Mother, artist or collector

Hmm, think I'd say I'm a blend of Collector and Mother, really.

I've always been a collector, even from a very young age, it was just something I did in various hobbies, but I sold on most of those things for my dolls.
Originally they were intended to just be more physical shells for my characters, but planned dolls turned into unexpected buys and a whole new way of looking at them!

Now I feel more like a mother//big sister, spoiling my resin brats rotten and enjoying their personalities.

 

I'm in the group that doesn't much like to be categorized (though that sort of does do that) but I don't strictly identify with any of the available 'categories'. I can and will leave them on shelves for extended periods if I don't feel like I have anything to do with them right now, but there are times when I will take them everywhere, play with clothes and hair and photograph them intensively. And they are resin representations of characters of my own with extensive back stories and histories.

In general, though, I tend to just consider myself their 'keeper', since the personalities are very independent on their own, they just sort of 'reside' in my head, they would greatly dislike being considered 'kept'. Yes I know how insane that sounds, but someone else will understand, I'm sure. My sister does, as she RPs with me and these dolls are from that world.

 

Def an artist collector. I love doing face-ups and the aesthetic side etc. but I am a collector with how I have groupings and Typs of dolls I'm specifically looking for. Plus I tends to ogle all the dolls I don't own! XD I feel a bit like I 'own' a bit of the local groups dolls and get attached to them as well. XD

 

i am a mix of all three as well before i discovered the bjd's i was already a doll collector. however, because of the unique nature of bjd's and their endless possibilities, i can finally realize the dream of bringing my beloved oc's to life, so it gives me a feeling of both being a mom and a creative artist

 

Haseshi - I love that you're trying to make sense of this hobby, and wanting to interact and get to know everyone. I think you'll find, however, that most doll-folk are not going to fit neatly into the categories you've proposed.

Trying to categorize "types" of collectors suggests, IMO, limits on what people do with their dolls (e.g. a person who embodies one type of collector, and nothing else), which is far from the truth. Most of the answers I've read are people who claim to be a combination of two or all three categories. Which makes them unquantifiable because they don't fit into just one or the other.

I have aspects from all 3 categories, plus things you didn't mention - such as organizing many doll meets (a more social/community aspect) and running convention panels (a more teacher oriented aspect). Those 2 things take up a lot of my doll-time and are part of my self-definition as a BJD-hobbyist.

 

I'm a mix of all three. Like the collector I love getting new dolls and I do assign personalities and backstories to my dolls but I'm halfway between the collector and mother in that, while I know that my dolls aren't alive or miniature people and I don't treat them as such they're definitelly a lot more than just another collection object. And just like the artist, I photograph, do faceups and sew my own clothes as well as come up with elaborate stories for them; I find it to be incredibly fun~

But just as many people said before me.. I dislike both being categorized as something and I find it hard to identify as 'a category'. I mean, I do so many things with my dolls and they are such a big part of what I do that I find my relation to them to be a lot more complex than simply one of three categories or even all three combined.

 

I defy classification.

 

Hmmm... all three?
- "Collector", because I do have certain sculpts that I want in my collection, and there are certain criteria I go by... Also, some of my dolls really are just beautiful objects and not that much meant for playing - even though they have their own backstory, they are more like accessories for the other, more played with, dolls.
- "Artist", because the wonderful creative things we can do with our dolls - face-ups, blushing, wig-making and sewing, and lately also the beginnings of modding/hybridizing, but most of all, doll photography! - are my favourite part of the hobby. Hobby grade artist, but still an artist.
- "Child", not "Mother" or "Father" - because I play with some of my dolls like a kid would do. Yes, putting them to sleep, changing their clothes so they look pretty, posing them in a way that implies they are alive, buying them little gifts and choosing love interest partners for them - this is not what a parent (or mother, or father) would do, it is what a kid would do with their doll. A real parent would instead tell the doll to eat vegetables, do their homework, dress in warmer (and less revealing!) clothing and finally tidy up their room (LOL!).

 

I think I belong in the collector category

 

That's kind of an interesting thing to think about. I think of them as beautiful collections, but with specific traits. I guess I'd fall into the collector category. I do, however, put them to bed and change them into pajamas! Lol it just seems like common courtesy!

 

I'm an artist first, but collector by heart as well. I was drawn to resin dolls for the potential to create stunning pieces of art, but I love to collect all sorts of things, so I imagine that soon enough I'll have stock dolls that will never be touched with an artist brush.
Dunno, if I'll ever have the "Mommy" streak, but it wouldn't surprise me once my nest is empty. I've had children my entire adult life so it'll be odd when they are gone. I could totally see my dolls filling that void.

 

I'd say artist and collector.
I like to take photos of my dolls and would love to sew for them one day. I find the customizing factor they have very artsy as well. You can make they looks however you want. Not only that but I give them stories and really wanna try and write them out.
And I'm a collector because well, I have more then one. Lol. And if you're accumulating more then one thing that you like, you're collecting them. C:

 

The artist (maybe not a great one but still...XD) My dolls have names and I make a background story but thats mostly for the sake of my friends who are the ones that really play with them and give them personalities, I only take them out to paint them or sew for them and I admire them for their beautiful craft, guess I'll be a collector in the future when I get enough dolls to display in a shelf XD

 

haha~ well, i'm certainly the artist... but i collect too. I seldom really make a lot of changes to my own dolls. Often times I buy them and don't paint them. I love the way they look like tiny marble sculptures.

I pamper Ghaleon, my shiwoo elf a lot. There are days where I'll put him beside my bed after I've had a nightmare. the cat didn't used to sleep in the bed(she refused), and I'd get really panicky after I'd have a sleep paralysis nightmare and my husband had left early for work. So I guess that's a bit mothery? But more like... family? or pet?

 

I'm definitely a mix between collector and artist. Before BJDs I was an avid action figure collector (I still am actually) but the thing that is different about BJDs is their customizability. I like to paint/draw and do character design as well so it was like discovering something that is the best of both worlds. But there is also that rush I get from getting something limited edition, or if I like a sculpt so much that I have to have it. I'm like that with other collectibles, too.

I'm not really a mother as I don't take them out or tuck them in but I do occasionally have them hang around me when I'm doing homework or watching a movie, and in that way they're more like companions than children.

 

It depends on the relationship/personality I have with the doll. One of them is my Guardian Angel, two of them are my friends, one is like my Rozen Maiden (from the series) and the other, since she is new, I am unsure of where our relationship stands but something close to friendly sister XD I guess. This is very interesting! Loving some of these responses. I do love taking care of them and dressing them as such but I could never really call myself a collector or a mother. Just a good friend

 

All of them

 

surely a mix of artist and collector XD there are many dolls that are a neverending WiP, while other are a good source of inspiration for photoshoots, and some others that barely leave the shelf, since I value them too much as part of a collection to take them around ^^

 

More on Mother XD searched all over on the baby names databases for determining the perfect name that suited their impressions on me on first sight to create their personalities and treat them as if they were living

 

I probably fit in to the artist/collector categories. Customizing is my favourite part of the hobby, but I've amassed quite a collection as well, and am loath to sell anyone. I've never sold a doll, for example, in order to "reshell" it.