bjd_wtf

Index of Doll Care: Do/Do Not, Tips & Tricks

2007-01-15T07:48:15Z

This index is a list of what is safe and not safe to use on your doll. I've researched everything thoroughly before posting, but I still am not liable for any damage caused from using anything listed. Anything that is questionable for use on resin is noted as such. I have coded the questionables as follows: "\" next to it, that means someone said NO, but with no other confirmation or not having used any other product ever. "^" means at least one person recommended it and a "?" means that there was no answer on using this product.

"Sealants"

There are a lot of sealants out there and not everyone is able to get the almighty Mister Super Clear, so here is a list of sealants and whether or not they can be used, according to DoA. Always remember to use a "matte" or "flat" product unless you want your $600 doll looking like Barbie's giant shiny cousin.

DoA A-OK -> (in order of awesome) Mr Super Clear Matte/UV Cut, Model Masters Lusterless (flat) Lacquer Overcoat, Mr Top Coat Matte, Testors Dullcote.

Questionable -> Citadel/Games Workshop Matte Sealer/Purity Seal\\, Windsor & Newton (matte whatever)\, FolkArt/Plaid matte\, Micador matte?, Crystal Kote matte?, Americana matte?, LusterKoat matte?, LUKAS SPRUHFILM matte?, Grumbacher's matte?

NO WAY! -> Krylon Matte, oil based anything!, workable fixatives, stuff with acetone in it.

Paints, Pastels & Varnishes

Yay! -> Liquitex Acrylic Paints, Chalk Pastels, PrismaColor Pencils.

Mebbe? -> regular pencil\.

Nay! -> oil based anything!, sharpie, pen, dark nail polish, Hobby Colour Clear Gloss.

Cleaners & Solvents

Yes! -> Volks Cleaning Sponge, Mr Clean Magic Eraser, gentle dishsoap and water.

Uh, Maybe? -> acetone nail polish remover?\^?*, baking soda, toothpaste.

No! -> bleach, oil-based anything!, colored nail polish remover.

*There has been a lot of debate over whether acetone = bad, so to be on the safe side, I recommend not using it. If you do use it, rinse very well and often with water and wash doll afterward to remove residue.

Chapter Nine: Do-It-Yourself

2006-12-15T05:00:00Z

You can make just about everything you could want for your dolls, from furniture and shoes to eyes, wigs and especially clothes. As much as I'd love to sit down and do a tutorial for everything ever, I'm no expert so for now this will be a link list.

"Sewing Links"

Sewing Techniques

DIY Network
a TON of sewing tutorials and guides
Lily Abello
The most complete sewing resource directory I've seen
About.com
sewing lesson index
Embroiderer's Guild
impressive visual stitch index
The Renaissance Tailor
Demo Section is amazing; 16th/17th century
Dame Helen's 14th century
many stitch examples
WWWearables
Lots of helpful sewing tips
Eras of Elegance
historic pattern listings & tips for working with lace
Marquise
Lots of reference for costuming from different time periods and some tips and patterns
Heritage Shoppe
Needlework/Embroidery reference
Margo Anderson
tips for period costuming
Sarah Howard Stone
buy the book that defines french hand sewing; heirloom sewing techniques

Sewing Patterns

Undead Threads
SD, MSD & Tenshi patterns
Simple Dreams Dolls
SD skirt tutorial
Pink Hazard
SD petticoat pattern
Fenicia
Any Size Petticoat, Hakama & Kimonos
Affordable Designs
Buy patterns for many types of dolls here.
Patchwork Pansy
Buy patterns for many dolls here: 7.5" - 36"
MHD Designs
Basic 60cm patterns for sale here
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111188 - easy 'any size' dress pattern

Sewing Supplies

Tiny Zippers
Tiny zippers, buttons and charms
Goodie Two Shoes
Eyelets & setters. Also features shoe-making supplies
SewFancy
specialty sewing supplies
Tandy
leather: tools, stamps, dyes, buckles & more.
Denver Fabric
all kinds of fabric, notions and decorator quality stuff
Shelly's Buttons
Massive amounts of buttons, trims and all the other little doodads

"Wig Making & Styling Links"

Wig Making
Not in english, but photos are pretty good
Updo Style Wig Making
Not in english, but has photos

"Links for Shoe & Boot Making"

Shoe Making
Not in english, but with photos

"Links for Eye Making"

http://denofdemons.org/showpost.php?p=20451&postcount=1 - eye making
http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42478 - eye making
http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64899 - Unoa Freak eye making translated

"Links for Making Accessories"

Cat Ears
Not in English, but with photos
Doll Carrier
Not in English, but with photos
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5367 - making a violin case carrier
http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7088 - violin case carrier
http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1589188 - making a customized padded doll carrier

"Links for Multiples"

Tutorials

Live Mini
DIY dollie stuffs
NoniDolls Workbook
HOMG Lotsa tutorials

Supplies

DollHouse Emporium
Lots of stuff for Tinies, as well as wallpaper, carpeting and lighting for building sets
CR's Craft
extensive supplies for all kinds of dolls and bears
Rynda Originals
for other kinds of dolls but sells Mohair and LaDoll Paperclay & Online Classes

Chapter Twelve: BJD Related Extras!

2006-12-15T03:51:41Z

"BJD Databases & Indexes"

Gigglegeek's Guide to Dolls
Gigglegeek's Guide includes photos of most BJD's.
Database of Unpainted Heads
See your favorite head sans faceup.
Atziluth
Atziluth is a database made completely of owners' photos. Search mold, company, doll's name, wig, faceup artist and more.
BJD Standards List
A guide to most standard BJDs according to size and maturity.
Database of Wigs
A collection of most wigs known to BJD-dom.
Database of Eyes
Pictures of most eyes.
SD & MSD Owner Photos
Smallwonder's owner submission database.
The BJD FAQ
A wiki about BJDs.
Aimee's SD FAQ
The one that started it all. Although still informative, it's a little out of date.
The Loft's Unoa FAQ
The Loft's infintely helpful FAQ about Unoas.
The Loft's Bermann FAQ
The Loft's infinetly helpful FAQ about Bermanns.
A Hound/Bermann FAQ
Another Dollshe FAQ.
DolliCieux - BJD Ezine
Although now defunct, the archives are still functioning.

"BJD Forums"

*Den of Angels*
The most populated BJD forum out there, with lots of helpful members and a great gallery section.
Den of Demons
The not-so-nice alternative to Den of Angels.
Lilliputians
This is a forum devoted to owners of Tiny BJDs.
Zone of Zen
A small-ish Message Board that seems to be based primarily in America.
Hound Calling
A Yahoo! Group devoted to DollShe's Hound.
Controversial Doll
A Forum created solely for controversial doll photos/stories.
Ethereal Angels
A Bulletin Board on the EA eyes site.
Loose Joints
A smallish forum that is a middle ground as far as DoA/DoD.
Where Your Angels Are
A forum that is completely centered around Volks dolls only.
Cafe Le Psyence
Another smallish middle ground forum, except it features adult & roleplay sections.
DollyKins
A forum focused specifically on customizing.
House of Resin
A smallish forum that features a roleplay section and a tutorial section.
Resinate
A smallish forum that welcomes all BJDs and BJD-related dolls such as 1/6ths & Pullips.
Our Silent Friends
A Yahoo! Group that is second in size only to the 'Dens.

"Yummy!"

Doll-A-Day
Doll-A-Day is a cool blog that spotlights one beautiful doll everyday. By Armeleia.
Mistula
Mistula is an all BJD rock band based in the Phillipines.
OneGreyElephant on DeviantArt
OneGreyElephant does some really interesting, if dark mods like zombies and decayed flesh.
Fully Articulated: Uno's Blog
Uno is a member of Mistula and his blog is addictive, especially if read from the beginning.
NO_ESC: Veritas's Blog
Veritas is connected to Mistula and is their in-house snark. I <3 Veritas.
Arcadia Dolls
Beautiful dolls and gorgeous photography; also the home of Arcadia High School stories.
Sink Into Dream
Amazing galleries and interesting doll variety.
The Loft
A complete site with some really neat photostories and TWO BERMANNS! :p
Silent Wisteria
This site doesn't have a ton of pics, but the ones on it are well done.
Dreams of Versailles & Muted Hitokiri
Two sites in one! 'Dreams...' is for her more elegant dolls, while 'Muted...' is for her modern anime-inspired dolls.
BJD Flickr Group
A Flickr PhotoGroup devoted to BJDs.
FrozenWings BJD
A site featuring some cute Canada-based dolls.
Hounds By Helene
A site about Helene's Hounds, Bermanns and other assorted dolls with extensive galleries.
Evenstar
Evenstar is retired from faceup commissions, but her archives are full of the pretty dolls she's repainted.
Marti Presents
This site is full of doll-inspired works that include photography and some totally *awesome* art stuffs.
Nobody's Playhouse
This site features an awesome slideshow function on her photos.
The Young & The Resin
an index of this doll soap opera
Super Pigfies
a superdollfie pardody series
PonyGery
beautiful doll site containing the largest personal collecton afaik, (almost 200 dolls!)
Resin Hearts
Cherry Soda

"Side-by-Sides!"
I'm sorry but I just can't annotate each comparison link right now; they are too complicated and random and sporadically everywhere! Best of luck finding what you're looking for. A better comparison system is coming soon. :)

KBussman Comparisons
Volks Only Comparisons
DoA Comparisons
No Gentlemen Comparisons
Coco Comparisons
Tinies Comparisons
DoA Comparison Compilation
MC French Forum Comparisons (translated)
More Comparisons from DoA
Girl Comparisons from DoA
More Girl Comparisons

"more resources; unfiled!"</a>

http://community.livejournal.com/dollie_cafe/602.html
http://www.blastmilk.com/dollhouse/links.html
http://www.dollwearbystaci.com/links.html
http://www.crysania.com/angels/links2.html
http://no-gentlemen.net/links.php?exit=english
http://smallwonder.micah68.net/links.html
http://www.pepstarsworld.com/Links.htm
http://www.wanderingmoon.com/rougedollhaus/ddollhausl.html
http://unoa-dream.com/

Chapter Eight: Common Practices

2006-12-15T03:45:13Z

Forum Behavior, BJD unwritten rules, Limiteds, Group Orders & Preorders *&* Commissionables

There are two types of practices that are very common in the BJD fandom that you may not have come across before; creative and financial. The creative practices include: creating a character for your doll, giving them a backstory or creating a website for them. The financially based practices include: the issuing of Limited dolls, Preorders, Commissions and Group Orders.

First we will cover some of the creative practices. It is very easy to assign a character or personality to a BJD because they are so lifelike and can be almost as different as humans are. Some people create characters and then buy dolls to fit those characters, but some people fall in love with a doll and then create the character to fit the doll. This can be done before or after the doll arrives, depending on which you prefer. The first thing that a character needs is a name, just like a pet needs a name. Then an age, race and ethnicity need to be determined. After that, it's pretty much wide open. Some people don't do any more than that and some people write pages upon pages exploring the character they have created including likes and dislikes as well as important events in their character's life or things that make them special. Some people even give them families and lovers, which may or may not be represented by other BJDs.

"Profile, Backstory, & Photostory"
There are several common things that BJD owners do to share their dolls with others, or to enjoy the more creative aspects of the hobby. One of the most common has to do with writing a backstory, profile and photostories about your doll's life. A profile usually lists the character's name, what kind of doll they are (and perhaps wig and eye specs), and some interesting details about their personality, age and backstory. A backstory is what happened before your doll came to you. It can be as realistic as a Mom and her kids or as fantastic as a Demon Mage battling against Unicorns and Dragons. Back stories can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like, and can contain as many (or as few) characters as you want.

Many people take these stories another step by writing photostories. A photostory is told by taking pictures and describing what is happening in them or by writing what each character says. Many good photostories include essential elements like good character development, interesting storyline, well lit photos, realistic dialog and interesting props, poses or backgrounds.

The first thing that you should do when writing a photostory is to decide what is going to happen, how it affects the characters and how you are going to show it with your photos. Hopefully your pictures can tell a story alone and your writing is interesting enough to read without pictures so that when you combine the photos with the story, you have something really fun. The two most important things are the photos and the story. So we will tackle them separately. First the story part...

-Are your characters well developed? Do you have a good sense of how they would react to other characters or situations?
-Is there a plot or story you are trying to tell?
-Are there elements of a good story such as humor or suspense? Do your characters learn a lesson or succeed at something?
-Is there anything fun, sad or interesting happening?
-Are your characters reacting true to their personality in both action and speech?
-Is the story too long or too short?
-If your story is in chapters, can each chapter stand alone and be interesting by itself?
-Is everything spelled properly and does the story make sense?
-Is there a beginning, a middle and an end (or cliffhanger end)?
-If your story is fanfiction or written by/strongly inspired by someone else's work, is there due credit given?

The other part of a photostory is the pictures that you take. There are a lot of things you need to take into consideration when creating a photostory; like your lighting and set when taking photos. The best photos are well lit, focused and in an appropriate background. You don't want to have the perfect story illustrated with photos that are grainy or very pretty except for silly background things like your cat's bum or your dirty laundry. You can draw up a storyboard beforehand to help you lay out how you want your photos to look or to plan the physical actions that happen in the story. If the story is set in a doll-scale environment, make sure everything is in scale; that means if almost everything is in doll size, then don't take photos of them with your people size stuff, either using it or in the background. It's fine to take photos of dolls with people things, but they can really ruin a story set in a doll world. Whether you choose to use doll size or people size for your story, stick to it.

It's important that the characters in the story emote, or show their feelings. Twenty pictures of your doll in the same pose from different angles is not a good photostory. Change their pose and position to other items in the picture such as other dolls or furniture. Think about it...when you talk to your friends, do you stand stock sill and never move the entire time? Consider the composition as well; a character that is going through a bad time probably won't be smiling and centered in a photo. Likewise, a character who is experiencing something good isn't likely to be off to the side with their head down or facing away from the light. Your doll does not always have to be the exact center of the photo, and this is another element that you can use to inject some emotion into your photostory. You want your readers to be able to feel what you are expressing instead of you just telling them. Posing is also important so that it can eliminate the need for boring text such as "She touched his face" or "He turned his back". 'Show, don't tell' is a good maxim to live by when shooting a photostory.

A few last tips: Use as much dialog as you need for each photo so that you don't have to post a very similar photo just to finish the writing part. Funny goes a long way. Make sure that what's happening in the story is what's happening in the photos as well. Plan on taking a lot of pictures that you won't use and only use the best ones. Don't be afraid to try something different, because the whole point of BJDs is to be creative. Set up shots you like and then shot them from a variety of angles and distances, you may be surprised how interesting some photos can turn out when you try new things. Make sure that your doll stays in character throughout the whole story and is the same character in all following stories except for character development.

Just keep in mind that none of these are hard and fast rules, but guidelines to writing a good photostory. The only real rule is that you have fun with your doll. After all, if you aren't having fun, what's the point?

"Doll Sites & Journals"
Once you have your doll, you can choose one of several ways to share it with the world or keep it to yourself. Many doll owners choose to share, so the question then becomes how to share. This is usually decided based on two or three factors: what you want to share, cost and upkeep.

The cheapest and easiest option is just to host your photos on a service. There are many sites where you can do this for free and you can upgrade to a paid account for extra features. You can share your photos or keep them private. Some services allow you to build albums or sets to keep groups of photos separate from each other. You can also choose to post these photos on forums or blogs if you choose. There is little to no maintenance required to host photos other than uploading them.

The next option is a doll journal. Again, there are many sites that offer this service for free. You can pay for extra features or photo hosting on many of these sites although some do host photos for free as well. Since keeping a journal is less intensive, and can be cheaper, many owners go this route. A doll journal is often written from the viewpoint of the doll, but some are not. A journal (or blog) often contains stories, photos and tidbits about the doll. A journal does not have to be updated regularly, but it's more common than not.

The other option is to create a website. You can find some free hosts, but in my experience, they can be difficult to find. A better choice if you want to build a website would be a paid service. A doll site does not need to be extensive or complicated, but some are. Websites can be from either perspective as well, but are more commonly designed to be the owner's. Websites require the most in terms of upkeep.

Free Journal

http://www.livejournal.com
http://www.deadjournal.com
http://www.greatestjournal.com
http://www.blogspot.com

Free Photo Hosting

http://www.flickr.com

Free Site Hosting

http://www.bravenet.com
http://www.freewebsites.com
http://www.freewebs.com
http://www.geocities.com
http://www.tripod.lycos.com
http://www.angelfire.lycos.com
http://www.myfamily.com
http://www.virtualave.net
http://www.free-webhosts.com/
http://www.freewebspace.net/
http://atspace.com

Paid Site Hosting

http://westhost.com/
http://dreamhost.com/

Site Building Resources

http://www.good-tutorials.com/ -Photoshop Tutorials
http://www.crysania.com/angels/dollicons/index.html - doll icons

Help with Writing & Photography

If you are having trouble with your writing or photography, here are a few links to get you started. There are many good tutorials and such out there. Explore, have fun and don't forget to try new things!

Writing

Name Generators
Come up with just about any kind of name you can think of, including totally random ones
Mary Sue Litmus Test
Is your doll too dramatic even for pretend? Find out here!

Photography

Exposure
Crash course in Photography
Photography Tips
About.com
Photography for Beginners

Commission

Tasha Neko of Illness Illusion
faceup
Dark Cradle
faceup
Pepstar
faceup
Melacholy Kitties
faceup & more
Vitta Vera
faceup
Claudine
beautiful elaborate dresses; high-end

PayPal
A lot of people and companies use Paypal for buying and selling.
PayPal Fee Calculator
Use this special calculator to figure out PayPal fees.
Currency Converter
Use this to get a general idea of how much foreign currency is worth.

Chapter Seven: Volks & FCS

2006-12-15T02:39:57Z

Volks stands alone in the BJD community for many reasons; one of which is the great attention they pay to their fans. Not only did they start this craze, but they offer the widest variety of dolls of any company in the market. They are the most recognized name and the most experienced. This doesn't mean they are the best; just the first. They are also the only company whose dolls come with built in UV protection as a standard feature.

"Yo-Tenshi, Dolpa and More!"

Volks isnt just set apart because they were the first, or because they have the Full Choice System. Volks is in a league of it's own because of all the special things that they do for their customers. One great example is Dolpas. A Dolpa is a 'doll party' or convention where you can buy special Limited dolls or attend special events. Prizes are given away at Dolpas and the famous Volks Tea Parties. The prizes are usually a special kind of doll, even smaller than a MSD called Tenshi. A prize can also be wigs, shoes or some other Limited item. Volks has created a culture to surround their dolls in and it's getting more elaborate all the time as the BJD craze spreads into other countries.

Tenshi are small sexless angel-bodied dolls that come in several varieties.

School Heads are special heads that can only be acquired by attending a Volks faceup class. There are three heads so far: A, B and C.

Special Events/Cruise/Tea Party/Dream FCS

Crazy Cool Limiteds...i.e..Chii, Shinku, ect.

Tenshi No Sato/Sumika

"Yo-SD through SD16"

Volks offers several lines of dolls in the resin BJD category. The newest and most mature is the SD16. They are taller than all the other Volks lines at 70cm and have the most adult and detailed bodies yet. So far SD16s are only available as Limited dolls. The molds so far are Yukinojo Sarawagi, Olivia Morgan and Amelia. Volks has not announced if the SD16 line will ever be available as a standard doll line or as an FCS option.

SD13 is the next step down in height at approximately 60cm. There are several standard models as well as Limiteds. Their bodies portray a 13 year old in appearance, hence the name.

SD10 is less mature in appearance but is roughly the same size as an SD13 at 58cm. When you hear someone refer to a Volks as an SD, it is this line they are probably referring to as this was the original line and is the "standard" SD. An SD10 has the undeveloped body of a 10 year old.

SDC are about 16" and Limited. SDC stands for Super Dollfie Cute.

MSD are 41.5cm. There are several standard models as well as Limiteds.

YoSD, Yo Tenshi and Sei Tenshi are about 26cm.

"Full Choice System"

As if Volks didn't already offer beautiful dolls, they also offer something called the Full Choice System, or 'FCS'. The idea of the FCS service is to allow you to build your dream doll. There is a wide variety of choices to make that include head, eyes, wig, and many body options as well as skin tone. You can order special customized faceups and you receive the famous Zoukiemura glass eyes with your doll. FCS dolls are available in Super Dollfie size and Mini Super Dollfie size.

There are two main options if you would like to order a FCS doll: Sato and Sumika. Sato is also known as Tenshi No Sato and is the home of many very exclusive choices that you cannot get in a Sumika, such as sunlight skin and certain heads. Sato is located in Kyoto, Japan and has a beautiful store, restaurant and gardens in which you can take photos of your Volks dolls. Tenshi No Sumikas are more plentiful. There are quite a few in Japan as well as one in Los Angeles, California. Orders for FCS dolls must be placed in person. You can travel to Tenshi No Sato or any of the Tenshi No Sumikas yourself or you can hire a shopping service to order for you.

Here is a list of FCS resources to give you an idea of how FCS works and what you can get. It is strongly recommended by Volks to come in and make all the choices yourself because they go to alot of trouble to make it a very personal and very exciting experience, but if you have to, it's okay to ask or hire someone else to go for you. If someone orders for you as your proxy, be aware that you may not get exactly what you want, especially if they are not a doll person. Volks is not responsible for these types of mistakes and will not fix them.

Cassiel's FCS page
Aimee's FCS page
Usagi665's FCS page

FCS dolls can also be given naming cermonies, or "Omukae". It is also known as a greeting ceremony or welcoming ceremony. The ceremony itself is free, but must be arranged with the store ahead of time because they totally close the store during the ceremony which means no one in or out so there may be strangers watching you receive your doll. This ceremony celebrates your adoption of a special doll just for you. Omukae ceremonies are also the only time that cameras are allowed to be used in the Volks stores. you can also have a memorial photo taken of you and your doll after the ceremony that will be mailed to you later. Of course, everything is a little different and more ornate if you do your Omukae at Tenshi No Sato instead of a Sumika. You can also do the ceremony at another time later down the road, or with a non-FCS doll, as long as it is a Volks doll.

Music is played to set the mood. Your doll is laid on the "altar" in a box surrounded by flowers and a clear lid is placed over top which remains until the end of the ceremony. The store manager comes out wearing a nice velvet robe over his suit and speaks a standard blessing using you and your doll's names. The general jist of the words during the ceremony are that your 'angel' has come down from heaven to be your lifelong companion and to give you happiness and inspiration. Since the words are in Japanese, it's hard to encapsulate it all in English, but it probably adds to the ethereal feeling of the entire ceremony. You then blow out candles to 'breathe the life into your doll'. Special clothing sets are available for purchase, just for this ceremony that can not be bought separately. Volks goes to a lot of trouble to make this ceremony very beautiful and touching. You announce the name of your new 'son' or 'daughter' and they become yours.

Other Volks-Specific Links:

Super-Dollfie.Net

Chapter Six: Accesorizing

2006-12-13T22:40:08Z

There is an entire world of accessories out there for your BJD. There are wigs and eyes to shop for, of course; but there are also chairs, beds, jewelry, toys, clothes and just about anything that you can think of. While these stores are great sources for (mostly) BJD-oriented accessories, its also a good idea to keep your eyes open whenever you are in a store because there are a million and one things you will look at differently when you have a BJD. Everyday items take on a new life and your creativity is the limit!

Many doll companies that you can buy BJDs from also sell eyes, wigs and clothes; some even sell furniture. They will only be listed in the Companies Index; This list is only for sites that deal doll accessories or a large number of different brands of BJDs and accessories. I also will not be listing sites that focus on accessories for Tinies because they are incredibly easy to find. Don't forget to check the Commission listings as well.

"Wigs!"

CanCan J-Series
Kstarr Wigs
JPop Wigs
Monique Wigs
Acquire Wigs
BittenBefore Fur Wigs
Aziza Creations Fur Wigs
Wicked Wigs (Fur)

"Eyes!"

Eyes can range in price as much as they can in color. The most expensive are Glass or Urethane which have more depth and shine than other eyes but don't generally come in patterns. The next option is Silicone, which are soft and pliable and fit well with most any eye well but collect dust more than other types. Last are Acrylic and Plastic which are the cheapest option; they look "doll-like" instead of realistic and often come in the broadest range of colors and patterns. There are also "homemade" eyes made from sculpey and other materials, and are the cheapest of all, but are usually only 'placeholder' eyes to put in a head until the owner buys better eyes.

All materials have their pro's and con's but if you have the money for them, I recommend Glass or Urethane. There are two brands that can only be bought secondhand: Zoukiemura and Antique Rose. They can be found in doll marketplaces online and occasionally on Ebay. Zouks *do* come standard in Volks FCS dolls however. These are very high-end glass eyes.

Often, when buying Glass or Urethane eyes, you will have the options of paperweight, hi and low dome. Some people say high dome eyes have more depth, but low dome eyes are better for positioning the eyes in other ways besides just straight ahead.

And of course, don't forget the eye putty!

http://denofangels.com/sdfaq-eyesq.html

Ethereal Angels Urethane Eye Candies (Mystic & Gumdrops)
Enchanted Doll Urethane Eyes (Regular & Sweety)
Masterpiece Soft Glass Eyes
SchwarzAugen Acrylic Eyes
DropRops Urethane Eyes by Moca
Lauschaer Glass Eyes
EverPurple Urethane Eyes

sells more than one type
Deputy Dolls
wide variety of glass and reborn eyes
http://www.audreysdolls.com/index.cfm?Products=products
http://www.miniworlddolls.com/
http://www.kemperdoll.com/
http://www.globaldolls.com/cart/browse

"Clothes!"
Just like everything else, clothes come in different levels of quality. Some designers are better known than others. Some are more expensive than others. I hope to add some reviews of these factors later, but for now, here is a list of some good places to get clothes for your BJD.

Ajumapama
Softly She Walks
WickedStitchery
Mio
Daybreak
Maria Louisa
Lilliputia's Loft
Candy Violet
FairyWingQueen (wings & clothes)
FeatherFall
Linabeti
BeachGirlNikita
DiefBaby's Doll Clothes
Grave Designs
sells human and doll stuff

"Shoes!"

"Jewelry!"

"Furniture!"

Most of the furniture that you are going to find is going to be sized for 18" dolls such as American Girl and while that is great for Mini's, it kind of leaves larger dolls in the dust. I am making an effort to include some sites that also sell things for larger dolls as well. However, a good tip to keep in mind is that things sized for My Twinn dolls (which are about 23") are usually a good size for the 60cm ranged dolls. Keep in mind that none of the clothes sold for AG or My Twinn will fit your BJDs. Here is what I have so far.

Sew Dolling
This site is AG-oriented, but has some really cool accessories for sale.

Cobblestone Cottage
Again, AG-oriented.

DollMarket
I don't know much about this site, their furniture seems to run the gamut in sizing.

MyTwinn

"Variety!"
These sites sell a variety of stuff for your BJD, like wigs, clothes, eyes, & shoes. Some even sell cool accessories or furniture.

Petite Poupee
CheeryDoll
Dollheart
Pupaparadise
Antina's Doll Supply
for all dolls, but some stuff can be used for BJDs
JuJu's Dolly Mall
mostly for other kinds of dolls, but sells wigs shoes & eyes (Violet Fern clothes?)

Cool Cat
Audrey's Dolls
Miniworld
Just Doll Stuff
Kemper

http://radiotrash.org/dod/viewtopic.php?t=2433
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showpost.php?p=889882&postcount=4 -accessories

Chapter Five: Professional Customizing

2006-12-13T22:26:10Z

Suwarrico Sitting

Some dolls come equipped with a specially shaped slot that allows them to sit like this:
[photo]
This is called 'Suwarrico' or 'Cute Sitting'. This specially shaped slot can be carved into nearly any doll's legs as long as they have a solid ball shape there. This is what it looks like when it is done:
[photo]
Here is how you do it. First you take the doll apart and mark the shapes on the thigh ball clearly with watercolor pencil. (This will easily wash off if there is any left when you are done.) Use a Dremel or other tool to remove the resin inside your marks. Use a fine grade of sandpaper to clean up any scratches and to make your cuts as clean as possible so they will not cut into your stringing as you pose the doll. Now put your doll back together and Poof! Your doll can now do 'cute sitting' poses!

Boy to Girl and Back Again

Changing the gender of a doll isn't particularly hard, but it's not a lot of fun either. It IS a lot of sanding however. Even if you have a Dremel, it's better to do the fine detailing by hand unless you're really, really good with a Dremel.

[insert photos here]

Painting A Whole Doll

Takes a lot of time and patience and a dedication to keeping it painted. The paint will rub off in the joints and will need to be replaced often.

[insert photos here]

"To Dye or Not to Dye: Changing Skin Color"

The first thing that you want to do when dyeing a doll is to take it apart and clean it. First I used a Mister Clean Magic Eraser to get the whole doll free of spots or dirt rubs. After that I washed it with a gentle dish soap and a baby washcloth because any residue can cause weird things to happen. You don't need a baby washcloth but I am paranoid about scratching my doll parts while cleaning them. I then lay out all my parts on a clean cloth in an organized manner so that the left arm and left leg are on the left side, and the right arm and right leg are on the right side. I put the head and torso pieces in the middle. This helps because then you don't get them all mixed up in the process and end up with parts in the wrong place when you put your doll back together. I also take all the S-hooks, elastic, wig and eyes and put them in a plastic bag and set them aside somewhere safe since you don't want to get dye on them. You might also want to gather up some other stuff to dye with the remaining dye. I had plenty left over to dye several pieces of clothes. You may also want to wear some old clothes because dye is, well dye and will stain anything you get it on. Luckily it wipes off the stove if you get it pretty fast. Gloves and/or an extra set of hands and eyes are useful. I had a friend help me and she made sure all the parts matched which helped a lot.

Then, gather everything that you will need: doll parts, dye, dye instructions, gloves, string, scissors and a test piece if you have one. I use the Delf neck piece because you can't see it when the doll is assembled, but you could just use the headcap. You will also need a big bowl of clean cold water and somewhere to hang the parts while they dry. You will also want to tie a piece of strong string to each piece. Remember not to tie it too close to the body or it will leave a line where the dye could not reach. Paper towels can be useful too, since I got the dye *everywhere*.

The next thing is to make the dye. Whatever you use needs to be big enough that your largest part can be completely submerged in the dye. It also helps if it can be thrown out if the dye stains. I use a small saucepot and heat clean water until it's almost boiling. I use RIT clothing dye because it's easy, cheap and readily available. I mix the dye into the hot water and stir a lot. Once the dye is completely dissolved, I lower the temperature to Medium-Low so the water is still hot, but won't hurt me *badly* if I accidentally stick my fingertip into it.

Start with your test piece first so you can see what color your dye will be. Dip each piece into the dye using the string that you tied to it. Each part will take a different amount of time to reach the same color because of the thickness of the resin. Small thin parts like ankle pieces will take much less time than big thick pieces like the torso; because of this, parts where the thickness of the resin change dramatically (such as the torso) will have darker edges since the resin is thinner there. I think it looks pretty natural, but it depends on the color you are using. Do not let the pieces sit on the bottom of the pan or you will burn the resin. Dip for about 30 seconds to start out, and check the color. It helps to have lots of bright white light in the room so that you can match the pieces well. It may take some patience to do all the pieces, especially if you are doing it by yourself. It took me about an hour and a half to do one 60cm girl, but it was fun because I did it with a friend. I recommend doing smaller pieces together such as both hands or both feet. This is especially true of joint pieces like shoulder caps, elbow joints and ankle pieces so that they match each other perfectly and give your doll more balanced color. Nothing looks sillier than one shoulder being two shades lighter than the other, IMO. It also makes the process go faster.

When the part is the color you want, dip it into the bowl of cold water to remove the extra dye. You might have to dip it a few times to remove it all. Not only does it remove the extra dye, but it kind of helps to set the color in as well. If you are really brave, this is when you would rub off a little dye here and there to even the color, but I don't suggest this unless you are really careful and hopefully have some experience in dyeing doll parts first. Then hang your piece up to dry, making sure that it is not touching any other pieces. The dye will pool a little, so hang them with the ball joint down so the dark spot will not be visible on your assembled doll. You can use your test piece to make sure all the pieces match so you don't have to hold all the pieces up the each other. By using the test piece, you can check that all the parts are pretty close to the same color and never have to touch the pieces and leave smears because it *will* smear. Once all your pieces are hung, wait for them to dry completely before coating with Mister Super Clear or other sealant. I would use several coats to be sure that it will not rub off easily because it is darn hard to touch up the color without cleaning the doll completely and starting over.

Tips: [1]Anywhere the doll is sanded will come out a different color. You could sand the entire doll beforehand but I don't know how much that will help with extreme mods. Even seam sanding will show up a different color as will scratches and places where you didn't clean all the sealant off. [2]Don't get upset if it doesn't turn out right the first time; a little rubbing alcohol will remove the dye and you can try again. It won't make them like new, but it's good enough for repeating the dyeing process. [3]Dye will stay better if you do not seal it first; but don't forget to seal it afterward or everything it touches will be colored too. The doll will also lose color very quickly if you don't put sealant over the dye. [4]Vinyl (such as a Dollfie Dream) will dye differently than resin, and may take several tries to match a resin head to a vinyl body. [5]Dyeing turns out best when done to a doll with white skin! [6]Dyeing causes color variations so if you want one flat all-over color, consider painting instead. [7]If dyeing a Tiny doll, be careful about how long you leave it in the dye because it may make the parts pliable or easier to break until they cool off properly.

http://denofangels.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1352345&postcount=3 -suwarrico
http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96209 - dyeing doll skin
http://homepage3.nifty.com/tsuki-hana/custom-01-02.html - eye opening

Click here to read Chapter Six: Accessorizing

Index of Companies & Dealers

2006-11-13T21:04:40Z

'Where can I get a ball joint doll?'

There are several ways to get a ball joint doll; direct from a manufacturer's website, through a dealer or through a shopping service. You can buy them second-hand from other collectors. They can also be found on EBay. I have only listed sites in English. I will try to keep this list as current as possible. Feel free to comment if you see any incorrect info.

Manufacturers

_{These companies make BJDs, and some are also dealers for other companies.
I will try to list the names of models for each company and the
sizes of dolls they sell as well as anything they are known for. This list is in no
particular order besides the fact that it starts out with a couple of the more
popular companies and kind of trickles down to companies the do not make or
deal full dolls. No company is better than another, it all depends on the sculpt
that you like. Good Luck!}

Volks USA/Volks Intnl.

Mini's and Larger
FCS, Yo-Tenshi, Rei-Tenshi, Sei-Tenshi, Yo-SD, Super Dollfie, Mini Super Dollfie, Super Dollfie Cute, Super Dollfie 10, Super Dollfie 13, Super Dollfie 16, Super Dollfie 17

LUTS/Cerebus Project/Delf

Mini's and Larger
Super Senior Delf, Senior Delf, Delf, Delf Art, Kid Delf
Also a dealer for Blue Fairy, Doll In Mind, Dobigi, Dollshe, Dollstol, Domadoll, Konjidoll, Nobility Doll, NotDoll Lab, Peakswoods, PrettyWork, Pullip, Serendipity, Ect Doll.

FairyLand

Larger, Mini's and Tiny
Feeple, MiniFee, LittleFee, PukiPuki

Dream Of Doll

Tinies, Mini's and Larger
Dream of Idol, Dream of Teen, Dream of Child, Dream of Baby

Bishonen House

Larger
Currently only boys.

Happy Doll

Tiny's, Mini's and Larger
Lilliput, Junior, Elf;
Also a dealer for Blythe

MuseDoll

Larger

Iplehouse

Larger and Mini's
EID, YID, JID

Dollmore

Mini's and Larger
Kid Dollmore, Youth Dollmore Adam , Youth Dollmore Eve, Model Doll;
Also a dealer for Narsha Doll, Catish, Serendipity, Dollshe, Narin, Roxy, Banji, Blythe, Pullip, Sonokong, I Doll, Zaoll, .

SOOM

Mini's, Tiny's and Larger
Mecha Angel, Gem, Mini-Gem;

LatiDoll

Tiny's, Mini's and Larger
White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red;
Also a dealer for Peakswoods.

AngelRegion

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Fair, Little Fair, Little Gienie;

ElfDoll

Tiny's, Mini's and Larger
Rainy Doll;

BlueFairy

Tiny's and Mini's
Pocket Fairy;

Domuya

Tiny's, Mini's and Larger
D1-30, D1-42, D1-60, Flexi-Dream, Flexi-Perennial;

OrientDoll

Tiny's and Mini's
Dae, Joong, So;

Customhouse Ai

Mini's and Larger
Ai, Petite Ai, Little Jr., Jr. Ai;

Ssin

Tiny's, Mini's and Larger

Limhwa

Tiny's, Mini's and Larger
Half-Elf, Human, ForYou, ToYou;

LeekeWorld

Tiny's

Narin/Narae

Mini's and Larger
Narin, Narae;
*Special Narin/Narae Dealer*

NotDoll Lab

Larger and Mini's
Nari-Pon, Lady, Man, Prince, Princess, Girl, Boy

SoulDoll

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Little, Double, Zenith, Kids, Sweet, Bebe

Doll In Mind

Larger and Tinies
MiniMee

DollsTown

Larger and Mini's
DT13G, DT15B, elf, DT7yrs, DT5yrs

Bambicrony

Tinies
Ciao Bella, Bella Bambi

CherishDoll

Tinies

DollGa

Larger

Supia

Larger and Mini's

Angel Of Dream

Larger and Mini's

JollyPlus

Larger

PhantomDoll

Larger

Doll & Doll

???

Angell Studio

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Senior, Normal, Baby

Bobobie

Larger, Mini's and Tinies

BuddyDoll

Larger and Tinies
M-Buddy, W-Buddy, B-Buddy

Castle Anne

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Lady, Jr, Kids

CrobiDoll

Larger
DreamingDoll

Charles' Creature Cabinet

Tinies
Woodlings

Demon Garden

Larger

Doll Factory

Tinies
Ari

DomaDoll

Tinies

DollZone

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
BB

Dream Realm

Larger

DD-Anne

Tinies

FantasyDoll

Larger, Mini's and Tinies

Garden of Dolls

Mini's and Tinies

GloryDoll

Larger

Hujoo

Tinies

Honig

Mini's
Choco Cream

HyperManiac

???

KazeKidz

Mini's?

Tinies
Adonis, Rosebay, Iris, Calla

Lady Saiyuki

Larger and Tinies

LikeMey

Larger

Little Monica

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Harmony, Wisher, Toddler

LumeDoll

Larger

MythDoll

Larger, Mini's and Tinies

NobilityDoll

Larger and Tinies

Olleaf

Tinies

Peak's Woods

Larger and Mini's
Fairies of Colors, Fairies of Bugs

Pipos

Tinies
Pi, Jr Pi, Po

Parabox/Obitsu

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
VINYL DOLLS

PlanetDoll

Mini's and Tinies

Raurencio Studio

Larger

Rosen Lied

Tinies
Monday's Child, Tuesday's Child

ResinSoul

Larger, Mini's and Tinies

SecretDoll

Tinies

Slinky Neko

Tinies

SpiritDoll

Larger

TaTa's Paradise

Larger

Sleeping Elf

Tinies

ShinyDoll

Larger and Tinies
Thaasa

Unidoll

Larger and Tinies
UniReal, UniTiny

X2

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
AD, TD, KD

Dolkot

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Model, Star, Junior, Idoll, Fairy

Dealers Only

Denver Doll Emporium

Larger
Angell Studio, B&G, Bobobie, Castle Anne, DiM, DollZone, Elfdoll, FairyLand, Goodreau, Jun Planning, Leeke, Nobility, OrientDoll, PeaksWoods, Pipos, SecretDoll, SoulDoll, UniDoll

JunkySpot

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Obitsu, Hujoo, DollZone, Bobobie, B&G, DiM, ElfDoll, SoulDoll, Doll Factory, Angel of Dream </i>

LovelyPlatform

Larger?
Angel Fantasy

BJDstore

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
*Also a dealer for BuddyDoll, SoulDoll, NapiDoll and others

EnchantmentDoll

Mini's
*Batchix Machina*

Atlier Nouveau Studio

Mini's and Larger
Sleetwealth Briar, TwigLimbs

Doll Peddlar

Larger
ElfDoll, Dollian, Domuya

EdenDoll

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Dollzone

Earthika

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
Angel of Dream

Contemporary Doll Shop

Larger?
Elfdoll, SoulDoll, Angell Studio, Soom, UniDoll, DiM and others

Mint On Card

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
FantasyDoll, HZdoll, Asleep Eidolon, MP Dollhouse

FeatherFall

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
DollZone, Elfdoll, FairyLand, ResinSoul, BuddyDoll and others

NovaDoll

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
MSdoll, PetDoll, Napidoll, HappyDoll, BuddyDoll, CherishDoll, Little Monica and Ego Project

HerrenDoll

Mini's
Samantha Herren, MyDolling

Happy House

Larger?
Angel of Dream, Demon Garden, Doll Family

Kon'Doll

Larger, Mini's and Tinies
CoCo Tribe, Angel Fantasy

MinoruWorld

Mini's and Tinies
BlueFairy

MUdoll

Larger
D612

N-Doll

Mini's

Heads Only

K Doll

60cm size

Elysium

60cm size

Alice in Labyrinth

60cm size

Blue Blood

60cm size

DollStories

60cm size

GomiDoll

60cm size

Fishbone Greene

60cm size

MigiDoll

60cm size

OceanMoon

60cm size

Community Marketplaces

Den of Angels Marketplace
*must be active community member*

Den of Demons Marketplace
*must be active community member*

Resinality Marketplace
*must be active community member*

Australia's Dollie Cafe

BJDexchange

Bad Dolly Deals/LJ
This community is based on Livejournal and reports bad experiences that others have had buying dolls from companies, forums, ebay and other sources. It's the first place I check before buying from anyone!

Dolls Singing/Ebay
Ebay store featuring Angel Fantasy, DBDoll, Doll Family, DollZone, Kui, SinyLand and others

More Possibilities:

More Possibles

DoA Sticky of Doll companies (more up to date than this list!)

even more possibles

Think Pink Links

Chapter Four: Advanced Customizing

2006-11-06T22:57:09Z

This chapter covers some more advanced customizing that you can do to customize your doll. It is recommended that you have done some simpler mods before attempting any of these: Facial Reshaping, Hand Positioning, adding elf ears, opening or closing eyes, Reducing Foot Size and other miscellaneous mods I can think of that fit here.

Facial Reshaping

The look of a doll can be changed considerably just by using a little fine sandpaper or apoxie. Noses can be shortened and puffy cheeks can be slimmed. If your doll is close to what you want, but just not quite perfect then facial modification might be just what you're looking for!

[insert photos here]

Ear Modification

If you want a pointy eared elf instead, apoxie might be the route for you to take.

[insert photos here]

Eye Modification

Just because your doll has eyes that are closed, does not mean that they have to stay that way! You can use an Xacto knife to open them a little or a lot. The same is also true of open eyed dolls; you can close them with apoxie.

[insert photos here]

Japanese Tutorial showing Eye opening

Modifying Hand Positions with Heat

It's very simple to use steam or hot water to change the position of the fingers.

[insert photos here]

Separating Fingers/Toes

Some dolls have fingers or toes that are so close together that they are one big piece of resin instead of four or five little ones. You can fix this by separating the fingers or toes with an Xacto knife. It also helps to have a little sandpaper and bandaids nearby, in case of slippage.

[insert photos here]

Hand/Foot Reshaping

Sometimes a doll has huge feet or undetailed hands and you might want to change them. Fine detail can easily be sanded into or sculpted onto an existing piece of resin easily so here's how to: detail the hands, reshape flat feet to heeled feet, reduce the size of the feet, add claws or nails and slim the fingers.

[insert photos here]

Links

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10844 - full body paint
http://denofangels.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1354012&postcount=4 - all about ears
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6626 -customizing hands with heat
http://denofdemons.org/showthread.php?t=398 - sanding necks

Click here to read Chapter Five: Professional Customizing

Chapter Three: Intermediate Customizing

2006-11-06T22:54:13Z

Upgrading Poseability

There are several things that you can do to improve the way your doll poses: Wire or Suede them. Wiring is simply cutting a piece of plastic coated electrical wire in the main joints, such as elbows and knees. You do not need to take your doll apart to do this. You could also Suede your doll. Sueding is simply applying something to the inside cups of the joint to give the ball part of the joint something to grip. You have several choices when it comes to Sueding: Pliver or Hot Glue are the two most popular. You should take your doll apart to Suede, but it is not absolutely necessary. Many people prefer to suede with hot glue because it requires more easily accessible materials and for some, it gives better results. It can also be easier to remove.

Wiring

Wiring is probably the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to improve your doll's range of motion and ability to pose. To wire you will need some electrical wire. This is available at most hardware stores. Depending on the size of your doll, and the tunnels for his or her elastic, the size of this wire may vary, although many people use 14 gauge size. If you are not sure, take your doll with you to the store. Make sure that wire is plastic coated so it does not scratch the resin and that the plastic is light colored or it will stain your doll. The wire you chose must bend and hold the position that you bend it in, or it will be useless for your doll. About two to three feet (or 24-36") should be plenty for a larger sized doll. It is actually easiest to do this without taking the doll apart.

To start, you want to cut three pieces of wire. Two of them will be the same length, for the arms. The other piece will be for legs/hips. To measure the length, hold the end next to the shoulder and cut about halfway down the forearm. Cut another piece the same size for the other arm. Now, bend your doll's arm at the elbow until the elastic shows. Put one end of the wire in the tunnel next to the elastic, then put the other end of the same piece of wire down the tunnel in the forearm. Repeat with the other arm.

Some people use two separate pieces for the legs, but I prefer just one. To measure the length for the hips and legs, put the end about halfway down the calf and run it up to the navel or belly button. Then bend the wire in a U shape and run it down to the middle of the other calf. This should all be one piece. Bend your doll at the waist until you see the elastic and put one end of the U down the right leg tunnel, next to the elastic. You may need to bend the knee also to put the elastic down the calf tunnel. Put the other end of the wire down the left leg tunnel and into the left calf tunnel. Make sure that the wire does not hang out of the shoulders, wrists, waist or ankles because that means it is too long. Now you are done and your doll should be able to touch his or her face.

Hot Glue Sueding

To suede with Hot Glue you will need a low-temp glue gun and glue. A high-temp gun can hurt you and your doll as the heat will alter or even burn the resin. I recommend taking the doll apart to suede. Lay out all you pieces, just as you would if you were restringing. Start with the less important joints, such as ankles or wrists so that you get the hang of it and save the knees and hips for last because they are the hardest to do properly.

You will want to apply the glue to the cup part of the joint, not the ball part. Put a small drop of glue in the cup and quickly smear it as flat as you can. You can use your finger, a popsicle stick or other tool to do this, but be careful because it's hot. Alternatively, I've heard that the Volks Doctor uses a very small drop of glue and does not smear it, but I haven't tried this method yet. If you use too much glue, it will be lumpy and the joints will not go back together properly because there won't be room. You can check by holding the pieces together. Do they fit like they normally do? Can you see the glue or a gap? If so, you can use the tip of the glue gun to melt some of it smooth but if it is really lumpy or pointy the you will have to peel the glue out and redo the joint. Repeat this process with all the joints you want sueded. This may take some trial and error, but fortunately, it is pretty easy to do and doesn't take a lot of time. The glue doesn't take long to dry at all, so you can put your doll back together almost immediately. They should pose and stand much better now.

Pliver Sueding

To suede with pliver is also pretty easy, but can be a little more intimidating. Again, you can do this without restringing, but it's much easier if you take the doll apart (and remember to set the pieces out in order to make it easier to reassemble). You will need pliver, which is a very thin form of suede. This can be bought on eBay or some craft stores. You will also need some water-soluble white glue. Elmer's or Aleene's Tacky Glue are both fine.

Next, you will need to cut pieces of pliver to fit in the cup of the joints. You can find patterns for the shapes you need to cut out, but they don't fit every doll so my suggestion is to use paper and try to trace the shape of each cup yourself. Obviously, tracing paper is best for this. Once your paper shapes fit nicely in the cups, use them to cut your pliver pieces. Put a little white glue in the joint and attach the pliver. Repeat for all joints you want sueded. The white glue will take a while to dry since it is covered up. If you have pieces of pliver showing, trim them up. Wait until the glue is fully dried to reassemble your doll. You can tell if it is dry by sticking your finger in the joint. If it is mushy or slides around, it is not dry. It can be somewhat difficult to remove the pliver once it is dry, so make sure it fits good with no wrinkles and no excess hanging out of the joint. This should help your doll stand and pose better.

Removing the Seams

(((NOTE: The vast majority of tan or oddly colored dolls cannot be sanded or there will be a VERY noticeable difference in color!!!)))

Many dolls come with seams, or ragged edges from the molding process. These are most often down the sides of the limbs and torso, though they can also be found near the ears on some dolls. You can remove them yourself by sanding them off. If they are very large, you can (carefully!) use and Xacto or ceramic knife to shave the big parts first. You will start sanding with a rougher grade of sandpaper and gradually work down to a fine grit. Be sure to sand in circular motions so you don't leave big scratches in the resin. This also helps to reduce any color difference that may appear; a slight difference is normal and may become less noticeable over time or with coating.

It is best to wet sand when making any modification to your doll. You will need wet/dry sandpaper for this. To do this, either get the sandpaper wet first, or place the sandpaper and doll part in a bucket of water and sand. That way, less resin particles are in the air for you to breathe. Also, make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area or outside and please, Wear A Mask!!! Resin and it's dust are very poisonous. There is no excuse not to protect yourself from it. Even a handkerchief over your nose and mouth is better than nothing, although a good mask is much better.

SuperDollfie.net Esthetic Directions

Blushing the Body

The first thing you want to do is take your doll apart and wash all the pieces with a gentle soap and water. Try not to touch them any more than you have to because the oils on your hands will stick to the resin and screw up the sealant when you try to put it on. Gloves are helpful. Make sure all the pieces are completely dry before you do anything with them.

You can use pastels or an airbrush to do the blushing and there are very good visual tutorials in the BJD Orbyrarium on both of these techniques. For this, we will be using pastels.

(to be finished later...)

How To Pierce & Tattoo

Piercing and Tattooing are some of the easiest ways to change your doll's appearance. They are also really cheap alterations to perform. Many people use acrylic paints or temporary tattoos for their doll's modifications. Just remember to seal them well after you are done.

The easiest way to give your doll a tattoo is is use a temporary tattoo, like you can get in vending machines for little kids. Also, "nail art" or other kinds of temporary tattoos work well. You can use sealant first, if you are worried about staining or removing it later. I would try several positions before actually putting the tattoo on, especially near joints. Once you have found the best position, go ahead and apply the tattoo, just like you would with a human, (usually this just involves some water and a little pressure). When it is dry, then you should seal it with at least one layer, but more layers of sealant are better. Ta-Da! You've just given a doll a tattoo!

Alternatively, you can paint the tattoo yourself. Use only doll-safe products (no oils!) like acrylics and Mr Super Clear. I suggest a light sketch with watercolor pencils before you actually start laying down color. Be sure to keep your paint thin enough to not clump up and ruin the tattoo. Once you have an outline or sketch, you can start to really paint the tattoo. Give it plenty of time to dry before you seal it. Again, several layers of sealant are best.

Piercing can also be done in two ways: with a drill, or with white glue. It's pretty easy to find a little ring or hoop to glue to your dolls nose or lip, but what if you want them to wear real earrings? The best solution is a nail drill. You can either use the drill bit by itself, or hook it to a dremel or other small drill. Either way, it's pretty quick and easy. Mark where you want the hole to be, then check to see if it is straight, if the earrings will gouge the side of the head or if you even have room to put the earring backs on. If everything is lined up properly, then it's time to drill. Go as slowly as you can, even if you are using a drill because it only takes one second to screw it up. If you go slowly, you have more chance of catching mistakes before they happen. Most piercings go off without a hitch, so I'd say go ahead and do them yourself, just make sure your drill bit is very, very small. Now you know how to pierce and tattoo your doll!

(pics coming soon!)

http://denofangels.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1335355&postcount=5 - piercing
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24569&highlight=tattoo - temp. tats
http://denofangels.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1409278&postcount=1 blushing nips

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