What has been unexpected, or surprised you, about getting into the hobby?

I was surprised at how addicting they are. I bought one thinking he'd be the only one, and going on eight years later, I now have over 40 of them.

And as someone else mentioned, I'm also surprised at how social they've made me. I'm not an outgoing person by nature, but I've attended a number of meetups and even hosted a few of them, just so I could meet other collectors and see even more gorgeous dolls. And I'm attending my very first doll convention this year (Dollism) and I can't wait to meet a whole bunch of other dolly people. I've had other collections and hobbies, but this is the very first one that has drawn me to want to interact on a personal, face-to-face level with complete strangers.

And yeah, the dolls can be surprisingly cuddly, too. Not as cuddly as my cats or birds, of course, but they come in a close second.

 

This still surprises me sometimes and it's part of why I've grown to love these dolls. Doesn't matter if they are the same sculpt, everyone's doll is so distinctly different from any other.

 

I'm also surprised at their addictiveness. I bought my first doll a little over a year ago and now I'm up to twelve dolls, not counting the two I have up for sale or trade, plus two floating heads. I keep telling myself that this is definitely the last one, but then I see another beauty up for sale and it's so tempting... I've promised myself not to get any full dolls for at least 6 months, though. Maybe a body for a floating head, if I see one at an affordable price.

I'm surprised at how much these lifeless plastic sculptures seem to have a life, mind and personality of their own, in the sense that each of them inspires its own life story in my mind and they are all so very different.

I was surprised to find I like doing face-ups so much, and that it isn't at all as hard as I thought. Now, most of my dolls have a face-up by me. I'm not a great face-up artist or anything, but I at least consider them decently done.

 

My dolls personalities are mostly based on characters in my mind, or that I've written about for most of my life. I was most surprised by the development that they influenced on those characters. I didnt expect them to embody what I had in my mind to nearly the extent that they have.
I was also surprised by how attached I would get and how addictive my love for dolls has become. I would never had guessed I'd be spending hours at a time just admiring them on their respective websites or in the galleries. I never knew I'd end up being so in love with all of them, and how particular I'd become about which molds are right or not right for me. I used to save pictures of every doll I thought was beautiful, but now I've become so particular on which doll I'd want or not.

I also never expected doll clothes to be so crazy expensive! But after making some myself, (hand-stitching, of course) I understand why theyre so highly priced when the quality is great. Still, though, I didn't expect it at first.

 

I came into the hobby in love with Fairyland. My first doll was a Minifee Celine and Chloe. I never thought I wouldn't bond with them. But what surprised me was, in less than a year, I sold them both. Bought myself an SD13 Volks Elena, and have been in love with her ever since. And I just received my Volks Creamy Mami. So yeah, I never thought I'd leave Fairyland, and transition into Volks. And I also never thought I'd like SD's better than MSD's.

 

What's most surprised me is that I actually got into the hobby at all. My trip into the hobby was a little different from the usual... no pining after beautiful photos or longing after the lovelies I saw others carrying at conventions. I looked at them a bit here and there, but since all I knew was Volks (and as lovely as their sculpts are, none of them scream "buy me!" at me) I never really had a solid interest... until my roommate suggested we each get one and start making clothes! The two of us were working Anime convention Artist's Alleys very regularly at the time, enough to be a second job, and both knew how to sew, so it was a good idea on her part--though I still resisted based on "I haven't seen one I like."

So she found him for me.

Still, since I got in for motivations other than "pretty things I desire," I didn't expect it to stick. And now with number 19 in customs on her way to me... I think I have to fully admit that I am in fact sunk.

 

I have honestly only had my first doll for a few days, but I can honestly say that I am still super excited about her. I have honestly not been this ecstatic about something in a long time, and I suppose that I am genuinely surprised that I have such a lovely doll that I want to dress and pose. The doll I now own is one of the prettiest dolls I have ever owned in general. I also feel like I am getting in touch with a part of myself that has been buried for a while...when I was younger, I loved roleplaying with the dolls that I had, but as I got older I felt awkward and that I should "grow up" by putting my baby dolls and Barbies away.

Little did I know that there was an entire community of adult doll collectors that still "play" with their dolls, in a way of sorts.

 

I was really surprised at how freeing being in the hobby was. I've always been a very hesitant self doubting person but having my dolls has really pushed me to be more open and confident. It's done wonders for my work. I'm an artist getting my degree and in the past I was very reluctant to show my work to others. Having people ask me about the dolls and explaining it to them has made me much more comfortable with self promotion. Explaining my thought process behind my work is a lot less awkward than explaining why my doll has nipples!

They've pushed me to learn new skills too. I've become so much better at sewing, embroidery, and construction. I've also took a clay class because I was interested in learning how dolls were sculpted. It's like a Big Bang of knowledge and I couldn't be happier about it.

I was also surprised at how much my dolls showed me about the people I have in my life. I was worried about my boyfriend being serious about me when we first started dating. I took him along with me to a doll show figuring he'd think I was weird. He was so supportive and eager to learn about them and I knew right then that he was right for me. Anyone who puts that much effort into understanding the things you love is someone you want to be with. My sister also got really into dolls and has become really attached to the one she has now which also surprised me a bit. I'm glad she is though. It gives us something to bond over.


Overall I'm just shocked at how much of an impact its made. I really just expected it to be a one time splurge that would make a nice curio on my shelf instead of a passion that has opened up so many new opportunities for me. It's sends me reeling whenever I think about it.

 

I didn't expect how easily most of my "not my things" turned into "wow, I wants", ie. red/pink eyes (maybe not want but I'm getting used to them), tinies, anthros.

I didn't expect how quickly I'd adapt to the pricing of everything ("$40 boots? What a deal!" "Whoops, those eyes/clothes/wigs didn't suit him like I thought. Oh well, let's buy more and try again!").

I didn't expect the community to be this friendly! I knew everyone was pretty nice but I was blown away with how welcoming and sweet and sociable everyone was when I joined DoA.

 

Like a lot of other people in this thread, I was surprised that I would ever actually buy one! I didn't like dolls too much as a kid - I had an American Girl doll, and while I really wanted her I am ashamed to say that I didn't play with her more. When I found out about BJDs I thought they were pretty, but the price tag really gave me sticker shock! So I'm amazed that I actually decided to buy one, that I love him more than ever, and that my collection of outfits and accessories is still growing And, on a side note, I'm really amazed that my dad has been as supportive as he is (he helped me restring the other day!) and my boyfriend, too.

 

I am surprized at how casual I feel about spending a lot of money on a doll. I'm retired and have a very small retirement check coming in each month, so I have a very small amount I can spend on things that are just for fun, such as dolls. But for some reason I haven't felt any regret about the amount I've spent on most of my dolls. I have regrets about a couple of them, but I chalk that up to lessons learned.

 

I am constantly surprised at the artistic range and amazing variability of BJDs, as well as by the incredible ways that people customize them. I'm also surprised at how few people know about BJDs, or think they are like some sort of crazy overpriced Barbie dolls. And I'm also pretty amazed that such a robust BJD market and owner community exists with so few brick and mortar retailers. In that respect, it's great to see the internet being used to its full potential, and I love how the online BJD community brings together doll owners from around the world.

On the con side, I am shocked and saddened by the prevalence of recast dolls, and how hard they impact the legit market and the artists that work so hard to bring us their amazing dolls, and (perhaps worst of all) how accepting many people are of the bootleg industry.

 

Well...it surprised me that I liked these dolls that much.

And right now I am a bit shocked that I easily pay more for a doll's clothes than for my own stuff. E.g. I am hesitant to buy a pair of shoes which costs 30 $, but no problem for a pair of fine dress shoes for Loki.

 

To me its how much there is to do with them, they are never quite finished to me i always want to buy them more things do and create more things for them it just never ends for me

 

I have really enjoyed reading these!

Still waiting for my dolls, but If anyone had told me I would be buying dolls, well, ever, I would never have believed them.

I also second the amazement at how tiny changes to face up, eyes, wig etc make such a difference.

 

First surprise was the price lol. The second surprise was the size! I thought they were much smaller.
Now the surprise I'm still dealing with is (as mentioned before) the fact that I just can't stop wanting more dolls, can't stop collecting.

 

When my fiancé showed me the first bjd picture I had ever seen and said she had gotten into the idea of collecting really expensive dolls I took one look at the picture, then the price tag and said "how completely useless. Pretty, but useless."
Rest assured I was very surprised that I, years later, would flaunt over them and just dream about when I have enough money to get my own.

 

How happy having a bunch of fabric and the idea's to sew new things with them makes me...And how insane I actually go at fabric store sales.

 

It's surprising that even if life gets hectic for me, and I have to take a break from spending money on dolls, that I am always ready to just jump back in. I don't lose interest in them and to me it's a surprise, because I've given up a lot of other hobbies when I couldn't afford them or was just too busy. Dolls are addictive, and I think it's wonderful. :P

 

I knew I would end up with more than one. What I didn't understand is how people could end up with multiple heads with no bodies, or a huge collection of extra eyes. It just happens! I never thought it would happen to me. But. It. Just. Happens.