Note

With more drama on the horizon, let me just restate a few things:

• I do not recast or bootleg dolls or any other product.
• I do not send dolls to recasters.
• I do not distribute bootleg dolls.
• I have no ties to recasters. I don't talk to them, I don't know what dolls they're getting. I don't know how they get them or when they get them. 
• The purpose of this blog is not to provide a venue for bootleg sales, but rather to provide information on bootlegs and how to tell the difference between bootleg and legitimate dolls.
• I do not benefit financially from running this blog, especially concerning bootleg products.
• I do not tell people how to contact recasters.
• I do not contact recasters on behalf of others.
• I do not buy recast dolls on behalf of others.

No matter what your stance, remember bullying is never the answer.

Peace,
Amaranth

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 30

Last day! This was a fun daily writing exercise. I might do more for character development or something. Most likely not though. XD

Have you ever been to a doll meetup?

Kinda. I have met a new real-life doll friend and we get together sometimes, but I've never been to a large meet. I'm kind of scared to, to be honest. It's easy to hide behind anonymity here on the internet. My local group is pretty much anti-recast. I'm a bit unsure of how to proceed. I guess we'll see what happens!

Hopefully we'll get a big meet together this summer.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 29

Post a picture of your dolls exploring the outside world!

Not a doll but:

The creek at our ranch:

And Minion is done exploring and ready to go home:

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 28

Post a crazy/silly pose!


I've shared this one before but...



And this one...

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 27

Do you have a favourite out of your own dolls?

heh heh...yeah. It tends to change though from time to time. My favorite is whichever one I'm currently obsessing over/spoiling.

Minion is probably my all-time favorite though. How could he not be?

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 26

Done your own faceups?

Yup, I do all my own face ups. I'm too cheap to send them out to people with any real skill, so I make do. Generally I'm pretty satisfied with my work on my own dolls, but working on others' dolls really fills me with doubt. I still keep on keepin' on.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 25

Have you ever modded a doll?

yup! I've done lots of eye openings, and I did my first elf ear and fang mod recently. I also made a steampunk dragon, which you've likely seen. :3

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 24

What about your favourite part of the hobby?

The photos! I could stare at doll photos all day. I LOVE seeing all the photos people take, no matter how artistic or, er, less artistic they are. I love sharing doll photos, liking doll photos, having my photos liked and favorited. I like to leave nice comments on people's work that don't have a lot, because I know how good it feels to receive a nice compliment.

I also enjoy rambling, blogging, and teaching others about dolls.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 23, a Rambling, Whiney, Rant

Is there a part of the BJD hobby that you dislike? Yup, the self-depreciation that comes from it.

Yeah, there's a good chunk of the community I don't like. Sometimes I'm not as good at blocking those parts out as I'd like to be. It's not even the confession blogs that bother me so much as certain specific people and the weird fan clubs they seem to get for no reason. I'm not saying this out of jealousy, though it is petty (I'll be the first to admit that). I can respect skill and talent, even if I am jealous as hell of that talent. It's the people who don't have the skill yet act like they're muses' gift to the world that drive me crazy. And just to put it out there I can admire skill even if it's not in my style, so personal preference has little to do with observable, technical skill.

I am not a naturally talented artist, nor have I ever been.  I can paint a doll's face, but I'm nowhere near the skill of the artists I admire, like Delicate Reflections, Andreja, and others like them, and I probably never will be. I'm a Jack of All Trades, almost, passable at a great number of things but master of none. Except maybe writing. I'm totally fucking cocky about my writing.

I am the only "artist" in my family, and I've never had any lessons or classes. I use quotes because I don't really consider myself an artist, because I don't feel I have the skill to call myself one yet. At the same time, I'm old-ish. No one cares about an almost 30-year-old and their struggles. The community is obsessed with the teenage "prodigies" and ignores everyone else. But that's going to veer me into discussion of my inevitable, early midlife crises and the cult of youth that permeates our society.

Everything I can do now is the result of over a decade's worth of struggle, trial, and error. It is painful to see that go unrecognized sometimes. and it hurts my confidence when I see others not as skilled as I am at some things get more recognition then me, to see them whine and cry and get nothing but ass pats and support, when I'm barely functioning and keeping it all to myself- and that's TOTALLY FUCKING PETTY of me to feel like that. I shouldn't feel that way.

I HATE that about myself. 

It's something I'm working on. Please don't judge me. It's a flaw, I know. And it probably makes me a bad person or at least someone who places too much value in the opinions of others. I've blocked the main "offenders" and that seems to be helping somewhat. If the temptation to bitch at them or about them isn't there I can start moving forward.

I try to be as empathetic and supportive as I can, even if it's someone I dislike. I may bitch about it privately, but I'd NEVER want someone to feel for even an instant what I feel most of the time.

Anywho I'm sharing some of my deep, dark, anonymous internet-stranger secrets, so Ima wrap this up.

Oh yeah, I also hate how dolls suck up all my spare money and free time. I think we can agree there. I'm also fucking sick of the minifee hate. Don't like it? Don't look. Want to see more variety? post more instead of bitching.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 22

Sorry for the pointlessness of this particular strain of posts on the blog. XD

What’s your favourite doll scale prop?


My tiny tarot cards and the spellbook I made, without a doubt!

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 21

One doll you love, but will never (probably) buy?

This girl.

She's a Peakswoods Vampire Goldie. I've wanted a Peakswoods since i got into the hobby, but something always stops me (perhaps because they don't suit my aesthetics or ideas for characters, I dunno though).... so I imagine unless I win the lottery, I'll just keep admiring them from afar.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 20

What is your dream doll?

I have all my dream dolls. :3

My grails were/are: CP Soony, VE Chloe (nanuri '10), Juri '08, and my F60 Nanuri A

I need to get a pic of them all together once my Juri arrives. Nanuri still needs her own body at some point. I guess if I had a grail or another dream doll to save up for that's seemingly unobtainable for me, it'd be CP If and Latidoll Bat Children Noa.


My incoming Juri (her current owner's pic):

Target acquired!

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 19

A least favourite company?

I'm not a big fan of most RS/5SD/BBB dolls. There's always a few that surprise me! In the hands of the right owner they can look amazing. In general though the aesthetic, especially of the bodies, just isn't my style.

I feel a bit...awkward admitting this, since most people assume the main reason people don't like those companies is because they are cheaper. honestly though, it has nothing to do with that.It's the same deal with most Volks sculpts too.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 18

Do you have a favourite company?

I'm not sure really. There's a few I like. Some I just love to look at the dolls others own. I own mostly Fairyland dolls, so I guess that's my favorite company. ^_^ I've fallen in love with Migidoll boys so they may be a new favorite. XD

<3

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 17

What is your favourite item of dollie clothing?


That's hard to pick....hmmm.... probably this corset. :3 It reminds me of mine.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 16

Can any of your crew stand on their heads?

Yup! I've gotten my minifees to do it, and my pongpong once. Granted, they were supported by their hands for balance.

Here's the only semi-headstand picture I seem to have taken though.

Nine9style Clothes Review

I've wanted to order from nine9style since I first got into dolls, and after several years of cheaper, ill-fitting clothing I decided to take the plunge and see if nine9 really was everything I'd heard it would be. I like nine9style clothes because they are realistic and in-scale. There are no giant buttons like on clothes from Alice's Collections and similar taobao sites, which was a huge plus to me. I didn't order much this time around (Nine9 is pretty expensive), but I thought I'd share my experience with these few things.

The box!

Communication: 5/5
I received an automated confirmation email a few hours after my purchase. I received a shipping notice about a day after I ordered. I was pretty impressed.

Ease of payment: 5/5
I just went to the site, added crap to my cart, and paid via paypal.

Quality of items: 4/5
The only small flaw is that the white turtleneck is fairly see through, and needs a shirt under it or nips show through.


Now on to the fit! I wanted these things specifically for minifee, since they are a pain in the butt to clothe in realistic looking clothing (unless you want to pay $40 for a pair of doll pants).

White Turtle Neck


Fit: big and roomy, would work better for a boy.
Overall quality: 4/5












Brown Stockings

Fit: fine, like any other msd stocking really
Overall quality: 5/5

Black Pleat Skirt

This stupid skirt I've wanted since I got into the hobby, and I'm so glad I finally got it. It is a little roomy at the hips, but still looks really cute. I'm going to alter it to fit a bit better.

Fit: 4/5
Overall quality: 5/5






Black Skinny Jeans

Ever slightly so roomy at the hip, but looks super great, especially under a corset. They have this extra little snap on the fly to help hold the pants closed and prevent that weird thing that happens with doll pants, where the fly always kind of sits open.

Fit: 4.5/5
Overall quality: 5/5

Little snap on the fly

And lastly…

Denim Shorts

These are so cute, super short, utterly adorable. They also have that extra button thingy on the fly. Also a teensy bit roomy at the hips, but nothing noticeable under shirts and the fit is still really cute.

Fit: 4.5/5
Overall quality: 5/5


Freebie catalog:

Summary:

Nine9style is great for affordable clothes for minifee that actually look like miniature human clothes. My biggest problem with pants for minifee is that if you want realistic ones, you have to go to Brennil or TTYA and pay like $40 a pop. If you don't mind them not being realistic, any of the etsy sellers make ones that either don't have buttons or are just leggings.

I paid in the neighborhood of $20 for most of these items, some a little more, some a little less. They're better than anything I've found on taobao so far, and definitely better than anything I've gotten from Dollmore. I could also just be biased. XD

Taobao is still good for shirts and socks and such, just fyi, and I'll have another big post coming up about that in a month or so, whenever the order gets placed and the stuff actually gets here.

Addendum: I also got the pleasure of owning some secondhand nine9style clothes I thought I'd discuss.

I have one of the basic tshirts, in pink. I bought it a long time ago. The stitching is amazing, but like the other light fabrics is a bit see-through.

I also got these jeans second hand. They are sooooo soft and perfect. Clearly worth every penny. The little top she's wearing is also nine9style, and it's utterly perfect. I really have a new favorite company for doll clothes!

Thanks for reading, and happy collecting!

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 15

What do your family think of your dolls?

I think I mentioned this on the friends day, lol. My family just thinks I'm weird, but likes to see what I paint. My in-laws find them really creepy, especially when I'm changing eyes and stuff. XD They're all really supportive of the art side of them though. I just keep the cost of the dolls to myself. I don't want to deal with the judgment that'd come of that. XD

This would terrify them, lol.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 14

Have you ever had a floating head? What about a headless body? (What do you think you would do if you had either?)

I have had a lot of floating heads.... a lot. Right now I'm up 4. I'd have 6 if I didn't have two bodies on the way. I'm trying to sell off most of them though. They're driving me crazy. Plus I just feel the need to slim the collection down.

I just always feel bad when they don't have bodies of their own. XD

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 13

Dollie shoes! Show us how many you have! haha, omg, I have so many pairs of shoes.

I have about 9 pairs of MSD shoes and about 16 pairs of SD shoes. XD I only have a picture of the SD shoes (except for the one pair Jack wears).

*note to self: update this with all the shoes together*

Here's a pic for now with some of the SD shoes:

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 12

What do your friends think of your dolls/dolls in general?

My friends just chalk it up to another of my weird quirks. They find the dolls themselves unnerving, but like to see the artsy-fartsy things. My family is the same. The dolls scare them, especially when they see parts laying around or I'm changing eyes.

I have a couple real-life doll friends, so that's nice. :) And here's a Danbo, just because.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 11

Looks like this one was skipped, so I guess it's a free write.

I have learned through collecting all these dolls what I really like and what I just like to look at it. As much as I enjoy the amazing fantasy dolls, like DC and such, I really don't like to own them. I like little animal dolls, adn I like dolls that look like real little people. Maybe they're plain or boring. I don't know. But nothing makes me smile like a tiny pair of perfectly scaled jeans or shoes. XD I just love tiny things. Hopefully I'll be able to scale back my collection to really focus on a few and spoil them rotten.

My goals this year are to get each of them the perfect, high quality eyes and narrow down wigs and such. Once that's done, I'll focus on their clothes. I need to get rid of my old, cheaper stuff and replace it with the high quality stuff that meets my standards. Plus, Jack just needs better casual clothes.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 10 (a sad one for me)

Post a picture of a doll and an animal!

Well I don't have any pets anymore, so I'll have to share this really old pic I have. This is my old kitty, Itty. I don't have him anymore, and my Fat Cat passed away a year ago. *sniffle* RIP kitties. I miss you dearly!

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 9

What is your least favourite size?

Definitely YoSDs. I really just can't bond with them. Everyone I've had except my anthros I've sold. At some point I want a littlefee Chloe to be Jack and Jill's daughter, but I'm worried I won't like her. They have such cute clothes and things that it makes it hard to resist. I feel like the main reason I haven't liked them is because I already have so much crap for SDs and MSDs that I don't want to invest in items for a whole new size. We'll see how I feel when I finally get around to getting her though.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 8

What is your favorite size?

My favorite size is SD by far. Best clothes, best shoes, easiest to find things that will fit. XD My SDs are so spoiled. My next favorite size is minifees. I don't like any other MSDs really. Minifee have the cutest faces. :3 Like my gorgeous Juri.

These are my three favorite dolls though, currently:

My nameless minifee Celine I modded to be a vampire:



Minion, my adorable and feisty dragon:



And Junko, my sassy Soony:

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 7

Smallest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)

My smallest doll was a pukifee Pongpong, but he was just too small. So I sold him. My smallest now are my anthros. Most of them are about the same size. Someday I'd consider owning a pukifee or lati yellow, but no immediate plans for any.

I want to see a real puki in person someday. I can't imagine a doll that tiny!

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 6

Biggest size you own? (Have held/seen/like)

The biggest doll I have is Jack, my Feeple 60 Mirwen boy. The biggest I have ever held and seen in person is an 82cm (but I can't remember the company). He's huge! Almost as tall as my toddler. XD

Someday I want one of the big Dollmore girls, either a Trinity or Lusion girl.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 5

What/who was the very first BJD you saw?

Many years ago I was looking for a picture that would represent a DnD character of mine. I found this blonde girl that was nearly perfect. I didn't know it until years later, but she was a doll...a Volks Nono I think (or a Four Sisters I think). I thought was a little computer created girl or something.

Years later, a coworker decided my pictures looked like her dolls. She brought her littlefee in for me to play with, and I was hooked. I could not stop touching her perfect little face.

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 4

What/who was the first BJD you ever owned? Do you still own them?

The first doll I ever owned was a JID Tania. I bought her second hand from a girl in my state. I sold her several months ago, and I kind of miss her sometimes. However, I did not like the JID body, and she didn't fit in with my collection anymore. She has a wonderful new owner who sends me pictures of her sometimes, so that's really nice. ^_^

Sortly after buying her I bought a minifee head and was hooked on minifee.

This was my first doll, in the first photoshoot I ever did:

That was my first face up as well, lol. Everything has gotten so much better in four years!

30 Day BJD Meme: Day 3

Post a picture of all your dolls!

Like...the whole family? 0.o

Well, I kinda did this yesterday, but here's a collage. :) There's no way I'd be able to get them all together in one picture without a babysitter for my kid lol.

30 DAY BJD meme: Day 2

Do you own any dolls? If so, how many?

Heh. I own a decent amount of dolls. I'd consider this a fairly average collection, not as large as some, and will probably be bigger at some point. I tend to change it up a lot, and many dolls come and go as my wants and needs change.

Total dolls if you count floating heads as full dolls: 17

This is my current doll family (I think this is everyone, lol):

The SDs

Top Row: Junko (CP Soony), Alora (FL Nanuri A), Roselynn (SDgr Lorina)
Bottom Row: Jack (F60 Mirwen), Jill (F60 Chloe), Bo (SDgr Kira)

legit Feeple 60 Chloe
legit Feeple 60 Mirwen
r SDgr Lorina No longer own
Legit CP Soony
Legit Feeple 60 Elf Chloe (limited Nanuri A) head
R Volks Kira head

The MSDs

Top Row: VE Celine, Hugin (VE Chloe), Rose Red (Mnf Chloe)
Bottom Row: Faustina (DiM Becca), Claudia (DiM Benetia), Zoey (Mnf Chloe)

legit VE Chloe
Legit Celine head
Legit SP Chloe mod head w/recast body
Legit DiM Benetia head
Legit DiM Becca head
Legit FL Juri 08 head
r mnf Chloe on DC Alberta body

The Anthros

Top row: Grimalkin (Pipos Cheshire), Lord Hamilton (AD Ashes)
Bottom Row: Melancholy (zzdf Toya), Minion (AD Ashes)

R Pipos Cheshire
R Aileen Doll Ashes
R Aileen Doll Ashes #2
Legit zuzu delf Toya, limited Alice

Plans/wishlist: Migidoll Ryu, another F60 Mirwen boy, bodies for all the floating heads, ltf Chloe to be Jack and Jill's daughter, F65 Chloe, at least two more dragons for a couple more mod ideas I have, perhaps some more Chloe's to mod into vapmires, and an art doll or two. I'd kill for Bat Children Noa or even just a regular Noa. I dunno. My wants and needs change so much this could be different tomorrow, lol. I'm pretty impulsive with my doll habits.

30 DAY BJD meme: Prompt 1

So, been bored with my blog stuff lately. Decided trying to do the photo a day blog with a toddler is not the smartest idea in the world, so I'm stopping that. I'm going to do these challenge things for awhile, until I get bored with those too. XD They won't be everyday, just weekly or a couple times a week, I dunno. No one reads these things anyway, lmao. But eh. I need the writing practice to keep sharp.

Prompt #1: Why do you like bjds?

I like bjds because they are beautiful. I like to look at them, touch them, play with them. I like to style their hair and their clothes. I love that they are a source of creativity for me. I never knew I could sculpt or paint anything, let alone something as complex as a human face. No, I'm not perfect, and I doubt I ever will be. I do enjoy working on them though. Sewing frustrates me, but sculpting and painting and modding are by far the greatest things ever.

I don't care for other types of dolls really, and I never really have. I had barbies as a girl, but they were always tools to enact the stories I'd write or movies I'd seen. I had American Girl dolls, but for me the best part was all the tiny, realistic props. I made my doll a bed, books, all kinds of things. I loved miniatures, and I still do. I feel like bjds are a fairly "grown up" doll. I don't feel as silly owning them or playing with them as I would any other kind of doll. This is not to say I think ill of anyone who does enjoy other types of dolls, just that they aren't for me.

Bjds are like real, tiny people with lots of adorable miniature things. That's why I love them.

Video Tutorial: Restringing a Minifee

I have finally started working on video tutorials, so here's my latest, totally crappy restringing tutorial: a video guide to restringing a minifee.

 And in case embedding doesn't work you can find it here.