Keeping the muse alive(saving/waiting for your first doll)

To some extent it gets easier. My first bjd I did not have to save or wait for, not really. I bought her at a con, so the "research and save!" phase people praise so much took place in the space of about an hour. I already knew she was what I wanted, so all I had to do was a quick verification of what the booth owner told me and make sure that I had enough for the doll (with enough left over to pay for parking and food! Hungry + Con= NOT A GOOD IDEA). I also don't do the scrimping, little piece here little piece there saving for a doll. If I want to save for a doll and keep motivated to save, I order it on layaway. It's saying that I can and will have at least that minimum amount each due date, and so it keeps me on track. If putting money away in a jar or an account works for you, go for it! Think about how you are with saving for/buying other big purchases if you aren't quite sure what is best for you. What is important is to know what you can realistically do, know what works for *you,* and stick to it.

The first doll I actually ordered...I thought she was never going to get here!! Then, once she was here, I realized it was only a grand total of about 2 months wait and I thought I was being silly. I actively try to forget about a doll once I've paid it off. I've only gotten super crazy anxious over two others.

I didn't have to do anything to keep my interest in the dolls alive during the waiting period. I wouldn't have ordered them if that was even a possibility! XD What I try to do is forget about the doll as much as possible. The two that I got crazy anxious over were the two that I drew clothing/style pics for, ordered accessories for, and did a lot of super prep for. All the pieces came in before the dolls and it drove me bonkers! I'd watch everyone else getting their ship notices in the waiting room and I could feel my face going and felt like a total brat for it. XD

 

I understand how you feel, since I'm saving up for my first doll too. And it's not going very well, but that's just because I don't have a job or steady income yet.

Keeping a picture of her around is definitely a good idea, and I also draw my doll quite often and am always working on developing her character. It also helps to think about all the fun things you can do with your doll when you finally get her. All the photo stories, the customizing, actually playing with them ... It certainly keeps me excited about my first doll.

 

Hmmm..I searched a lot of informations of BJDs, cause I was afraid that I can't having my dolls for a vert long time just because I don't know them..and I was also looking some stuffs for my doll.

 

I actually just ordered my first doll yesterday!

As soon as I made up my mind, I went on a tiny shopping spree and I've bought her two pairs of eyes and an outfit already, and I'm talking to the very talented kscness of Harajuku Dolls about commissioning some more.

I go to college and have a job, and they keep me occupied a lot. I also spend a lot of time with friends. Two months is going to be a very long wait. But I know it's worth it. Plus, I still have to fine-tune her character and decide on her name (I'm just a little behind in the process).

 

I've been saving up for my doll for over a year now. Quite a few things set me back: hospital trip, car repair, trashing of said car and purchasing a new one. One of the things that keeps my interest going is my friend, whom I happen to work with. She has four dollies, and we chat about all of the neat things she does with them...a new faceup, making new clothes, a photo shoot, etc. She helps me keep up my enthusiasm. I also am on this site everyday, looking at the different mods and clothing that people make for their dolls. I know which doll I'm getting, but I'm still figuring out her character and style. Everyday I get a new idea, and it's exciting for me to narrow it all down.

I am saving money a little at a time, but that also helps keep my interest up. Since graduating college this fall, I've been selling/getting rid of art supplies and crafts that I don't want, or will never use again. It's an incentive to gain money for my future doll, and I love having the extra space at my desk.

Two of my coworkers are also pregnant, and I'm crocheting tons of baby clothes and blankets for them as future gifts. This helps me keep my mind off dollies...for a little while! So, I suppose I really haven't lost any interest in saving up for my first doll, but I can understand that the enthusiasm for one can be deterred. Maybe there is a dollie convention or meetup that you can attend in the near future? Seeing other people with their dolls is always fun, and could help your energy level.

 

I have just delved into the hobby as well, so this thread is quite welcome. My problem is that I have the money saved up for the doll I am wanting, a Soom Idealian 72 to be more precise, but I am having some complications. Problem Number One; Soom has not released a new model yet. Problem Number Two; a hole is being burnt into my pockets, as money tends to spontaneously combust when left sitting too long. Problem Number Three; I am being tempted left and right by other companies and their wonderful dolls. Any advise on how to stay on track and not be swayed by impatience and other devilish, shiny new dolls would be greatly appreciated!

 

Good luck to you as well! It would probably be easier for me to get a job if they weren't so insistent on hiring someone with experience(how are you supposed to get experience if no one will hire you?).

 

I remember when I was getting my first doll, it was a layaway, I spent the time making up a welcome home box. I'd pick up a tiny toy, as it was a pukipuki I was getting, or a cute hat, make clothes, crochet scarf and hat and put it all in the welcome box. So by the time the doll actually arrived I had a little box filled with toys, hats, clothes, wigs and other gifts ready for it.
I still do it while waiting on dolls. A pair of eyes here, a pair of socks there, a little knitting, a little crochet, an inexpensive wig or two. It keeps me focused on the prize at the end of the wait and makes the wait easier.

 

MissLace,
Thanks for the reply! No worries about the gramar; your points came across clearly. While other dolls have piqued my interest, Soom's Idealian 72 is beyond fascinating to me. The knee joints, the elbow joints, the abdominals...they're just..just...near perfection! Although, when Immortality of Soul releases their new 80 cm body, I may just lose my precious savings. I've always wanted one of their sculpts, especially Jaguar although he's discontinued. As far Doll Meets go, I am pretty S.O.L. where I reside unless I wish to travel a ways away, but I liked some of the other ideas you mentioned. I wish I was more of a crafter and seamster so I could make my own clothes as others do to pass the time.

 

I'm a writer, and my dolls are all based on characters that I write about. So to mentally prepare myself to hold the resin incarnation of their characters, I write as much as I can. I write profiles of their characters traits and appearance, I write vignettes of them interacting with my other dolls, I write short stories developing their characters.
I also draw them a lot. I look online for a picture of the blank face, then draw it with my own faceup, hair, eyes etc. This helps me to imagine the character more deeply and also helps when it comes to actually painting the faceup and finding the right wigs and eyes.
I also listen to music or read books I associate with that character. For example, if your character comes from a post-apocalyptic setting, you could watch movies in that genre. As most of my characters are from Gothic fiction I read a lot of that, to become inspired with ideas and moods.

 

Good luck with yours as well. maybe if I'm lucky I'll be able to earn some money this summer. My parents work in property management and I can probably help clean out a house or something ...

 

For the first BJD that ever arrived at my home, I knew I would love her and had no doubt in my mind. She met all of my expectations, and I had no regrets. There were a couple of dolls that, even though I liked them, I didn't have that same feeling of excitement. It's hard to explain, but something was missing. As of now, both of those dolls are up for sale. Sometimes it's hard to come to terms with making a mistake about a doll, but it happens to just about everyone. If you end up not liking her after you buy her, don't be afraid to sell. Use that money to try again. But with all of my dolls, I had a gut feeling about them. Sometimes I wanted to like a doll more than I actually did, and I needed to realize that. Do lots of research about BJDs so you know how to care for her, restring her, paint her if you want, there are photography tutorials, etc. Know that you might not always be 100% interested in BJDs 100% of the time, and that's okay! My interests fluctuate, I'll be BJD-obsessed for a couple months, then focus on other things for awhile.

Good luck, you'll know if you have the right doll. If, after months and months you are still in love with her as much as the first day you laid eyes on her picture, then it's right

 

Considering I don't have any dolls yet, this thread has helped me a lot

It's hard for me to stay focused, especially with the daunting amount of money I need to raise by getting a job x.x