What is your best memory of being in the bjd hobby?

When the seller of my Soony messaged back saying she was still available. I was so so so happy. I remember going to work the next morning and I was just bouncing all day with excitement. I had been listening to the opening song of Yuri on Ice on my walk to work, which I was watching at the time, and I still can't hear that song without getting excited I OWN A SOONY feelings xD

And then, of course, getting her out of the box and finally holding a Soony in my hands. And being amazed at how big her head and eyes are compared to my previous SDs. And how nice she is to hold. Ahhhh. She will probably always be my most special doll.

 

All the great friends I got. Traveling to exhibition. There are a lot of things that I would not have experienced if I hadn't bought my first bjd.

 

Finally getting my Angels Doll Micheal very after 3 months of obfuscating shipping time. This was when a lot of Korean companies were taking orders for all sorts of things not just dolls, and then conveniently going bankrupt never to return any money because of US law loopholes. I was very close to a nervous breakdown I'd lost so much sleep over that boy! Fortunately AngelsDoll remained a legit company after some understandable struggling and kudos to them! I opened the box and bawled over him. Of all my dolls, he's the image of my husband when he was 18.

 

Sharing my dolls with my six year old niece. Out of every one I know she's the only person who is as excited as I am about my dolls. It was great/funny/adorable playing dolls with her me with my (then) newly completed 1/3 boy "Janus" and her with her Disney Princess/Rainbow High dolls.

 

Dolls have brought into my life people dear to me, whom I would never have met otherwise! Dolls are beauty and inspiration. I even bought a camera just because of the dolls, I wasn't going to take pictures before. To be honest I still don't like to do it, but for the sake of my girls and guys I do

 

I bought my first BJD in October 2020. I wanted to find her a sister but it took us seemingly forever to make up our minds as to who it would be. Finally in May 2022 we decided on who to bring into our world next.

I've unboxed a lot of BJD now but every time I set eyes on their faces for the very first time it's a really special moment.

 

I actually think my best memories are simply the time spent alone with my dolls with no other purpose than doing what makes me feel happy, and I've logged a lot of hours

 

I started in this hobby only two summers ago. Arrival of my second first-doll was more significant beyond just about doll. It symbolised my independence, confidence and a big come back i after going through really horrible situation

 

Every time I get into a new doll company or studio it feels like the first time I ever started this hobby 3 years ago. I used to strictly collect Dollfie Dream but recently I got my first Super Dollfie, and I’m learning so much about them it’s so new and exciting! Learning is always the best part for me

 

I first got into the hobby in 2007-08, when I was in high school. I remember spending hours on Den of Angels when I wasn’t busy with homework, just reading photo stories while listening to a CD my friend burned me of anime theme songs & j-pop on repeat. Once I got my doll, he was either in my lap or next to me while I did that. My teenage years were very stressful, but when I was engrossed in doll stuff (or anime, or Gaia online), I was able to chill for a while and be at peace.

 

So far, I think the best part for me was when I discovered I can buy traditional clothing for my bjds from different cultures. I love East Asian outfits.

Also I found out bjds help me emotionally.

 

I think it was probably demolding my very first homecast faceplate, and then going on to paint it for the first time. The process of sculpting and casting my own doll parts is something I never could have imagined I'd learn how to do at the start of the hobby.

I often doubt myself, but it was definitely a realization that I can do much more than I think I'm capable of.

 

My best memory is when I lived in Paris, France and sold a doll to a very nice fellow collector in person. We started talking about the hobby and got coffee together, and then she took me to the only BJD physical shop that was in the city, and has closed since then. In the end, we spent the entire afternoon together, and it was also my first time meeting another member of the community. It was so much fun!

 

When I see the nice picture, it make me have a great achievement feel.

 

For me it definitely was when my group of friends bought a bjd for a good friend of us. I got a Bee-A and she was obsessed with Too, so I organised everything to surprise this friend for her birthday. I remember to place Too on my bed, surrounded by a bunch of cute soft dolls. I will never forget her face in awe as she walked in and found the doll laying there

 

@Seed-Singer that might just be a better feeling than a box opening. That's so cute!

 

They also were our first BJDs, so it's a very special memory

 

One of my favorite memory is when I used to host a BJD BBQ/Beach day when I was back in my home state. I hosted it almost each year it was held, and it was so cool to see people's dolls in swim suits and taking pics in the sand, in the water and on the picnic tables while we cooked out and hung out. I hosted it for a number of years before I moved away, but it was cool meeting people from all over, even some people came from different states to attend! It was so much fun to have a day at the beach with dolls!

There are others, of course. I really miss living where there is a close-knit BJD community.

Ryu

 

My best memory was getting my first doll! I was so happy when her head arrived in the mail! I bought a body for her a couple of months later and bought a bunch of clothes/props/furniture for her! I was writing a character and story for her in my head. My best memories were of my first two years of having her. That is when I was the most active in this hobby. I've bought more dolls since then, but chronic pain happened, affecting my mental health. I really hope that I can be more active in this hobby soon!

 

The first time I ever took a doll out in public, last winter! A friend and I went out to a local tearoom, and I left Maryse sitting on the table while I ordered. I got back to find my friend veeeeery gently moving her hand around, with an expression of absolute wonder. It was really sweet and wholesome, and reminded me of why dolls are so amazing.