Tracking, organizing, cataloging to prevent those lost / misplaced BJD items

I personally have a large plastic storage until with multiple drawers to hold all of my dolls' clothing, wigs, tools and supplies and whatnot, so all my stuff stays in once place and at least semi organized. You can find them at most any store like Walmart or Target. It has casters, so I can just pull it out of the closet and find anything I might need.

I also have a spreadsheet to keep track of what I bought from where and for how much.

The only thing I have come across that has been lost has been a hair clip, and perhaps a small chain that I took off a boot, but I am sure it is around somewhere.

As for things that I am interested in selling or trading, I keep them in one of my doll carriers for taking to meets or just to keep them separate so when they do sell on the MP, I am not rummaging through multiple drawers trying to find it.

 

This is a really smart idea! I think I shall steal it.

I organize similarly, using plastic containers, but within those containers I have labeled storage bags with the doll's size, company or individual that made the item, and the name of the item if applicable. This has worked well for me for a number of years, but as of late I've gotten really messy and forgotten to put stuff back where it belongs. All the organization in the world is useless if you don't follow your own storing system!

Fortunately, I have yet to throw anything away or buy duplicates, but this is generally because most of my dolls have at most one or two outfits each.

 

For the most part, I know where everything is because I don't have a lot of it. Most of the time, I need to sell stuff I no longer want in order to fund the purchases I do want. So if I am in need of a wig or eyes, I'll sell the ones my doll is currently wearing and she'll sit around bald & blind for a while until I can acquire the new ones. If I am selling things, it goes into my "For sale" bin next to my doll shelf. The doll stuff that I do have (clothes and such), I keep in a clear plastic container with a lid under my bed.

 

I have a pair of three-drawer chests of drawers from World Market that I keep everything in... There's a fair bit of "stuff", given the number of dolls I have, but I have everything sorted. Wigs in one drawer, shoes and boots in another, clothes all sorted into the rest by gender and/or size. (The only exceptions are my girls' Fer dresses. Those are in their original DollHeart boxes in the closet.) Eyes are kept in their own compartment box. The crew's jewelry is all in a 1/3-scale Japanese stair-step cabinet. Props and pets are either with the doll they belong to or in a Rubbermaid container in the closet.

I can pretty much describe all of the doll outfits, props and jewelry I have from memory, as well as most of the eyes and many of the wigs. As far as I know I've never actually lost or accidentally thrown anything away. I apparently just have a good memory for that kind of thing... It's like being able to put my hands on any particular individual book in my library, or remembering which species of plant I put where in my garden.

 

I have a doll room, and most of their stuff goes in there. Each doll either has their own bedroom set up, or their own storage bin in the closet where their clothes, shoes, props, etc stays. Extra wigs go in a drawer, extra eyes are in my craft box on a shelf with my art supplies and sales items. After nearly 6 years in the hobby, and close to 30 dolls, it gets crazy! I don't have a list of every doll item I own (that would take forever, and change weekly!) I've never thrown anything away by mistake (I'm very careful about what gets tossed). The individual storage bins are a lifesaver! For someone who doesn't have a whole closet to devote to dolls, I've known people that split up stuff into ziplock bags for each doll, it works just as well if you don't mind digging a little.

 

I'm a very organized person. Doll clothes are separated by size and stored in plastic containers. Outfits that have multiple pieces are sealed in ziploc bags before being placed in their appropriate box. Eyes, wigs, shoes, and dolly sized props also have their own boxes. Everything is kept in a cabinet that sits under one of the displays for them.

So far, the only thing officially lost has been a set of eyelashes, and that was while I was putting them in! Unfortunately they blended into the carpet after they fell out of my hand and have never been seen again!

 

Do you know what you have? Yep, mostly, things i DON'T know about are generally furnature that is from older dolls
Do you know where everything is? Almost everything, I still have old stuff hidden away in the attic lol
If you are very organized do you any tips? Drawer chests are cheap right now and can be filled with dolly clothes etc. I have a tower one and keep wigs in one drawer, plushies and tiny toys in another, dishes and food have their own drawers as well.
Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake? I can honestly say i HAVE tossed a couple things by mistake, but it was only a bit of eyeputty which i have an overabundance of XD

 

Υes! I know what I have. I've taken to writing everything down too! The only things I don't count are small toys and plushies and props I've had from before that aren't BJD specific items.

I also know where everything is. I reorganize everything often to keep things neat~

As for tips... dollboxes are a nice way to separate and organize things if you have many! (:

I have not, to this day, thrown anything away ^ U^

 

Do you know what you have?
Yep. It does help that I don't usually buy much stuff though. I own a few sets of spare eyes (most of them defaults that came with the dolls but didn't suit them) and I've currently got all of two unclaimed wigs ... that's pretty easy to keep track of. I don't doubt I'll end up having a lot more though.

Do you know where everything is?
Yes. I used to just toss it all into a box, but ... well, I guess you guys know how well that works. So I put all my mini props and things into an old toolbox with lots of little compartments, the actual tools (restringing stuff and things) didn't fit so they got to stay in the original cardboard box, faceup materials (including eyelashes) are with my crafting stuff (due to the pastels getting used for other things beside faceups) and the doll clothes are in a doll-sized chest of drawers I found at Ikea (for the "everyday" things) and in a self-made storage sofa (for fancy dresses and fantasy clothes).

If you are very organized do you any tips?
I don't really consider myself very organized, but it does help to keep things apart (clothes from shoes from tools from eyes and wigs). I tend to sort by size (= the eyes live with the mini props because they're tiny, while the wigs stay with the tools because they've got the bigger box).

Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?
Not really - not at home, anyway. A teeny-tiny ring got lost, but that happened at or on the way to/from a meet. The doll was wearing the ring when we left home, and it was gone when we got back ... doesn't matter much, it was a self-made one and I could just make a new one.

 

Do you know what you have?
Yep. Probably helped a lot by the fact that I have fantasy dolls who don't need many outfits. Everyone gets a default set of eyes and a wig, which I don't change until I'm doing a full refresh on the doll to include upgrading eyes and wig. There simply isn't much excess stuff.

Do you know where everything is?
Yes. Outfits are in individual zipper bags and sorted by doll. Repair-type supplies like spray sealants are stored together. Doll-building supplies (restringing tool, eye putty, etc) are together. Doll boxes are in the storage area in neat stacks.

If you are very organized do you any tips?
Two words: Ikea Expedit. Get the basket inserts (unless you prefer the door-type cubby inserts). It makes storing doll supplies very easy.

Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?
No. If it's been thrown away, it was actual trash and on purpose (a wig that was no longer salvageable, for example).

 

Do you know what you have?

Absolutely ! So far I can keep track of everything and remember it. However, just to be safe, in case I eventually get more items than I can remeber, I have made a small "database" for my dolls, clothes and other items to keep track of everything and what items belong to who just in case

Do you know where everything is?

I do. I recently re-organized my items so there is a box for shoes, clothes, wigs, eyes and other items.

If you are very organized do you any tips?

I'm not super organized but I try to keep similar items in the same place. I put all the wigs in one box, shoes in one box, eyes and S-hooks and such in one box and so on. I also keep the paperwork for the dolls in an envelope. In the case of maintenance papers (like the restringing instructions and such) I label the zip lock bag they come in to know which doll they belong to.

Since I work a lot with model building I keep all brushes, paints and such items among my model-building items because that way I always know where to look. If I need a brush there's just one place said brush could be which makes it a lot easier to keep track of things.

Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?

Nope, so far I haven't lost anything.

 

Do you know what you have?
roughly. I sometimes forget about certain small items but I know most of what I have.


Do you know where everything is?
I have a box for clothes, a drawer for maintenance stuff, a small plastic drawer for accessories, shoes are spread in 1- other compartment of plastic drawer 2- official doll shoe box 3-official BJD suitcase (which is actually a lunchbox).
But everything is so messy in each box/drawer and I can never find what I'm looking for. I have to empty the whole damn thing <_<


Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?
i have lost a bra, thrown away a tank top (Thrown away with the rest remains of bubblewrap and box right after box opening =_=), socks... And as of now I think I am also missing a pair on undies....

 

Honestly, this very topic has been stressing me out a lot lately :c

I have a bunch of storage bins to keep my doll stuff in, but I never like the way things sit in there. I wish I had a doll closet like my own, so I could hang stuff up. But I put shoes, socks, pants, dresses, hats, eyes, extra resin parts, etc, all in their own drawers. I also keep complete outfits separate. I also hate having to store wigs.

I don't know why or how, but I've lost TWO wigs!! What the heck!? And they were two of my favorites. I am still seriously upset about it. (One was only like a 10 dollar fur wig, but still, it was custom made) and the other was fairly expensive and beautiful :c I'm hoping it will turn up when I clean the house more thoroughly, but I've searched for them everywhere so I am losing hope. I've never lost any doll things before until this.


I need a better system :c

 

I am TERRIBLY DISORGANIZED. But, yes, a bit of organization is important if you have lots of dolls and doll-related items! And since I care a lot about my dolls and doll items, I do TRY and be at least a little organized with them. It is also difficult since I've been buying dolls and items since 2004 and haven't sold anything much...! So I have a LOT of STUFF by now...

Do you know what you have?
Mostly.
I keep a list of my dolls and all the information I can gather regarding them in a Word doc.
I try to keep images of company photos of my dolls. I also try to keep images of the doll items I buy and put the maker, size and cost in the filename. I'm not as good at keeping my image files up, sadly... but what I DO have helps a LOT in knowing what I have for my dolls. I keep them categorized by size (EID/MegaGem, 70cm, large/60cm, mini, tiny) , or by what it is: wig, accessory, boots/shoes, etc. I'm pretty visual, so the image files are quick, easy, and helpful.

Do you know where everything is?
This is a LOT HARDER.
I have a large plastic bin for 60cm Boys, another for Girls clothes--with outfits in large zip bags...
My odd sizes are currently in large shopping bags, but it's a mess and I'll need to sort that out better soon!
My props and accessories are supposedly in large open boxes... but I haven't figured out a good way to sort them into which boxes.
My wigs have overflowed into two plastic bins... but again, I haven't figured out a good way to organize them! (Color?). Sizes, already separated... but i have a TON of 8-9 / 9-10 sized wigs!!!
Large props--all over the place!
Shoes--in plastic bin, one at the moment, but will need to sort into M/F soon...
Images--I have some, but haven't got them for everything... so it's a mess!

If you are very organized do you any tips?

I've already admitted to being not very organized... But basic tips would be to:
Keep files with as much info as possible (like doll purchase dates and prices and sculpt names).
Keep Certificates, purchase receipts, booklets, etc., together in one place.
Try to label bits and pieces with what it is, what it came with and what size it is, etc.
--all this is important when selling dolls, particularly these days when we have to worry about re-casts!

Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?
Yes.
I have lost items AND thrown away things by mistake.
I moved a few years ago and that really messed things up a bit! I fear some things might have been tossed--maybe an expensive doll head! Or it may be packed away somewhere! Anyway, I don't have it...
My sister cleaned up when I was away once and I am missing a tiny-tiny... I fear it was tossed.
I cleaned up once and now I can't find the tiny-tiny I bought to replace that other doll!!! I think I am cursed not to own one of those!!!
I think I have most all of the doll items, pieces, though. But maybe I just notice the DOLLS and HEADS that are missing more???

Do you buy duplicates because you don't know what you have?
Only happened with a pair of shoes once since 2004, so that's not bad! I bought them close together, so I think I just wasn't sure I'd bought the first pair or not!

 

Do you know what you have?
I know what I have, but I've only been doing this a year and a half about.

Do you know where everything is?
I keep most everything in a large rubber bin. Inside the rubber bin, I have a smaller rubber bin that stores all of my extra wigs. Floating free are outfits inside plastic ziplock containers. Then I have two small boxes. Inside one are all my spare eyes. Inside the other are all my bits and bobs.

If you are very organized do you any tips?
Keep like things together? Keep cats out of doll things. LOL.

Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?
Just a few little broken pieces that I left laying around >.>. Nothing major.

 

Do you know what you have?
I have a pretty good idea of what I have. Everything is stored away carefully and I keep an inventory list so I keep on top of what comes in and what goes out. I also keep items for sale separate from items I'm keeping.

Do you know where everything is?
I have a desk-tidy/drawer thing that works very well as a doll wardrobe, so all my SD stuff lives in there, apart from Dollheart fullsets which live in their boxes. The MSD stuff is in my Volks Kurt's box and assorted Yo stuff is in a box of its own too. I have a ballerina case to store all the wigs and eyes, although I don't have many random pairs of eyes.

If you are very organized do you any tips?
Lists are good!

Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?
Not by mistake, but I did have a ratty wig I didn't think anyone would want so I threw it away...and then later I got a doll head that I could have used the wig for and forgot I threw it away until after I'd turned everything upside down looking for it.

 

Do you know what you have?
Yes
Do you know where everything is?
Yep
If you are very organized do you any tips?
I have a drawer for doll stuff, and smaller stuff goes into mini really useful boxes
Have you lost or thrown away items by mistake?
Yep! I accidentally threw away my favourite dolly bloomers. They were white and I had some tissue next to my bed. They got picked up and chucked out with the tissue

 

I might have to take one of these home next time we're out for shopping at Ikea... I never thought about them before!