Dec 28

Here Comes Christmas


Trusty Purple Steed
Originally uploaded by sweetmilktea

A certain small doll had a very fulfilling Christmas this year, which I particularly enjoyed because I really had hoped to spoil Claire for her first Christmas. (Hopefully there will be many more with her. I do feel attached to her, but I can’t help worrying that in a few months or so I’ll be entertaining thoughts of sending her to a new home. I really want to be contented and have a doll I can enjoy.) It was nice that I didn’t have to spoil her all on my own, though!

When it comes to Christmas presents, my mother is a let-me-find-the-perfect-thing-with-hard-work-and-love kind of giver, while my father is a tell-me-what-you-want-and-where-to-buy-it kind of giver. This means that I never really know what I’m getting from my mother, regardless of hints I might drop, but that I better not tell her what I’ve outlined for my father, or I risk duplicates. However, items requested from my father are not 100% set in stone–sometimes he likes to try his hand at getting creative while other times the items in question are out of stock and he substitutes. This year, I asked my father for some items from Volks USA–the website is easy to order from, so I knew it wouldn’t be too much of a problem as long as things were still in stock. Continue reading »

Dec 13

Clothing Challenges

Lately I almost find myself wanting another doll out of sheer frustration at the lack of adorable clothing for the Volks Mini Super Dollfie size. Although Volks themselves makes some gorgeous, adorable outfits–in fact there are several that I am quite enamored with for the current Dolpa 22–there isn’t always wide availability. Most outfits are limited in some way; perhaps if not in release, then in overall distribution. I can’t always find what I’m looking for on the website. Continue reading »

Dec 1

Enabling Dolly Tendencies in Others

When I purchased my first doll, I didn’t really talk about her all that much. Although I knew a few people who owned ball-jointed dolls, my friends are primarily interested in lolita fashion; there is a bit of a stigma attached with owning ball-jointed dolls, at times. I think it is due to the often-hated stereotype that lolita girls carry dolls and stuffed animals around with them. (I’ve really never seen anyone just toting around a plushie for the fun of it when dressed nicely… I think it would be hard to coordinate with your outfit!) Also, buying something expensive like a doll means money not spent on lolita clothing, and as some people spend every last penny on the fashion, they might not understand. Continue reading »

Nov 22

Spoiled Little Doll

Claire has been with us for only about a week at this point, and I just can’t keep myself from spoiling her! I like knowing that I can dress her up in whatever I think is cute and she won’t complain or ruin her clothes. I’ve been hearing some suggestions that wanting a doll that’s like a little girl is like wanting a child, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Continue reading »

Nov 15

She Has Arrived

Well, that much-awaited day finally arrived. My package from Crescent Shop was delivered safely, and I now have a Volks MSD “Nagisa in Preschool” to call my own.

Yesterday started off a bit on the rough side. I had left the city to visit relatives on Friday night, hoping to return Saturday morning. I don’t own a car because I use public transportation, but this means that when I am out in the suburbs I am subject to the whims of whoever is kind enough to take me to the train station. I had plans for part of the day, so I couldn’t stay out until any old time, but I didn’t end up on a train heading back in until just after noon~ I worried the whole way, because I had an appointment to meet with Claudia’s new owner and transfer her. Continue reading »

Nov 15

Volks USA Review

On the evening of Sunday, November 8, I placed an order with Volks USA for several restringing supplies, an MSD-sized wig, and an MSD-sized dress.

Everything went well during check out process, but when I woke up on Monday morning I realized that I had forgotten to ask for any of the Super Dollfie instructional manga in the comments field. I emailed Volks USA Monday morning and asked if they would be able to include the relevant manga in my package. I promptly received a reply acknowledging my request and stating that the pamphlets would be added to my order. Continue reading »

Nov 15

Crescent Shop Review

On Friday, October 30, a friend of mine was nice enough to drop by my house to let me borrow clothing for an event the next day–a Halloween-related tea party. She was even nicer, and brought with several of her Volks ball-jointed dolls so that I could see them in person. I had just recently attended a ball-jointed doll meetup for our area, curious to see Volks dolls in the Super Dollfie and Mini Super Dollfie sizes, but I still had questions. It’s lovely to see other people’s dolls, and everyone at the meetup was very nice, but I was too anxious about harming someone’s precious possession to hold, pose, and really examine the dolls I was most curious about. It’s much easier to do something like this with a friend, who knows you better and thus has more trust…and it’s less embarrassing to ask stupid questions! Continue reading »

Nov 12

Sentimental Feelings


Relaxing Out of Doors
Originally uploaded by sweetmilktea

I still have a hard time explaining how things were with my first doll, Claudia. I realize that I’ve been a very vocal advocate of Rosette Doll, and I still am. I still think they make an amazing product. My experience with the company has been overwhelmingly positive despite the very long shipping wait time dealing with a brand new company (although they are a SOOM subsidiary). I think that the Rosette Dolls are gorgeous and well worth a long wait, even with an imprecise shipping date. I still think that Violet is the most beautiful of the Rosette Dolls, and I absolutely love her beyond a doubt. Continue reading »

Nov 10

Increasing Excitement!

This is one of the best things I have seen in a long time!!!

When I logged into Crescent Shop and checked the status of my pending shipment (which is still “processing”), I saw a new and ~beautiful~ icon. An icon that had not previously existed. An icon that proclaims that my Nagisa in Preschool will be packed up soon! Continue reading »

Nov 10

Oh That Waiting Game

While waiting for my auction to arrive to and be shipped from Crescent Shop, I’ve been completely fixated on dolls and doll accessories. I’ve browsed the wig section of every major ball-jointed doll retailer. I’ve overloaded my internet browser with tab after tab of meticulously photographed doll outfits…most of which are out of stock anyway. I’ve scrutinized the measurements of every “MSD”-sized shoe, wondering which would fit on my incoming doll’s chubby little feet. My person suffered through discussion after discussion about the “right” kind of items for the doll who wasn’t even in transit yet. Continue reading »