Who inspired you to collect?

Honestly, no one. I mean aside from a bunch of photographers I never remembered the name of, (or the company photographs). Just pictures of dolls on DA, in my google searches, etc. It's 80% the art and aesthetic reason why I'm into BJDs. 10% collectors greed (yo I bought a limited) 10% is ????????

 

I think I came across Volks online in 2003. I have no idea what I was looking for, but I remember the name popping up and searching for them. I thought they were neat and had that in the back of my head for a while. I think I discovered that there was way more than just Volks out there and I still liked them. I think I got my first one my first year of college.

 

Kallisti from Blastmilk! I remember reading about BJDs before I found her blog, and even stumbling across this forum. But she's probably the one who influenced me the most into wanting to collect them. I loved reading her posts about the different dolls and doll things and characters and such. It all seemed so vibrant and creative and fun, and the ideas came alive for me.

 

Sadly I don't know if I'll ever know the actual person who inspired me to collect! However, when I was at Ikasucon a long time ago (maybe Ikasucon 2007?) I saw my first BJDs. There was a small vendor (or artist) table there where someone had set up their BJDs. I thought they were so beautiful and I completely fell in love! I really wish now I had gotten more information so I could look them up to see if they are still in the hobby.

I don't think I even talked to that person, but I kind of hovered around the table and listened to the artist explain the dolls to people, which is how I found out about BJDs and Den of Angels.

 

My best friend from high school/ex girlfriend. When I started 9th grade, she was in my art class and we immediately clicked. She had a printed out photo of Dream of Doll E-An on her binder. I was captivated by it. I had always been afraid of dolls since I was a child, but for some reason I found her gorgeous. The first time we hung out she showed me the website, DoA and other sites. Then it was all downhill from there! She ended up ordering the E-An and still has her to this day.

 

I remembered coming across a bjd unboxing video and from there I started watching introductory videos about the hobby from classic bjd owners like asenvabjd, heather explores, and faceups by nicolle’s dreams

 

The first BJD I ever saw was a photo of Hiritai's migidoll ryu, Hayden, on deviantart. I was blown away by how real he was - I didn't guess it was a doll until I read the description. That's where it started! This would have been around 2010 or 2011.

 

Aaaa.. my Grandma made dolls and sometimes I’d join her! She passed not too long ago and sometime after I saw BJDs and was reminded of her. I really love dolls and BJDs are so pretty! I’ve gone to a few state sales and saw old dolls and now I regret not taking a closer look.

 

Danny Choo. But I have been collecting figurines for years!

 

My brain total lone wolf.

 

So funny that the one who urge me to collect dolls is characters from my own writings. They just all need to touch me in this real world and cried out for having some "body" which can be touched, that all.
After joint to the world of BJDs, some colleagues/friends in BJD circles also limited inspired me someway, such as the doll they collected which make me want to welcome the same child, the style they faced-up or the way they took photos.
However, I really aware that my child will be my own child, so I won't try to imitate anyone...

 

That one horror movie with a lot of bjds on it. I immediately realized how wonderful and beautiful bjds are cause of that movie, and several years after that I got myself one. Solely because of that movie ahahha

 

The person who inspired me to want to get a BJD was a fellow sweet lolita that I met at a meet. She had a BJD in her hand and I was so curious about it. A few months later I ended up purchasing one of my own.

 

My traditional clothing club leader, which is also a math teacher for another class in my year group back then. She owns 11 bjds and showed me pictures of them, I got kind of interested, she warns me not to be in this hobby as her or I will have no money for other things. So I forget about bjds. One year later, when I start to noting collective barbies I own and wish to sell some online, I searched for barbie but one bjd popped up. I click into the store and my dad bought me 3 dolls for gift that year.

 

Two users on DeviantART inspired me. Hiritai and Bonhwa both (at the time) collected dolls and posted their dolls. I was mesmerized by them and got into the hobby quickly after finding them. Before them, I had collected Whatsherface dolls so the jump from those dolls to BJD isn't really too surprising.

 

No human inspired me, but I like stone sculptures as long I can think. And I come to BJD through my collection of window mannequins many years ago.

 

Swandzz on YouTube

 

Swandezz/Pintsizedpalace.

I think I must've found one of her videos when I was pretty young (between seven or 10, not sure which). I fell in love with her dolls immediately and knew I wanted some one day, I eventually got my first in 2018 (I think, might've been 2019, I can't remember lol) And have grown my collection to four dolls with heads and bodies, and three floating heads haha

 

I think I loved dolls from childhood, and then I saw BJD my fried had and understood, that I would like to have such dolls too

 

I've always kind of known about BJDs, but never looked too hard into them. I collected other kinds of dolls, and have loved dolls my whole life! I got into vinyl dolls first, and now I am buying more resin