So you got a doll... now what?

my doll was actually given to me by my friend bc it was an impulse buy and he just sat there in her room doing nothing so she gave him to me bc i was rly interested in bjds like thats the only thing i talked about with her idk if she got annoyed but she had bought him stuff like wigs and various clothes but no undies so i made him some after playing with him and dressing him up and stuff

 

Once you get a doll, what do you do?

I'm a doll first sort of person--I've had bad luck in other hobbies with buying stuff for a doll and it no longer fitting with my concept of my doll when the doll arrives. So once the doll is complete (I tend to order heads and bodies separately because I'm picky), I start the customization process: modding, dyeing, etc.

Store it in a box until you get everything else associated with him/her?

I actually keep my dolls in their boxes when I'm not working with them--although right now I'm only modding.

display case:

I don't like display cases so much: they get so dusty! I might go for a sort of garage-style shelf--this is where I keep my other, off-topic dolls (pullips, action figures, etc.). The door opens from the bottom and props open like an awning.

wigs and/or clothes:

Definitely don't come before the doll--I sew most of my clothes for dolls. I also make most of my wigs for BJDs.

Make a name? Or do you already have a name in mind?

I can't seem to choose names before finishing the doll (faceup, mods, etc.)--if I do, they never keep the name! As a result, I give my dolls titles, like an art project, before I choose their actual name. All my 1/3 dolls have "titles" from Greek mythology.

Do you imagine up an idea on customization? Or many ideas?

I definitely have a plan--and several inspiration pieces: photos, prints, art exhibits, etc. But I am always open to adapting as I go: I was going to give "Eurydice" an extra finger joint, but balked and did an extra wrist joint instead. "Orpheus's" prosthetic calf turned into a whole prosthetic leg.

Do you buy more dolls so that yours has a family/friend?

I definitely like having all the main characters for the story, but for dolls that don't really have a story (for example, Pip, my 1/4 Planetdoll Riz), I don't really feel like they need a friend.

Do you make or section off an area?

Currently, my BJDs are above my desk in their boxes. My traveling dolls (Planetdoll Riz, Dollshe Fashion Grant--he came to my temporary address, and Ancient Tales Rachel) are with me. Dollshe Grant is in his box, untouched, and Planetdoll Riz and AncientTales Rachel are wrapped in a scarf in their drawer.

Buy furniture? Accessories? Pets?

I'll worry about this after my mods are complete, and my dolls have eyes, wigs, and clothes. My 1/3 story needs a dog, but a big dog, bigger than the ones which are currently available, so I need to wait or construct one myself.

 

Im still waiting for my doll, but she already has her name and backstory prepared as well as furniture and accesories and few clothing item. only thing that im missing are eyes and shoes but in my preference i would probably never buy a doll without thinking of her name atleast. It seems little bit weird Almost likegetting a pet and ediding which pet you are actually getting in the pet store and then brinning it home with no supplies and accesories and name.

 

I buy stuff for the doll while I'm waiting, so I have things to try out as soon as it arrives. No cases or furniture as of yet since I only have a single 70cm at home right now, and furniture for that size isn't that easy to find (or cheap, ugh). After it arrives, a fashion show is in order, to set the vibe, followed by a faceup. Personally, I won't bother with a name unless one strikes me when the doll is complete. My current doll was meant to represent an OC, but ended up suiting a different one better - but it feels weird to call him by the character's name since he isn't actually the character, so he's just Osiris (the sculpt) to me. I really like the name anyhow, so it's fine. XD Oh, and I don't have enough space to section off an area yet - but I plan to once I do!

 

Priority Number One when they turn up: PHOTOS! Always! Even if they're totally blank, I mussst take photos. It's basically a ritual that I need to do.

Unboxing photos, early posing photos, wig and eye swap photos, sometimes a welcoming photo story. . . Photos. They must happen.

My first came with wig, clothes, and eyes, but I did get supplies to make her new eyes as soon as I sent my payment to the seller. Second doll got her eye supplies ordered a couple weeks after she arrived, and same goes for her second wig. Third doll is a close-eyed head, but I had her on preorder so I snagged her some boots and props before she showed up, and got her alt wig about three or four months after she turned up (Leeke limited color, couldn't pass it up).

By the time the fourth doll finally shipped, she was able to use reject eyes and wigs from the other three, lol. The fifth I got clothes and wig for in a Dollheart lucky bag that I swear was MEANT for her.

(In short, doll prep becomes a lot easier after your first in any given size, because then they can mooch stuff off each other. XD)

 

My boy just got here, and I'm waiting for his clothes and wig to arrive. I immediately replaced his eyes and eyelashes (company ones looked a bit silly) and now he's kinda hanging out with me, sitting on my desk while we wait for his things. Still trying to figure out a name.

 

I have a small walk in closet with lots of shelves, and the entire thing is my doll's room (aside from where I store a few things here and there.) So they all hang in there regardless of if I have stuff for them. I usually have some things before I even get a doll though, lol.

 

Dressing them up, trying on wigs and eyes it helps with the bonding.

 

Well, I like to have all the things I need prepared before a new doll's arrival, such as clothes, shoes, and a wig, so that way they won't be sitting around naked or bald. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at figuring out things that would be flattering on them based off of what I see from their photos, so it's not too difficult to find styles and colors that I think look nice on them even when I don't have them in my possession yet. I also like figuring out a name, story, and personality for them while waiting for them to arrive, too. ^^; So basically, once my new doll does make it home, the first thing I do is dress them up and start taking photos of them as soon as possible! ^.^ When I'm done playing with them, I place them on my doll shelf where I can admire them anytime I want, until it's time to play again!

As for buying more dolls, I don't really base getting more dolls just so that they could become a friend or family member of a doll that I already have. So far, the doll I'm currently waiting on and the doll I'm currently saving up for aren't connected to Serenade or one another at all. They each have their own stories to tell. :3 I mainly base my doll purchases on ones that I think look pretty and would like to have. xD

I actually don't really focus much on buying furniture, pets, or accessories much for my dolls, actually. It's kind of rare that I think to buy any of those things, unless I find something by chance that is absolutely perfect for them! Other than that,I mainly shop for more outfits and eyes for them, as well as supplies to make them some props!

 

Once you get a doll, what do you do?
Give him a little hug. Admire his details. Test ALL the joints and check ALL of the resin for imperfections or damage.
Store it in a box until you get everything else associated with him/her?
I used to. Not really anymore. I prefer to have them sitting out and posed even if they don't have all of their clothes or wigs and such. If I store them away it makes me feel like I'm still waiting on them to arrive.
First buy a display case?
I don't really feel like putting my dolls on "display." I prefer to have them within reach--by the bed or temporarily sitting on one of our book shelves.
First buy wigs and/or clothes?
I usually buy these right after I've purchased a doll. They arrive before the doll does and I test them on my other dolls before stowing them away for later.
Make a name? Or do you already have a name in mind?
I usually wait until the doll arrives before officially naming them.
Do you imagine up an idea on customization? Or many ideas?
Yes, from the moment I find a doll I want I start imagining some characters or modding I could do to them if I had them. If I can't dream it up, I don't consider getting the doll.
Do you buy more dolls so that yours has a family/friend?
Not for the sole purpose of that, but that is a factor to an extent. I want the doll because it's pretty and draws me in--every other idea usually comes after that.
Do you make or section off an area?
Not really. Eventually when we start growing our doll family we will probably have a designated area for them, but we play with them so much that they're kind of all over the place at all times.
Buy furniture? Accessories? Pets?
We actually make our furniture and accessories. Pets are not present in the house as of yet. (The doll kind. We have too many of the real kind.)

 

I tend to know what I'm going for way before I buy the doll, so the wigs, eyes and shoes tend to arrive first. Therefore when the doll first gets here, the first thing I do (while taking lots of pictures), is unbox and put the eyes in and the wig on.

Unfortunately, I usually don't have their clothing ready. I DO have an outfit that seems to end up on all the big dolls before I either make or order them something to wear that's more suited to them, so that outfit usually comes out and goes on. Then I set about admiring them for the rest of the day.

They're also named before they get home, and in most cases, way before I order them. There is one I've picked a sculpt for who doesn't have a name, but he's from one of the later books and I won't be ordering him this year. I have lots of time to figure out who he is yet.

 

I open her up and dress her and get her on her stand and introduce to the rest of the family. I have display cabinets in my "nerd room" downstairs where they have space but I'm rarely down there. Right now they are all lined up on my bench in my bedroom so I can look at them and talk to them.

 

When I get a doll, I immediately pull them out. If they came with items, I'll try to use them. If I don't like them, I whip out my extra clothes and wigs and I try to find THE look I was wanting for that doll. I have a variety of clothes, shoes and wigs here in my stash already so I can mix and match quite a bit. If I don't like exactly what I have, I temporarily make-do with what I have on hand and then I start surfing online to see what I feel I need: a certain wig, a particular style of shoes and clothes, etc. The doll's name and persona sometimes comes to me right away or after I find THE look I was trying to achieve. Both have happened with dolls in my collection.

I don't worry about display cases or furniture because I have space in what I already have in my hobby room. I tend to only buy other dolls if I feel the doll is dis-jointed to other dolls in my collection. If I feel they can't find a relationship to anyone I already have then I find that I do start window shopping for a friend. Sometimes it's a sibling or even a lover. All my dolls need somebody.

 

I order the doll and the wig/eyes before it arrives. Sometimes it works and sometimes I have to wait for the wig or whatever.

 

The time I got my first doll, I couldn't stop taking photos of them. So, that's my answer to your question. I've already planned all my future dolls' names, so I at least have that bit off my to-do list. When I ordered my first doll, I also ordered a wig, eyes and clothes, so... that's also out. I also plan on giving him friends and family members— aka the priority dolls in my doll plans.

 

I got my first doll recently. I had an outfit already, so I put her in it. She's in a borrowed wig right now until one that matches her character arrives. I'm kinda broke right now though so anything else she doesn't have will have to wait (extra clothes, accessories, etc.). I might peek in and change her sitting position about once a day, or bring her out to sit on my desk while I work :3

 

I learn their names, personalities and store them in a box until I can get all the supplies needed for face-ups and wig making.

 

Once you get a doll, what do you do?

I was very hesitant to get a doll at first because I work full time and have a lot of other hobbies so I thought I might end up sitting her on a shelf and ignoring her, but I could not resist the cuteness! Then I realized that I could incorporate at least one of my hobbies with the doll hobby - knitting! Now I am completely obsessed with designing clothes and accessories for BJDs!

Store it in a box until you get everything else associated with him/her?

I use her box as her bed, I have knitted a little pillow and blanket that fit inside the box. I have a shelf under my computer table that I use as a little room for her and I set her up with some form of activity every morning, building blocks, colouring, reading, etc., before I go to work so that she does not get bored!

display case:

I don't have a display case but I am planning on adding some shelving to my room soon so that as I get more dolls they can each have their own shelf set up as their room.

wigs and/or clothes:

I love the wigs and clothes for the dolls and can't wait to do some serious clothing shopping soon! I also love to make knitted clothing for my doll. I really need some shoes for her, she only has knitted socks at the moment.

Make a name? Or do you already have a name in mind?
When I order a doll I tend to search for a name for them before they arrive. Usually the names just sort of pop into my head! If the doll arrives and does not suit the name, I will change it at that time.

Do you buy more dolls so that yours has a family/friend?

I definitely feel that Eunice needs friends! I can't wait for my two dolls on order to arrive so she won't be lonely.

Buy furniture? Accessories? Pets?

I would love to buy some furniture or possibly make some myself. Not really interested in pets for my dolls but I tend to buy small toys and stuffies for them at the Dollar Store!

 

I still have them in their boxes. They're all fullset, I working on their home and their stage. So I kind of think of them as being broke and unemployed, while still affording kimonos. i do have a separate room but right now their sharing the space with no topic dolls.

 

Once you get a doll, what do you do? I usually buy them blank but I'll do a photoshoot with them when they get home even if they don't have a faceup yet. Then I dress them and wait until I have free time to paint them.

Store it in a box until you get everything else associated with him/her? Once upon a time. When my first doll came in I kept her in her box. Now I have a small walk in closet where all the dolls sorta hang out.

First buy a display case? I love the idea of a display cabinet but the light thing scares me so they stay in a closet unless I'm actively working on them or at a meet.

First buy wigs and/or clothes? I have a lot of spare stuff at this point so sometimes I don't even need to do that. If they're a weird size I'll wait until they come in to buy them wig/clothing/eyes and so on.

Make a name? Or do you already have a name in mind? They're named before they make their way to me. I shell preexisting characters.

Do you imagine up an idea on customization? Or many ideas? I've customized/modded several of my dolls. I enjoy that part of the hobby.

Do you buy more dolls so that yours has a family/friend? Hah! Yeah. I have done a lot of that. Which is how I ended up with so many of the darn things.

Do you make or section off an area? Yep! They have their own closet just for them and their stuff.

Buy furniture? Accessories? Pets? Yes to all three! I have sets, accessories, furniture and one pet doll. I love doll furniture. It makes photoshoots more interesting.