Where I’ve been

      16 Comments on Where I’ve been

Hello everybody! It’s been a long while and I have some much to tell that I’m sure I’ll forget some things.

So I took a break from dolls. Some people sent me messages asking if I was quitting the hobby and I’m very grateful to have met people here that worry about me (and my dolls). It’s not like I forced myself to go on a break, it just happened.

I don’t know about you, but I get easily overwhelmed, and the hobby was just doing that to me. So many doll releases, cute shoes, clothes, diorama things, and I already had spent a lot of money on dolls and clothes that I didn’t feel like photographing anymore. Do you have this realization that sometimes, when you have a goal in mind, you start buying things related to that goal to feel accomplished, but end up taking no action at all? Like people who want to get fit and go get a gym membership and buy workout clothes, but they never end up going to the gym or for a run. It was like that for me. I bought a Pure Neemo, a Ruruko, many Momoko clothes, but everything was just sitting there.

So I started to sell things. I sold Serafina first, my SOOM Tona, and then Frida, my Souldoll Junia. I also have Faolan (Peak’s Woods Leo) and Violeta (Peak’s Woods Sassy Rossy) for sale in my local BJD group, though I don’t mind if they don’t sell. From the beginning I knew I would keep all Momokos and my 2 Pure Neemos, but I needed to reduce my BJD collection and just keep everything at a 1/6 scale or less.

After a while I realized that, since I wasn’t gonna keep that many BJDs anyways, and I barely use my airbrush, I should let that go too, so I sold it. I always found face ups stressful anyways. I feel very accomplished with many of the face ups I did with it, but it was just too expensive of a tool to be kept in the closet almost never being used. If I ever want to start painting dolls again, I kept all the other materials, so I can either buy a cheaper airbrush, or a can or Mr. Super Clear (or whatever similar varnish that I can get here).

I used some of the money I got from the airbrush to commission a face up for my Blue fairy girl, since I never liked the one I did on her. I still haven’t got any updates on my girl, but the artist already got the head. If that doesn’t work, I’ll just sell the doll as well.

I also decided that I already have plenty of stuff to work with so I don’t plan on buying any dolls or any doll related things for now, while I make use of everything I have. Only thing I would like to get is a kitchen in 1/6 scale so I can use all the Re-Ments I have (if I can’t find a kitchen I might just sell the Re-Ments too). Since the arrival of my Ruruko May last year I haven’t bought anything, and I’d like to keep this going as long as possible.

Is there some things I want? sure, I’d love to get more Pure Neemos and PN clothes, specially cute and casual (since I already have enough of pretty lolita style ones thanks to my dear friend Alasse), but that can wait. I feel Pure Neemos are the best posers among 1/6 dolls and remind me a lot of Dollfie Dreams, which I always wanted (and without all the disadvantages like staining, price and big size). I’m in no hurry, with time I’ll get everything I want.

I already started to take photos, mostly outside (venturing myself out in the wild!), but I should have a bigger office space at home soon, where it will be easier to set a diorama up. After all, I already have plenty of things to make a few nice dioramas, I think.

If you want, go follow me on Instagram, I’ll be posting all the new photos there (though I probably will end up making posts about them in my blog as well). I also post Insta stories about my dolls, WIP and other things.

And if you see I start following you, but you thought I already followed you, please don’t be offended. I deleted most doll accounts from Instagram while I was on my break.

Oh and I’ve made some improvements to the blog!! Most are just fixes to categories and such, since BJDs are no longer the main focus, but I also was able to make the blog available in spanish!!! I’ve translated the most important entries for now (mostly reviews and tutorials). but I’ll try to keep translating old content. From now on, every new entry in the blog will be available both in english and spanish. I wish I learned how to do that sooner!

If there’s any topic you want me to write about (or go into further details about anything), let me know! For now I’m thinking how I’m going to keep things going, without being too overwhelmed.

I wish you all the best for this week, and thanks for reading!

16 thoughts on “Where I’ve been

  1. Irene (Solarsenshi)

    Omg it’s so good to see you back again~
    It seems we made a similar move, I took a break from dolls for hobby purposes (but kept focus on my doll etsy only)~ however now I am totally into 1/6 dollies, especially korean artist dolls (as you can see from my latest post!)

    Thanks for sharing what you’re doing now, I am inspired to also clear out my BJD collection more and switch to small!

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      Yasss!!! It does seem we were walking similar paths! I have to check 1/6 korean artists dolls once I lift my auto imposed shopping ban hahahaha, I’ve already seen some gorgeous ones on instagram, but I’m being strong! I really like the idea of expending my pure neemo collection, try out the new bodies and hopefully get some fantasy hair color ones, like pink and lavender. As much as I love my Momokos, there’s not much you can do with them, sadly. And since they all have the same face more or less, well, I can live with just having 4.
      I don’t see myself buying any more BJDs in the future, but you never know.
      Please do post about your plans too, I’d love to read everything you have to say~

      Reply
  2. Musume

    Nice to see that you are back and enjoying the hobby! That is the most important thing, actually!!
    I hope you can achieve everything you are proposing to do!

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      Thank you!!! I’m sure the initial hype will go down eventually, but I’ll take advantage of it while it lasts. I’m glad there was still enough dolly love in me to keep the hobby going so I expect no long breaks in a long while XD Maybe all I need is to manage the hobby to better suit me 🙂 I’m on it

      Reply
  3. Xanadu

    Hi Alejandra!
    I’m so glad you are back and posting again. It seems many of us are going through changes of some sort or another, I have also had time out over the past few months and sold some of my dolls. I understand how the doll hobby can be overwhelming, and you were right to take a step back and reassess your priorities, it certainly clears the old brain of all the stress.

    Although I don’t have Instagram, I shall look forward to seeing what you are going to do with your 1/6 dolls when you post here.
    Big hugs,
    X

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      My dear Xanadu! I’m happy to see I’m not the only one that needs a break from time to time. I think it is very normal to step out a bit when things get tough, It sure did help me!!
      I can see that many people were kind of doing the same and reassessing things. I’m curious to see where all this changes take us!
      Thank you for coming back and checking on me, I’ll make sure to post everything here, so you don’t miss it!

      Reply
  4. Lise

    I’m so relieved you’re back. 😀 I love having you here, no matter what you talk about. If 1/6 dolls work better for you, then it’s a great idea to focus on them and let the bigger dolls go. It comes as no surprise to me, that you like Momoko and Pure Neemos more than BJDs. It was clear months ago that you really liked that kind of dolls. That’s awesome! 😀
    Good luck on the translations! I hope it’ll go smoothly ^_^

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      Thanks dear! I love realistic bigger BJDs a lot, they just never work out for me 🙁 …. And to be honest, momokos and Pure Neemos will never have the same eye intensity BJDs have, you can’t compare painted eyes to urethane 😛
      But we should let go of things that don’t work out. Luckily, I still can work around with my YoSDs. In the end I pulled Faolan out of the sales page, I found some clothes that could work for him and maybe I’ll sell some dresses in the future to buy him some stuff as well. As for Sassy Rosy, I pulled her put too to give her another chance XD see what happens. I played a long time with her yesterday, though I didn’t take any photos, I just enjoyed playing 🙂
      Thanks for coming back to my blog ~

      Reply
  5. Alasse Carnesir

    I am excited to see a new post from you on the blog. I think you should blog about whatever you want to. Don’t put limitations on the content as it’s first and foremost, YOUR blog.

    Have you thought about making a kitchen? MyFroggyStuff from Youtube has some great tutorials using very cheap items to make a 1/6 scale kitchen. I love her tutorials as it doesn’t break the budget.

    I understand your love of Dollfie Dream. I have wanted one too for the longest time but the price is just out of my budget after conversion . Maybe I will be able to get one some day too but for right now, it’s on the back burner.

    I know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed. When I first start a hobby, I tend to get a lot of stuff for the hobby but end up doing nothing with it. Then I just feel guilt and buyer’s remorse. Not a good way to be. But I do agree with you that the 1/6 scale is great for both play, photography and props/diorama.

    I hope you will post more on your blog. I have missed reading your blog.

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      My dear Alasse, thank you for coming back to my blog~ Don’t worry, I’ll post whatever I feel like posting, but I wouldn’t mind if people give me some hints lmao!

      I have watched myfroggystuff videos and yeah, making a kitchen is an option, but I’m not too confident I can pull it off. I know they sell some barbie sized ones for cheap here once in a while, but you have to be on the lookout.

      In any case I have many myfroggystuff crafts planned, I’m just waiting on the extra space I’m going to get soon (at this moment I don’t even have my foldable table for crafts with me anymore and my room is a mess, I literally have a pile of books and dvds and other stuff I’m selling on the floor, that isn’t getting smaller as fast as I would like).

      Oh I hope some day you get a dollfie dream, it’s been a dream of mine for so long, but I know the size won’t work for me, not even for the mini ones. I do, however, plan on getting more pure neemos in the future, sometimes I wish I didn’t put myself a shopping ban, but I know it’s for the best. I do exactly as you do, start a new hobby, get excited, buy a lot of things that I won’t use, then feel guilty. Not a good way to start a hobby!! I’m hoping I will be able to stop myself before that happens next time.

      Reply
  6. Niina

    Great to see you back, blogging and enjoying it again, with some changes!
    I can totally understand you, sometimes this hobby gets a bot overwhelming and one needs a break. And a break is a good thing, makes you figure out what you want to put your energy in. I sometimes wonder if a break would be nice, just to breathe and do something else. Seconds later I find myself sitting by my desk doing a repaint, sewing clothes and surfing the net for new dolls. During this summer I decided to just focus on two things – which ended in just one thing, and that is fine.
    Wonderful with a blog in Spanish too! Not my language, even if the girls studied it during some years in school and I tried to help them with the homework. Learned some words, though. 🙂
    Enjoy the weekend!

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      Thank you for coming back too~ I was afraid no one would read me now haha
      What are you focusing at the moment? customization? I like what you share on IG a lot 😀
      I didn’t plan taking a break, but it’s good that it happened, it made me look at things in a different light.
      Translating every post to spanish is kind of a pain, but I’m hoping more of my local hobby group friend can read me now, since most people don’t understand english,

      Reply
  7. Xaya

    It’s great to see you’re back. 🙂 Thanks for all the comments on Instagram. xD <3 I'm glad if my Inktober pieces made you laugh even a little.
    I've liked the Pureneemo dolls and Ruruko, even if I've not yet bought any Rurukos, I'm sure that day isn't very far. It's good you're getting your doll things sorted. I feel like a small break is good sometimes. I enjoyed summer and butterflies, it was super good to come back to doll things after that. 🙂 I'm so happy to see you again here in your blog too. Hugs!

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      Ohh I truly enjoyed your drawings!!! you are so witty!!! I liked the spin you gave on each theme 😀
      Hope you get some rurukos along the way too, it would be nice to see more people blogging about petworks dolls. I still prefer Momokos much better though haha
      Thanks for checking back here 😀

      Reply
  8. NanaM

    Welcome back – even though I am late…
    I am glad that looked back on here to find so many new posts of you!
    Sometimes it is healthier to step some time back and rethink the hobby.
    I also took some time off and now I am back with new ideas and motivation, but I think the most important Thing is to have fun again… So yay! Now I will read the rest of your post I missed 🙂

    Reply
    1. Fantasywoods Post author

      Welcome back to you too!! I check your blog once ina while to see if you are already back, I’m glad you decided to come back this year!!! Let’s have lots of fun 😀

      Reply

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