Advice to my past self
Hello! I’ve been wanting to talk for a while now about the things I wish I’d known before buying my first BJD. I’m really happy with my doll collection right now and plan to expand it, so it’s not that I want to get another BJD, but I’ve learned a few things along the way that I’d like to share.
I also think some of these tips can apply to other collections.
There’s no rush
You don’t have to buy your first doll right now. I know you’re really excited, but there are so many stores and so many artists that it’s best to take your time. Don’t let the fact that a doll is a limited edition make you feel like time is “against you.”
Your first doll doesn’t have to be your favorite
You usually fall in love with one doll above all others, and almost always, it ends up being the most expensive one. For a hobby you’re just starting out with, starting with a cheaper option—one that you still like—is enough 💗.
You might be absolutely certain that collecting BJDs is the hobby for you. But if you’re not sure or can’t afford the money that’s often required, why not start with a trial doll?
There are plenty of options out there now—it doesn’t even have to be made of resin.
The blank doll
Even if you plan to do the face up yourself, I recommend that the first one comes “ready to play”—that is, with her face up done. Unless you’ve already secured a spot (and the budget) to send it to an artist, ending up with a blank doll can be frustrating.
You can start looking for and buying the wig, eyes, and clothes while you wait for her to arrive at your home.
Practice head
Sticking with the topic of doing your own face ups, it would be best to buy a cheaper head (without a body) to practice on. Your first attempt—and probably your second, too—won’t turn out very well, but that’s part of the process.
At least in my case, the first blank dolls I bought sat around for years without any face ups because I was afraid of ruining them.
It’s also possible that, like me, you’ll end up not liking doing face ups, even if the results don’t look bad. I think I ended up with several really pretty dolls, but I hated the whole process.
Finish one doll before buying another
Or at least get it to the point where you can actually do things with it. It often happens that the plans we have in our heads and what we actually end up doing move at different paces. Having 2, 3, or more unfinished dolls sitting in their boxes isn’t much fun.
Let’s make progress on one, and when it’s ready—or almost ready—we’ll buy the next one.
The importance of looking at your dolls
Sometimes, being part of this hobby doesn’t mean you have to be actively working on your dolls. It’s enough just to walk by their display case or shelf and admire them for a while. Smile, because you’re looking at something you really love.
I think if I’d had a place to display my dolls, I would have kept at least Ashes and Bleater. Or maybe not, because I wouldn’t be able to redo their face up if they got damaged 😑. But they’re the ones that had that potential.
Ignore everything I just told you and follow your heart
If you’re like me, you’ve probably already decided on a doll, or your head is full of plans. Or maybe you’ve already done all the things I did. It’s all good 💛. I don’t think anything I’ve done has been a mistake at all.
Even if someone had told me what I’ve written here, everything would probably have happened exactly as it did, but if anyone feels like hearing a bit of advice, here’s what I’d say.
We might not all think the same way, and that’s great 🥰. I’d love to exchange ideas about this in the comments.
Scattered throughout this post are some of my favorite photos of my BJDs from back when I had them. Here’s my Flickr account in case you’d like to see more photos.
I realize now that my favorite dolls from that time are the ones I ended up doing their face ups myself, even if they weren’t perfect. Although it’s no longer something that interests me, I’m very proud of what I was able to accomplish, and with this post, I’m finally closing the chapter 📕.
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