Island Dolls Mini Discussion part 1

There are some superb faceup artists here for sure. I do want to get it done but I don't want to send my Aditi off anywhere right now considering I just got her and I like having her around too much, lol. I look forward to her having a more intense face up though (I like more emphasis on the eyes). Maybe when I buy a new doll (yes I have decided to buy another, but different type doll) then I can send her for a modification of her faceup. I like the faceup your Bobo has actually.

Edit: You slipped that post in there Thothep right when I posted! Thank you so much for your compliment! My girl definitely looks better with auburn hair which gives here that look you mentioned. She was a bit too delicate for my taste as the default blond.

 

Thothep: I'll definitely do my research then! I'd hate to have to carve out resin, since its a whole lot easier to add something than it is to subtract it. You can't erase missing resin that's for sure Have you ever had to do some kind of subtractive modification? I've seen a lot of people do stuff like separate the toes on their doll's but that always seems like a lot of work to me and kinda dangerous.

Umaeril: Thank you for you're kind compliments! I just got lucky with the company face up

And its understandable for sure that you wouldn't want to part with her right away to give away immediately, you just met her after all. Maybe that extra time you can figure out exactly what you want. I'd imagine its hard to type out what you want in words for something as visual as a face up if you didn't have a really clear vision. It gives you time to pick out a specific artist too, since there's a lot of different styles out there.

Oh, a second doll, exciting! I can't blame you though, I've got my eyes on other ones too. Dolls are just flat out addictive Do you have a particular doll in mind to be Aditi's new friend?

 

skp227, my only 'resin edits' on dolls have been giving my Dollshe dragon ears and adjusting the elastic channels on my first doll so it'd stop catching and he'd stop cutting his elastic. Well, and sanding some very rough seams, but that's such a basic thing I don't generally count it. It's a hard call whether it was more nerve wracking modding the ears of a discontinued doll or dunking a different doll in a dye pot... For the record, my view when ordering my first doll was "Oo, neat new canvas..."

Umaeril, I totally get the inability to part with a doll too... one reason I'm very glad I can do my own faceups. Though it does get easier to be away from them once you have more than one. At this point while I like to have everyone come with me, I can step back and only take along one storyline...

 

skp - I love these Island Dolls, all of ours are stunning so I know they do a superb job. However...I think I am going to get a Souldoll Soulkid, not sure which one. Wanted Yewon badly but now I am tending towards Arina. There is someone here who just got Arina though and is really disappointed with the big bewbs on the new body they are making, and I think I would be too, so maybe the old body. And you are right about the faceup. I want time to think and to live with Aditi and get to know her more. There is no rush so maybe when I have the other new one I'll do that.

Thothep - have to ask...are you an artist? I mean it seems to me very brave to work with such tiny brushes and what if one made a mistake. I suppose the process though is forgiving since you can wipe it off. How did you learn if you don't mind relating that? What was the first step?

Very nice to be able to talk to you both about our lovely Island Dolls!

 

I suppose I'm an artist... I tend to think of myself as either a craftsman or a jack-of-all-trades, feel odd calling myself an artist. But I do teach intro painting classes (and jewellery making). As for how I prepared for my first faceup, I read a ton of tutorials and guides here while I was waiting for my doll to get home, and checked over my materials (I had an insane stash to start with and it's just gotten worse). And prepared for the first couple tries to be failures (they were, but I could see progress in each one). I also had past instruction from my dad (a model railroader) when I was working on models and dollhouse things, and had messed around with painting gaming miniatures. I even referenced the training I'd had in theatrical make-up for how to shade the head.

Probably the oddest work I've done was giving Elenra her scars... I kept having to put my brushes down to look at my own to decide shading.

 

Ok so you are are artist, well that is really cool. I'd like to learn jewelry making. However, I don't think I could read a guide and do a face up, lol. Well tonight I hemmed up the sleeves on this new vampire dress I got for Aditi. I didn't like the way they hung down and covered her hands though I know that is the fashion. I will try to get a pic tomorrow, maybe I will start an Island doll pic thread in the pic forum, there does not seem to be one.

 

thothep: wow, adjusting the ears sounds really hard, especially since they have to be at least somewhat symmetrical. Granted modding the inside of a doll doesn't sound easy either. You're just a more daring soul than I Though I admit I've considered dying a doll, that always seemed really interesting to me and a good way to make your doll your own. How permanent was the dye for you though? I've heard that some of the dyes tend to wear off the doll, but I wasn't really sure how that worked since I thought the dye actually penetrated the resin and basically stained it a pretty color.

Umaeril: Oh, souldoll's really good I've heard, and they've got tons of sculpts so you really have a whole lot of options. I know what you mean about the bodies though, that's always a frustrating thing to have a really pretty doll head on a body that just doesn't fit their character. Maybe they'll release a smaller busted version since that company seems to be so open to variety. Like you said though, you can always buy an old body, that's what the marketplace is for.

And I second the pic form! That'd be a nice way to show off these really nice dolls to a form were they seem to be a minority. I'm definitely planning on some pic spam as soon as finals are over and I can get home before the sunsets. I'm even hopping to take Bobo out on the beach since I'll be down on the coast for christmas with my family. We'll see if the weather cooperates though Do you have any exciting photo plan for Aditi in mind?

 

Hi skp, I am not a very good photographer. I just have a point and shoot camera. My husband has these uber expensive cameras and zoom lenses, one of his cameras is a canon 5d mark 2 which means nothing to me but everything to photographers but I don't know how to work it. But I look at the photos here and and they are so inspiring!! So before I even get any photo plans I need to discover how she photographs best. Right now she has this sort of deer in the headlights look to her (unless hubby takes the pics). One thing I am going to do with Aditi is try 12mm eyes. I just got a very inexpensive pair to try it out. maybe if the irises we more of a normal size they would look better. Also, I did not buy a Soulkid. I just could not make up my mind and the bodies overall bothered me, so I got this doll called Planetdoll Roseanne. She was in stock at DDE so I get her quick and I loved her like 2 months ago and I came back to her by chance and I am thinking hmmmm why didn't I just get her? So I did! So when she arrives there is this person who does faceups not far from me and I think I will send Aditi for a deeper more defined look that will suit the darker clothes I want her to wear. Then I can try to make my photos look better. And now I get to post in the waiting room again, haha!

 

Umaeril - there's nothing wrong with point & shoot cameras, and you can get some really incredible photos from basic cameras. (When I look back I'm amazed by some of the pictures from my first camera... a Kodak Instamatic.) One big trick is to go off-centre... have her look just to the side of the camera, not at it... have the centre of the image be more in line with the outside edge of an eye rather than her nose... and remember these are beginner guides, as you get comfortable you can mutate them.

skp227 - The ears weren't that bad, first time were a pain, but after both of them got their tips snapped due to carelessness I redid them with a wire frame inside and it went much better... and they match because I shaped the wires to a drawing on paper. The internal work was much harder. As for dying... I spent my spare time for a week getting him properly sanded, then 13 hours on the Saturday double dying him and giving him his faceup... and four years later I'm starting to think once the weather warms up I should clean him down and re-dye as it's starting to show wear around joints and on the bottom of his feet.

 

That is a good tip, thanks! I also was browsing in the photo forum for more tips on taking good photos and really learned some good stuff. Also I commissioned a faceup from someone here at DoA for Aditi. I think this is the right option. I'll be sending her off next week. Very happy with this decision.

 

Just thought I should join in the discussion thread. ^^
I own an Islanddoll Amy, fullset, but the shoes are a bit too big, even with the socks. So my question is, what shoes would fit?
And if it helps, she usually wears very girly and cutesy clothes, inspired by various japanese fashions, mostly fairy-kei or dolly-kei.

 

Sorry I'm so slow everyone, I was without internet at home for a while

Umaeril: Aw, well I'm glad you find the photos on here inspiring; inspiration is always a good thing, helps give you an idea on what angles and such to practice. And I agree with thothep, you can really get some nice photos from just a point and shoot if you take you're time and mess with the settings some. I've gotten some nice results while haphazardly messing with the settings, its sort of relies on luck but it works out eventually

12mm eyes, that does sound like a good idea for a more realistic/less intense look, I'd love to see how they look in Aditi after her new face up.

And a new doll, exciting! Aditi shall be lonely no longer for a resin buddy. I've heard of planetdoll before though, all their sculpts seem to have really full and striking lips, and they're similar in size to the island doll amy, so maybe they can even share clothes. I'll be sure to look for your new box opening!

thothep: Well that's smart that you did the ears from a drawing, blueprints always make things easier. I probably wouldn't have event thought of that, not that I can draw anyways

Wow, that sounds like dyeing took a while then, you must be a patient person to spend 13 hours dyeing a doll. That's actually pretty impressive! And if the dye job lasts for 4 years, that sounds like a really good use of time. I was worried it would start to rub off in a month or two, but if it lasts years then that sounds much more intriguing. Thank you for answering my questions, you're very helpful!

Fendox: Well I know if the shoes are just slightly too big, stuffing paper into the toes of the shoes could help make them more stable. I my girl's barefoot at the moment so I cant really say for sure what fits, but all the island doll minis have a foot measurement of 5.5cm so any shoe form another doll with that foot size should fit. Angell Studio's mini's, for example, also have a 5.5cm foot, so their shoes should fit. (I hope at least since I ordered a pair of boots from them)

 

Part of what took the time, and has made the dye job last is I dyed the bare resin, coated him well with MSC, and sent him through the dye bath again (and of course, MSC on top).

Umaeril, I look forward to seeing how Aditi turns out with a new faceup.

Oh, and shoes... I can say I have a pair of Goodreau boys shoes that are loose barefoot, but feel like they'd fit fine with socks, a pair of YuHao shoes (from MoC) which are loose, but she stands great in them, a pair of Dollmore camo boots I'm not gonna bother putting on her (they're MSD, but my Elfdoll SD can wear them) and a pair of Minnetonka keychains that give a "perfect" fit on all my minis (it's how they're made of soft leather...)

 

Oh, that's smart! I wouldn't think the MSC could stand the dye bath but it's good to know it does. I'm definitely getting a 3 pack of it from junkyspot then. It's worth the money and effort even though its kinda a carcinogenic. That's what respirators are for though

 

Hi Fendox, I have my Aditi (Island doll Amy) in some Dollzone boots which are huuuuuge stomping boots on her but she is wearing a gothic looking "vampire" dress so the boots go ok. Dollzone are supposed to be for a 5.6cm foot (and our dolls are supposed to have a 5.5cm foot) but they must be boy boots if you ask me. I was told any MSD shoes would fit her but I am leery of that statement. So to answer the question, I am not sure yet which shoes are the best. Even if they are too large I am thinking that to get them on it might be better if they are a tad too large (or at least have a zipper on on the back). I'd like to find some ballet flats to use for more girly outfits though. Maybe I can take a pic of these boots, they are so cute but wow are they huge! Let me go and get a pic now. Ok here we go. She is quite different from when I got her (full set). Sorry the sun is blowing out her face but this is about the shoes.



Today I am going to sew some clothes for my Claribel so hopefully I can take pics of them both though not sure which thread I would post them in.

 

I finally am now able to prove angell-studio shoes do in fact fit They fit really nicely actually. My doll can stand in her boots, and the shoes stay on her feet with or without socks. The little tea party shoes by M-style on Mintoncard also fit to some degree. They won't stay on without socks, and the sole of the shoe isn't completely level, which makes standing poses more difficult, but its nothing impossible. They look really cute, and they work as something you could display on your doll when there's some standing support. Here's a single picture montaoge of both of the shoes I was talking about (you can see the pictures individually on flickr):



Shoes Side by Side by skp227, on Flickr

I've also been meaning to do a little review in terms of fit and such of all the doll clothes I've acquired in the past month, but we'll see if I get around to it. I at least have told the world what shoes fit, I hope you guys find it useful.

 

Those shoes are just adorable! Look how nicely made those boots are done, wow! So nice to have some options. The MoC shoes are just too cute what darling bows, awww! Good finds, thanks for posting pics. I especially like the boots. Those have zippers up the backs, right? Don't you find it a pain to tie the bow/knots in the shoelaces? I double-knotted mine on Aditi's to keep them from unraveling before I put the boots on.

I think ballet flats would be good with elastic. If we come across those we definitely have to share the source.

Oh and I sent Aditi off today for her faceup. Nervous wreck but I know she'll do a great job.

 

I've heard, that Islanddolls make good resinmatches, when you send them a headplate. I need two bodies for my Soom Grit Heads, but their grey is so dark, that ne soom bodies don't match anymore. And a Grit-Body is a little bit expensive ~.
Did anyone have references for custom made colors from Islanddolls?

 

I, personally, have no references. Perhaps the others do. The Island Doll website is very hard to navigate though I have found. All the best with your search!

 

No problem on the pictures, I love taking them anyways, though there won't be anymore from me anytime soon since my poor camera met its untimely end. Now I know why the wrist strap on a camera is so important, it keeps the camera from hitting the concrete and shattering when you drop it

But I'm glad you found the information useful! And yes, the boots have zippers on the back. I really like the zippers actually its nice not to have to undo the laces every time I change her shoes, it'd be nice if human sized boots did that too. And the laces themselves are kind of annoying, especially since I still haven't gotten around to trimming them and their long length attracts my dog who likes to try to eat them

Oh, a new face-up, that's exciting! It will be interesting to see how different Aditi looks with a different face-up. Do you have any idea of when you'll get to see the final results?