Rolling Doll

Rolling Doll always has exquisitely dreamy outfits with delicate lace and sheer fabric detailing. The shapes are based off of sailor outfits and pretty, billowing gowns; it seems as if Rolling Doll also has some lingerie sets. RD mostly makes SD sized outfits, but there is the occasional Yo-SD outfit.

I wish I could read Japanese or Korean already, in order to have a better chance at obtaining outfits like these from Y!J auctions without a shopping service. There always seem to be such talented seamstresses and customizers overseas!

Shadowing Haven

I stumbled across Shadowing Haven's faceup and photography work while browsing through the gallery on Den of Angels. Her interestingly multi-colored faceups and shadowy photography (no pun intended) really caught my eye! ^^

I love the delicate, gothic feel of her pictures and settings, and her faceups are quite good! I believe that she is restricted from taking splits and commission work on Den of Angels for an unknown reason, so I do not have a link to commission, but it is obvious that she is quite talented. ^^ If you're interested in seeing more from her, please visit her blog here.

Doll Meets

Not-so-recently, A and I went to a doll meet (that's her Lisette there, with Tryphosa). We only stayed for a short time, and it felt a little awkward. The more I go to doll meets, the more aware I get of the awkwardness that I feel at them. It's not that people are mean or foreboding; usually it's just the opposite, where everyone tries to make each other feel welcome. But I guess it's just the knowledge that I have nothing in common with them other than dolls that makes me feel falsely cheerful and kind of odd in conversation. There are some meets where it's less awkward, but those are few and far between.

I'm not sure what my concept of a meet was before I started to notice this. Maybe it was 'a gathering of friends with dolls involved', where the emphasis is on friend-making? Or perhaps it was 'a chance to see other people's dolls in real life'? That seems just as likely. I go to the Otakon doll meets, but those are just to trade or buy things, and I usually don't really find anything I love there.

What is your concept of a doll meet? Have you been to meets? Did you feel awkward as well? Do you feel at home there? Why?

CSaw Feature

I've been a huge fan of CSaw's for a while! As you can see, her photos are full of color, life and light that just radiates from the computer screen! The Thailand based photographer has a beautifully faceupped collection of Volks dolls which can be found in the sets in her Flickr, or viewed at her blog named Pastel Cottage. Robin, this Volks Miruku, really made me miss Kumiho... T_T

Her beautiful F-01 dolls also softened my originally harsh opinion of the mold with their beautiful clothes and well-done faceups. The colors in her photographs always give a serene and cheerful feeling! So refreshing (points! XD).

Her SD Lisolette makes me want one, too.... Her collection of cute girl dolls makes me die of moe! I really admire her collection and her photography! Please check her websites often for updates..... I don't post a lot, so I'll be lurking right along with you! XD

Mio (m2k Dolls)

I know that when I first started the BJD hobby, it was exciting to me that people made such exquisite and beautiful doll-sized productions of clothing. I wanted to get a doll almost solely to own clothing for it. The person that really introduced me to quality doll clothing was Mio. I had never before seen doll clothing that was so elaborate and so to-scale. Her designs were always so well-balanced in color, texture and fit. I aspired to be like her; I still dream about being able to make such amazing clothing for ball jointed dolls one day. I resolved that if I came into any flexible funds, they would go towards Mio clothing for my doll. I wanted to collect every outfit, and win every auction. My circumstances and lack of a consistent doll size didn't enable me to do that, but I had always dreamed about it.

...But now I'm hard-pressed to find even these two pictures of her splendid work. It seems that she has disappeared. Her Den of Angels account is dead, her Flickr deleted, her website gone. And she didn't just leave after finishing her last batch of orders - it seems that she took everyone's money, as well. There is a long and sad thread on Den of Angels in the Problem Transactions forum that was started in 2009, for orders not received from 2008! To my knowledge, nothing new has turned up. Try as they might to contact her, those who ordered from her last received neither their items or a refund.

She had last been contacted some time in early 2009, claiming that her father was ailing and she needed to take care of him. They gave her a lot of time to work herself out, but there was still no word. Time passed and they are still waiting for an answer. I do not think that anyone took a police action against her, as many were in different countries and their jurisdiction did not extend to Korea. My knowledge of international criminal laws is about zero, so I don't know what could've been done, but I'm sure they tried something, given that they lost several thousands of dollars collectively.

What would make such a prominent member of the bjd community just leave like that? Why did she suddenly decide to turn into a scammer? For someone who could make such exquisite clothing, and who must love dolls as much as she did, why would she disappear from her customers and the hobby? I understand personal obligations and personal conflict can be tough, but, as was mentioned in the Problems thread, emotional turmoil is not an excuse to turn to thievery.

I suppose it's a mystery that will never be solved.

Fairyland's Sebastian from Black Butler!

Fairyland is releasing Sebastian in Japan only due to licensing issues in the US.

Other pics can be found on hobby chanel.

I don't personally like Black Butler, or this doll, but I think it's great that another big company besides Volks is doing a properly licensed resin reproduction of an anime character! I'm also glad for fans of male dolls - DD, as much as I love them, are always girls and always vinyl lol. I wonder if they'll do any others after this?

Which characters would you like to see Fairyland do? Do you like their 'anime style' doll better than Volks'? Are you going to try to buy him?

Azuria on Flickr

While browsing through the DoA gallery today, I had the fortune of stumbling upon Azuria's post of her Soom Fir and her friend's Chibi Unoa. The pictures are colorful, fresh and sensitive, and the focus effect is beautiful!

If you love these photos, please check out her flickr page for more beautiful work like it! She also has a Deviant Art page.

Why I Think I Can't Keep Dolls

... So, I'm selling my Zero. I'm really upset about it. I sanded her seams, nipples, eyebrows, and did a lot of work for her posing and faceplates. I really tried to keep her. I LOVE her body scuplt and her faces are beautiful.... but she just won't stand for me. It's hit or miss - sometimes she will, sometimes she won't, and I've never had so much trouble photographing any doll (even my Supia Roda, with her weird 'uneven' legs).

Contrary to my keep/buy record, I really, really loathe selling dolls. My friend has had her two dolls ever since I introduced her to the hobby back in highschool. But me - I've had around 10+, now including the Unoa Zero. I've wondered for the 5 years I've been in the hobby about why I can't seem to bond with any of my dolls.

At least my Shiny Fairy May, Tryphosa, isn't going anywhere. Maybe it's because I see her as a precious gift? But, I had seen my DZ Shoyo in that light, as well as my SDF Ethan head. All were still sold. It's not like I don't want to bond with a doll, it's just that I can't seem to. Even my precious Kurumi left me, because of the thought that 'maybe this just isn't the right time in my life for her'. I do plan on getting her again someday, so it's not a permanent loss.

I'm getting a MNF Shushu again, small bust with #3 hands. I think she'll be turned into a Multihead, with a Miyu and maybe one other head or a modded head or something, to counteract the 'one look' syndrome ('I don't really see an 'expression' on her face. It's all just one look'... that thought has also led to the selling of dolls). I'll also be buying a TON of accessories, wigs, clothing and shoes for both Tryphosa and the Shushu. I've never had a lot of things for my dolls, preferring to make most instead, but perhaps my lack of leisure time (when employed) and lack of fabric experimentation funds just dampen my enthusiasm for free form sewing fun. Maybe the ability to fully style both will help me to get along with them better.

Maybe it's just because I can't justify spending so much on myself. Maybe it's just that I would prefer to spend the money on more 'practical' things, but I can't ever shake my beloved doll hobby. Maybe it's that I haven't found the 'right' doll for me. The Shushu, if she were in 60cm size with all available A-line options, would fulfill all of my dreams. Maybe 'my' doll hasn't been made yet? I have no idea.

I'm so tired of selling dolls. I really hate saying goodbye to them, especially since the reasons I bought them haven't changed. And it may not seem like it, but they're all special to me.

Sorry for the text-heavy, ranty post. It's just been on my mind lately. Has anyone else here had bonding issues with *every* doll they've bought? Have you known someone like this? Did you think that they should just settle with a doll and get it over with? Did you get frustrated with them? Did they seem to be upset over it, or did they seem to be okay with selling a lot?

Even if you just have a random thought on the issue, I'd love to see your opinion. :3

Raouken's Wonderful Corsets

This fine detail work and beautiful craftsmanship is brought to you by Raouken, who goes by the same screen name on Den of Angels. Her commissions thread is very navigable, and she is a personable and fun seamstress from what I can tell. She has excellent feedback and her prices are great for the craftsmanship you're getting. The corsets are 35 euro for a basic SD corset, and 30 euro for a basic MSD corset. There are other little details that may run you a little extra, but the results are well worth the extra 5 euro or so. She also has an Etsy shop in which she posts ready-made items, but nothing is up there at the moment (I'll bet she's busy with commissions).

I plan on commissioning her for my Zero when I get my monies together. I absolutely adore her work!

Clara and Marion Again

Some better photos of Clara, with her actual wig. I never thought that the Kurumi wig would look better on her.

I painted the Marion yet again... still no name, no character. I don't know what to think of her when I look at her. I think part of the reason is that I don't ever favor blonde dolls, so this is a new thing for me... she's just so... fair. @_@ Please let me know what you think when you look at her!!! I need some inspiration for her character and my brain is all wrung out. XD

Faceups Done, No Success to Report... :(

I've finally finished the other two faceplates' faceups. The first is a mod on the closed-eye Latea faceplate. I wanted it to be very anime-and-art-like, kind of like a resin Dollfie Dream or the bjd version of Blythe. I plan on getting animetic eyes at some point, so that she doesn't look like O_O all the time. She will have oddly colored hair, as well, to amplify the anime effect (I hope). I opened her eyes with a Cera-kanna knife and sanded the edges, then sanded off a lot of her nose.

The Marion faceplate didn't turn at all how I'd hoped. The expression is too bleh, the palette too plain, but that's how she'll have to be for a while. I posted so much of the Latea faceplate last time that I didn't want to post her here - she still has the same faceup, so nothing new anyway.

I wish I had the money and the time to invest in an air brush, although with my poor faceup skills it might be a waste anyway. I've redone these faces a billion times and I can't seem to get it right.

I finally got them faceupped, sorry, no tutorial...I don't think I'm good enough to give advice yet lol. I was really frustrated, I think I actually got worse at doing eyebrows and lower lashes. I'm really considering sending them away for a commissioned artist to do, I'm just so frustrated with the way they turned out. I got many more worthwhile pictures out of the Latea faceplate than Marion, even though I feel more connected with the Marion's personality. Still no names... Any suggestions welcome? I'm thinking that they could both be characters from my in-progress book project....

I love the Zero default wig! It's so soft. The only problem is that it has a TON of flyaways....

Assembling the Zero - NSFW, NAKED DOLL

(All of my lovely faceplates, the eyes, and the wig... )

So, in case you didn't get the memo, this post is NOT SAFE FOR WORK. It contains nekkid dolls and their nekkid parts.

Now that that's over with, allow me to explain. I recently obtained an Unoa Zero by 'trading' my Kurumi (selling, buying). I was really terrified of putting her together, but to be honest, it was a LOT easier than I thought it was going to be. I took pictures of the process and it's really just like stringing any other doll. The only part that takes explanation is the slots and the small part for the knee capsule joint, and that's only because I was being dumb. The arms were assembled for me, by the previous owner, but the strings were too loose and I ended up redoing those (sans picture-taking). The included directions were spot-on, that I could see!

And without further ado... :

Just took some pictures of the parts that I had out.

I started out with eyeing the slots in the capsule joints... hmmm...

By carefully studying the picture in the instructions, I got to this point. I didn't thread the wire through the hole in the small slot piece, I threaded it through the capsule joint itself.

Both wire ends go up through the leg...

... and are twisted together securely using little needle-nosed pliers.

Basically, after that, it's just like stringing a normal doll. This is me using a retarded red twistie-tie to push elastic through instead of some smarter tool....

Fold the elastic until it has four even loops, like a four-leafed-clover... then, make sure to somehow secure them at the midpoint. I used another twistie-tie. Then, thread the ends to the bottom of the leg and hook the foot around the end of the two loops. Bottom half completed!

Here she is standing: as you can see, her knees don't quite fit into the tops of her shins.... :(

After threading the loops through the arms in the same manner as the legs, the top half of the torso is completed. All that is left to do is hook the bottom of the last piece of elastic around this huge hook in her abdomen, and then thread it up through the torso and the neck to secure her headback/headplate.

She's all together now! As you can see, she can stand, but not without some magical trickery... her bottom just wants to throw off her balance due to the lack of strings connecting her legs/torso like on other dolls.

I have already sanded her nipples off. I hate it when doll nipples poke through clothing, so I figured I'd head off the bra-buying problem at the pass....

Her lovely sleeping Latea face. I used it because it looks so tranquil, even without a faceup.

Overall, I like the Unoa Zero body's shape and sculpting aesthetic, but the balance is all off for me. People hail Araki as a genius, but I have seen Fairyland do better with their engineering. He is no doubt talented, and I absolutely adore my Zero! However, the quality is lacking for the price he demands. The knees have the characteristic Zero chipping, the resin is uneven around her arm joints, and the bottom-heavy construction makes it hard to really take advantage of her wonderful capsule joints when she's standing up. The resin also looks very plastic-y compared to my Bluefairy SF May, and my Switch Hahwa head. Also, color-wise, she is paler than my Switch head, which is supposed to be a good match for Volks Pureskin. I know that she's not easy to hybrid due to her neck, but for anyone looking to consider, I do not think it would be a good idea to pair her with a volks head without some light blushing.

I hope this helped anyone that was curious about the Unoa Zero's assembly and construction! I'm going to do her faceup in around a week, so I'll try to post some photos of that, although I think I'll just end up rushing through it so that she feels 'completely here'.