Dolly Talk: The Sound of Music

Since I was little, music has played a big role in my life.  Both my parents were musicians, and I am rarely not  singing, playing, or writing music.  It's not just a part of my life, it is my life in many ways.

I have a habit (okay...addiction?) of making themed mixes.  Sometimes they have an overreaching theme...like mori for example.  Other times they are for a particular day, or even a particular activity.  I have a bunch of driving mixes on my iPod for when I go into the city, each one tailored to the event I'm attending.

My dolls do not escape my music obsession either.  Each active* doll has their own mix that connects to their story line and/or their personality.  Uriel has the most extensive mix by far, but he is also the most developed character.  Nowell just recently got his own mix with some songs I've been collecting for him since I got him.

Whenever I get a new doll, I select a song to play when I open them.  I like there to be a special first song for them to "hear."  Uriel oddly enough didn't have one, I hadn't finalized this practice when I got him.  Granted he now has more songs than anyone else.  Nowell 's song was where he got his name, "What Child, Nowell" by Tori Amos.  Arashi's first song was "Hills and Valleys" by The Rocket Summer.  Sometimes the song is influenced by the idea I have for the doll, and sometimes it influences the development of the doll.

I knew what new doll's song would be even before I paid him off: the live version of "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac.  That is a song I actually sing at open mic, but I had never heard this particular live cut before.  I stumbled upon it while poking through Fleetwood Mac's discography on Spotify and there it was.  It's mysterious, and magical, and everything that I wanted for this doll. Oddly enough even as the character may be changing, the music I've picked out for him has stayed the same.

*By "active" I mean dolls I'm currently writing about/working with. Arashi for example is inactive because I don't know what I'm doing with him.  Right now Uriel, Nowell, and this new guy are active.

Dolly Talk: Do your dolls cheer you up?

This is a current thread from the DoA "Discussion" section wherein the OP asks if people find that their dolls cheer them up. The original question pertained to illness (temporary or continuous), but has been expanded to include bad days, depression, and so on.

Personally, I've always found toys* in general to be a big help at the end of a bad day, whatever the reason. this has only continued to be the case with bjds, though probably more so with them now than any other part of my "collection." As a child toys played an important role in my life as friends and confidants. Bjds have gone beyond that because of their interactive nature. One reply on the thread stated this in particular, talking about how many of us go from just owning bjds to sewing and painting for them.

Above all though I think bjds provide me with a great escape from this world when I'd prefer not to be here. Just like some of my favorite books and movies, they lure me into another world where I can put my real life problems aside for a time. Whether it is through writing, crafting, or painting them, I enjoy this departure they provide.

If nothing else they help me remember to pause on busy and/or stressful days. Sometimes I just keep going, believing that if I can just get to the proverbial end of the line, I'll feel better. The dolls though offer a small distraction, even if it's only for a few minutes of dressing or posing. In that time I can relax and collect my thoughts, making the subsequent time considerably less stressful.

Dolly Talk: The Color Question

When I first saw Nowell in the DoA market place, I knew instantly he was special and would be part of my dolly family someday. The only question in my mind was about his color. My first doll (RS Ju) was white skin, and despite my initial love of her coloring, it became something I truly disliked quickly. So when I received Nowell I was a little apprehensive. Would he be too white? How would he fit in with the rest of my NS dolls?

Needless to say I love him, and his coloring is surprisingly a part of it. I think they key is correct blushing/highlighting of certain areas. Or maybe it's just the magic of Volks. :P Either way his pale color gives him this ethereal look at times, but isn't so obvious all the time to bother me.

This brings up something that I think every potential doll owner should consider before they buy any doll, but especially their first. The skin color! I know it seems obvious, but it can be more complicated than one might think. Normal skin, white skin, tan skin, purple/blue/grey etc. resin? How does it yellow (will it turn yellow or even green)?

As I mentioned my first doll was WS, and while I loved her paleness originally it didn't last. I will say that I should have done more research about everything before buying, but definitely about her coloring. I found that that particular white skin was just too unnatural for me and not versatile enough. Eventually I ended up dying her tan, which still didn't quite work for me. So it's important to consider the color in the long run.

Also, every doll will yellow over time, so keep that in mind. Depending on the company and original color, this can mean many different things. Normal skins (pink, yellow, and normal) will usually go a bit yellow though to differing degrees. Uri for example is a Delf El Type 1 and he is definitely an almost buttery yellow. Very noticeable, but I like it so it doesn't bother me. White skin will either yellow or even go green. Nowell has yellowed, but he turned a more creamy yellow, almost like off-white paper. I know of some CP dolls in white skin that go green. Tan also yellows in different ways, most notably a lot of it can go green as well.

Which brings me to another important point: colored resin. Some resin is colored through and through, while others are just colored through the first few layers. That's why sanding colored or tanned dolls isn't always advisable. Once you sand off the top layer you will end up with a lighter or different-colored resin beneath, making for a blotchy doll. So keep that in mind too! :)