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Normal BJD things you've never done

Jan 3, 2025

    1. Apologies if a similar thread already exists, but a quick search didn't bring up the question I had in mind.
      What are some normal, perhaps mundane hobby activities you've never done? Firsts you've never had in the hobby? Skills you've never gotten around to practicing? And, in the spirit of the new year: are you planning to change this?

      I'm over halfway to a decade in this hobby, and I've never:
      - done a proper faceup
      - restrung a doll (floppy SD10 suwarikko sulks in the corner...)
      - purchased a doll on layaway
      - made a hybrid
      - sueded or wired a doll
      - sewn an outfit (or anything other than an ugly, ill-fitting skirt)
      - made a wig or eyes

      I know the last couple aren't an "everyone has done this" kind of thing, but I think this thread would die too quickly if it's overly strict... and I do plan to change most of these! I'm still not interested in sueding or wiring, but I have several dolls overdue for restringing. I also hope to grab some blank heads and start learning faceups.... eventually. And there's a pile of practice fabric sitting in my room, waiting for me to sew... Anyway.

      So what have you guys not done during your time in the hobby?^^
       
      • x 6
    2. Does not having bought a doll count lol? I know that means Iโ€™m not technically โ€œin the hobbyโ€ yet, but Iโ€™ve been lurking around for a bit now. And that definitely sets me apart from most of the other people here.
       
      • x 7
    3. 2025 is my 12th year in the hobby and I have never ever:
      • done a proper faceup - I did blushing, nails but not the face and I don't have any plans to change it;
      • restrung a doll - all my dolls are strung by my friend, and when they strung good to my taste I barely can change their heads. I just don't have enough strength to do it;
      • purchased a doll on layaway - it may sound strange but nah, I didn't do it so far, but won't say it won't be changed.
      • I never dyed my dolls - I didn't have such necessity
      • I never tried to make eyes. In general crafting is not my thing, I'd say it is the least interesting thing to me though I tried making wigs, outfits, shoes etc.
       
      #3 xatshe, Jan 3, 2025
      Last edited: Jan 3, 2025
      • x 1
    4. The only skill I would consider really getting into is possibly doll knitting but I'm not really a pattern creator. I can in a pinch do very minimal wig styling but not much and I'm not *that* interested
       
      • x 1
    5. My favourite part of the hobby is to be crafty and creative but I haven't done the following:

      I never did eyes for my dolls. Nor I have the intention of.
      I have never drawn my dolls (I am an illustrator and did concept art too). I feel I can explore my characters better using BJDs than drawing them.
      I have never tried making shoes. Just the thought makes me nervous.
      I have never sanded a doll, even though I suspect one I have needs to be sanded.
      I have never participated in events. I can never find anything to join in time.
      I have never done a swap.
      I have never paid via layaway. (Kinda? A person of my part purchased me an expensive doll using layaway that I ended up paying myself lol but that's another nightmare story). I prefer saving money little by little if I can.

      That's what I have on top of my head
       
      • x 2
    6. I've never bought a doll on a layaway, neither have I bought a full doll new. The former I definitely don't plan to change, the latter... hopefully not this year but we'll see how it goes.

      I'll never say never to crafts but I've never managed to dye a doll - this I do hope to gather courage for this year!

      I've also never attended a meetup, but I prefer to tinker on my dolls by myself anyway so I don't feel like I'm missing out on a lot. Maybe if stars align, though?
       
      • x 1
    7. This June I will have been in the hobby 18 years and I still feel like a newbie if truth be told. There are so many levels to it.

      Iโ€™ve never properly restrung a doll. I say โ€˜properlyโ€™ as I did take apart a 1/12 simply designed tiny to try and body blush her then attempted to very badly put her back together. I donโ€™t really count that as it was a very long time ago and not very complex even so it did put me off trying to ever restring anything else, Iโ€™ve been scared of it since!

      Iโ€™ve never dyed a doll as it scares the bejesus out of me. I also have the excuse of allergies and pets to further help me avoid it!

      Iโ€™ve never sanded a doll or made any modifications to one, too scared!

      Iโ€™ve never commissioned a faceup, prefer to do them myself even if I do always make annoying mistakes and constantly mess up brows and lashes. That may change though as my older person eyesight changes are beginning to really frustrate me.

      Iโ€™ve never attended a meet or convention mainly because of where I live but also because I have severe social anxiety. I have tickets to attend one this year (UK) and hoping I wonโ€™t talk myself out of it!

      Iโ€™ve never made any proper attempt to sew for my dolls and this is something I really, really need to learn to do. Same goes for wigs!

      Like @Thanato-Cat despite being artistic Iโ€™ve never drawn my own dolls. I did years ago do a series of digital paintings of Tinybear/SleepingElfโ€™s dolls as a way of helping her sell them. The paintings were kind of imaginings of how they could look, done using photos of the blanks as reference. Never done anything with my own dolls though.

      Until recently I also never bothered with any back stories for any, the thought didnโ€™t cross my mind. Yes they had personality and character but that was it, in fact (no offence intended to anyone) I had always thought the fact others had elaborate stories made up for theirs quite amusing. I donโ€™t know why that changed but it did a few years ago.
       
      • x 3
    8. Oh what a fun thread! It's interesting to consider what I haven't tried but wish to attempt, maybe cross some of these off this year?

      Making eyes is probably one of the last crafty things I've never tried.

      Modification is scary, so I've never dyed or made permanent modification to a doll

      Never purchased a second hand doll ( okay my first one is on lay-away right now and my collection is small).
      Never purchased a Full-set, because customization is the best part of the hobby for me.
      Never used a Dealer to buy a doll, I tend to just order direct from companies.

      These were the mundane things that stood out for me, Going to try some modification stuff this year tho.
       
      • x 1
    9. - I've never dyed a doll and most likely never will. I've thought about doing it in the past but every time I think about it and look up the info again the process puts me off.
      - I've never done extreme modifications to a doll and doubt very much I'll ever do.
      - I've never made eyes and sometimes I've thought about trying to make resin eyes but I don't know if I would use them ultimately since my preferred type of eyes are glass because they're long lasting (and I won't try making glass ones because I don't even know how or where I would go to try that).
      - I've never bought a full set doll and I'll never will because I enjoy the process of customising.
      - I've never made a bjd myself, although it's something I'd very much like to try at some point but not something I specifically plan this year.

      This is all that comes to mind right now, I might edit if I remember anything else.
       
      • x 2
    10. As of... maybe today? I'd have to check exactly what day Crow showed up, but I've been in the hobby for 13 years. I started out with an old, broken doll that needed cleaning, repairing, modding, and re-painting, and my second doll was a hybrid. Suffice to say I have done a lot. :XD:

      But never have I ever:

      - done a faceup myself (I always commission, and don't plan to change it)
      - made shoes (just don't know how, and it doesn't interest me at the moment)
      - made eyes (I may change this in the future, I've done resin casting and detail painting)
      - done a trade by mail (I have done them in person at meetups, though; I'm too paranoid to do it the other way)

      ... And that's all I can think of.
       
      • x 1
    11. In the twenty plus years I've known of these dolls, I feel like I've done a lot of the customization aspects, including heavy additive mods. Never dyed any of my dolls but I don't feel I need/want to. I've also made wigs, clothes, and even attempted making shoes, although I suck at all those.

      I've never done any of the socializing, as I am a weirdo and a huge old gemaphobe. So, I don't believe I'll ever try any meets, or in person events.

      I've never wired or sueded my dolls as far as customizing goes, but I might try those this year.

      I've never made eyes either, because I know I can't learn glass-making/blowing (locally) and, not have that be unnecessarily expensive. It has also stopped me thinking the only other alternative is resin. However, I might try if I can avoid resin at all!

      I've also never done layaway, as a weirdo, having debt scares me to death. So, I know I won't try that either.

      As a traditional artist, I've never felt the need to render my dolls in traditional mediums but I don't know how mundane that is. For most people who own BJD, to have a traditional art background, I mean. Probably more common than being any other type of artist, I am guessing. (:
       
      • x 1
    12. I've been in the hobby....geez, ten years already? But like several others in this thread, still feel like a newbie in a lot of ways! I've never:
      • Sueded or wired a doll; only recently have I even used kips!
      • Made shoes, that seems waaaay too hard.
      • Participated in a group order. I don't know how common those are anymore, but they intimidate me a bit.
      • Gone to a meetup or doll-focused event.
      • Done additive mods. My sculpting skills are still pretty....ehh.
      • Dyed a doll. Does a picconeemo count?
      • Taken a photoshoot outside my house. Traveling is pretty difficult for me even without a doll to lug around.
       
      • x 2
    13. I started the hobby pre denofangels, so....23 years maybe?

      This will be tricky!

      Never dressed a boy BJD in leather or pleather
      Never had a 70cm or taller doll

      Things I wish I could say never to:
      Never had a doll stolen
      Never had person B give me bad feedback because I sold a damaged doll very cheaply to person A, who then charged person B full market value, and somehow that was my fault...
       
      • x 3
    14. I have been in the hobby for 18 years now.
      Never have I done a face up.
      Never have I done any body blushing, took a lesson at a convention, but never had the guts to try.
      Never made a wig or eyes, feel to many talented people to even try.
      That's pretty much it. I have been lucky with meet ups every year except when Covid was more scary. Went to Dolpha when it waz in Buffalo NY.
      Have made clothes not great but functional.
      Done layaway, swaps and half of each.
      Traveled with a doll to both very public and not so public places.
      Best of all I have made real lasting friends in this hobby something I never was able to do in at hobby before.
       
      • x 3
    15. I have been in the hobby 14 years and have never been to a doll convention nor have I ever ordered a full set. It seems unlikely I will ever do either but never say never I suppose!
       
      • x 1
    16. I regret a bit that I never went through with the various hybrid ideas I had... Zhu Hong spider-lady, I'll always miss you. I think it's just too much of a headache.
       
      • x 1
    17. It's been over 10 years since I've joined the hobby and I've realized I've done a lot.

      Never have I...

      • Made shoes
      • Dyed a doll
      • Made resin eyes (I've made polymer clay ones)
      • Gone to a meet up (I have been lucky enough to attend a convention though)
      • Participate in a group order
      • Made permanent modifications to a doll
      • Completed a room box (they're always in progress)
      • Commissioned a face up
      My goals for this year; complete a diorama, make shoes and try making some resin eyes! Dying and modifications are definitely a 'depends on the doll' sort of thing but I plan on trying it when that happens!

      I think the greatest thing about trying all of these different things in the hobby is that you learn pretty quick what works for you and what doesn't. Like wig making for me, it was difficult and I did not enjoy the process or the results. Now I know to just buy/commission wigs and focus on other areas of the hobby that I enjoy.
       
      • x 1
    18. I'm still waiting for someone to post something I haven't done... I haven't dyed a doll but I also don't consider that a normal BJD activity. I'm starting to think I've done it all... :?
       
      • x 3
    19. There are many things (a lot more, probably):
      • Never did a face up or body blushing.
      • Never commissioned a face up.
      • Never made shoes.
      • Never restrung a doll.
      • Never tried making own wigs or eyes.
      • Never purchased a full set.
      • Never went to a convention or meet up.
      • Never done sanding.
      • Never dyed a doll.
      I plan to try doing my own face ups, shoes and wigs at some point in the future.
      Also restringing a doll as maintenance is something that I definitely want to learn as well.
       
      • x 1
    20. Interesting thread! I've been in the hobby over 11 years and the things I've never done are-
      • Commissioned a face-up. I'm determined to paint my blank dolls myself.
      • Made a wig. Not interested in learning
      • Made eyes. Not interested in trying, there are so many great options on the market anyway
      • Bought a doll on layaway. I'm just not comfortable with it.
      • Done permanent mods other than sanding
       
      • x 1