Poll: Why Do You Collect?

I used to collect because they all looks beauty and I really wanna try some art ideas on their cute face, but for now I’ve just got a little tired so I stop collecting, but I tho it’ll restart soon

 

Little bit of 4, little bit of 7, little bit of one. I like dolls, but I wouldn't have gotten back into them in high school without the creative outlet they provide!

 

Everything but 5/8 and a little bit 6. I collect because I love taking photos (1), love giving them their own character (3), love creating/sewing for them (2&7). I have dolls that come from one roleplay/story that all have their own characters and I often take them out for photoshoots. I mostly sew my own outfits for them and love creating props, dioramas or other items for them. I've always collected something (4) and BJD's were a great discovery to combine my hobbies all in one. I do love diversity but I do tend to stick to a few companies and have several of their dolls (4 Littlefees, 3 Smartdolls, 7 Dollfie Dream's, 1 artistdoll). The diversity is more that I want different clothing styles/looks so I have more dolls to wear that. So 6 is only half the case. I don't care about numbers, I care about the dolls I like and want to have. So 5 doesn't count for me.

 

4 & 7 for me with a tiny dash of 3. I've collected other toys and just general ... stuff for years. I am quite a natural kleptomaniac. I used to see photos of BJD's and see the beautiful face ups and sewing and crafting that went into them.

I have a LOT of OC's i'd love to make into dolls, but really struggle for find dolls that even come close to what I want. Sculpting is not my strong point so i don't really want to buy dolls that would need a lot of modding to look as i want, so as of yet I only have one doll based on a pre existing OC.

 

1,4 & 8.
I have been into photography since I was about 10 years old. Always loved taking photis.
I have collected dolls and/or teddy bears since the late eighties. But photographing them to try and tell stories was not possible. They were just photos of clothes.
Then a little over 13 years ago I found out about BJD and my world changed. I bought my first, second, third bjd and my two lives became one great joy. I have accomplished so much, learned so much and made some great friends along the way.

 

torn between 2 and 7.

ultimately gunna go with 7 tho cause I use them for creative outlets and also for fashion. xD I have them wear the stuff I wish I could but would cost waaay too much in fabric for me to make it for myself. also it's a blast to paint them and make stuff for them to interact with. after I finish up with some faceups and body blushing gonna be making a diorama for them to play in~

 

3) Characters
It's the main factor. Almas all of my dolls are either book/movie/mythology characters or OCs.

4) Long time collector
Most definitely! I'm a long time collector -- action figures, plushies, minerals, unusual clothes.

7) Creating
Yeees! Dolls are a perfect creative outlet. I want to make everything or almost everything on my own...the result is I frequently bit more than I'm able to chew, so finishing projects takes me really long time. But I don't see it as a problem anymore, but it stressed me a lot until recently. Without dolls, I wouldn't use most of the crafting skills I acquired during studying textile design. I would, most probably, forget them otherwise. That doesn't mean I never buy doll things! Not really. I love eyes and wigs.

 

In my case, it's a combination of 1, 2, and 7. The hobby is a creative outlet for me and its aesthetic aspect is really attractive to me. As long as I can have a pretty doll that I can "play" with in creative ways (taking photos, thinking of outfits for her, creating things for her, making up stories) and I'm happy

 

A few of the above...

Long Time Collector: I have a variety of different dolls, and just stumbled on these BJD's one day. I didn't even know that there was a hobby around the dolls, they were just something to add to my collection.

Photography: Once I discovered it was a hobby and that photographing them was a thing. I thought that would be something I would like to get into. I always like photographing nature and dolls seamed like something fun to do. I have a lot to learn about taking doll pictures, but I like to think that I am getting better at it.

Fashion: I like sewing. I have now discovered I like sewing for my dolls. After making my own clothes, and things for my daughter, I run out of things to make. Having BJD's gives me some tiny humans to sew things for.

Creating: I like making them things as well, backdrops for the pictures, simple furniture and props for the larger dolls. It's easy to find 1/6 & 1/4 stuff on the market, but 1/3 stuff is usually expensive, so I like to make things.

Numbers: ??? This one is accidental. I have 272 dolls, not all BJD's, Barbies, Reborns, Monster High, Madame Alexander's and other off topic dolls of many different varieties. I just like dolls. My current obsession is BJD's so that is what I am getting. I don't mean to escalate my doll collection in numbers, it just sort of happens.

The two I don't think apply to me are...

Diversity: All my dolls are human, except for the pets.

Characters: I did not get any BJD's to fit characters in my head or my stories that I have written down. When the doll gets home I just let it develop it's own character. Sometimes it happens right away, and sometimes it can take awhile, especially if I see one thing for the doll, and it just doesn't fit, and then suddenly something clicks, and then it it; "Oh, there is your personality!"

And Finally...

Something Else: They are good company. That might sound silly, but I don't feel as alone when my dolls are around me. I look over and see them, the faint smiles, and the expressive eyes, and it feels like I have a bunch of tiny little roommates, all waiting to go do things with me, like taking pictures, or holding still while I sew for them, or waiting for me just to set them near me while I do something else.

 

Characters: oh yes! It’s all about creating characters for me. I love absolutely everything about the process: coming up with an idea, choosing a name, creating a storyline, researching and finding the perfect shell, doing the face-up, finding the perfect eyes and wig, making their wardrobe, creating a display space for them to inhabit. It allows me to utilize all my creative abilities in a single hobby...which has allowed me to create a beautiful fantasy world that I can surround myself with, as a refuge from the realities and responsibilities of everyday life.

Fashion: from my earliest teen years I was utterly fascinated by fashion, and taught myself to sew. All these years later, I’m still quite fascinated by what the youth is into in any given era. I love researching the trends, both current and historic, and exploring avant garde fashion through my dolls. While I dress mainly for comfort, my dolls are quite happy to be far more exploratory, without fear of wilder or more exuberant expression...and to willingly suffer any fashion discomfort levels without complaint.

 

That indeterminate love for an inanimate object, pure and simple. Everything about them - the realism, the artistry, the charm...they just speak to me. Everyone who is a collector at heart has a soft spot, and these chunks of resin are mine.

 

3) Characters
I've given myself the rule of shelling original or favourite pop-culture characters from now on. Otherwise, I'd be overrun with impulse buys and empty husks cluttering my shelves!

4) Long time collector
I started from a young age with... pin badges, I think. It might have been Pogs first, then pin badges. Toys from cereal boxes. Wade Whimsies; porcelain figurines of animals and fanciful things popular for a time in the UK. TY Beanies. Pokemon cards. Handbags. Books; I have a habit of picking up one or two every time I travel. And now dolls and their effects.

 

4 and 7 for me! I always loved dolls/figures when I was younger, so bjds really caught my attention. Recently I also enjoy sewing for my dolls! Coming up with unique outfits and personalities for them is a lot of fun

 

I love dolls. I've always loved dolls. I've made dolls for most of my life, beginning with flower dolls when I was 4, going into clay dolls, porcelain antique reproduction dolls for many years, making over 300 soft sculpture baby dolls after I couldn't snag a Cabbage Patch for my daughter that year, and then sculpting my own art dolls and taking classes from Jack Johnston. I think my biggest draw for them is outfits though. Any doll with a pretty face will catch my eye if she/he has an imaginative or beautiful outfit. I fell in love with BJDs when I saw the wonderful steam punk costuming a lot of them were getting. Most recently though, I've had to get an Iplehouse FID Rex because of Martha's amazing costuming for hers, and then a 6 month search ensued to find the perfect lady for him. I finally ordered and received Isabelle (Isabel sculpt), and she's off being beautified by Angel Toast right now. Those two have surpassed my love for any other of my dolls. lol

 

Hm, I guess characters, creating, and collecting. They're pretty and I like them, I sew for them and paint their faces and I like to admire their beauty.

 

The crew used to be my photography models, but over the last few years I've sort of fallen out of the habit of pointing my camera at them.These days? They're just a fun collection that I like to tinker with. Sometimes I sew for them, but mostly they're just here because I like having them around.

 

Another interesting topic that came my way! Currently, I would go with Something else because I like looking at pretty things, similar to how Japanese people love to do Flower Viewing in Springtime in Japan.

Before, first, it was for Fashion; more specifically Fashion Illustrations classes. BJD are amazing to draw Croquis when Live Models were unavailable or you couldn’t get a Fashion Magazine. Then, it was for Photography, I realized that I didn’t enjoy taking pictures and move on to creating Characters just for the sake of it.