Volks USA website to reopen May 1st!

I wrote in a prior post about all the changes going on at Volks USA.  The physical store closed, and the website went down for renewal, leaving us waiting to see what might happen.  Thus far there have been no announcements of an online FCS, though there is always the potential for some surprises when the website reopens.

They have created a one-off model lottery for the relaunch of Volks USA, as well as creating several new standard dolls.  The store itself is no longer open to the public, however they have said that local customers can still pick up orders.

The April newsletter did also say that when the website reopens, everyone will have to register for a new account as the information from the previous site did not transfer over.  I actually still have my original Volks card in my wallet, and it would be neat if they did that again.  I also hope they keep up their blogs, because those were one of the main draws to the website for me.

So we will see how things go, and what Volks does with this "new" organization.  I'd be ecstatic if they eventually did online FCS, but I'm not holding my breath. At least I can still have friends in LA go pick up my orders if I like, and the store hasn't completely disappeared.  Hopefully things will work out well all around.

BJD Addicts Written Prompt #3: Fantasy Doll

Prompt: What fantasy creature would you like to see as a bjd?

My favorite fantasy creatures are pretty much all currently bjds (werewolves, vampires, and zombies), but I would love to add a ghost to that line up.  I think at this point you could easily piece together a ghost, but it would be neat to have a full set of a doll that changes from opaque to clear resin as you get towards the extremities.  Kind of like Spectra from Monster high.  I'm not sure how doable something like that is, but it would be really cool.

BJD Addicts Written Prompt #2: Dream Dolls

Prompt: If money was not an issue, what would be your dream doll to have and why?

If I had all the theoretical money and was able to spend it on dolls, I would get a Volks Megu (probably FCS) and a Dollshe Bernard.  Other Volks dolls would be runners up (like an Isao or a Shiro), but those would be my top two.  I've always wanted a Megu, and probably always will until I find one of my own someday.  A Bernard on the other hand is a doll I love, but not one I'll probably ever get.  I don't really need/want more boy dolls, and Dollshe boys are both very large and really out of the aesthetic I generally like.  So I would probably only get one if the money appeared like magic, and all my other bills were paid.

BJD Addicts Written Prompt #1: The Wait

I have been watching the BJD Addicts channel for a while, but I've never done any of the prompts.  I'm hoping to do some video ones as well, but I thought these might be easier to start with til then. :)

Prompt: What are some things you do while you wait for your doll/doll things to come in?

Generally when I'm waiting for doll things (clothes, shoes, eyes, etc) I don't do anything special.  Dolls however are another story.  If it's a new doll with a new character, I usually spend some time trying to develop them.  I have a go-to site for questions and interviews I can do to help flesh them out a bit.  I'll write down various snippets about them, anything from appearance to what their childhood was like.

I also like to put together music mixes for each doll.  I have a little tradition that I try to pick a "first" song for each doll, that I play when I open them initially.  Emmanuel's was a live version of Rhiannon for example.  Their eventual mixes usually have songs that remind me of the doll, as well as songs applicable to their story line.

Ghost in the Sun

Super Secret Doll Project Revealed!

So right after I decided I would do some modding to Ghost, I peeked in the marketplace on DoA as I do occasionally and...well...  I came across a Volks School A Head for an insanely reasonably price (like..it was crazy).  He was old and modded and needed some TLC, but he was beautiful and well within my price range.  So rather than mod Ghost's head, I decided to get him a new (to me) one!  

The pretty head itself, gosh he is so lovely! Perfect for my frowny boy.

And the head on the body! Funny story, as I was trying to remove his old head the elastic slipped and I ended up having to restring his legs/torso.  On my lunch break. Boo! But he's whole, and Ghost's eyes fit him perfectly.  I cannot even express how wonderful it is to be able to just pop the eyes in and go (though they do need a little tweaking here). Old!Ghost's head had weird eye wells that were uneven and made adjusting eyes a huge pain.  But not this boy.

Repetitive pictures ho!

 The head needs to be cleaned, which I'll be doing tonight.  Painting will have to wait until I can get back into my storage unit (long story, lost my keys :/).  But even blank he's really lovely!

SSDP

That moment when doll stuff arrives at the post office and you get the update on your e-mail and the tracking page on USPS because you're already updating it every five minutes...

*Edited to add: Delivered! Now to wait until lunch when I can go get the package.*

Super Secret Doll Project...

SSDP will arrive tomorrow! I had hoped it would arrive today, but that is not to be unfortunately.  Tomorrow it is then. :D

Super secret doll project is a go!

I will say it involves Ghost and has me putting those mod plans on hold. But until it progresses, the rest is a secret!

Let's get to work!

When I took Ghost out for photos yesterday I realized that he is in serious need of some work.  Somehow during the move, despite being carefully wrapped up and hand carried, he got scratches on his face. :(  He also has a small chip on one of his eyes which has been there since I got him, and of course his head is a different color than his body.  Given all of that, I think some sanding is in order.  I'd like to do a little more work to his head/neck as well to make it fit a little bit better.  I'm going to stop after work today and get some sandpaper of varying grains so I can hopefully take advantage of the nice weather and work outside.  And maybe an apron too for the resin dust. :)

Ghost came to Easter dinner with me. :)

Happy Easter!

Easter of 2009 was the first time I ever made anything for my dolls.  I had just gotten my big boy (BBB Apollo) and he had nothing to wear. We were having friends over, and I didn't want him to be indecent for company, so I made him a simple shirt and pair of pants.  This Easter I didn't do any sewing, but I did want to snap a few pictures of some of my crew.  

Emmanuel grew up in a large family, a middle child among nine children.  They were extremely religious (his father was a religious leader), which caused a lot of problems for him. However, Easter was one holiday he enjoyed, with its focus on new life and light out of darkness.  He fled his family as a teenager, and while he doesn't really miss them, he does always get a little wistful around Easter.  Luna doesn't like to see people sad, so she keeps him company.  The two have a brother-sister relationship which Emmanuel really appreciates.

Sewing time!

I'm working on some new clothes for Luna this weekend, and here are some of the results. The shirt isn't done, I think I'm going to crop it a little more and I still need to do some hemming.  I have another dress in the works as well as a pair of pants/shorts.  More to come!

More Luna!

Doing some test posing just to see what kind of poses I can get her into.  She's really able to pose so naturally with this body!

New Beginnings

I've been hemming and hawing about Fumi lately, specifically her name. As I mentioned in the meme post, it just doesn't seem to fit with any of the world building I've done with her.  Nor does it really fit who she is now.  I chose Fumiko at the time because I wanted a Japanese name for her, and I liked one of the meanings I've found.  But as happens with some of my dolls, she's really outgrown it.

So, I've decided to give her a new name, one that will fit her much better.  It has some personal significance to me in connection with her arrival, and seems to make the most sense.  Out with the old, and in with the new.  Her new name is Luna. :)

BJD Meme

What are the names and sculpts of the dolls you have at home?

Fumiko (Volks DD H-04 on Obitsu 60 bjd body)

Ghost/Emmanuel (Volks F-10 on SD 13 body)

Uriel (Delf El)

Liam (Volks YoSD Yuki)

Gabriel (Volks Arashi)

Nowell (Volks MSD F-17)

How do you choose names for your dolls?

 In general I usually pick a name that comes to me when I first get the doll.  Uriel for example was a name that kept popping up in my head over and over without me having to search for it.  Nowell and Emmanuel both come from a Tori Amos album.  Liam and Gabriel were chosen in part for their stories, as all the dolls' names are in some respect.  I try to make sure that whatever name I pick factors into their character and story as well.

Fumiko is the only one whose name is sort of out of left field.  I had wanted my DD to have a Japanese name at the time, and I came across Fumiko sort of by chance.  It doesn't really work with any story line I've toyed with for her, so I'm still figuring out what I want to do with that.

Do you keep your doll boxes?


Not generally, no. I have one or two Volks boxes to store clothes in, but that's about it.

What’s the first thing that draws you to a head sculpt?

Good question! I'm not sure there's one generic feature I look for.  I tend to like somewhat strange looking dolls, or ones that aren't as popular.  Take Fumi's head for example, it is certainly not the most popular of DD head molds.  And initially I didn't really love it either.  But over time it really grew on me, and I came to love her sweet smile.

What are your doll plans for this year?

I'd venture to say no more dolls, as I really don't have the room or desire for more.  I do however want to get some more clothes for everyone.  Fumi in particular needs clothes that fit her.  I'm also working on some cosplays for her and I to wear at AAC this year, so that's going to be a big project.

How do you look at your dolls? Are they just dolls to you or do you treat them as something more than that?

To me they are more than just dolls, which is something I've touched on here before.  So I try to treat them with the respect that entails.

Do you normally order dolls with face-ups or without face-ups?

Of the dolls I've ordered direct from the company, only one had a face up (she was limited).  Generally my dolls come with face ups, but I will always do my own once they get to me (aside from Liam).  The process is part of the initial bonding, and getting them to match their character or a particular style I've created for them.

Do you think your characters resemble you (personality, quirks or appearance)? Which ones and how so?

To an extent some of them do.  Early on Daemon was definitely me, after a fashion.  Which in part is why his character didn't really work. He was too much of a "Mary Sue" as it were, which made his story and character kind of boring to write about.  He wasn't very well developed or interesting.

Now, some of my characters may have shades of me in them, but they are definitely not me.  Ghost does have a connection to a town I love, and my own love of the paranormal, but not in the same way.  He is his own full-fledged character, without my own wishes or desires to shape him.  I like to joke that when you start to argue with your own character, then they are definitely their own person.  At this point most of my characters have their own way of reacting to and dealing with things that differs from my own, but is very much them.

When you’re not playing with your dolls, are they naked or clothed?

Clothed!  With the occasional exception, I like to have them clothed and wigged when they're not being played with.  Right now they're all set up in the corner of my room with clothes and wigs on. 

Fumiko!

Some better shots of Fumi on her new body in the only clothes I have that sort of fit. The coat is part of a mori outfit I've been working, and hopefully will finish soon.

Obitsu 60 Part II

Fumi on her new body!  Getting her head on there was a pain, but so worth it.  I will take some better shots in the light tomorrow, but here's a few as a preview. :)  This body is wonderful, and can really pose well, I can't wait to try it out.  I also realized that I have pretty much nothing that fits her. I have a lot of boy clothes, but they are all too big for this new body. She's got a pin-up dress coming in sometime, but I really need to make her something before then I think.  And now I can buy all the adorable girl shoes I want!

Obitsu 60 Box Opening!

It's here!  First a box picture, both of the doll box and the box from Junkyspot.

The metal plate for the body to stand on (the feet are magnetic).

A cute little gift! It glows when you flip a switch. 0.0

Eyes and a few more little gifts!

 Eyes for Fumi!

And the main attraction, the body!

I need to learn how to pose her, but this body is fantastic. And so light! I should get everyone an Obitsu...

The Junkyspot package

The new neck piece, which I will be installing her head on this afternoon.

Stay tuned for part two, where I put her head on the body!