2011 - the year that was

I planned at the start of year to do a few things -

1. Pay off my still nameless SM Shoshon
2. At some point buy Sol Invictus, a MNF Luka - possibly during the mid-year event at Fairyland
3. Buy an F65 body for Arawn - after I see some user pics of Delf heads on F65s. If they don't look as good as I imagine they will, he will get a F70 body.
4. My LTF bodies for Hades, Poseidon and Zeus.
5. Buy a RealPuki body for Veja.

So, I completed 1-4 of this... Pallus was paid for and received after a kerfuffle with SOOM which involved me getting an Ender; Sol was purchased and received; Arawn got his F70 body after investigating the look of Feeple/Delf heads on F65s; and I found and purchased three LTF bodies and got my Horrible Three - Hades, Poseidon and Zeus completed.

I didn't manage to find a body for Veja, I tried several times when I spotted RealPukis for sale, but each time someone was simply luckier than me.

For the first time we had a few leave in 2011 - Argus, my Angelheim Luka and Li Na, my Dollzone Dragon.

But as usual, there was a few dolls who turned up who weren't as expected...

1. Fea, a Luts Delf Elf Lishe;
2. Emmeline, a Pipos Alice Jr;
3. Mithras, a Tan Chicline Fabilis;
4. Diana, a Chicline Lishe; and
5. Thyra, a Pink Pipos Baby Alice

I completed a year of a Doll a Day - a photo challenge without missing a day or having to take more photos. I have said that I will continue it into 2012, as well as committing to creating a mosaic of 4 each week of my favourite photos of the week. 

I have started to buy two more SOOMs, including the last MD. 

1. Vesna - the Clozel and
2. Rasmus - the Arkose

I have not really made any plans so far... although there are three things on the list so far...

But I managed to complete another year - 2011.

Blog Challenge 23: Favourite part of the hobby

There are a few things I really like about this hobby - I love the ability to customise dolls as much as you want so that your doll can look completely different to someone else's even when you really own exactly the same one. Even within collections I find that I can do this as well.

I like the people you meet - well, the ones who don't suffer from problems of elitism and an over abundance of drama. I have met lovely people both in person at doll meets as well as through forums like DoA and on flickr - I love exchanging comments and receiving comments on photos and having discussions about dolls.

I also like the variety within this hobby - there are so many different companies and sculpts and sizes that it truly is a hobby that can be enjoyed by young and old and by completely different people since the number of companies and sculpts allow all people to chose the dolls they want and they don't have to collect the same thing as anyone else if they don't want to.

Blog Challenge 22: Dislike part of the hobby?

My pet peeve in this hobby is the elitism. I don't understand why people will spend the ridiculous amounts of money to buy Volks, simply because of its brand and I don't understand the importance of price in the desirability of the doll.

I remember my second meet up - the first was different, mainly because it was presided over by a delightful woman named Carol who loved all dolls regardless and had a simple irreverence for cost or price or stuff like that. My second meet up had been organised by LK and me because we wanted to meet some of the doll lovers around. And we need meet some nice people, but at the same time we met some that I was not all that impressed with.

At the time I had one doll - Marcheline, who is of course a DollCatch Stella, a company which went out of business less than a year after I purchased her. LK had three dolls - Sabine, her Goodreau; Callisto, her Elfdoll Catsy (who wasn't sold at the time) and Minu, her RS Mei.

The meet up was held at a place called Madam Brussels' which wasn't all that big. Some of the doll owners placed their dolls at one end of the table and they sat there (with their owners standing in front of them) for the entirety of the meet. When I walked around to see the dolls I went down the end and was introduced to some of the dolls.

It was something like this: - this is a _____ its head is worth $400 and is REALLY rare. This is a _____ its worth this much... etc etc. (ironically the most expensive head was released later and that gave me a bit of satisfaction, I admit.) - but then none of those people asked what my doll was, just looked at Marcheline like she was a cheap piece of crap. The ironic thing is although Marcheline was probably one of the cheapest dolls on the table that day, I doubt any of the people there would have recognised her unless I told them.

Another time I came up against this was at another meet that LK and I organised in which we said before hand that we didn't mind if people touched our dolls - picked them up etc. We were attacked by another member and their partner for daring to suggest that people would be allowed to touch THEIR expensive dolls. It made me a bit sick to be honest.  They seemed to be suggesting members of the hobby would mistreat their rare expensive dolls... etc etc.

There have been other times with people who hold onto their dolls with death grips and don't let anyone touch them etc etc. I honestly think that those who spend as much as many in this hobby on dolls would be caring enough to treat my dolls with the respect that I would show theirs. I have no problems if they say "Oh, I just wanted to have a look, can I?" - I don't mind them taking my doll up the other end of the table to compare them to the one they already have.

Often I ask people to have a look at my collection and if there is something there they want to see, I will bring them along - what's the point of having these dolls if you don't let people look and compare and consider them?

But yeah, that's the thing that I most dislike about the hobby.

Blog Challenge 21: Fave Doll Scale Prop

This is fairly ironic - even though I have a few props that are doll scale, I don't actually have a favourite. I'm not much for using props in photos, although I know eventually I should attempt to get better at it to make the photos more interesting.

I do have some props - mostly for the pukifee (as usual!) - mostly rement and similar things, some toys etc. Vulcan does have a sword, but that is one of the only MSD and larger sized props that I have - mainly because props that large are really hard to store, even more than the dolls themselves.

But yeah... no favourite props.

New Arrivals

So there was a slight pause in the blog challenge - but for the best possible reason... I got an uber box today which contained an F70 Riff, whose body would complete Arawn and a small box which contained Thyra, Angelu's twin.

And here they are!

I'm not sure about Arawn's wig - I think it's a bit too girly, so I will be having a look to see what is around!

Blog Challenge 20: Love but not owned?

There is only one doll this could be - the SOOM SuperGem Carnel.

This is for several reasons - the Carnel was released when SOOM was still creating basic Super Gems - this didn't last long and the Carnel was the first to be pulled down along with one of the female sculpts (I believe it was the Olivine).

There has been some question as to whether or not there were any Carnel's sold during the time that they were actually there for sale. In fact I have google searched and searched flickr and DoA and I've never seen a single owner pic of the Super Gem Carnel.

So I don't think I'd ever manage to get a Super Gem Carnel, unless SOOM suddenly starts selling them again or the unthinkable happens and one appears on the MP. But I don't think it will ever happen.

Blog Challenge 19: Dream Doll

Does anyone not know this??

So I don't exactly have a dream/grail doll as such, mine is much more of a grail sculpt. It just happens to be the Lishe as sculpted in her variety of forms by the sculpting company CP - and sold either by Luts or Fairyland. I love the smile and the way that the Lishe's expression can change with a tilt of the head.

I do like how a wig and a pair of eyes and a face up can completely change the way that a Lishe can look and that you then have to then tell people that they are essentially the same doll. I also like the sizes, although I wouldn't mind a few more... smaller ;)

But yeah... that's my dream sculpt.

Update:

1) Why do you like BJDs?
2) Do you own any? If so how many and if not, do you have any plans to at the moment?
3) Post a picture of all your dolls!
4) What/who was the first BJD you ever owned? Do you still own them? (Who is your planned first?)
5) What/who was the very first BJD you saw?
6) Biggest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
7) Smallest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
8) What is your favourite size?
9) What is your least favourite size?
10) Post a picture of a doll and an animal!
11) What do your friends think of your dolls/dolls in general?
12) Dollie shoes! Show us how many you have!
13) Have you ever had a floating head? What about a headless body? (What do you think you would do if you had either?)
14) What do your family think of your dolls?
15) Can any of your crew stand on their heads? (Show us~)
16) What is your favourite item of dollie clothing?
17) Do you have a favourite company?
18) A least favourite company?
19) What is your dream doll?
20) One doll you love, but will never (probably) buy?
21) What’s your favourite doll scale prop?
22) Is there a part of the BJD hobby that you dislike?
23) What about your favourite part of the hobby?
24) Have you ever modded a doll? (Do you think that you would?)
25) Done your own faceups? (Again, do you think you’d do that?)
26) Do you have a favourite out of your own dolls? (Don’t worry, we won’t tell the others ;D)
27) Post a crazy/silly pose!
28) Post a picture of your dolls exploring the outside world!
29) Have you ever been to a doll meetup? Did you enjoy it/do you plan to go to one in the future? 

30) a Surprise!

Blog Challenge 18: Least fave company?

And no... its not SOOM, I just needed Magnus is a photo...

I don't like to classify any doll companies as "least favourite" although I am not massive fond of a lot of them - and I don't mean any offence to any one who does like these companies.

I am not a fan of Volks - their dolls have very wide faces and they don't appeal to me at all. I am not a fan of faces with small eyes - there are some faces sculpted by Dollzone which I don't particularly like. But then there are a number of faces sculpted by SOOM that look like someone has slapped them in the face with a wet fish before giving them a large dose of botox.

Some dolls have strange bodies - while I quite like the possibility of ShinyDolls, the missing part of the back of their thighs are just too icky.

I also really dislike faces that look too much like babies - like LTF Bisous... those faces given me the shakes, as do those with their eyes too far apart like the PKF/LTF Icis and Flora.

I don't like the overly bulky body or humanoid faces that make up the Iplehouse lines (or at least, not anymore... my taste has matured).

I suppose the majority of my dislike of companies is more in the style and construction of their sculpts rather than the company itself.

Blog Challenge 17: Favourite Company?

I think my favourite company is fairly obvious to anyone who knows much about my collection and that is the dolls made by the sculpting company Cerberus Project, sold under the company Fairyland and of course, the Luts Delfs.

It's not the skill in the construction that makes me like them so much, although that it one massive thing that I like about them - it's the style of the faces especially in the older sculpts - my favourites of course being the Lishe, the El and the Breakaway. But then I also like the fun of the Pukifee and RealPuki, the attention to detail that comes with the A-lines, the length of the F70's legs and the leggy style that it has. I love the time it took them to create the F65 and the fact that Fairyland had to tell them off for an event item that they refused to sell (they made CP do it again!)

I could go on forever... but I think I'll stop there...

Blog Challenge 16: clothing

This is super hard - I have so many different pieces of clothes that could be within my favourite pile. So I couldn't justifiably pick a particular favourite - so I will share some of my favourite outfits.

1. The fullset outfits - Violet's; Angelu's; Magnus'; Pallus'; Mithras'; Diana's - all the detail, the ruffles the extras and the tiny pleats on the front of Angelu's dress.
2. the outfits owned by the Pukifee - Isis' evil t-shirts; Ma'at's colour outfits; tiny detailed dresses and t-shirts and pants. (especially the tiny knits... alexisbears and the others are geniuses!)
3. The jeans made by Sharon in Spain (dambuster01 on flickr) that are worn by my LTF boys: Icarus, Ares, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus.
4. The cheeky corset from Peppermint Circus that belongs to Bellona Lua.
5. The variety of items that I have from Diverse Designs - the punk outfits; little dresses, skull t-shirts, and the rocker t-shirts that Arawn will wear....

So... while this isn't all of my outfits... I'm sure you can see why I can't seem to pick!

Blog Challenge 15: Stand up!

So today's question is whether or not they can stand on their heads... well, I had to pick someone unafraid to look completely silly in a photograph (and yes, that is a VERY hard thing in this household.) Ares volunteered, so here he is!

Pax and Nox

I have just seen the photos of Pax and Nox post face up!!! Andrea has done a fantastic job - I can't wait to see them on a body with their outfits, wigs and eyes!

Blog Challenge 14: Family's thoughts?

My family accepts that I collect dolls - my parents despair of the money I spend and the space it takes up; and whether or not they're insured. They except that I'm old enough to make my own decisions- it might have been different had I been a lot younger when I started collecting. But then I have always had dolls and a lot of them, and they have never been my only collection or user of money.

My brothers accept it to - probably think I'm a little strange, but then one of my older brothers has more than one car - he has 2, a motorbike, a parts car and a couple of engines... ;) (My father has also had a number of cars, the most we had at any point at our place was about 9). While my younger brother doesn't collect things, he is strange in his own way, so my dolls don't make me much stranger or more unique than the rest of my family.

Blog Challenge 13: Heads and Bodies

So have I had any headless bodies or bodiless heads... oh yes... most definitely. My only rule is that if I purchase a head or body, it needs to be completed by the next year, which I have managed to keep to so far!

I bought my first head within 1 or 2 months of getting into the hobby and it was Bellona Lua, my MNF Lishe. Since then I've had a number of floating heads and even a couple of headless bodies. So to make it practical... here they are:

Floating heads:

1. Bellona Lua - MNF Lishe*
2. Sirona - Delf Lishe*
3. Vulcan - MNF Scar BA*
4. Multihead Cupid x2
5. Multihead Ante
6. Caesair - Delf Elf Lishe*
7. Arawn - Feeple BA*
8. Poseidon - LTF BA*
9. Zeus - LTF BA*
10. Hades - LTF BA*
11. Delf Juri 2005*
12. Veja - Puki Sugar*
13. Pax - MNF VE Chloe*
14. LTF Shiwoo*
15. Nox - MNF Eliya*
16. Various Event Heads - LTF/PKF Duck heads, Multihead Cupid... etc etc

Bodies:

1. Fairyland Feeple70 body
2. RealPuki body

Blog Challenge Day 12: Dollie shoes

So all of my dollies are now without shoes! - and this was not all of them, as some I suddenly have only one of! But there they are all... ironically it seems I have more shoes for my Pukifee and LittleFee than I do for any of the others (most of whom have only one pair each).

Update:

1) Why do you like BJDs?
2) Do you own any? If so how many and if not, do you have any plans to at the moment?
3) Post a picture of all your dolls!
4) What/who was the first BJD you ever owned? Do you still own them? (Who is your planned first?)
5) What/who was the very first BJD you saw?
6) Biggest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
7) Smallest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
8) What is your favourite size?
9) What is your least favourite size?
10) Post a picture of a doll and an animal!
11) What do your friends think of your dolls/dolls in general?
12) Dollie shoes! Show us how many you have!
13) Have you ever had a floating head? What about a headless body? (What do you think you would do if you had either?)
14) What do your family think of your dolls?
15) Can any of your crew stand on their heads? (Show us~)
16) What is your favourite item of dollie clothing?
17) Do you have a favourite company?
18) A least favourite company?
19) What is your dream doll?
20) One doll you love, but will never (probably) buy?
21) What’s your favourite doll scale prop?
22) Is there a part of the BJD hobby that you dislike?
23) What about your favourite part of the hobby?
24) Have you ever modded a doll? (Do you think that you would?)
25) Done your own faceups? (Again, do you think you’d do that?)
26) Do you have a favourite out of your own dolls? (Don’t worry, we won’t tell the others ;D)
27) Post a crazy/silly pose!
28) Post a picture of your dolls exploring the outside world!
29) Have you ever been to a doll meetup? Did you enjoy it/do you plan to go to one in the future? 

30) a Surprise!

Blog Challenge Day 11: Friends and dolls

My friends and work mates are actually really good with my dolls - some don't know about them, but most of my workmates have met some of my dolls, including Pallus, my largest. Most think its a little strange but interesting. One of my workmates collects crystals, so she understands quite a lot. Most will sound resigned when I mention that I've fallen for another doll. They marvel at the amount and one memorable time I was asked whether or not my doll had all his "Bits" didn't take me long to show them!

A lot of my friends don't know I have them if they are not a dolly-friend. I have had people surprised and weirded out by the more human ones, but mostly I get polite interest and then they leave them alone!

Blog Challenge Day 10: Dolls and Animals

This is the strangest of the questions on the blog challenge list - so here is a picture of Janus and on of my dogs, Ridley - a slightly dirty Maltese Shih-tsu who is roughly 9 years old. He wasn't particularly happy about being woken up and forced to look at the camera. (the other one is a larger - MUCH! - maltese cross who is about 12).

The doll chosen for this photo was Janus - small, easy to pose and possibly one of the least confronting dolls I have. And that's the challenge done.

Blog Challenge 9: Least favourite?

I think this question is as hard as yesterdays! As much as I'd like to have a clearly defined favourite and non-favourite size, my collecting is not as simple as that. I prefer to define it as a preference rather than a "favouritism".

My non-preference is in the bigger dolls - there are less dolls on my wish list that are in SD or SSD and while I'm not adverse to getting them, I have very few which are not part of a defined collection - for example, of my 3 current (and incoming) SSDs - 1 is part of my Lishe collection, 1 a part of my small BA selection and only one was bought on their "own merits" as it were.

Similarly in my SD collection - 3 of 7 are not part of my Lishe collection ( not that I don't like SDs other than who are Lishes) and bought "on their merits". Or simply because I liked them, or had a particular idea for them. I have also sold one of my SDs, (and coincidentally 2 of my MSDs) who didn't fit in with a particular ideal I have.

So I suppose you could say that SD/SSDs were my less preferred size, although that's not really saying much at all - SD/SSDs is also my least populated sizes - the majority of my dolls are Yo and smaller.

Blog Challenge Day 8: Favourite...

I have been trying to figure out if I have a favourite size all day. I counted my sizes and my dolls and all that and I can't tell simply from the numbers!

I currently have:

• 2 SSDs - Pallus and Morrigan (with Arawn only 1 payment away)
• 6 SDs - Magnus, Marcheline, Sirona, Nemain, Caesair and Fea (with one more on the list)
• 7 MSDs - Corvinus, Bellona Lua, Vulcan, Sol Invictus, Janus, Mithras and Diana (with 2 more heads)
• 9 YoSDs - Violet, Emmeline, Cassius, Ianthe, Icarus, Ares, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus
• 9 Tinies - Isis, Osiris, Ma'at, Anubis, Nephthys, Seth, Angelu, Persephone and Mati (with another incoming and 1 floating head).

So even though I really couldn't decide what my favourite size is, I suppose you could say that I have a preference for smaller dolls - since those are the ones that I have more of... and I suppose you can say of those tinies I have more Pukifee than anything else (and I also have another 2 on my wish list), so they could be the doll I preferred more than anything else...

But I'll deny it... :)

As for favourite sculpt... well, that's another story.

Update:

1) Why do you like BJDs?
2) Do you own any? If so how many and if not, do you have any plans to at the moment?
3) Post a picture of all your dolls!
4) What/who was the first BJD you ever owned? Do you still own them? (Who is your planned first?)
5) What/who was the very first BJD you saw?
6) Biggest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
7) Smallest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
8) What is your favourite size?
9) What is your least favourite size?
10) Post a picture of a doll and an animal!
11) What do your friends think of your dolls/dolls in general?
12) Dollie shoes! Show us how many you have!
13) Have you ever had a floating head? What about a headless body? (What do you think you would do if you had either?)
14) What do your family think of your dolls?
15) Can any of your crew stand on their heads? (Show us~)
16) What is your favourite item of dollie clothing?
17) Do you have a favourite company?
18) A least favourite company?
19) What is your dream doll?
20) One doll you love, but will never (probably) buy?
21) What’s your favourite doll scale prop?
22) Is there a part of the BJD hobby that you dislike?
23) What about your favourite part of the hobby?
24) Have you ever modded a doll? (Do you think that you would?)
25) Done your own faceups? (Again, do you think you’d do that?)
26) Do you have a favourite out of your own dolls? (Don’t worry, we won’t tell the others ;D)
27) Post a crazy/silly pose!
28) Post a picture of your dolls exploring the outside world!
29) Have you ever been to a doll meetup? Did you enjoy it/do you plan to go to one in the future? 

30) - a surprise!

Blog Challenge Day 7: Smallest

The smallest doll I own fits in the palm of my hand, but not only that - the palm of my biggest doll, Pallus. She is a minion with attitude - she is Mati. Mati is a Fairyland PukiPuki Ruby faceplate (with the Dark Rose faceup) on a RealPuki body, and she stands at approximately 9.5cm tall. RealPukis have much more "fantasy" faces, none on which I was fond of, but I wanted to get my hands on a body. Originally I was going to get a faceplate with the Dark Moon faceup. Mati was born when I finally got her faceplate and put it on her body and she stared at me sightlessly for a couple of weeks. She was wigless for a lot longer, but pulled it off with a style only Mati has.

Before I got Mati, my smallest doll was my second - a beautiful WS PukiPuki Flora called Persephone. Persephone is much taller than Mati at 11cm.

Blog Challenge Day 6: Biggest??

For a long time the position of biggest size belonged to my Fairyland Feeple 70 hybrid Morrigan, who stood at 67.5cm tall. I've had her for almost 3 years now and she held the crown. More recently, that has changed and slim Morrigan has made way for a chunky hulk of man-flesh.

Otherwise known as Pallus. Pallus is a SOOM Mega Gem Shoshon, an MD, and with his elk hooves, stands at a cool 72cm (approximately). He is also a massive doll - broader and bigger than most of my other dolls with the epic sized hands (which you can see). Ironically his hooves are still smaller than those of my Chalco, Magnus.

Pallus is not the tallest I've seen - that would be LK's 80cm Mecha Angel Elf Sabik, Varius. She also owned an Iplehouse EID and a 72cm slim Dollzone Chen. But I do prefer my big man, as long as I don't have to carry him around for more than 15 mins... he's heavy!

Blog Challenge Day 5: First?

Ironically enough the first BJD I saw and touched was not classified as a BJD by DoA standards - she was my friend's Goodreau Secret, known as Sabine. She was a vinyl BJD with hinge joints and problems standing. She prompted me to buy what was to be my first doll, a Goodreau OzDottie, which ended up being a disappointing event all round.

As for "official" BJD, that would be my first, Marcheline - she was the first resin, "on-topic" BJD that me or my friend had ever seen and we both participated in her box opening. I didn't see another BJD until LK's Catsy and Resinsoul Mei had arrived, and that would be around the time that we went to our first meet up and I saw a whole heap of more dolls!

Blog Challenge Day 4: First doll

4. What/who was the first BJD you ever owned? Do you still own them? (Who is your planned first?)

My first doll is Marcheline, my Dollcatch Stella. I definitely still have her - I bought her some three years ago and even though lots of people were waiting up to 6 months for their dolls from Dollcatch (which was a sister company of Custom House and is now defunct); I was lucky and only waited 24 days. That is in total.

Marcheline was not the first doll that I planned to get - I had bought a Goodreau OzDottie from DDE before I had even thought of purchasing Marcheline. I actually had to wait 6 months for that particular doll to turn up, and once she arrived, I was vastly disappointed in the quality and structure of the doll in particular. (for more of this story read this post: http://softskintales.blogspot.com/2010/08/arum-reshelling-project.html )


I don't think I'll ever sell Marcheline, even though she is not one of my most expensive or my most flexible or posable. She's Marcheline, and I love her.

Blog Challenge Day 3 - Show them off!

Back row: Fea, Caesair, Morrigan, Pallus, Mati, Magnus, Sirona, Nemain
Second: Diana, Mithras, Janus, Marcheline, Persephone, Corvinus, Sol, Vulcan, Bellona Lua
Third: Zeus, Poseidon, Icarus, Hades, Ianthe, Ares, Cassius, Violet, Emmeline
Front: Seth, Nephthys, Anubis, Isis, Osiris, Ma'at, Angelu

 The ironic thing is I took a picture of all of my dolls not so long ago. As I said in Day 2’s post (other than the fact that I’m late, which I am again.) I currently have 33 – along with 4 floating heads, and technically, 2 and a half incoming. My dolls – in order of height rather than entrance to the house, are as follows:

• ·       Pallus – a SOOM Monthly Doll Mega Gem Shoshon
• ·       Morrigan – a Luts Delf Lishe head on a Fairyland Feeple70 body
• ·       Magnus – a SOOM Monthly Doll Super Gem Chalco
• ·       Marcheline – a Dollcatch Stella
• ·       Sirona – a Luts Delf Lishe
• ·       Nemain – a Luts Delf Elf Vampire Lishe in WS
• ·       Caesair – a Luts Delf Elf Lishe 2006 release in WS
• ·       Fea – a Luts Delf Elf Lishe 2005
• ·       Corvinus – a SOOM Monthly Doll Little Gem Tuff
• ·       Bellona Lua – a Fairyland Minifee Lishe
• ·       Vulcan – a Fairyland Minifee Scar Breakaway
• ·       Sol Invictus – a Fairyland Minifee Luka in WS
• ·       Janus – a Fairyland Chicline El
• ·       Mithras – a Fairyland Chicline Fabilis in Tan
• ·       Diana – a Fairyland Chicline Lishe
• ·       Violet – a Pipos Po11 Dark Alice
• ·       Emmeline – a Pipos Po11 Alice Jr
• ·       Cassius – a SOOM Monthly Doll Teenie Gem Silt
• ·       Ianthe – a Fairyland LittleFee Lishe
• ·       Icarus – a Fairyland LittleFee El
• ·       Ares – a Fairyland LittleFee Rachel
• ·       Hades – a Fairyland LittleFee Breakaway
• ·       Poseidon - a Fairyland LittleFee Breakaway in WS
• ·       Zeus - a Fairyland LittleFee Breakaway
• ·       Isis – a Fairyland Pukifee Bonnie
• ·       Osiris – a Fairyland Pukifee Zoe
• ·       Ma’at – a Fairyland Pukifee Bonnie
• ·       Anubis – a Fairyland Pukifee Zoe
• ·       Seth – a Fairyland Pukifee Ante in WS
• ·       Nephthys – a Fairyland Pukifee Luna
• ·       Angelu – a Pipos Po7 Baby Alice
• ·       Persephone – a Fairyland PukiPuki Flora in WS
• ·       Mati – a Fairyland PukiPuki Ruby on a RealPuki body.

My floating heads are:

• ·       Arawn – a Fairyland Feeple70 Breakaway with a Midnight Blue faceup
• ·       Pax – a Fairyland Minifee Vampire Elf Chloe
• ·       Nox – a Fairyland Minifee Eliya
• ·       Veja – a Fairyland PukiPuki Sugar

The 2 and ½ incomings are:

• ·       A body for Arawn
• ·       Thyra, a Pipos Po7 Baby Alice
• ·       and yet to be ordered: an unnamed SOOM Super Gem Clozel.

And for now… that’s all of them!

Blog Challenge Day 2 - Own some?

I'm late already! I will attempt to post the one I'm supposed to be on tomorrow.


2) Do you own any? If so how many and if not, do you have any plans to at the moment?


Yes... I currently own 33 dolls - with 2 incoming and three floating heads. I am currently in negotiations (spoiler!) to split the new SOOM girl, scary thought.


My dolls include 4 SOOMs, a multitude (25) CPs (Fairyland/Luts), 3 Pipos and a Dollcatch. I have a large number of tinies, more tinies than I have anything else at the moment anyway. I have managed to collect them over 3 years - which in some cases is even scarier.


Other than the two already incoming and the SOOM girl, I have no plans at the moment except to go as slowly as possible to save some moolah. 


I'm not sure what else to add to this blog post about this challenge... difficult question - and since I have to answer a similar one for no. 3, I'll leave the descriptions of my dolls and what/who they are until tomorrow!

Blog Challenge Day 1 - like BJDs?

1) Why do you like BJDs?


Can I number the ways?


I have always liked dolls - I had a few favourites when I was child, including a vinyl Orange Blossom whom I loved. As I got older, I got into barbies and paper dolls. As I became an adult, I added Kokeshi, some porcelain dolls and various other country dolls and figurines.


I didn't find out about BJDs until 2 years ago. They are easy to customise, even for one who does very little and the thing I like the most about them is that you can make the same doll look completely different simply by changing a face up/wig or eyes. I have 8 of one sculpt and none of them look the same - in fact I often have to tell people they are the same sculpt.


They also encourage characters, fun and are not just to be left on the shelf as many of my other dolls have been.

Blog Challenge

I though, while I was stuffing around with my discussion on Bodies (which has been taking me a while and is currently stuck on my work iPad) I would have a go at this blog challenge for something to do.

I will apologise for a lack of blogging - some real life non-dolly crap has been taking up my time at the moment and has made me not in a very nice mood. Anyway... the challenge is as follows:

You answer one of these questions I believe every day for a month (or so). I might not quite manage that, and I could very well add in my body discussion, but it will fill in quite a bit of time.

1) Why do you like BJDs?
2) Do you own any? If so how many and if not, do you have any plans to at the moment?
3) Post a picture of all your dolls!
4) What/who was the first BJD you ever owned? Do you still own them? (Who is your planned first?)
5) What/who was the very first BJD you saw?
6) Biggest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
7) Smallest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)
8) What is your favourite size?
9) What is your least favourite size?
10) Post a picture of a doll and an animal!
11) What do your friends think of your dolls/dolls in general?
12) Dollie shoes! Show us how many you have!
13) Have you ever had a floating head? What about a headless body? (What do you think you would do if you had either?)
14) What do your family think of your dolls?
15) Can any of your crew stand on their heads? (Show us~)
16) What is your favourite item of dollie clothing?
17) Do you have a favourite company?
18) A least favourite company?
19) What is your dream doll?
20) One doll you love, but will never (probably) buy?
21) What’s your favourite doll scale prop?
22) Is there a part of the BJD hobby that you dislike?
23) What about your favourite part of the hobby?
24) Have you ever modded a doll? (Do you think that you would?)
25) Done your own faceups? (Again, do you think you’d do that?)
26) Do you have a favourite out of your own dolls? (Don’t worry, we won’t tell the others ;D)
27) Post a crazy/silly pose!
28) Post a picture of your dolls exploring the outside world!
29) Have you ever been to a doll meetup? Did you enjoy it/do you plan to go to one in the future? 

30) a Surprise!

*sigh*

I know I posted just yesterday, and this is related. I have been mired in the conversations in the Delf thread, where people seem to think that even though it seems like Fairyland have a chance to be given the Delf from Luts, that they will still produce ANOTHER new 60cm line.... It seems like a silly business decision to me since it will potentially undermine the brand new Feeple 65.

Anyway, I was attempting to explain that I think if the line is moved to Fairyland, it could (and probably would) involve some updates to a line which honestly has not been touched since about 2007. The bodies especially the female body, still has single jointed elbows and knees which must frustrate CP, a company known for its delightfully posable (and double jointed) F70s, F65s, MNF A-lines, Chicline, LTF, PKF and even RealPukis. Place the Delfs next to that line up and they look horribly outdated and old and no where NEAR as posable as what Fairyland and CP are known for.

But some people seem to think that a new body for Delf would include a massive change. I don't think so, and I use the VF doll as an example. (I apologise that this image is so amateurish, but I don't do a lot of fancy work with my programs.)

It seems obvious, since both Fairyland/CP and eyewitness accounts proved that she is a "60cm" which in CP speak seems to mean 58cms. But, as I pointed out, the shoulder caps is a distinct Delf/F70 thing (for those wondering, no, a F65 does not have them). The elbows suggest MNF inspiration, while the hands are definitely magnetic... Yey!

The torso joint is hard to see, but unlike a MNF/Chicline or F65, it is lower down the torso, in exactly the same position as a normal Delfs - I think it's the slope of the back (which I think suggests a "hip" joint - a la an A-line MNF girl) which confuses people to think the joint is beneath the bust. I mean, I could be reading things into a shadow on the outfit, but it looks like a joint line to me.

I am surprised however that people can be so vehement to say that they want the Delf to remain the old, outdated relic that in some ways it is. I'm not saying that the sculpts are outdated, but when compared to any of CP's newer works, the body looks and feels like it was made 100 years ago. CP must be dying to update it, make it show all the moves forward they have made in the years since they made it. Or even at least bring it to the same standard (even though it too is old) that they manage to gain with the T3 male body. 

Some artists, I know, can barely look at old work, as often they're only able to see the faults in their work (if you disbelieve me, I'll let you contact an artist I know who has been drawing for over 20 years). It must pain CP to see one of their oldest works constantly on display and being sold to their customers. And if you know anything about CP, its that they want their customers to be happy - FL has even had to curb their excitement and event gifts because CP want to give their customers more than FL is willing for them to have.

CP would WANT their customers to have a 60cm Delf line that they can update, that they can once again include in event gifts... that they can sell the now VERY popular Mirwen sculpt in her original size of SD. (which incase you have missed it the VF doll has been released as the MNF Mirwen). They would want their customers to be happy and to have the best that they can give them, and I doubt that is having an old, out dated body being sold by Luts, which has been updated or been used in events or anything else for years.

But then you might have different thoughts on it. These are simply mine.

goodness me!

Ok I was trying to blog earlier today - something along the lines of a new blog post for updates of what's going on in the house...

but then I saw something that is really interesting to blog about... there is a note on the Luts site which reads like this:

'We regret to notify you that we are temporarily suspending to offer Delf on LUTS, effective November 15, 2011.
You may continue to buy Delf until November 15, 2011. After November 16, 2011, you won¡¯t be able to do.
We will let you know if we resell Delf on LUTS. 
We apologize for any inconvenience and we will try more to offer better service. 

Yours sincerely, 
LUTS'

....

Shock! Then interest... does this mean that FL and CP are finally going to get the Delf line back from Luts? Does that mean that somewhere on the horizon is the chance for the Type 3 girl and a Type 4 boy? after all, we've already had a glimpse at the T3 female in the VF doll...

Or does it mean that Luts is just punishing CP for daring to think that they could produce and sell the VF doll? I know many people think that the Black Butler doll which CP sold earlier was a 60cm, but I was surfing the website - and clearly saw the notation "70cm" next to him, which meant that CP/FL has not sold a 60cm until the VF doll came up.

It raises a lot of questions... 

For those who are unsure what this is about the brief explanation is as follows: CP used to produce dolls and have them sold through Luts - those were the Delf and the MNF. When CP decided to organise and set up their own company to sell their dolls, they took the MNF from Luts, but not the Delfs. From then on, while Luts has continued to sell the Delfs while CP has produced them. 

Lots of people have had lots of ideas about why that was and if it would continue to last... etc. etc. But neither company was sharing what was behind the decision or why Luts continued to sell Delfs.

I can only speculate... but this new position of Luts is very interesting... very interesting indeed.

Any thoughts?

Something a little different...

So I was having a read of Xhanthi's blog and found a nice little giveaway...

It's from Borderline's blog.

Worth going to have a look and finding another one of us - BJD bloggers that is...

Other than that - other news:

Nephthys has her new wig - its VERY different to her old one, but I like it all the same, feel free to share any thoughts on the new look...

Pax and Nox also got their wigs (which means I'm even closer to sending them away for their face ups.) but I need another couple of votes on their colouring - I do prefer Nox with black hair, but what about Pax?
Pax as a brunette... (original decision)

Pax with black hair....


Nox with black hair (original decision).

Nox as a brunette...

MNF Mirwen

So Fairyland has once more done a terrible terrible thing - they released a new MNF girl for Halloween. Her name is Mirwen. She's beautiful - similar to a Lishe (which perhaps explains why I like her) she has been added to my want collection.

One thing I would like to point out. The new MNF Mirwen is the VF doll... same sculpt, very similar face up, similar colour eyes.... I still can't see how Fairyland/CP can release the VF doll as a normal release under the deal they have with Luts (unless Luts releases her) so I'm wondering if this is their next best thing?? Or could their next best thing be releasing the VF/Mirwen as a new Feeple70 (knowing this as a way to get around the Delf selling by being able to hybrid Feeple70 heads onto Delf bodies...)

 So here's the Mirwen with the VF doll.... can you see the similarities?

  

Post Event

Woo... not at all in trouble by the new releases or the event!

Feeple65 Siean

I do like the new F65, she's great and I love the idea of the sword, but I don't like her enough to get her. I still want to see if they make a chicline-esque Lishe face and then I'll be getting an F65. (I don't mind the Chloe either, in some of her owner pics, but I don't like the Roke).

I'm not a fan of either of the LTF - Chiwoo has never been one of my favourites and considering there are a number of fullsets of the Chiwoo already I wonder why they have chosen to do him again instead of creating a new boy. Plus I'm not a fan of the Rolly. She looks quite a bit like the MNF Rena, who I also don't like, and I'm not a fan of her teeth. I have three LTF with teeth (my BAs have teeth) but their open mouth is a lot more subtle than hers, no offence to the poor LTF Rolly. But regardless, if you have seen photos of my LTFs you will have realised they all look a bit too young for my tastes.

As for the multiheads... as someone put it on DoA - why do Multiheads when Pukifees are way more popular?? I also think they've misnamed them - the boy is OBVIOUSLY a Bonnie why the girl looks nothing like a Bonnie - and I bet she would be the "Zefi". They're cute enough, but I've done the Multihead thing before - I dislike the proportions on the Pukifee body and I've just sold my two who were on Puki bodies simply because they just didn't seem right.

As for the Event items - I like the F65 sword, but it's a little impractical. I'm a little frustrated that Fairyland keep doing MNF Juris - this will be the third MNF Juri they've done and I was really hoping that they may have either done a new face or have VE-ed one of the older faces (such as a Lishe). While the Juri looks nice enough, I'm not particularly interested in her.

The VE Rolly and Chiwoo don't interest me for the above reasons and again I'm disappointed they haven't VE-ed older sculpts such as the Lishe and the El. (I'm also annoyed that they keep repeating the Chiwoo when I'm sure a LOT of people want them to re-fullset the Lishe and the El... it would be nice if they had 3 fullsets and VE faceplates...)

The Pukifee Juri will be cute, I'm sure, but they've committed a strange error there - they would have been better off creating a Multihead event gift since some people MAY buy the Multihead fullsets to get the outfits and the Juri faceplate planning on placing it on the Pukifee body you get - but Multiheads have different head backs to PKF, due to the LARGE size difference in the head and Fairyland don't sell headbacks separately for any size.

There are going to be a lot of buyers looking for Pukifee headbacks so they can use their Juri faceplates - is FL prepared to sell them separately??

Anyway, that's my thoughts on the present event and event items. I don't know whether or not I'll like the Juri Pukifee - I'm not a massive fan of the Juri face although it is cute. Otherwise, I'm home clear!