I've recently been looking around the e-market for dolls. I'm a collector of many Franklin Mints already, but I've taken a new interest in Ball Jointed Dolls (BJD's). There are beautiful, and many times, they are highly customizable. If you are nto sure what a BJD is, you can easily look it up using google or bing.

discuss;

1) Are you familiar with these dolls? How did you hear about them?
2) Do you own one, or know someone who does?
3) They are very costly, would you buy one anyway?
4) How long have you been collecting dolls?

5) If you don't collect dolls, what do you collect (if anything)?
6) What started your interest in collecting?
7) How long have you been collecting?

1) Yep, I've heard of them. :)
I'm not sure, exactly. I suppose an internet acquaintance had the old Volks dolls. The cheaper, vinyl sort. So either from her or I heard about them at around the same time in the mid-late '90s.

2) Yes, I own one "full" doll and another doll body.
(Specifically, I own a DBDoll body with a Ringdoll Pan head and a Ringdoll Teen Type 1 body. I'm currently saving up for a Dollmore Zaoll Luv and a Leekeworld Wien head is paid for and just waiting on Leekeworld to ship to me.)

3) >_> Yep. >_>;

4) Mmm... that's difficult to say, I suppose. Like most girls, I had a big collection of Barbies. But I wouldn't say I was a "collector". I played with them. My mom bought me a few China dolls, but I never liked them much. I've never been into baby dolls. I've always liked fashion dolls. I suppose my first "collected" Barbie was the Japanese Princess Barbie. I bought her three or four years ago and have kept her in her box. My first BJD arrived in December of last year, so that's how long I've officially been collecting BJD.

I'm assuming you don't want me to answer the last three questions, since I do have BJD. xD

I believe that collections are just a manifestation of materialism and just tie us down, it not used as a tool for something greater (like education).

So I do not collect, unless you count my books.

1) I'm pretty familliar, I heard about them on Deviantart and they are pretty interesting.

2) I don't own one, and I actually don't know anyone that does. But, My friends and I have talked about saving up to buy ourselves some, We actually have a little piggy-bank that we all put our spare change into C: We're hoping to each be able to get one by christmas. This way even if one of us earns less, we're all able to get one each by the end of the year. At the moment, we can afford one basic BJD... But we need Three ^^' And we already have fabrics/paint/etc. to customise them with...

3) Definitely, they're absolutely adorable, and worth every cent in my opinion.

4) Well, I haven't even started Collecting BJD's yet. But, I have a rather large collection of Living dead Dolls, and also a few Barbies I got second hand for cheap and customised. And a few My-Little-Ponies... But, Mostly on the ponies I just re-hair them and paint. Nothing special. They're awesome for last-Minute christmas/Birthday gifts :P

Originally Posted by Kris

I believe that collections are just a manifestation of materialism and just tie us down, it not used as a tool for something greater (like education).

So I do not collect, unless you count my books.

Could you expand on your theory? The way I see it, though totally respectful of your feelings, is that collecting things is a way of showing a fascination and appealing to a higher aesthetic. I personally love the dolls because they are truly beautiful, not for the purpose of manifesting materials.

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Originally Posted by CK

1) Yep, I've heard of them. :)
I'm not sure, exactly. I suppose an internet acquaintance had the old Volks dolls.

Volks dolls are nice as well. I have a few. I love the BJD's more though, because of how well they are made. I'm currently waiting for two new dolls to come in.

I usually order from this site.

(:

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Originally Posted by Mortai

2) I don't own one, and I actually don't know anyone that does. But, My friends and I have talked about saving up to buy ourselves some, We actually have a little piggy-bank that we all put our spare change into C: We're hoping to each be able to get one by christmas.

That is sooo exciting! Good luck! I hope all three of you can get your own BJD's. They are amazing things. Also, you mentioned collecting the Living Dead Dolls, which is, by the way, amazing. I bought a few before I discovered my beautiful BJD's. (:

Living dead dolls were my one true love for a while, But lately my love of them seems to be slowly dissapearing.
I guess it's the thrill of the chase that actually makes me collect, Not entirely just seeing them all in a row in my room?
But, It's starting to get harder for me to find LDD's that I don't have, and it's getting even less and less fun for me to search for them? C:
If that makes sense.

I totally understand. I remember when I first started collecting dolls. It was easier because many of them were not as expensive because they weren't all collectors, or similarly, they were such a major franchise that they were everywhere and everyone had them. Both of these causes ruined my love for certain kinds of dolls and figurines. I still collect though. (:

Originally Posted by dmitriblair

1) Are you familiar with these dolls? How did you hear about them?
2) Do you own one, or know someone who does?
3) They are very costly, would you buy one anyway?
4) How long have you been collecting dolls?
5) If you don't collect dolls, what do you collect (if anything)?
6) What started your interest in collecting?
7) How long have you been collecting?

1) I actually have never heard of them before until you told me to Google it. I've seen them before, but I've never really thought twice about them.
2) Not to my knowledge.
3) I may, if one caught my eye, I'd start a fund for one!
4) Since my dad's mom started sending them to me on my birthdays. (Porcelain Dolls.)
5) -
6) I collect different things, usually my interests spark me to collect things!
7) For the dolls, I would say I was ~10 years old when it started.

Zombierella;

What kind of porcelain dolls? Like.. I have my Franklin Mints and a lot of china dolls. I really love porcelain dolls.

I actually have a friend who makes them in his spare time.

Wow, that's really awesome. I'm not sure what kind of Porcelain it is (my apologies!), I think she just sends me ones she randomly finds, I'm not sure. I didn't know there were different types! :o

That's cool though! I wish I could take pictures of all my dolls and show everyone. They're beautiful.

It's okay if you don't know. Many don't. Mine all have their original boxing so I can keep them in order, but they easiest way to distinguish is by how they are styles and made.

BJDs are...a funny thing to me. They creep me the hell out...and despite, or perhaps (actually, probably so) because of that, I've grown to really like them. Makes me wish I had enough money to start a collection...maybe someday. :sweat:

When I think about it, I tend to like a lot of things that are generally considered creepy, or at least weird...but this is one of only a small handful that creep me out PERSONALLY and I appreciate.

I do so hate my money situation though...ah, if only I could play games any time I wanted for real life money. I've seen so many that I've loved...wanted...and all but soiled myself over the prices of. xD;

ONE DAY, I SWEAR IT!

Originally Posted by dmitriblair

Volks dolls are nice as well. I have a few. I love the BJD's more though, because of how well they are made. I'm currently waiting for two new dolls to come in.

I usually order from this site.

I haven't really seen a Volks doll I especially liked yet. >_> I mean - I've seen a few that are nice, but none that struck me as, "I am (insert name of character) - so you have to bring me home!" And I've certainly grown to dislike all or most all of the vinyl dolls. ^^; I like the feeling of resin, I think. And the way it "moves", I suppose? It looks more natural to me than vinyl.

Buddy-Doll. xD I think I looked to them when I was looking for a more manly doll. Their "Mars-Tough" doll interests me for a warrior character I may make into a doll eventually. But it'll be awhile before I get to him. :3

Which dolls are you waiting on? :)

And do you get company face-ups or do your own?

I've recently done my first face-up (second? depends on if you count his mask as a first face-up or not - so I'll post that too) on Chaos <DBDoll body; Ringdoll Pan head>:



I want to re-do his eyebrows as they are meant to be thicker. I'd just accidentally erased too much when I was trimming up stray marks. It ended up a much more subtle face-up than I'd intended, but overall I'm pretty happy with it. :x

Anyway. >_> I'll shamelessly throw out the link to my BJD gallery which houses photos like box openings, clothes, headless bodies and NAKED (warning!) dolls. Which shouldn't get anyone in trouble unless someone is very conservative, but I figured I'd warn anyway as they're boy dolls. ^^;

Sorry for rambling. xD;

Originally Posted by CK

Which dolls are you waiting on? :)

And do you get company face-ups or do your own?

I'm currently waiting on Raphael Limited, which is truly gorgeous, and March (Who is a female doll.)

I sometimes get the company face-ups, but I prefer to do my own. I have a soft spot for really feminine dolls, though I have a few that I have made much darker. I have two dolls that I have given the gothic vintage vibe. I'll try to post pictures soon. Gotta get my camera up and running again.

I'd love to see them when your camera's up. :3 I'm still figuring out the whole "lighting" thing for taking photos. One day I'll properly research it. ::laughs::

My Nixie (will be a Leekeworld Wein/Dollmore Zaoll Luv hybrid) will be my girlie-girl. Even though her face is actually a boy's head, it had a sort of look for her I wanted. :x