Why I Do Dolls
Hi, everybody! I know I've been gone a long time. Basically, I got really busy with everything and didn't post. I'm back now, and I'm hoping to give this blog a lot more attention in 2020.
So, why I do dolls, that's this post's title. I've been doing dolls for a long time. I think I got my first Tonner doll back when I was 16, so more than 11 years ago--a Nancy Drew doll if anyone would like to know. Since then I've collected a large number of Tonner dolls, and then a few years ago I got my first BJD. In the last few years my collection of BJDs has grown quite a bit, and I love my dolls.
At the same time, I've noticed a lot of hate in the BJD world. There are people hating on each other for where their dolls come from, and where the owners come from: their age, their tastes in dolls, their creation of characters, the list goes on. It feels rather endless sometimes. A few weeks ago, something exploded on IG (I was not involved, and still have no idea exactly what), and then there were a large number of posts from people I follow, talking about all this hate that's being spread around. At least one person gave up the doll hobby (for like the fourteenth time--she'll be back), and others were discouraged and tempted to give up too.
Hence, this post. In a hobby that's so divided (name one that isn't) I feel like it's important for us as doll owners to decide, why do we do dolls? What drives you to collect dolls? Is it their beauty? Their versatility? Do you just like belonging to a "community"? Why do you collect?
I gave this a lot of thought over the last week or so. What are my reasons? I'm a writer and a crafter. I love creating something, whether it's a story or a physical object. I'm going to be an author someday, and writing is pretty much my life. If I go a day without writing something--even just a few words--then it was a very, very bad day. Ever since I was little, I loved crafting a storyline, creating characters, and bringing them life. And dolls give me an outlet for all of that.
For each doll, I get to create a new character. Sometimes I get them blank and can paint them, dress them, give them eyes and hair, make or buy them accessories. They take on personalities, and I often get to see my written characters come to life off the page in a doll. Granted, every doll varies from the written character slightly, but even so, there they are.
Because of collecting dolls, I've learned to hand-stitch teddy bears, sew clothes, make my own patterns (crude though they may be), embellish things like bags, and even make jewelry. In fact, I first learned to crochet my own designs mainly because I wanted to make my sister's favorite Barbie doll at the time an outfit for her birthday. Dolls have inspired me to do things I love doing, and I love that.
So, no matter the hate, I love my dolls. All of them, wherever they come from. And every time I see that hate and am tempted to give up, I remind myself I don't do dolls for the satisfaction of others. I do them for the satisfaction of me. I like my outlet, and I'm not going to give it up just to make some nasty doll owner happy.
The next time you see one side or the other of this hobby and feel angry or hurt, just ask yourself "why do I do dolls?" and if you can answer that question with good enough reasons for yourself then don't let any of the rest of it get to you. If you can't, then maybe a new hobby is in order? Either way, your dolls should bring you pleasure, not pain, or they aren't worth the waste of time, effort, and funds.
Now, on to the lighter stuff!
This year, I want to post on here more often. We're shooting for once a week, possibly on Sundays. I also want to work on the dolls that I have. I have two on order, that will be arriving early 2020, but I don't intend to buy any in 2020 unless something drastically changes. I have so many that need attention, and I'm not giving it to them because I'm constantly expecting/working on a new one, so this year I hope to curb that big time.
I just spent the holiday season with a part-time seasonal position at a department store, so I have managed to build my savings. I'd like to keep it that way too. And now I want to focus on building my craft business. Creating is what I love to do, so create I shall. Finally, I'm going to devote as much time as I can to writing. I have at least two if not four novels that I'd like to finish this year. If you've ever written a novel, you know that's a tall order. If you haven't, then take my word that it's a tall order.
My yearlong goal for my dolls, though, is to get all of the ones I currently have/am getting outfitted properly. I love seeing people post big group photos of their BJDs, and that's what I'm shooting for. This time next year, I hope to post a group photo with all of my BJDs--properly outfitted and painted. Another tall order, so I better get cracking.
In the meantime, let me introduce Axel.
He was a Christmas gift from my mom. He's super adorable and well made. My sister knit his scarf for him so he wouldn't be so cold. He came with blue, human-like eyes, but I gave him the plain all black ones that came with Mimi the Unicorn because they're more realistic for a mouse. Of course, he's actually a Jerboa and not a mouse, but I like to call him a mouse or a rat.
I'm going to make him some clothes today and he's going to be a little steampunk mousekin. He's going to be so adorable, I can hardly stand it. His outfit will also be the first thing checked off my "To Do" list for next year. Of course, when it gets nice out again (snowing right now) he'll need to be painted, but luckily I have plenty of time to decide exactly how I want to paint him.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for more to come in the upcoming weeks. I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!
~SilverStar-Burst
So, why I do dolls, that's this post's title. I've been doing dolls for a long time. I think I got my first Tonner doll back when I was 16, so more than 11 years ago--a Nancy Drew doll if anyone would like to know. Since then I've collected a large number of Tonner dolls, and then a few years ago I got my first BJD. In the last few years my collection of BJDs has grown quite a bit, and I love my dolls.
At the same time, I've noticed a lot of hate in the BJD world. There are people hating on each other for where their dolls come from, and where the owners come from: their age, their tastes in dolls, their creation of characters, the list goes on. It feels rather endless sometimes. A few weeks ago, something exploded on IG (I was not involved, and still have no idea exactly what), and then there were a large number of posts from people I follow, talking about all this hate that's being spread around. At least one person gave up the doll hobby (for like the fourteenth time--she'll be back), and others were discouraged and tempted to give up too.
Hence, this post. In a hobby that's so divided (name one that isn't) I feel like it's important for us as doll owners to decide, why do we do dolls? What drives you to collect dolls? Is it their beauty? Their versatility? Do you just like belonging to a "community"? Why do you collect?
I gave this a lot of thought over the last week or so. What are my reasons? I'm a writer and a crafter. I love creating something, whether it's a story or a physical object. I'm going to be an author someday, and writing is pretty much my life. If I go a day without writing something--even just a few words--then it was a very, very bad day. Ever since I was little, I loved crafting a storyline, creating characters, and bringing them life. And dolls give me an outlet for all of that.
For each doll, I get to create a new character. Sometimes I get them blank and can paint them, dress them, give them eyes and hair, make or buy them accessories. They take on personalities, and I often get to see my written characters come to life off the page in a doll. Granted, every doll varies from the written character slightly, but even so, there they are.
Because of collecting dolls, I've learned to hand-stitch teddy bears, sew clothes, make my own patterns (crude though they may be), embellish things like bags, and even make jewelry. In fact, I first learned to crochet my own designs mainly because I wanted to make my sister's favorite Barbie doll at the time an outfit for her birthday. Dolls have inspired me to do things I love doing, and I love that.
So, no matter the hate, I love my dolls. All of them, wherever they come from. And every time I see that hate and am tempted to give up, I remind myself I don't do dolls for the satisfaction of others. I do them for the satisfaction of me. I like my outlet, and I'm not going to give it up just to make some nasty doll owner happy.
The next time you see one side or the other of this hobby and feel angry or hurt, just ask yourself "why do I do dolls?" and if you can answer that question with good enough reasons for yourself then don't let any of the rest of it get to you. If you can't, then maybe a new hobby is in order? Either way, your dolls should bring you pleasure, not pain, or they aren't worth the waste of time, effort, and funds.
Now, on to the lighter stuff!
This year, I want to post on here more often. We're shooting for once a week, possibly on Sundays. I also want to work on the dolls that I have. I have two on order, that will be arriving early 2020, but I don't intend to buy any in 2020 unless something drastically changes. I have so many that need attention, and I'm not giving it to them because I'm constantly expecting/working on a new one, so this year I hope to curb that big time.
I just spent the holiday season with a part-time seasonal position at a department store, so I have managed to build my savings. I'd like to keep it that way too. And now I want to focus on building my craft business. Creating is what I love to do, so create I shall. Finally, I'm going to devote as much time as I can to writing. I have at least two if not four novels that I'd like to finish this year. If you've ever written a novel, you know that's a tall order. If you haven't, then take my word that it's a tall order.
My yearlong goal for my dolls, though, is to get all of the ones I currently have/am getting outfitted properly. I love seeing people post big group photos of their BJDs, and that's what I'm shooting for. This time next year, I hope to post a group photo with all of my BJDs--properly outfitted and painted. Another tall order, so I better get cracking.
In the meantime, let me introduce Axel.
He was a Christmas gift from my mom. He's super adorable and well made. My sister knit his scarf for him so he wouldn't be so cold. He came with blue, human-like eyes, but I gave him the plain all black ones that came with Mimi the Unicorn because they're more realistic for a mouse. Of course, he's actually a Jerboa and not a mouse, but I like to call him a mouse or a rat.
I'm going to make him some clothes today and he's going to be a little steampunk mousekin. He's going to be so adorable, I can hardly stand it. His outfit will also be the first thing checked off my "To Do" list for next year. Of course, when it gets nice out again (snowing right now) he'll need to be painted, but luckily I have plenty of time to decide exactly how I want to paint him.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for more to come in the upcoming weeks. I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!
~SilverStar-Burst
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