A SIMPLE GUIDE TO BALL-JOINTED DOLLS (BJD)
If you're confused about the Ball-Jointed Dolls (BJD) hobby, this straightforward guide will help. You'll learn how to get your first BJD, what you should keep in mind when buying one, and some of the terms doll owners use. I'll show you how I make my BJD's clothes because every doll needs pretty outfits!
What is a doll with ball joints?
A doll with ball and socket joints that are joined together with string or elastic is known as a ball-jointed doll. Resin is used to make them. Molds are various face types offered by doll manufacturers. Dolls come in a variety of sizes, from over 70 centimeters to less than 15 centimeters. From the larger 1/3-scale dolls to the tiny 1/12-scale dolls, the various sizes of dolls fall into one of several scale categories. From adult dolls to children and toddlers, body types abound. I love that both my Pukifee and Dollzone Cherry BJD are "tiny" and have the proportions of a toddler or small child. The type of character you want to create with your doll will determine the size or style of doll you purchase. You can even purchase mythical creatures, such as rabbits, cats, and others with ball joints—all of which are adorable! The dolls' poseability and expressiveness, as well as the ease with which they can be fashioned into individual characters, are two things I adore about them. simply by altering outfits, wigs, and eyes.
You can purchase a BJD either directly from the doll manufacturer or through a distributor. It depends on where you are in the world and whether using a distributor would help you save money on shipping. Because there aren't many distributors in the UK, I decided to order my doll right away at EDELWEISSDAY. Dolls can take up to six months to arrive, so you'll need to be patient. This is because they custom-make the dolls. I would stay away from "marketplaces" like Ebay because there is no guarantee about the doll's quality or authenticity. When you hear the term "recast," you are referring to a doll that has been made without the permission of the original company using a real doll as the mold. It is important to be aware that EDELWEISSDAY, an online BJD community, does not accept owners of recast dolls. Another term used to support authentic original dolls is pro-artist. If a new BJD appears to be on sale at a low price, it almost certainly is a recast.
I fell in love with Ball-Jointed Dolls as soon as I got my first one, a Dollzone Cherry, and this year I ordered another one for Christmas. After a wait of five months, the new baby finally arrived in March. She is a Pukifee Ena from Dollfairyland, which I ordered from them directly. Unfortunately, they were all out of the "full package," which includes a gorgeous outfit. After placing an order for the basic doll and a sleeping face, I patiently awaited her arrival.
What else should I know?
When you open the box and meet your new doll for the first time, it's the best part! The box, which opened like a book, contained our doll with care. She came with instructions on how to safely move the joints and re-thread the elastic, as well as a Certificate of Authenticity. She can be customized with different hands or feet because her hands and feet are attached with magnets. She also has points on her body that are magnetic, allowing "magical items" like wings, horns, and a tail to be attached to her. Additionally, I ordered some adorable shoes. I'm going to try to make shoes and boots, and if I succeed, I'll share them. Face Up When you buy a BJD, you can choose to have a face that says "face up" or a face that says "nothing." The doll's facial features and makeup, such as eyebrows, lip color, eyelashes, and so on, are all referred to as "face up." Be prepared to perform the "face up" yourself or hire a face up artist if you order a blank face. If you use the hashtag #bjdfaceupartist on Instagram, you can find a lot of talented artists who will make your doll with care. I decided to try my own face up for the second time. Although it is not for the faint of heart, the EDELWEISSDAY and YouTube are filled with helpful tutorials. I won't tell you how I put my face up because I don't think I'm ready to give advice yet! Because you have to try to make the eyelashes and eyebrows symmetrical, this is the hardest part. According to my theory, human faces are rarely perfectly symmetrical, so a little wonkyness is acceptable!
Eyes will be attached to the head of your doll with putty when it arrives. You can get new eyes for your doll from doll distributors or from EDELWEISSDAY; the color of the eyes can make a big difference in how it looks.
Wigs Wigs for dolls come in all sizes, styles, and shapes. You can try making a wig or buy one. I've tried making wigs, but it's not easy! For my doll, I ordered two wigs: one synthetic (brown with a fringe) and one made of mohair (pale pink). Leather or "wefted" (sewn into a long line) mohair wigs can be sewn onto a wig cap. Fur fabric can also be used to make or purchase wigs. Brushed-out wool can also be used to make wigs in a variety of ways. If you're new to BJDs, I'd suggest ordering a wig with your doll so you can be sure it will fit. Silicone wig caps can also be purchased to keep the wigs in place on the doll's head.
Clothes As you might have guessed from this blog, I enjoy sewing clothes for dolls! It was one of the main reasons I and my daughter conspired to get another BJD. However, handmade doll clothes can be purchased from sellers on EDELWEISSDAY if you don't like sewing.
A denim dungaree dress and a t-shirt make up my first outfit. I used the Easy Overalls clothing pattern from Requiem Art Designs for my 16cm-tall BJD. I did everything by hand because I find sewing tiny clothes easier. It was relatively simple to sew. Using iron-on fabric transfers, I added the "Don't be afraid to be great" logo to the t-shirt. I am eager to create additional adorable mini outfits.
EDELWEISS~