isabella and a Doll Love EnEn.

and the question that interests me the most:
How are your dolls doing? Severe yellowing..etc. How are they holding over time? Natsume, my Doll Leaves is my oldest.
I got him Christmas 2012 and he's a lil yellow but it fits him nicely. He also has a small "scar" through his eyebrow from when he took a dive off the shelf, naughty boy, but it works with his character. The other two are newer and great.

 

How long have you been in the hobby?
Eight years, since 2008. I discovered BJD that year and went to the convention in Fresno, and that was it, I was hooked..

Did anything change?
Yes. I began by collecting SD boys, but as I have a lot of other dolls as well - antique, vintage, etc. - I eventually ran out of room for them. I tried making them clothes but was awful at creating large sized fashions, and I found that their stringing got loose the more I handled them, and though I learned how to do it I just hated stringing the big guys. Gradually I was losing interest in the hobby, and while I never took an official break from it I stopped following it on a daily basis and wasn't playing with my dolls much...and then I bought Nefer Kane's Monkey, and fell crazy in love with tinies and artist dolls! I enjoy them so much more than the SD boys in every way I am a little amazed that I didn't start with them in the first place....BJD's feel like a brand new hobby for me now with tinies, something I'm super excited about again, which is such fun!

How many dolls have you gotten over the years?
40+. I just have tinies now, except for my Ringdoll Sol, who was just too lovely not to keep, and my Irrealdoll Nur, who is my favorite doll of any that I own...I would buy another MSD that I loved, like Cerisedolls Loonette or Manon, but otherwise it's the small ones I adore. I have a room full of old dollhouses I've gotten at thrift shops, and it's sooo much fun having little dolls to go with them!

How are your dolls doing?
My Iracebeth by Nefer Kane is definitely yellow, but she's so deliciously odd anyway and so covered in freckles that she's actually really pretty that way. Everyone else is the same color they were when I bought them. I don't mind if they yellow, it comes with the territory; I will just have creative faceups/body blushing done if they start to look like plague victims..