What is this hobby for you?

It's changed a lot over the past 21 years.

At first it was just a curiosity. Over time it's become a catalyst for learning a lot of other hobby and craft skills. BJD ownership and customization is really just a bunch of other hobbies in a trench coat.

It's also led to meeting a lot of very wonderful people.

So for me it's been a way to build community and learn new skills.

 

I'm mostly in the "just a collector"-camp... Although I also like sewing for the gang, and I still occasionally put one or another of them in front of my camera.

I stopped going to meets about a decade ago, so the social aspects of the hobby are on-line only for me these days.

 

Once discovered, I jumped into this hobby with both feet immediately! I instantly saw that it would bring all my creative hobbies together under a single umbrella, which was perfect for me. It would also allow me to delve into all sorts of obscure and varied fashion designs where the sky’s the limit. I could paint to my heart’s content. I could create fascinating characters to tell all my stories in a fun visual way. I could research, learn new things, and collect to my heart’s content. And when need be, I could escape into a beautiful and artistic fantasy world to get a break from the ordinary stresses of everyday life.

 

From @cheshiretiffy up thread: "BJD ownership and customization is really just a bunch of other hobbies in a trench coat."


Yes! This right here. Ball jointed dolls really are an amazing way to unify a bunch of other hobbies into one larger hobby. Being able to rotate between different parts of projects helps keep everything fresh and keeps the creativity moving.

The dolls themselves are flexible but even more so is the process of customization. : D And even after the customization of the individual doll is "done" there is still so much space to explore. Love it!

 

Creative outlet from sewing and crafting here!

 

I always liked dolls and wanted to collect dolls. I didn't realize the reason why until i realize i was creating a happy family for most of my dolls and filling the empty void I feel in life. With my dolls I give them happy lives full of love and comfort. I give them happy families they can rely on. I like to create a world that is safe and peaceful for my dolls. I like to think of them as family. Whenever i feel sad, bad, lonely, etc i look for a doll to add to my family of dolls. The more I have the more love I feel I guess. I don't know maybe that's how i feel. I'm not exactly sure how I feel, but i think that might be the reason.

Dolls are free from death, illness, and can live forever in a way. They can move on to a new person and help that person. Dolls can be anything you want or need them to be. They don't abandon you and they stay with you until you let them go. They are stationary, but can move hearts. They can go on any adventure and be anything. Dolls are beautiful and ageless forever. Dolls are the exact opposite of humans in a way, but reflect humans. Dolls for me is like a safe I can store my emotions and lock the feelings away I guess.

I also think of bjds as art pieces to decorate my room. For now dolls are an emotional outlet, but I want to explore the creative side of bjds later. I doubt I will be good at it though.

@NineOneThree
I agree with what you said.

@edgydolllover8
Thanks.

 

I just really love having little guys sit on my shelf.

 

It's a mix of things. I like playing with dolls, it calms me to dress them and pose them and play little scenes with them. So for that, it's definitely an escape from daily life. But I also enjoy crafting for them, it's fun and gives me something to do when I'm bored... and I've learned/improved on some crafts of choice as a result, since it's easier to try out new things if I know it's not going to be a very long project.

 

I think for me it relates to my inner kid. When you have taken all you can at work and your adult responsibilities have overwhelmed you for the day, there is an outlet that you can go to relieve stress. Mine include several different things, but this is definitely one. I love the ability to change their looks as desired whenever you want. I also am not keen on figures/statues myself because I like the ability to pose them. Adds to the fun!

 

I actually don't know. I do know that I think they are beautiful.