"PRETTY please?": the art of obtaining.

I didn't see the need for me to ask permission for spending my own money so I went right ahead and bought one without my parents' consent. I did tell them afterwards and even though my mom wasn't too pleased about it, she can see that I'm really trying to earn back the money working more shifts. Lately, I've been bribing her with food, hoping she won't get so upset when my doll arrives xD it better work laughs*

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Let's see... XD There's only a little bit of 'parental' stuff in here, most of it is about getting permission from myself.

2005 or 2006 (I don't remember which) see first BJD.. also see price and think OH GOD SO LOVELY but can never have... (At this time very ill, living with my mom on VERY limited income)

2007(ish) - Friend gets really into Pullips, get ME into Pullips even though I can't afford them. Friend sends me one that I love in pictures... Find out they SCARE THE PANTS OFF ME in real life because of their eyes. Keep Pullip in box... eventually pass Pullip on to someone else because friend doesn't want him (no longer into Pullips).

2009 -> 2010 - Become more interested in BJDs, finances have changed but have the opportunity to buy a house.. Obviously that comes first.

2010 - 2013 - Get increasingly interested in BJDs, finances have REALLY changed to allow me to afford one but still really really hesitant about prices. Constantly ask myself 'What would you DO with one? Look at it? You can look at pictures, that's the same thing...' Finally decide December 2013 that I don't care what I'd 'do' with one, I WANT ONE. Decide to see just how wild I am thinking about doing this by talking to my mom about them one day while visiting her. She's used to my 'different' interests and asks what they cost. I get a WIDE eyed look and I can tell she really disapproves because I get the 'well it's your money but maybe you should get that new cellphone you've been thinking about instead of a doll...' response. I put it off for the time being. Or so I thought...

2014- January 2nd... Order first doll... Receive first doll. Fall so completely and utterly head over heels I can't even stand it. Abandon all hope, dolls become priority (after bills, mortgage, essentials, etc...) BUY MORE. Get REALLY into the idea of face ups and stuff, start talking more to my mom about the creative side. THAT she gets into because she's always very encouraging towards creative pursuits. Introduced her to one of my dolls today while at her house. She refuses to let him go and sat with him in her lap most of the visit. SCORE!!

Happy ending.

 

-Meet a lady with a DD doll at A-kon
Enter College
Three semesters of ass kicking work
Date and break up with two jerks
Moment of empowerment
Decide to buy something I've always wanted
Remember BJDs
Do mass internet searching
Find Makies
That'll do
Get two
Join DoA
See resin = want +1000
Get Planetdoll Mini
Instant Love
Buy some resin friends for her


Now I'm on the final stretch to finish college so I'm trying to slow down on the dolls a bit. It's been a fun ride though and I love my doll crew. (insert certain Rick Astley hit song here)

 

Got into this hobby a bit late... saw a video on a Volks Shinku and was just stunned by the beauty and unique look of that abjd...

Sold a lot of stuff from other hobbies to catch up quick on a lot of bjds that I had a feeling, in 2010, might be gone in a year or two. Thank goodness I had the good sense to do that or I would never had got the last of the Luts Soony dolls when they discontinued. She is doll number four. Did a lot of Volks in the beginning too and I am so glad I did that as well.

Saving and buying/selling on ebay keeps my hobby afloat and luckily my hubz has always had my back when it comes to this hobby or any interests I have had over the years. So very lucky there...

 

I think I have my parents warming to the idea. I showed my mom about 10 dolls that she thought were super creepy, but then I was browsing luts the other day and she came over and said the Tiny 20s were cute. It was an unexpected but welcome change in attitude XD

 

lol, cute thread. I realized I had graduated so didn't have to pay for college. Remembered BJDs from yrs ago. Joined DOA. Bought first doll as a gift from and to myself. This last time though, I stared longingly at the computer screen and gave-up any anniversary, birthday or xmas gifts this year. Worth it.

 

Mine goes something like this. I went to my first convention saw BJDs there. Went to a meet with a doll that I had that was not a BJD or Pullip. Just a stuffed doll. When I got home I started researching through google and what not. Begged my mom for one she said no but she thought they were interesting. Got my sister to looking at the dolls. Mom said I could have one if my sister and I could agree on one. My sister wanted a boy and I wanted a girl so that did not happen. This was about 6 years ago. Now we come to when I am in college. I joined DOA and dairyland. I make up a complete story surrounding about ten dolls and buy my first with student loans. Which my mom can't tell me what to spend on really. So now I finally have a doll with one in the process of being made and sent.

 

Mine was- Find visual novel Dandelion
Buy a double pack of Dandelion and Nameless
Played Nameless, a vn about crobi dolls
Realised they were a thing as the credits rolled.
Searched crobi, searched youtube
watched videos
discovered all bjd sites
discovered angelesque
discovered dragon dolls and realized Angelesque had the one I wanted.
Told my partner about them increasingly
and one day just smiled at him
"You bought a doll didn't you"
Nods vigorously.

 

Mine was a little weird and it went like this:
-Looked everywhere for a good Deidara fig, buying tons of merch in the meantime
-Couldn't find one so resorted to BJDs
-Boyfriend was like please let this be it
-He was like when he saw the cost
-Then I got into the kimono hobby
-He saw THAT cost
-So then he was like "Don't you want to buy things for your dolls instead!?"

 

I've bought most of my dolls myself, but I did get one as a present! I entered one of Soom's Post MD raffles (where they raffle off dolls people put on order but never paid for). And I, totally unexpectedly, won a Shonki! Except, since I'd just assumed I wouldn't win anything, I had no plans for paying him off, and Soom don't accept layaways for Post MD sales

Luckily, I had about half the necessary amount saved up, so I asked my parents if they could cover the other half for me, and got him as an early birthday present. They didn't really need much convincing, because normally I'm super difficult person to buy presents for ("what would you like for your birthday" "umm... nothing much, unless you're happy buying from a list of super specific art supplies which have to be the correct brand/colour/etc or they won't be of any use to me..."). My mum especially was just happy to be able to get me something more like a 'traditional' present

 

Ooh, interesting thread.

1. Looking on Google images for hairstyle ideas for latest drawing, run across very old site about someone's doll collection. The photos are poorly lit to the point that I think the BJD box is actually made of hard wood!

2. Doll owner is kind enough to list what those dolls are called and where to find them. I about do a backflip over the AMAZING poses they can do. Okay, I'm sold!

3. Die from stickershock once I find out the price range. Former friend has to res me and then I agonize for months about x doll I HAVE to have.

4. I finally decide that as a teenager with no income(I wasn't allowed to get a job due to location), I would spend every hour of freetime I had selling my drawings. It took over a year to sell enough to obtain my doll. I'm talking up until 5am making drawings, to the point it worried my mother. She had never seen me want something so badly in my life.

5. Former friend allows me to use his Paypal to make that important purchase because my mother was blissfully unaware I would be spending $$$ on a doll. Had she known, I'm sure she would have put a stop to it for "wasting" my money. I find a seller on here with my hard-to-obtain sculpt(that is now more easy to obtain, thank goodness). I bought a doll made in 2003, according to the seller. She was in great condition.

6. Success! Doll pulled her weight, alright. She became my little anatomy practice buddy for those complicated poses. That sweet little doll found a new home and I'm back into this hobby years later, now an adult.

 

Mom just rolled with it when she realized I really loved these dolls and that they weren't like American girl dolls.

Though she did say today: "I should've known then with how you were with American Girl dolls. One...Pfft I should've known." Also because I am REALLY hard to shop for, a doll makes a good Christmas present from her, especially since that was actually the only thing I wanted. I got a few other awesome things but my Vala was my favorite.

Whilst I can't always afford 'em...I've found other ways. Trades are a good way when you got something worth trading under your belt like sewing skills.

 

My ten step list of joining the hobby.
1. I saw a few on DeviantArt, mainly a lot of my favorite characters from anime as bjds.
2. the owner told me what they were.
3. I researched these dolls for a long time.
4. I decided I had to have one.
5. I saw a Soul Doll Juhl.
6. I have to have him.
7. Worked and saved up for a long time.
8. Finally have the courage to tell mom that I was going to buy an expensive doll.
9. Order him and wait until he arrived.
10. I finally have him and a three more dolls a few months later.

 

I have to respond to this because I think these stories about begging your parents is funny! My parents just knew I wanted one, no begging required!

-Basically, found out dolls through a blog.
-Go to Danny Choo's website and look at dollpa pictures
-Become obsessed with Dollfie Dream
-Realize I can't afford one
-Go to Volks website
-Decide on get a Dollfie (OT doll) instead, plan clothes wigs etc
-Put items in cart but don't really check out
-Save Christmas money and don't spend it on anything so I can get a Dollfie Dream
-A few months later, mom, "What are those Dollfie things you're so obsessed with?"
-Parents offer to buy my first doll as a graduation present

 

I don't have one yet Sad, sad story.

Me: Ow mom, I want a Doll.
Mom: What for?
Me: Ehm, coz they're adorable. You can costumize them just like you want. Blush the body. Choose your face up, wig, eyes, everything.
Mom: Really? For playing?
Me: Okay, what about photography? I need new stuff for my portfolio.
Mom: Go out. There is nature.
Me: I have enough landscape photos. I want a new section.
Mom: Okay, show me.
Me:
Mom: They cost so much?! No!
Me: Yes, but you get what you pay for.
Mom: You have your own money.
Me: Please, can I get a bit for my birthday.
Mom: We will see. You know, we need money for important stuff.
Me:
Mom: Save your money.
Me: I am always saving! But it's so much. My pocket money isn't that high.
Mom: Tell your dad.
Me: Okay.

Me: Daaaaaaaaddy!
Dad: What do you want?
Me: A beautiful doll...
Dad: Okay.... Save your money.
Me: Dad! I need a bit of help...
Dad: We will see.
Me: Ow man! It's the same with mommy.
Dad: You have to learn to budget.
Me: I can! I save all my pocket money since I was seven years old, but I needed something for my camera, visiting my boyfriend, doing volunteer work...
Dad: You're young. You have enough time.
Me: Okay, but when I have enough, I have to order outside Europe maybe... You know, duties... I pay them, but please allow me to order it anyway.
Dad: No....

I hope I can change his mind later...

 

My parents go on about how the dolls are a waste, I don't think they'd ever buy a doll for me.
I simply, when I have enough money to get a new doll that I love, get it.

 

I just buy the dolls I want. However, since my boyfriend and I share our finances I usually get the green light from him first. He's never said no to me. In the past, He's told me to wait and think about it more while we gather the money. He's just really sweet and wants me to be happy.

Most of the time, my doll purchases are planned. I like to save up for a doll. Every week a certain amount is set aside in my doll fund. Even when I'm not actively saving towards a doll, I'm saving for a doll. When I find a doll I really want, I have most of the cost covered. With my most recent purchase, I was browsing the mp and came across a MNF Miyu, I looked at my boyfriend and said I want her...He said, "Okay, do what you have to do to get her."

 

I've always wanted to get into doll making (cloth and clay) and I went searching on amazon for books and I find beginners guide to BJD's>>
-See's PeaksWood dolls and dies.
-scrolls through the Look Inside pages
-looks up DoA
-looks at flickr
-looks on PeaksWood site and cries at price.
-Show mom. She says pretty but creepy.
-I explain. She asks how much then dies.

Pretty much it. She wants to get me one but we can't afford it. So I hint about Christmas and Bobobie+ResinSoul. I might get lucky.

 

I got drunk and impulse-bought a doll. Yeah that's pretty much it.

 

I guess I just got lucky. I had some money left over from my last job, even with being careful to put enough aside for rent and other expenses, and I decided it was finally the time to splurge on a beautiful BJD for myself. So, I did ♥ My mom still shakes her head over his cost, but I for one think it was entirely worth it. Now, to save up for my second SD...!