Dolly Researching

It's been a while since I did a branch off to help those new to the BJD-hobby with their learning/research... So this entry will be dedicated to that. If you'd rather skip it, feel free, but otherwise, thanks for reading and please read on....

Lately I've been reorganizing my wishlist/doll list from Pinterest... Writing everything down and separating everyone into their size categories. (I'm OCD, so I know this isn't for everyone, but it helps me stay organized...) After I separated them though, I wrote down the 3 most important pieces of information: the height, the wig size, and the eye-size. Now, height and eye-size on a doll-page are obvious, the site lists them both in the measurements area, BUT the wig size might be a little difficult to figure out if you don't know what size wig fits what circumference of head. So here's a helpful tidbit:

Wig line shown here.

Size 3.5 fits heads 8.5-9.5cm round.

Size 4 fits heads 9.5-10.5cm round.

Size 4.5 fits heads 10.5-12cm round.

Size 5 fits heads 12-13cm round.

Size 5.5 fits heads 13-14.5cm round.

Size 6 fits heads 15-16.5cm round.

Size 7 fits heads 16.5-19cm round.

Size 8 fits heads 19-22cm round.

Size 9 fits heads 22-24cm round.

Size 10 fits heads 24.5-28cm round.

Wigs usually only fit those in their size-range, so you have to be careful to make sure you're purchasing the correct size. Sizes that are listed 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, and 9/10 fit from the first range of the first number to the last of the second number, so just make sure your doll falls in those categories before purchasing. Also, not all wigs in the size range given will fit your doll. It's possible to purchase a wig in the doll's size and have it be too tight or too loose. If it's too tight, you can pin it or just purchase a new one, but if it's too big, you can attach velcro to the head to make the wig stay better. Most heads have wig lines in which you can line the wig up to, to make sure the wig is on properly.

Eyes, on the other hand, will fit one size smaller and one size larger than what your doll is meant to have. This means, if they fit 14mm, they will also fit 12mm and 16mm eyes. The pupil size changes with each size though, so it depends on personal preference as to which size you actually put in your doll. If you want them to have big doe eyes, put in a larger size; if you want tiny piercing eyes, put in a smaller size. If you have no preference, try them with their actual size and go from there, maybe your mind will change once you actually see the eyes in your doll.

Picture from BarometzBlue on Flickr

Eyes come in all ranges of sizes, shapes, and colors. The most used sizes tend to be 14mm and 16mm, but some larger dolls take 18mm+ and smaller dolls take 12mm or less.  Eyes can be full round - with/without positioning stems, half-round - with/without stems, double-sided (two eyes on one eyepiece), oval, or petal-shaped (oval with points on two sides). They can be made out of glass, acrylics, silicone, or urethane. Popular eyes are GLiB acrylics and many types of glass eyes. I've heard people say that urethane photographs better, but they are also the most expensive. I, myself, use GLiB acrylics simply because they are inexpensive and look nice once placed in a doll. My only doll with glass eyes is Talia, and that's because I have yet to purchase blue acrylics for her. Lol.  If you're looking for sites that sell wonderful eyes, try Safrin Doll or Ersa Flora. Both sites have amazing eyes and Ersa Flora does commissions. She was the wonderful artist of Shii-Tsuu's Geass Eyes. :) And when I have Lelouch (Island Doll Wallace), I plan on purchasing his eyes from her as well.

Well, that's all I have for now. I hope this helped some of you still learning or new to the hobby. :) If you think I missed anything, feel free to comment and ask, I'm sure I can help you with your questions.

Thanks for reading~! See you again soon!

-The BJD Addict

College Hell and the 'Like's Contest

I did it, as of today I am currently once again a full-time student. I have decided on taking 12 credit hours this semester (Fall 2012), but have to hurdle a financial aid blunder. This is the first time I've ever received financial aid, but apparently, I qualified for my school to buy my books for me for my first two semesters. They didn't notify me until AFTER I bought my books for the second semester. (So after roughly $700 in books had been purchased for the year.) But this year, I'm fighting for it, I'm determined to go back to school and make something of myself. I don't want my children feeling like they can't overcome anything in their lives, and this is a sure way to let them know. (I know I only have one child, but by the time I'm officially a Chinese Translator, I may have more. Lol.)

FL LF Rolly - 25cm

Oooh! And Rolly should be in America soon!! :D Denver Doll Emporium sent me an email saying that Fairyland is shipping their March orders to them soon, so Rolly should be joining them (even tho I ordered her on the 3rd of April, she's basic, so they can just box her up and send her). I'm so excited!! XD She's going to be wigless (and face-up less) for a bit, so I'll just have to dress her and keep her happy. >w< Lol. Hopefully she and C.C. will like one another. :) (Yes, those of you reading and thinking I'm crazy, it's possible for BJD to not like one another. Ex: If you set them down together and they just don't LOOK right. - OR - If you pose them together and they keep falling over. Just go with it, they don't like each other. Lol.)

So, I was thinking about making a contest for a Share and Win event. I'm currently sketching designs for 6 different full-set outfits. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with the one's I'm currently sketching or make up some new ones, but I DO enjoy the idea of a contest... Especially now that I can use the sewing machine properly. Lol. I was thinking about making it go until we get 100 'Like's but we may reach that before I have the designs finished, posted, and voted on, so I'm thinking 150 'Like's should do the trick nicely. :) I already have a School Uniform, Shinto Priestess, Gothic Lolita, a Japanese Goddess, and a Steampunk outfit. I have 4 out of 6 designs mocked... I don't like my last two ideas, so I'm asking on my page. So far, a pirate outfit, a Victorian outfit, and a sundress set have been suggested, but we'll see which one's turn out the best.The outfits are only for females, but hopefully, soon enough, a good friend of mine will get the male MSD-sized doll she's had her heart set on for a while now, and I can make male ones too. >w<

ALSO! GREAT NOTE! I got a job! XD My friend is starting his electronics business and made me the Director of Operations and the Director of Finance (C.O.O. and C.F.O.). He's such a great person with a wonderful personality, and I'm so blessed to know him. He didn't even interview me or anything, he just asked me if I'd like to work for him, let me arrange my hours to fit my schedule, and gave me two jobs. T-T I'm so unbelievably grateful. So hey, if you are in Ohio and looking for a SmartPhone or iPad for a decent price, come visit our FB page: Wireless My Way. It has all our details, prices, and items. :)

My bald lady. Lol.

And, C.C.'s eyes from the AMAZING Ersa Flora came in yesterday! Poor Ersa Flora fell sick during all her orders, so she took longer than she wanted to (not that I cared at all, I just kept wishing her good health :( she was so miserable). She ended up packaging 3 extra pairs of eyes for me, making all 4 eyes she designed for me to pick which set I liked in person! XD I was so surprised to unwrap them all to find FOUR DIFFERENT designs, and all of them the ones she was showing me via email on paper. When she said she was giving two pairs of extra eyes to each person in the same size, I figured she'd just toss two random pairs in there, not go through the trouble of making every mocked pair she designed for me and sending me 3 extra pairs instead!! x_x I was so jittery when I saw them all I nearly cried! Please excuse the baldness and eyebrow-less-ness, I just wanted a shot of her eyes without her bangs in the way and I have yet to have time to finish painting her face-up. Lol.

Last, but certainly not least, I managed to snag a Doll-Zone December 2010 Limited Nono from The Junky Spot. XD He/She is SOOOO CUUUUTE!!! And I feel so lucky!! He/She should fit Kelly doll clothes from Mattel Barbie's Little Sister Kelly. Lol. I currently cannot find any sz 4 wigs I like in a boys style, so Nono may end up as a girl with magenta hair from Fairyland. Lol. But no idea. >w< So! Time to dig out those old Barbies and see what I got. Lol. Hey, maybe they are worth something now. >w< I searched Google for my Ginger Spy Doll, couldn't find a thing! She might be limited, for all I know! XD And apparently, she was African American to begin with, instead of a curly red-headed woman with freckles. Lol.

Well, that's all for now. :D

Thanks for reading!~ ♥