Your BJD Journey!

Holy, resin kittens, april! How on earth did you keep track of all the meetups?


The short answer to your question is I have been in the hobby for seven years and have never sold a doll.

Here is the not so short answer for those that wish to read it:

It has been seven years since I discovered BJDs while looking for an "elf figure" on ebay to use for a D&D character. I stumbled upon a modded Delf Nanuri 06 and was immediately intrigued. After a month or so of researching I decided to get a Delf Dark Elf Soo for my first doll. I was going to wait until February when the tax returns would come in, but then I discovered the joys of company events!

Dec 2006 - Luts had an event and I liked the gift head. I asked Luts if they had plans of making Dark Elf Soo into a type two body, and they said "yes, this coming summer" so I jumped on the event and bought a Type 2 body and got my Juri 06 head for free. I thought I could just get the Dark Elf Soo head later on and have them share a body. Well, Luts never made Dark Elf Soo into a Type 2 head, and I had unknowingly contracted a disorder I like to call GTGTLD (got to get that limited doll).

March 2007 - My GTGTLD flared up when Elfdoll re-release the orginal Catsy. This was also when I discovered that US dealers rock! Catsy come home in April.

Summer 2007 - I fell for the Nanuri head. A local fellow BJD enthusiast wanted to get a minifee body and some hands, so I jumped at the chance to get him. My first floating head.

December 2007 - My husband wanted to get a bjd as well, so we organized a split to get a body and got him a dreaming Moon, and me another event head. Around the same time, I got a Fantasy doll body for my two heads to share, but my husband liked it better than his Delf body, so I inherited the Delf body for my boys to share.

April 2008 - Denver Doll Emporium anounced that they would be getting a run of Black Catsys. And I discovered the joys of layaway. My new Catsy came home in July.

May 2008 - I had a WTB out for the 2006 Elf Lishe and someone PMed me that they had one for sale! I had just sold a bunch of things on ebay so I had the funds so I jumped at the chance to get her. Then the crazy began. Turns out the person I was buying her from was flipping dolls, and the person she was buying the doll from had not even shipped it to her yet! Things got ugly for a bit, but in the end I got the doll... and a live cockroach that hitched a ride with her from Canada. In the meantime others began having issues with this same seller... at the time I was afraid to speak up for fear of the person leaving some horrible feedback for me in return, but in the end the person got banned from the DoA... and I overpaid for my doll and learned a good lesson.
It was also around this time that SOOM began to release their monthly dolls. They were very pretty, but a little big to fit in with my other dolls, and a little beyond what I could afford to pay even on layaway

June 2008 – Sent off my Elf Lishe for a new faceup. First time doing so, and it was a little nerve wracking, but it all turned out well.
February 2009 – SOOM releases Amber. I LOVED Amber, but she was out of my budget. So I simply had to add her photos to my collection of pretty SOOM dolls I will never get.

February 27[SUP]th[/SUP] 2009 - SOOM begins to release "tiny versions of the larger dolls". I knew I would want to get "tiny Amber" when she came out.

Early December 2009 - My computer died. With the holidays coming we put off getting a new one for a while as money was tight.

January 8th 2010 - We got a new computer! I can get online again! I go straight to the Den to see what I have been missing and what to I see? SOOM had released my "tiny Amber"! And I only had two days to come up with the first payment!! Well... as stated we JUST got the new computer, so there was no way it was going to happen. I was a bit put out to say the least.

Febuary 2010 - Tax returns come in. Too late for me to get my Ai, but I had seen on in person by that point and I was on a mission! I posted a WTB for Ai, Ai parts, teenie body... or whatever would help make it happen. I got an email from someone and I ended up with a SOOM Beyla with the human head and her hooves and tail. My original plan for her was to get an Ai head and mod her hooves to be cloven, perhaps sell off the Beyla head.

April 2010 – Saw SOOM Appini. Had to get those kitty bits! I organized a layaway group order, and the bits in late June. Beyla became a cute little kitten. I also found an Ai tail in the Marketplace.

May 2010 – I found an Ai head in the Marketplace!

December 2010 – After many failed attempts to either trade my Beyla hooves for Glot ones and others backing out of selling them to me, I found a pair in the Marketplace!!

March 2011 – Sent off both my Ai and Beyla heads to Honk Kong for faceups and to get Ai’s eyes opened up a bit. The plan at the time was to have all my teenie bits be the same character, a shape changer. Human, kitty, and deer forms…. I would send all future heads to the same artist to insure consistency with the look. Thus the FrankenSOOM Project was born.

February 2012 – Looking back I regretted not having got a Hati. I rather hoped that someday a Free Choice event would come along for the teenie gems, but there was no guarantee that Hati would be offered if SOOM ever did do such an event for them, so I ordered an SO Hati to be safe. I loved the sculpt after all so much I did not horribly mind the lack of wolf parts. She was my first human doll.

April 2012 – Darn you SOOM! I am just about to make the final payment on my SO Hati, and they now have a Free Choice for Teenie Gems! I really really really want a bronze Hati with the wolf parts. There is no way I can pay off my SO Hati and start a layaway for a FC Hati in the same month! Thankfully SOOM allowed me to add the FC Hati to my order and start my layaway over.

October 2012 – Both of my Hatis come home! In the end I waited NINE MONTHS for my SO Hati, and I had a migraine when they came home, so by the time I did the opening for my FC Hati, I gave up and just tore into my SO Hati to make sure she was okay… then it was time for me to take more meds and pass out. I had the hardest time bonding with her until I found just the right wig and eyes for her. Now I love her to bits!

January 2013 – I found one of my “grail” dolls on ebay. A Kid Delf Ttori Elf girl with her original faceup! I had just turned quite the profit restoring a Windstone dragon, so I like to say my Ttori is my $20 BJD (yep, bought a stature for $20, fixed it up and had enough to buy a BJD!)

March 2013 - I found a perfect body for my Ai head in the Marketplace. And when I say perfect I mean PERFECT! My Ai head had yellowed some, as had her Glot hooves, so when I found a yellowed body with no lower legs, it was the final element I needed to complete my girl. The FrankenSOOM project was nullified since my Ai and Beyla become two separate entities. It took three years, four sellers, and a head taking a trip to Hong Kong, but she is finally complete!

July 2013 – Luts re-releases the Human version of Maska. I could not resist.

August 2013 – My husband had planned on putting a Dikadoll Rena on layaway for our anniversary, but while I was poking around the Marketplace I found a Delf Dark Elf Soo… normal skin, and original faceup.. and she was at such a good price. I said “Ooooo!” He said “Oooo what?” I told him what I had found. He said to see if the seller would do a layaway. She did. Now seven years after I decided I wanted her, I finally have my Dark Elf Soo!

 

I don't think I have the stamina to do a whole timeline just now. But here goes my answer as of now.

How many years have you been in the hobby?

I discovered BJDs in the summer of 2008. My first doll arrived at the very beginning of 2010.

What dolls have you sold?

None yet.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?

Since I haven't sold any, yes. I will also add that my first two dolls are also the two I would probably least want to part with.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?

Hmm. Well, not too much. However, when I first discovered BJDs, I really had no interest in any sculpt that looked like a child. In fact, I was quite frustrated that so many sculpts looked like young teenagers. I've completely mellowed out on that count now. Especially after seeing some Yos, MSDs, and tinies in person, I can see the appeal much more and would even consider getting one.

What dolls do you own now?

Dollmore Lisa Rubik (my first, whose just getting some mods done now)
Buddydoll Raphael half-elf
Buddydoll Mars (just the head)
Glamor Eve Emile
Supia Rosy (as a head, which stays on the glamor eve body)
Soom Chrom
A hybrid of the old Iplehouse EID female body and RS/Raurencio Studio's Adonis head
Iplehouse Emillia

For the last year and a bit, I've felt like this is the perfect household. There's variety, but it's not overwhelming.

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?

Less than one. 7 months roughly.

What dolls have you sold?

None as yet, though I thought about selling my Miro MSDs. I changed my mind though. I decided to just change the heads.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?

All of them, yes.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?

Most of my dolls are Miro or RS. I have a Magical Angel head that isn't and I will have a couple of Minimee bodies soon, but mostly that's what I've been collecting Miro and RS.

What dolls do you own now?

2 SD sized Miro Dolls, both female. 2 slim MSD sized Miro dolls, male and female. 2 slim MSD RS females. I have a white skinned SD Minimee body on lay-a-way for MA Kelly. I'm almost done with that. I have a small busted SD NS Miro body and another NS Minimee project body that I am going to be doing a lay-a-way for. The Miro body is likely getting a much coveted RS Dai head and maybe different hands as soon as I can figure out which ones to get. The other one is a project body for a boy doll head way down the road, but I haven't even decided which one as yet. Down the road also I still want to get two new heads for the MSD bodies. I am not happy with the Miro ones I have now. I still want the Dollmore heads I had in mind in the first place. I've never quite let go of that idea.

Once I am done getting those bodies and the heads for them that will be 9 dolls all total and I will likely be done unless Miro does a few more heads and I find one I like. I wouldn't mind a deep purple boy doll to go with my green and my blue girls, a male doll that color would complete my set of those bright colorful dolls, but I am not going to go there unless they release a new head I like. 9-10 dolls is probably as many BJD's as I'd ever want to own. That's more than enough for me to have a nice collection of both MSD and SD sized dolls and any more than that I just don't have room or money for anyway even with my BJD habit being all about the low end dolls, and used dolls. I've done a lot of damage this year just getting what I have, even with used and low end stuff. I never meant to get this many. I just got um, a little enthusiastic? (blush)

I mean to stop here pretty soon so I can concentrate more on giving them all face ups and making stuff for them to wear. Kelly will finally get his body soon and I mean to have the Dai head if possible. But the other SD boy doll head and the two Dollmore heads that's next year and it will be a lot more spaced out than what I have been doing so far. I'm done with lay-a-ways after I get the ones I have going now done. I meant to stop with Kelly's body this year and I just didn't. The lure of cheap bodies for projects I wanted to do down the road was just too great. :P I feel like I've been doing perpetual payments since March. I haven't, not quite, but I'll definitely need to give my wallet a break for a while before I go after the other heads I want. The only head I want before the end of the year is my Dai and even then I'm not absolutely 100% sure I will have her this year. I'm going to try to get her for Christmas, but it will actually depend upon how much cash I have around then. She just might have to wait till next year too...

 

This is a great topic I just hope I can remember it all :3

In summer of 2010: I found out about bjd's from youtube and decided that I needed one for my birthday.
in December of 2010 I got my Bobobie march. but soon after that I wanted another doll. since I was newb in this hobby I didnt know all the coompanies and didnt do my research so I thought volks soom and bobobie were the only companies.
spring of 2011I got my bobobie pixie and had those two for about a six monthes till I orderd another rs doll yuo.
I forgot to mention during summer of 2010 I started making video on youtube.
by winter I had my rs yuo and bbb charisma.
in march 2012 I got my first human doll a RS li momo.
On october 30th My dikadolls lingri and maria arrived for my birthday present.
During the winter I than deleted my youtube channel bc I thought i would start over and remake my videos. (im still working on it
In June 2013 I completed my on going project aod heidi Bambi.
In summer of 2013 I got my soom dia Roland.
Just recently I purchased a Dollshe bernard

I still have My bobobie Pixie and my RS li
I have sold my bbb march, charisma,Aod heidi and rs yuo

My style has drastically changed (I think)
In th beggining i only had rs and bbb dolls now i have many a diverse assortment of dolls ^_^

currenty i have bbb pixie, rs li, dikadoll lingri, soom dia, and one doll on the way.

 

OH! MY BJD JOURNEY!!! I LOVE THIS! Awesome Thread topic QueenObvious!


Lets See... Where do I begin..... Oh! I Know! Anime Vegas 2006? 2005? There i am just walking around looking at stuff. And Then SHE walked by...... I have no idea who this girl is now but I remember I fallowed her like a creepy stalker for more than an hour. I didn't even want to talk to her. I just wanted to see more of what she was carrying. The most beautiful thing in the world. A doll the likes i'd never seen before. She finally noticed me not very stealthily fallowing her. We talked for a Long time. Her doll was a Mini Fee Lishe. A Tan Special. I Loved It. I'll Never forget it. And That was the start of my Super Secret Shameful Hobby! YAY!!!

It wouldn't be for another...... 6/7 years that I get my first doll. And even Thats pretty special. Again its all thanks to Anime Vegas (the local Anime Convention) Again! Its 2010 now and there's the fist BJD panel ever there! I had to go! Of course I was there with a friend. He went with and along the way realized how important and special this hobby was to me. He was also scandalized i'd hid it from him all these years. But then 2 weeks before Christmas 2010 he hands me an envelope and says "You have to get the rest by Christmas." I had no idea what he meant! In that envelope was $400 and a picture. A Picture of the Luts Soony. The doll i'd been dreaming about since that fateful day in 2006. I almost had an Asthma attack! But I can tell you I didn't sleep for those 2 weeks coming up with the other $300 to get my girl. Then on Christmas Eve we ordered her. Thats another funny story to! There I am standing outside the comic store he worked at trying t place this order on my Iphone since I couldn't get internet on the computer inside. And i'm having a panic attack. Everything was ON SALE!!! I got Soni at 20% off and all the suplies that went with taking care of a doll. Its made extra funny cause a friend walked into the store and all I heard was "Dude! Your girls gonna pass out!" as i pressed the Submit Order button. He and I are not dating, and never have, but until this day everyone still refers to him as my doll baby daddy. And he's decided that All BJD owners are crazy and that DoA must be like the stone masons. Our Super Secret Club where we need matching robes and membership signet rings. And that we obviously only meet under the cover of darkness.

After Soni it was just a down hill slide into maddness he claims.

And Technically my Very First doll was an Obitsu.

27cm Obitsu soft bust girl - Azuza. I bought her for myself just after that fateful convention as a birthday present to myself. My birthdays in November.

Luts Delf Soony - Soni Yukimi and with her the Luts Delf 2010 - Winter Event Head - Shae Fugiwara. She arrived on Valentines day! Really! She did! I was so happy. I had her box for 3 hours before i worked up the nerve to open it. I was all freaked out. I mean. I had dreamed and wanted her for so long! What if i had built her up in my mind? What if she wasn't all that i dreamed and wanted her to be? But she was. She was sooo beautiful...

Then was Luts Kid Delf Maska Limited Elf Ver. - Kasam Maeda. I was Supposed to be saving for the Shiwoo I wanted to be Sonis twin brother.... But Kasam was a Limited MSd that shocked air from my lungs he was so beautiful. I HAD to have him.

By Then I had FINALLY gotten into DoA. I mean it only took 2 years before someone would sent me and invite. and none of the mods ever got back to me when i was emailing them about trying to join. There i discovered the MarketPlace.... a truly dangerous place. These I got sporadically around my other luts orders.

I Got:
Luts Regen Head w/ F-Doll Type 1 Body - Antaros Tolena
Luts Delf 2009 - Winter Event Head - Dorian Zarale
D.i.M Minimee Head - the 10th Doctor Who - David Tennant
Luts Kid Delf 2010 Summer Event Doll - Aria Sonata
Soom Epidos Unikenta Body
Luts Delf 2011 Winter Event Head w/ F-Doll Type 2 Body - Kael Ayel
Luts Delf Lishe - Lishe Saito
Luts Senior Delf 2013 Summer Event Head - Not Named Yet
Luts Delf Miyu Head - Miyu Shinkei

I also discovered GO's on here and Thats got it's own Dangers

D.i.M Minimee Head - the 4th Doctor Who - Tom Baker
D.i.M Minimee Head - Doctor Who Companion - Billie Piper/Rose Tyler
D.i.M Minimee Head - Avengers/Loki - Tom Hiddleston x2


Luts Delf Lu-Wen - Lu-Wen Hasegawa - This one was murder to get. Luts was discontinuing the delf line Literally the day I went to order him he was phased out. I cried and desperately emailed Luts. Begging them to stock just 1 for me! Luckily they did. But my bad luck started there. My bank thought it was fraud when I ordered him. They locked down my account! I had to call Korea! Call! It was $1 a minute. and they put me on hold..... for so long. I wanted to cry. Then it took my bank a week! a week to decided I wasn't lying and reopen my account. But by now to complete my order I had to wire transfer the payment. It was $20 to transfer the money Into their account and chase charged me $50 to wire Out. But he came! I'm pretty sure theirs a youtube video of me crying over his box the day he came.

Luts Delf Shiwoo - Shinwa Yukimi

Luts Delf 2012 Summer Event Head - Kumori Kyousuke

Luts Kid Delf Yuz - Yuz Kyousuke and Luts Kid Delf 2012 Winter Event Doll - Elena Tolena

Luts Kid Delf Moon Lit Lolly Limited - Lolly Zarale

Luts Kid Delf 2013 Summer Event Head - Mikey Gejelh

Bobobie Mei - Luna Ikeda

Hujoo Freya - Katelyn (Katey-Kitty)



Got to Go! But I will come back to update more story later!!!

 

Although I am sorta new to the hobby, I suppose I can put up my log here.

Approximately between late 2010 and early 2011: I started watching Rozen Maiden in order to catch up with my other anime club pals. There, I started my hobby after discovering the Volks Rozen Maiden dolls. I originally wanted Suigintou, but since she is sold out, I gave up and walked away from it until I found the FCS system. My mother said she will buy me one if I improve my grades. I wanted to see how the dolls looked like in real person, so while my mother arranged a trip to Kyoto, she also took me to Tenshi no Sato to see if I really want them. I decided and pledged to work hard for my next year, and get my doll.

2012 summer: I finally proved my parents I got better grades, and convinced my father to pay for the doll. So, my mother arranged another lovely trip to Kyoto, and went to Tenshi no Sato to order my first doll, SDGr F-31 named Charles. Unfortunately, I had to get him until next spring because I couldn't go back this winter to pick him up because I had SAT studies!

2012 October: I got a A on a test, and my mother decided to take me to the Taiwanese Volks retailer, Wingmax, and bought a new outfit for Charles in case he gets bored of his first outfit.

2012 December 31st: My mother decided to ask me for my birthday present, and I asked her to buy a Dollfie Dream. Since Dollfie Dreams were cheaper than Super Dollfies, my mother agreed and payed for everything for me. She even asked my relatives from Japan who were coming near my birthday to bring all the dolly tools to Taiwan! So I was happy.

2013 January around my 24th (My birthday): Finally, I got my second doll, a customized DDH-03 named Hizuru! I was so happy to get my birthday present. But sadly, it meant SATs were around the way. I immediately started taking photos of her, and putting them up on the web, and sent them to Volks USA to put it up on their blog.

2013 February: My friend got into some depression, and I coaxed her into coming to a local anime con with me. I brought Hizuru that day, and I found a lovely set of clothing for Hizuru, a black lolita inspired dress and some socks and a ring!

2013 around April I think: Got all my studies done, school is almost over, so I went back to Japan for a quick spring break and seeing my grandmother. Finally, I get to meet my very first doll, my SDGr boy Charles! I was so relieved to wait for almost a year, and immediately took photos and whatnot, and putting them on the web and sending them to Volks USA too. Also, this time was my first time visiting Tenshi no Mado, the Harajuku Volks store strongly dedicated for SDs, no DDs allowed. I took whole tons of photos there. And also visited the Volks store in Shinjuku while I waited for my relative to come eat dinner with me and my mother. I also bought new socks for Charles, as well as fresh new underwear and cute shoes for Hizuru.

2013 August: Went back to Japan again for summer vacation. I made a huge Tokyo runaround with my cousin. This time, I went to Tenshi no Mado again, took more pics. And I also went to the Volks Akihabara showroom, and that store clerk there was super nice; he showed me where all the stuff were. I also took pics there too. Finally, I went to Tokyo Disneyland, left my dolls in my locker, and took photos. After coming home from vacation, I pasted all the doll photos into my Disneyland photos.

That is really all for now, and my future plans are:

This December, it seems like I will be heading to the 30th Dolls Party which will be held at Tokyo, as well as the special Volks 40th anniversary event too.

For future dolls, I am hoping to get a FCS SD13 girl, and if Volks ever sell a animetic male 1/3 doll, I will get that too.

For dolls I own...

My very first doll SDGr boy Charles, and my second one DD Hizuru. They remain happily at my side.

I will update when time comes.

 

Well, I am relatively new to the Hobby. I started about two and a half years ago (?). I looked for alternatives for 20 cm-Breyer-modelhorse-rider dolls. Means, jointed dolls. And BANG! Stumbled right into BJDs. At first I did not understand that these dolls are ususally, in adult form, much taller than 20 cm. I started to love looking at them, then I discovered their price tags. And my reaction was "Oh noo!". Then I figured out how to make it happen by selling a good bit of the modelhorse stuff. My first doll was a 65 cm-Granado guy. But I continued dreaming of a big man from Iplehouse. Thus I traded the Granado for an EID. Then I felt that he was feeling quite lonely and needed a girlfriend...they had a little girl...In the meantime I felt that the big man was just too big to really play with. I sold him and got myself a smaller version of him - my beloved SID man. It was not before him that I found a clear direction for a character concept. I want to dollify more or less (as far as I can do it) some of the characters from the Avengers. Maybe this is a bit boring, but I am very happy with this.

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?
4 years. I joined at the very beginning of 2009, and bought my first doll in March 2009 (although she didn't arrive home for another nine months due to a long layaway and some shipping delays).

What dolls have you sold?
I've sold my Pipos Cheshire, my Soom Bygg head and my Pipos Charlotte and Demon heads. I've also sold off numerous fantasy parts, but don't really count those as 'dolls' I eventually plan on buying another Pipos Cheshire (ideally whenever Pipos next offers Cheshire, Bao and Dali sculpts all in grey skin, as the characters are a trio and my reason for selling Cheshire was that I just couldn't bond with him on his own).

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Yep, I still own my very first (Soom Cuprit), and all of my first year purchases (Chrom, Cass, Galena, Ai and Chalco).

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
Nope. I've stuck with Soom's dolls the whole time, and wouldn't change them for anything. I adore Soom's facial sculpts, and their fantasy parts and fantasy resin colours are just the icing on the cake.

What dolls do you own now?
In order of company release (as I can't entirely remember when I bought some of my floating heads):

2008
JUL - Soom MD Bix
2009
JAN - Soom MD Amber
MAR - Soom MD Cuprit
MAY - Soom MD Chrom
JUL - Soom MD Cass
NOV - Soom MD Galena (grey skin)
DEC - Soom MD Ai
DEC - Soom MD R. Ai
2010
JAN - Soom MD Chalco (brown tan skin)
MAR - Soom MD Shonki (second chance draw)
OCT - Soom MD Nephelin
2011
JUL - Soom MD Migma (light violet)
OCT - Soom FC Sard (normal skin)
OCT - Soom FC Heliot (bronze skin)
NOV - Soom MD Clozel
NOV - Soom SO Alex
2012
JAN - Soom FC Topaz (bronze skin)
JAN - Soom FC Beryl (normal skin)
FEB - Soom FL Cylin
APR - Soom FC Hati (normal skin)
APR - Soom FC Skoll (normal skin)
MAY - Soom FC Delilah (brown tan skin)
MAY - Soom FC Marguerite (brown tan skin)
DEC - Soom MD Benmore
2013
MAY - Soom MD Sweet Witch (grey skin)
NOV - Soom FC Breccia (bronze skin)
NOV - Soom FC Coquina (normal skin)
NOV - Soom FC Amphibel (cream white skin)

This list just reflects the heads I own. Most of them share bodies. I also have a boatload of fantasy parts, but I won't list those since I don't really count them as 'dolls'.

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?

Since 2011, at least thats when I got my first doll. I have been interested in them since 2009

What dolls have you sold?

None yet, I almost sold my Kirill but I just couldn't let him go. I'll be selling a lot of his current items when I replace them with new ones however.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?

Yes. I only have two, but they are both in my possession.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?

I noticed that I have shied away from certain companies and have gotten braver in the sense of making a huge project out of a doll. I used to want a dollmore victor lou for his third eye, even though I didn't really like the sculpt. But now I've chosen a better sculpt for the character, and will put the eye in myself (or commission it)

What dolls do you own now?

Vega: DOC Kirill (March 2011)

Zen: Mecha Angel-Elf Sabik (November 2013)

I'm currently saving for a DOC Tender Zen, which I should be able to buy in the next 2-3 weeks

 

2006 - I found BJDs by searching for a car part. I can't remember what doll I saw first but it was a picture that came up on a Google image search. I began to look through all the different dolls and research more into the subject. I try to buy a Gretel from the market place here but fail. Eventually I found Dollzone and fell in love with both the Hid and Mo sculpts. After some contemplation I decide that the Hid 'spoke' to me far more and I could see a lot of potential and personality in the sculpt. I placed an order for him with the money I'd saved up; the wait was long and I tracked him often.

2007 - Ces came home and he was everything I'd hoped he'd be and more. I couldn't believe how heavy he was!

2009 - I see the Dollzone event baby after the event finishes and feel pretty sad about it.

2011 - I decided to get Ces a girlfriend. Naturally I chose the Mo sculpt: the second version, which had come out by then. I was concerned that she would look like a boy since I'd ordered the default face-up for her.

2012 - Seraphine arrived and I needn't have worried, she was the perfect little lady from the first moment I opened the box. I restrung Cesavier for the first time with new elastic and everything went better than expected.

2012 - I find a Dollzone event baby on Ebay from a seller in England. I then enter into a bidding battle with another potential buyer and end up parting with £70. Tristan arrives on Christmas eve and Cesavier and Seraphine become a complete little family.

2013 - I want a big brother for Ces and to venture into the world of the 70cms. Initially I plan on buying a Dollzone Yuu which looks like an older version of Ces, but I'm won over instead by the Resinsoul Long's subtle smirk. Nikovelli arrives and I begin my first mod job and face-up.

Seraphine turns 1 year old and I find an instock Mo B limited SD head in stock from a local dealer. It turns up not long after and is promptly put on a 65cm Dollzone body. This becomes Fox (formerly known as Leverence), Seraphine's big brother.

I decide I want a 70cm girl to be Fox's girlfriend as I become a little enamoured with the idea of a taller girl/shorter boy couple. My Blossom-Doll Hyacinth head arrives and is named Chaste after receiving a home-made face-up I'm particularly proud of. After a long talk with a friend he informs me that he's a boy. I decide that one day I'll get him a Doll Chateu body.

Cesavier gets his face-up re-done when I send him off for the first commission I've ever placed that requires sending a doll to someone else.

I remember attempting to buy the Gretel and come across one in stock in America. I place an order and soon enough Gretel arrives at home.

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?
It's been over 8 years now.

What dolls have you sold?
I sold a BBB Tony, a BBB Sprite, and a Unidoll. I also have some other dolls/doll parts that I have set aside to try and sell, but haven't gotten around to yet.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Yes I do! I still have my first doll, Hikaru. He's an AR LF Present Jade ver 1. I also have my second doll, but I want to switch genders, so I need to get her a new girl body. I have my third doll's head on a different body in order to create a new character. It's not very straightforward with all the hybridizing. For instance my third doll's body ended up going to a later head.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
I've gotten pickier about what I want. I still lean more heavily to the stylized sculpts (my fan dolls excepted -- they are all MNMs). It's still a very mixed group in terms of different companies and sculpts, but I feel like now they all look better together and that I haven't just settled for any of them.

What dolls do you own now?
MNM David Tennant (10th Doctor)
MNM Tom Baker (4th Doctor)
MNM John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness)
DZ Mr Bunny (Edward)
DD/Obitsu hybrid using Obitsu 60cm body + 55cm legs (Kasumi)
DD/Obitsu hybrid using Obitsu 60cm body (Alex)
Volks SD13 Megu head/CH old ver girl body (Cait)
Volks Minoru Kamimura head (he's on a temp body right now) (Donncha)
Ninodoll Bada head/Volks SD girl body (Mimiko)
Volks SD Sara (Charlotte)
Volks Myu (Anna)
Kid Delf Ani (Pheobe)
AR LF Present Jade ver 1 (Hikaru)
Leeke Mikhaila Pure Rose skin (Cinnamon)
Leeke Fly Mikhaila WS (Tempest)
Cutie Delf Cory (Emmy)
SoulDoll Paris/Serendipity 58cm boy body (Qaidin)

ETA: The above dolls listed are not ones that I have set aside for sale. I didn't include those, since I've emotionally detached from them and don't really consider them part of my doll family anymore.

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?
Since 2007?

What dolls have you sold?
Many... i can't remember the order (or all of them) so by company it is:
Migidoll : Miho, Vampire Miho
LUTS: SSDF Regen, Delf El, KD Litchi, SSDF Man08, SDF Howl, SDF Frey, SDF Cian, SDF Ethan, SDF Wintery
Crobidoll: M-line YS, R-Line Yeon-Ho
Dollzone: Yuu (bought him again in a different skin tone)
Volks: SD13 F-26, SD13 Heath, DWC Head
Soom: MD Glati, MD Amber, MD Io
Dollmore: Model Kyle Reese
Dollshe: OE Saint (2010 version)
DOD: DOI Luke
Elfdoll (can't remember the sculpt)
I.O.S: Sezz, M
Supiadoll: Hael
Domuya: Faith
Distant Memory: Peroth
Aidolls: (can't remember the sculpt)
Switch Ryun (old type)
Souldoll: Star

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Yep. I still have my 1st 2 dolls. Technically, I sold my 1st doll because I wanted the same sculpt but NS. Not sure it counts since I bought the same dolls even before I sold it. I still have my SA Saint v1, he was my 2nd doll.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
Definitely. I'm moving to more realistic/odd looking sculpts. I used to like Luts a lot, not anymore.

What dolls do you own now?
Dollzone Yuu
Dollshe SA Saint v1
Dollshe OE Saint (2012)
Dollshe IM Hound tan
Soom Dia boy
Soom Dia boy tan
Iplehouse Eric RS
Switch Taeheo
Switch Ryun:R
Limhwa Half Elf
Elfdoll Vivien SpiritDoll Hybrid
Spiritdoll Atropa
Mystic Kids Milo
Ringdoll Kirin
Crobidoll Zion
Volks SD17 Claude Prince
Souldoll Ize
Doll Chateau Christina boy

Incoming:
Dollshe David Kuncci
Ringdoll Edward

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?
I bought my first doll in 2010, so I would say that was my official commitment to the hobby.

What dolls have you sold?
A Pipos Cheshire. I also sold a Soom Obsidius head.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Yep! I still have the first doll I bought (DS Saint-it took over a year for Dollshe to get to my order) and the first doll that arrived to me (Soom Amber from the MP).

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
Maybe a little, but I've always preferred SD males.

What dolls do you own now?
Amber |Soom Amber Pure Spirit|
Astraeus |Soom Heliot God Master|
Aubrey |Soom Dia ♂|
Haru |Soom Chrom Bane of Wood|
Peter |Soom Monzo Stone Heart|
Riley |Migidoll Miho|
Chance |Migidoll Vampire Miho|
Cameron |Migidoll Cynical Ryu|
Michael |Dollshe Saint| x2
Aberdeen |Latidoll Largo|

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?
A little over 7 years.

What dolls have you sold?
K-Doll Kill_U head w/ Domuya body
DIM Aleksei
Dollzone Celine
Dream of Doll Homme Kirill
Pixydoll Mano head w/ Volks body
SoNyeonGi Javi head
SoNyeonGi Hyul head
Volks Schulze
Volks Yori
Volks SDGr Okita Souji
Volks Ryu

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Nope. My current dolls are something like my 11th & 13th-16th ones I've bought.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
The aesthetic I like I feel is still mostly the same, maybe refined a little, but I started out with MSD size boys only and I tend to favor SD girls now. I used to look at & collect from several companies before and now am mainly Volks focused. I recently bought my first pet bjd, something I thought I'd never do.

What dolls do you own now?
Volks Bianka
Volks Rose
Volks Hewitt 3rd
Volks YoSD Megu
Aileen Doll Cathy

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?
Four years.

What dolls have you sold?
A ChicLine Ineffa, and I have a ChicLine Rou still up for sale.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Yes. My first doll is still my favorite and most expensive.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
I've collected so few dolls that it's hard to say the my general taste in them has changed, but I'd say overall no. My favorite company is still the same as when I started, for instance.

What dolls do you own now?
BlueFairy TF Jasmine, FDoll Tiny Amber, FDoll Tiny Rowan, 5StarDoll Mini Chu, and technically Fairyland CL Rou (though he's on sale, so I don't really count him) .

-----

I first saw and learned of BJDs through anime conventions, seeing owners with their dolls and a couple booths with dolls on display. At first, honestly, they were creepy to me and uncanny valley. But as I got used to them and saw more, that seemed to fade away, and I can't even remember how it happened but eventually I learned more and more and got really into them. Somehow, I found DoA, started looking at every doll company under the sun, and trying to decide on what doll(s) to get myself.

December 11, 2009 - I ordered BlueFairy Tiny Fairy Jasmine head and Blossom body, disassembled. She was my first doll, and I got her for myself for Christmas, haha. I also asked my parents to buy a frilly pink DollHeart outfit and Fukubukuro bag so she'd have something to wear. I bought a wig and shoes from the MP and made her her first eyes as placeholders as well.

I was enamored with my new girl, named Dawn then, and learned to do her faceups, bought and tried a few more things for her like clothes and wigs, but I couldn't seem to find a look that did her justice. This silent frustration, as well as not wanting to keep pouring money aimlessly into new accessories, made me stop playing with her and drifting out of the hobby for a time (unintentionally) .

However, a friend of mine was also into BJDs, and when we started talking more and sharing our BJD enthusiasm, it made me want to bring her out and play with her more. Eventually, I changed her name to Dalia Dalhart (going for some cutesy doll-related puns, haha), tried more faceups and bought more clothes, and started selling things I didn't use anymore for a quasi-new-start.

January 04, 2012 - I ordered a FantasyDoll Tiny Amber girl in Light Normal Skin, and she arrived about two months later. She was practically an impulse buy; I liked her because she had a slightly slimmer, more mature figure for a tiny doll and was so cheap at only about $100.

I eventually fell in love with the ChicLine dolls, which were so unique and mature while in the size range I could handle. Fairyland wasn't selling them at that point, but after keeping close tabs on the rumors, they eventually quickly reopened CL sales for a couple months, and desperate to get them before they might be discontinued forever, I went on a frenzy selling as many of my random old merchandise and baubles I didn't need anymore, like artbooks, games, and art supplies. I scraped up most of the money I needed, and my dad, seeing my put so much effort into it, said he saw it was important to me and offered to cover the remainder.

At some point after this, my friend gave my her 5StarDoll Chu, having changed her collection and not wanting her anymore. She was originally modded into a zombie, and I thought I could find a way to work with that, so I didn't remove the mods for a long time. However, I struggled a lot with her, not able to find out how to make her truly appeal to me.

October 20, 2012 - I ordered a ChicLine Rou and Ineffa in BWS from Fairyland. When they finally arrived, I thought they were gorgeous, but as time slowly passed, I started realizing the other problems with having these dolls that had nothing to do with how beautiful and lovely the actual dolls were. They were almost impossible to shop for, their BWS made me so paranoid about yellowing that I never displayed them, and they were almost too gorgeous; I was intimidated about doing anything at all to them like faceups, tattoos, making shoddy clothes, or buying anything that didn't do them justice.

At some point much later, I finally decided that selling them was best, rather than keeping them in the basement in their boxes being too paranoid to appreciate. It's a strange problem to have, but it was a mistake I don't think I regret since if I didn't get them I'd probably still be wishing to have them or dolls like them, without realizing the problems with that XD . If I were far richer or more skilled, maybe I'd be able to handle such dolls, but not now!

March 18, 2013 - I ordered a FantasyDoll Tiny Rowan girl in Dark Tan Skin, and she arrived a few months later. I wanted a friend to pair with my other FDoll tiny, and to finally have a darker-skinned doll.

Meanwhile, I got into trying lots of new things for Dalia especially, buying new clothes, wigs, eyes. I also got pretty frustrated with my Chu zombie, and finally got rid of her mods to remake her into something new. A Dollmore hanbok that was too big for Dalia fit the Chu better since she was taller, and I decided to give her a traditional Korean concept.

Currently, I just spent a lot of money on some expensive outfits, haha, and then I go hearing about getting a big lucky chance at the dream doll I've wanted. Who knows how it'll turn out, but it's getting a bit exciting (expensive), eheheh... ^^'

3 ali

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?

- My first doll arrived somewhere between Christmas and New Year, so it's like my 5 years old anniversary is coming, yay!

What dolls have you sold?

- Unoa Lusis
& some heads and bodies, like
Minimee Ville Valo
Minifee A-line body
etc.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?

- I still have my very first doll, but i keep her in the box, disassembled. Although I've never felt the need to sell her, don't know why, I don't even plan on getting her out of the box yet anyway...

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?

- It definitely did change! Eg I never wanted to have dolls of any other size then MSD at first. Moreover, I was so sure I will never have a guy in my doll family. Now I have all sizes from yo-sd to 70 cm, and the tallest one is male(though his body is still to be bought, i'm a bit confused, we'll see). I'm also very done with the style I started with, now it's all different from what I used to like that time... It has been 5 years after all! Not that the way I style my dolls has changed, it's me who's changed and will keep changing, and so will be my dolls!

What dolls do you own now?

- Besides my very first doll, who is now disassembled, there are
Minifee Shushu head on Rosettedoll body
Bambicrony Marion tan
Elfdoll Vivien head on Spiritdoll Proud body
Dollshe Hound head (waiting for me to finally save enough for his body)

 

I'll try my hand at this one too because it looks like fun!

How many years have you been in the hobby?
I started collecting dolls in May of 2011, so about 2.5 years now, a little over. My downstairs dorm neighbor collected them so I took the plunge and got my own doll as well. I wish I'd done more research, because I ended up selling my first doll about 1.5 years later because she wasn't strung and made of vinyl. She was a 60cm Obitsu Gretel. I did love her, but I found I have a hard time bonding with dolls I don't paint myself. She got a face up (which was gorgeous) from my friend, but her constant elbow breaking habit drove me up a wall.

What dolls have you sold?
I've sold 6 dolls since I started collecting. My first, 5th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 13th. Though the 13th I actually only gave away her head, I kept her body and got a new head that became a completely different character. My first doll I sold because the character she faded out of existence and was no longer important. I also learned quickly with my second doll, whose body I sold and upgraded to a better one, that I prefer resin.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Most of them yes, except for my 1st, I still have my first few, including my favorite boy Val. He was my 4th doll but the first I really wanted. I was going to sell my 3rd doll because she didn't function at all, but then my partner hybrided her onto a different body I had laying around and now I can't let her go.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
Not really, my collection is mostly semi-realistic I think. It's not too animetic or super real. I like it that way because I don't want them to be real, I want them to be my dolls. I also have a lot of fantasy dolls along with normal dolls I guess. I also realized that a lot of my fantasy dolls are blue based for their face ups. At this point all of my dolls have a face up by me. My first resin doll is a fawn, even if it took me a while to get her a new fawn body after I sold her original one. She's a Resinsoul Ai, but her body drove me up a wall, so I sold it to get another one. She was a floating head for about a year, and it took me another several months to get her fawn legs again. They didn't fit on the new body, so I modded it to make them fit.

What dolls do you own now?

• Resinsoul Ai/Doll Family-A/Soom Beryl Hybrid - Zephyra (June 2011)
• Dollzone Chinese Dragon Girl/Dollzone Miss Kitty hybrid - Talulah (September 2011)
• Dollzone Chen - Valdor Fable (Val) (October 2011)
• DragonDoll Cheng - Mort (November 2011)
• Dollzone Sheep/Daisy Dayes Hybrid (Modded into a Unicorn) - Rose (December 2011)
• Dollzone Shoyo - Ursa (April 2012)
• Fairyland LTF Elf Chiwoo Girl - Diuris (May 2012)
• Dollzone Miss Kitty/Doll Chateau hybrid - LilyLionheart(May 2013)
• Impldoll Aldrich/Soom Chrom Hybrid - Liam (June 2013)
• Mystic Kids Miri - Jolene (August 2013)
• Soom Beyla/Fairyland LTF/Daisy Dayes hybrid - Winter Snow (October 2013)
• Dollzone Stramonium - Captain Jasmine Heronie Lovelette (December 2013)

As you see, I have a lot of hybrids. It's how I get the kind of dolls I want. Like with Lily, I loved her face, but her head just didn't function on her regular body, so I took a risk and hybrided her onto a DC MSD body. I lucked out that she works so well, even if I did have to mod the neck hole to make it fit. I'm hoping to keep my doll family like this for a while, since I somehow got the notion in my head that I have to have an even number of dolls in my collection. So the only way I can get a new one is either to sell one first, or buy two which is expensive because I prefer the SD size. Either way I'm happy with my current collection.

 

How many years have you been in the hobby?
It's been 8 years now. A friend of mine (Raouken[/B)]showed me her CP Chiwoo when we were in school together and I was hooked.

What dolls have you sold?
The first doll I got was an IH SooRi. He was beautiful, but I soon found out that white skin wasn't for me. I've also sold my CP Tanning Lishe.

Do you still own any of your first few dolls?
Yup. Aside from the two mentioned above, I have never sold a doll again.

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?
Not really. I've always been a stickler for more realistic proportions, which I why almost all of my doll are hybrids. Most of my dolls one my wishlist are dolls that are what you could call 'old skool' now, the newer molds don't really do it for me .

What dolls do you own now?

1. Elfdoll K-SS/ Domuya Flexibody
2. Volks Madoka/Dollstown 15y girl body
3. Gomidoll Iru-HS/Dollstown 7y boy body
4. Volks Sweet Dream Lucas
5. Volks Williams/ Soom Supergem
6. Distant Memory Peroth/ Volks SDGr body
7. IH Kamau
8. PukiPuki Ante.

 

How many years have you been in the hobby? Since 2006 to 2007, I'm not entirely sure when. I know I was "in" the hobby before I joined DOA.
What dolls have you sold? None!
Do you still own any of your first few dolls? Yeah. My first BJD was a Dollshe Hound, still love him to bits. I now have a Doll Chateau Agatha, and a floating Elysium Lud-N head!
Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting? Definitely. When I first got into the hobby, I was very much into the androgynous sculpts. I've shifted away from most of those sculpts it seems (I recently went through my old wish list from 2007-2008, removing at least half of them). Nowadays, I really love the muscular, chiseled boys, haha! The style of female BJDs I like hasn't changed much, although I like more mature looking girls than I used to. I'm more willing to look at less popular companies, and I definitely love unique sculpts! Like, ones that really stand out!
What dolls do you own now? Just my Dollshe Hound, Doll Chateau Agatha, and floating Elysium Lud-N head.

 

Seems appropriate to do this now, as I've been away from the hobby for about a year or two at least, I think.

How many years have you been in the hobby? -Officially since 2008 or so

What dolls have you sold?- None

Do you still own any of your first few dolls? - I have only ever owned two and I still own both

Has the style or type of doll you collect changed since you first started collecting?- moot point

What dolls do you own now? - the Dok and his little lab assistant- i.e. the two I have listed in my signature.

-
A long time ago in the early 2000's or so I cut out a picture of a special edition dollfie of some kind I found in a magazine in an article about the new hobby that was gaining attention. It was on my desk for a few years, and then was lost in the shuffle and I forgot all about it.
I don't remember how, but early on while in art school I stumbled on the hobby. The male dolls attracted my interest as they suit my aesthetic- I mostly paint and draw men. I joined denofangels and denofdemons and did an awful lot of research.

I attempted to go to a meetup in a mall, but I was snubbed as no-one recognized me in time and I had no doll with me.

After looking at a lot of companies and threads and photos I happened to see a strange body that struck my interest in a box opening thread. It was the new dollzone 72cm male body. It looked emaciated, strange, wiry and a bit gawky and again, this suited my aestetic. I loved it's strangeness. A while later, by chance, I saw a lone body being sold on the marketplace. I soon realized it was the very body that convinced me to buy a doll in the first place. I was positive because of a bit of damage on his chest.

For a long while I had a nude body with no head. Then after a long time I was able to order a head from dollzone to replace the one that had been separated from him. I made some simple clothes, bought shoes and boots and I ordered him eyes, did a simple face-up. Just basics.

A friend flew in and visited with their doll and we took many photos together with them on a magical, nerdy, atypical spring break. It saddens me that with my friend moving now even farther away, the two may never see one another again.

Eventually I knew I needed to get him some company, and ended up once again ordering a 2nd hand doll from the marketplace- a little yellowed on the arms but I have no regrets as there's a sense of destiny to the whole thing. The little lab assistant has good clothes, but Dok does not.

For a long time due to many reasons they've gone untouched and mostly stayed in their boxes. Due to a random dream I've decided to order the Dok some clothes and to get the two of them a couch. I'm hoping that they'll have a little bit of space in my new room layout that I'm trying to pull off (fixing up a corner of my for studio space for painting ect). I'd like to have them both look presentable and be able to be out and on display.

I doubt that I'll be able to ever be a real member of this hobby. I'm a little to busy, too reclusive, too odd and too shy. Still. it's good to know there's a marketplace out here and other people wandering around with the same interests. Still, whenever I go up to people at cons I sell at who have dolls, they seem guarded and unfriendly. So it's a little lonely. I wish I had more friends in the hobby.
That's the journey so far.

Oh well. At least I can enjoy the serene aesthetic company of these two.