Melin at Christmas

Melin, originally uploaded by alington.

This is my DollZone Melin (MSD size, about 17" or 43 cm), who is really due for some more photo sessions. With her eyes sculpted nearly shut, she's one of my more peaceful doll sculpts.

Her outfit is pretty fantastic--an Alice in Wonderland reimagined. I just adore her. Though I maybe should change her into some pajamas, if I can find some that will fit her. She's very sweet.

You can see the rest of her photoshoot on Flickr.

Lady Bee is on order!

Eeek! So excited... my Christmas money is now officially spent. I have a Peak's Woods Lady Bee on order (from Boutique Doll), and I am so excited, I can hardly stand it! She will be my first MSD-sized Peak's Woods doll, and I've been eyeing her for some time.

I'll be sure to keep you updated when she arrives. Now--off to take some photos...

Photos courtesy Peak's Woods.

Sky, body blushed.

Sky, originally uploaded by alington.

Now, with her seams sanded and her body blushed, she's truly become a heart throb. This is Sky, my SD-sized (58cm or 23") Peak's Woods resin girl. I confess, I long to upgrade her lashes to something longer and more glam.

You can check out her entire photo shoot on Flickr. I did take some nude shots (under the moderate safety filter, since they show her breasts), but they are tastefully done.

I used five shades of chalk pastels for her body blushing:

• white
• light tan
• peach
• fuchsia
• chocolate burgundy

I chose them based on her face-up shades. I chose to use very subtle shading techniques, and blended them well. I may go back over her body again later, but this layer has been sealed with Mr. Superclear UV Cut, which I purchased from Junkyspot.

When you do your first blushing, be sure you have a large round brush on hand, and a small angled brush, too. Magic Eraser also helps, and a few Q-tips, too.

Just another quick plug for the Junkyspot--they are in California, and got my order to me UPS ground within three days, even just before Christmas. Fantastic service--included a tracking number and everything. I'll have to order again soon, because I see they have a tiny Bobobie I need. And some eyelashes. And more Mr. Superclear. (Now I'll have to do every doll, dang it. I think Goldie is next!)

Considering Bobobies as a first BJD

If you're considering entry into the BJD world, let me recommend Bobobie as your first doll. Here are a couple of reasons:

1. Price. I know, I shouldn't even bring this up, since it's kind of a taboo subject among doll collectors. But if you don't want a heavy investment, this is a great starter doll to see if you like them. You can get a tiny resin doll (14.5 cm) starting at just $68 without a face-up, and an extra $10 for the face-up. Larger sizes all also available--up to 70 cm--all at very competitive prices.
2. Versatility. If you already collect dolls, Bobobies are some of the few who can share outfits with them. Isabella (and other 27 cm sculpts) can wear some Barbie clothes. Lan (40 cm) can wear Tyler Wentworth (Tonner Doll) clothing. It's great to be able to swap wardrobes with other dolls.
3. Quality. Their price point for the quality is very good. The dolls I have so far have not required sanding--I haven't needed to sand a single seam line, which is amazing. I did need to tighten the elastic in Lan when I first got her, but that was easy. 
4. Construction. It's really a snap to change Lan's eyes and also Isabella's. The way they are sculpted makes it easy. These girls really seem great for beginners (and more seasoned collectors, too).
5. Customization. The dolls are perfect for customization. When you are ready to get into customization, these dolls lend themselves easily to blushing, sueding and even to face-ups.  Head and body swaps are easy. Plus, your initial (relatively) low investment makes them much less scary to work on than a more expensive doll.
6. Dealers often carry them in stock. This way, if you are impatient, you don't have to wait for three months for their arrival. (Some of us are more impatient than others, even after all this time.)

Consider these options when considering your first doll. Sure--you should adore the face sculpt. And posing is important. I don't think my Bobobie poses quite as well as my Dollzone girls, or even as my Peak's Woods. But for the price point (and after sueding)... it's worth considering!

Bobobie Isabella

Bobobie Isabella, originally uploaded by alington.

Introducing Isabella, my daughter Kate's first BJD. We bought Isabella from the Junkyspot. Our first order arrived within three days of placing it online. I was very impressed! Plus, they added some candy (which Kate, who will be nine tomorrow, very much appreciated) in there as well. Everything was securely packaged, also. I highly recommend them, and I'll be ordering from them again soon. They carry Mr. Superclear, eyelashes and all kind of eyes and wigs, in addition to in-stock dolls, for those impatient collectors among us.

Isabella is 27 cm (a little taller than 10.5"), and she's a white-skin Bobobie. We changed her eyes to green (acrylic by Glib). I applied eyelashes, and Kate added some body blush, after I showed her how. I blushed Morphoa at the same time, and we did them together. Isabella is wearing a Faith wig by Monique Gold (size 5/6, the same size as the 12-3/4" Creedy girls, in fact).

Here, and in the rest of my Flickr photo shoot, she is dressed in an older Fashion Fever dress (made for Barbie by Mattel).