The other day a friend of mine was kind enough to let me interact more with some of her ball-jointed dolls. She's the only person I know very well who collects or is interested in ball-jointed dolls, so I had been talking to her a bit about my doll-related dilemma. I specifically wanted to contact her because she owns a great deal of Volks dolls, and I have been looking intensively at the Volks offerings. I prefer youthful adorable stylings as opposed to the look of mature teenagers or adults.
While looking around the website, I was enchanted by the face sculpt for the Volks Super Dollfie "Nono." Large eyes always catch my attention, and something about her proportions appealed to me. (There is a similarity in the way her face is sculpted in comparison to that of Rosette Doll Violet, although they certainly don't have the same type of look. Both have expressive eyes and downplayed noses and mouths.) Due to my attraction to the sculpt, I toyed with the idea of purchasing a Super Dollfie Nono--although I couldn't quite decide on the standard or creating a Full Choice System doll.
However, the Super Dollfie sized dolls are not particularly immature in body sculpt. They do have some definition, and most of the clothing and footwear sold for them is that of a young lady as opposed to a child. There are some outfits that give off the impression of a younger girl as opposed to a slightly older girl, but mostly they aim for a slightly older girl. However, most outfits for the Mini Super Dollfie are styled like that of an adorable little girl--exactly the sort of thing that catches my eye. Additionally, I wasn't sure about how the sizes were in terms of carrying the doll--what sort of carrier might be required to transport it, how it would feel in my hands, etc.? I have a hard time considering the size limitations.
She was kind enough to bring an SD and an MSD, even a cute little YoSD that I didn't think to request the attendance of! We relaxed on the floor of my apartment, and she let me handle her dolls and ask as many questions as I wanted--which was a LOT of questions! It was a really nice experience. I had observed some of the different dolls--and even held one or two--at a local ball-jointed doll meetup, but I wasn't entirely comfortable because it was the first time meeting many of the doll owners, and I didn't want to make them uncomfortable by having a new person handling their precious girls~
It quickly became apparent that the MSD size suited me more. It was easier for me to handle; it was so cute and tiny; and I adored the chubby little hands and feet. (The non-slenderness of the Volks body sculpts really appeals to me--it's so cute! I think it's rather entertaining, since the slenderness of the Rosette body sculpt was a key draw for me due to the beauty. I guess in the end I'll always be more for "cute" than "gorgeous/elegant.")
This lead me to re-evaluate MSD faces that could look like the SD Nono. When I looked at Nagisa's pictures again, I noticed it. The more I compared, the more I saw similarities. I hadn't really been captivated at first because I don't care for the way Nagisa's face was made up, especially for the "Nagisa in Preschool" second release. Then I spotted a picture of a black Nagisa head, and the similarities seemed even more blatant.
Knowing I shouldn't, I searched Yahoo!Japan Auctions...and spotted a full-set, still-in-the-box Nagisa in Preschool. I bid on it, as it was ending in 13 hours, and when it ended I was the only bidder. I've won the auction, but I don't want to completely have my heart set on anything, just in case there's some kind of trouble... Despite that, I know that really, my heart is already set on her to at least some extent... Oh dear!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Lull
Poor Miss Claudia has been very neglected as of late. I feel quite guilty about it; she hasn't become any less of a beautiful, wonderful creation--I just haven't given her the attention she deserves. I don't have an excuse for it, nor would I want to make one.
As a ball-jointed doll, no matter how lovely, is ultimately an inanimate object, I don't really think that she can be "neglected" in the truest sense of the word. I don't consider doll collectors who have their items only on display or carefully stored away to be neglecting their dolls. However, on a personal level I dislike failing to utilize something to its utmost in accordance with how I feel that item ought to be utilized. I don't keep clothing that I don't wear, no matter how much I love the design or suspect that maybe perhaps someday there might be a reason to wear it. I don't store non-perishable dry goods infinitely in my cupboard; if it isn't eaten/used within a reasonable time period and I have no plans for that item, I donate it. Toy items that aren't played with or reasonably admired find new homes. Books that sit on the shelves for months at a time look for new owners from a library's fundraising table. There is nothing I keep to excess.
This posed a problem in terms of Claudia. On the one hand, she is my very first doll, and I have quite a sentimental attachment due to that. Seeing just a picture of Rosette Doll's beautiful Spring term Violet prompted me to purchase a ball-jointed doll, despite the fact that seeing and holding other dolls hadn't piqued my interest more than minimally. I firmly believe she is the most beautiful ball-jointed doll I have ever seen; her loveliness is not diminished to my perceptions in the slightest. Despite all this, I just didn't play with her in the manner I had envisioned. Her personality, dear to me thought it may be, prevented that kind of interaction. When I realized that Mortimer, my stuffed shark who was a $5 impulse buy at IKEA, meant more to my heart than Claudia, I knew that something would have to change.
Originally, I planned to keep her. She is beautiful, and I love showing her to others, hoping they will appreciate her charm and consider welcoming other Rosette Dolls into their lives. The craftsmanship is amazing, and the little details add an abundance of charm. I thought that I would simply buy another ball-jointed doll, one with whom I could amuse myself for light-hearted fun, and preserve Claudia as a special treasure to be packed away with other mementos of my past and photographed occasionally. I couldn't bear the thought of putting her up for sale, left to the whims of the purchaser. She's still very important to me in a way that I have a difficult time explaining.
However, I found someone who will love her and use her for what she is (far more than I have been able to). I look forward to sending her to a new home where she will be appreciated in more than just words and thoughts. I am still rather worried, but I can only hope that I am making the right choice.
As a ball-jointed doll, no matter how lovely, is ultimately an inanimate object, I don't really think that she can be "neglected" in the truest sense of the word. I don't consider doll collectors who have their items only on display or carefully stored away to be neglecting their dolls. However, on a personal level I dislike failing to utilize something to its utmost in accordance with how I feel that item ought to be utilized. I don't keep clothing that I don't wear, no matter how much I love the design or suspect that maybe perhaps someday there might be a reason to wear it. I don't store non-perishable dry goods infinitely in my cupboard; if it isn't eaten/used within a reasonable time period and I have no plans for that item, I donate it. Toy items that aren't played with or reasonably admired find new homes. Books that sit on the shelves for months at a time look for new owners from a library's fundraising table. There is nothing I keep to excess.
This posed a problem in terms of Claudia. On the one hand, she is my very first doll, and I have quite a sentimental attachment due to that. Seeing just a picture of Rosette Doll's beautiful Spring term Violet prompted me to purchase a ball-jointed doll, despite the fact that seeing and holding other dolls hadn't piqued my interest more than minimally. I firmly believe she is the most beautiful ball-jointed doll I have ever seen; her loveliness is not diminished to my perceptions in the slightest. Despite all this, I just didn't play with her in the manner I had envisioned. Her personality, dear to me thought it may be, prevented that kind of interaction. When I realized that Mortimer, my stuffed shark who was a $5 impulse buy at IKEA, meant more to my heart than Claudia, I knew that something would have to change.
Originally, I planned to keep her. She is beautiful, and I love showing her to others, hoping they will appreciate her charm and consider welcoming other Rosette Dolls into their lives. The craftsmanship is amazing, and the little details add an abundance of charm. I thought that I would simply buy another ball-jointed doll, one with whom I could amuse myself for light-hearted fun, and preserve Claudia as a special treasure to be packed away with other mementos of my past and photographed occasionally. I couldn't bear the thought of putting her up for sale, left to the whims of the purchaser. She's still very important to me in a way that I have a difficult time explaining.
However, I found someone who will love her and use her for what she is (far more than I have been able to). I look forward to sending her to a new home where she will be appreciated in more than just words and thoughts. I am still rather worried, but I can only hope that I am making the right choice.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Special Delivery
Yesterday Claudia and I received a very special package from Rosette Doll. In early March, just a bit past Valentine's Day, I had ordered a clothing set from the company. They posted a cute story about festivities that occur at the school during Valentine's Day, from the usual chocolate gift-giving to a special celebration for the principal's birthday.
To celebrate this occasion, the students wear a special uniform in a rich chocolate-brown shade. This was the first outfit offered for sale on the company's website, and I was very eager to own another outfit that I knew would perfectly fit my doll's odd proportions. It also was in my favor that I adore dark brown--especially because the style of the drop-waisted sailor uniform looks especially nice in a darker color. The pale trim on the skirt, collar, and sleeves shows up for a striking contrast. I placed the order and waited.
And waited.
And waited...
No matter when I checked, the status of my order was still "preparing," not "transit." I am quite a patient person, and I was rather busy with schoolwork and my personal life, so I didn't inquire to the company. However, last week marked that I had been waiting for three months, so I posted an inquiry on their message board. Almost instantly my package was shipped, and it arrived just 48 hours later!
I am very happy that I waited! The quality is just as exquisite as her other clothing, and the dark color looks so nice on my pale little dear. I used the pictures I took of the package to form a sort of photo-story. I'm still working on the details of what I want the story to say, and perhaps once I am finished I shall post it here.
To celebrate this occasion, the students wear a special uniform in a rich chocolate-brown shade. This was the first outfit offered for sale on the company's website, and I was very eager to own another outfit that I knew would perfectly fit my doll's odd proportions. It also was in my favor that I adore dark brown--especially because the style of the drop-waisted sailor uniform looks especially nice in a darker color. The pale trim on the skirt, collar, and sleeves shows up for a striking contrast. I placed the order and waited.
And waited.
And waited...
No matter when I checked, the status of my order was still "preparing," not "transit." I am quite a patient person, and I was rather busy with schoolwork and my personal life, so I didn't inquire to the company. However, last week marked that I had been waiting for three months, so I posted an inquiry on their message board. Almost instantly my package was shipped, and it arrived just 48 hours later!
I am very happy that I waited! The quality is just as exquisite as her other clothing, and the dark color looks so nice on my pale little dear. I used the pictures I took of the package to form a sort of photo-story. I'm still working on the details of what I want the story to say, and perhaps once I am finished I shall post it here.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Searching for Scenery
Now that I'm out of school for the summer, I started hunting for good settings in my area to take pictures of my Claudia. Taking pictures of my doll is one of my favourite activities to do with her, because it is one of the few things that I can share with other people. I am not yet at the point where I can properly illustrate the storyline I imagine for her, and I haven't anyone to play with. No-one would want to hear my mindless babblings about the detail on her tiny clothing and my utter inability to replicate such a level of detail. So instead, I take pictures and upload them to my beloved Flickr account.
However, I don't want to take just any old picture, as I mentioned in a previous post. I don't think of myself as a photographer in the slightest, but I always have something in mind when I take pictures. A few photos with flash in a dimly-lit hallway just make me feel disappointed.
My goal is to find new and interesting places to take pictures of my ball-jointed doll. I think that the setting of a photograph is very important. Dolls in particular can add a different touch to familiar surroundings due to their scale. Sometimes there are little architectural details that seem to emphasize something about the doll's appearance or personality. They can look angelic and innocent when standing in a garden, nearly dwarfed by the flowers, or eeriely human when angled and positioned to seem as if they are perfectly suited to a certain doorway or building.
I try to pay attention to colors and textures when I scout out possible locations for photos. I don't carry Claudia or my camera with me when I am out and about, so I cannot just plop her down in a convenient place and snap away. Whenever I'm running an errand I keep an eye on quaint places with little foot traffic. Even just a nook or glimpse of something brief is fine; I have a good sense of her size. On a later day, when the weather is good, I carefully pack her into a bag and head towards the location.
In late May I had the opportunity to take her down to the lakefront. I really wanted to get some pictures of her on the beach, but I was running out of time before I was sufficiently away from the harbor. Instead, we paused on the cement wharf, staring down at partially-submerged rocks in the blue waters.
My fiancé was a wonderful assistance. He kept things from blowing away and provided some carefully-hidden support to the young miss while I tried to maneuver myself to the perfect angle. I don't think I could be luckier than to be loved enough for a headbanger to carefully straighten the skirt of a Victorian-inspired doll. It was quite a sight to behold!
However, I don't want to take just any old picture, as I mentioned in a previous post. I don't think of myself as a photographer in the slightest, but I always have something in mind when I take pictures. A few photos with flash in a dimly-lit hallway just make me feel disappointed.
My goal is to find new and interesting places to take pictures of my ball-jointed doll. I think that the setting of a photograph is very important. Dolls in particular can add a different touch to familiar surroundings due to their scale. Sometimes there are little architectural details that seem to emphasize something about the doll's appearance or personality. They can look angelic and innocent when standing in a garden, nearly dwarfed by the flowers, or eeriely human when angled and positioned to seem as if they are perfectly suited to a certain doorway or building.
I try to pay attention to colors and textures when I scout out possible locations for photos. I don't carry Claudia or my camera with me when I am out and about, so I cannot just plop her down in a convenient place and snap away. Whenever I'm running an errand I keep an eye on quaint places with little foot traffic. Even just a nook or glimpse of something brief is fine; I have a good sense of her size. On a later day, when the weather is good, I carefully pack her into a bag and head towards the location.
In late May I had the opportunity to take her down to the lakefront. I really wanted to get some pictures of her on the beach, but I was running out of time before I was sufficiently away from the harbor. Instead, we paused on the cement wharf, staring down at partially-submerged rocks in the blue waters.
My fiancé was a wonderful assistance. He kept things from blowing away and provided some carefully-hidden support to the young miss while I tried to maneuver myself to the perfect angle. I don't think I could be luckier than to be loved enough for a headbanger to carefully straighten the skirt of a Victorian-inspired doll. It was quite a sight to behold!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Snapshots of Resin
Lately I haven't had much time to spend with Claudia. I graduated from university this May, and my final semester was extremely stressful and kept me constantly busy. I had to carefully set my doll aside for the final month of school to avoid spending too much time with her and not enough with my studies. When textbooks made my eyes blur and papers tired my fingers, it was very tempting to ignore the rest of the work that was due and fuss with her instead.
Now that is over, and I plan to start taking pictures of her again. Taking photos of Claudia is one of my favourite things to do with her, because it is a way that I can share her with other people. This was especially important before my person moved, as prior to May there were usually several hundred miles between us. I am not a very good photographer, so I rely on a few tricks so that I at least have a few pictures decent enough to show other people without feeling ashamed.
Natural lighting is really the best for dolls. Artificial lighting seems to make them appear to be very odd colors--Claudia looks ghostly in the glow of a lamp, but fair-skinned and sweet in the sunlight. Sunlight does cause resin to yellow, however, so it is important to keep in mind the level of exposure the doll receives. I am not too worried about yellowing, but I love my doll and want to keep her in as good condition as I possibly can, so I don't simply leave her in the sun to bask.
However, if the light is too bright, pale dolls can be washed out. In very intense sunlight, Claudia's blonde hair and white uniform seem to shine and obscure a lot of details. I've noticed that a little bit of cloud cover is best for her; I try not to take pictures around noon, when the sun is directly overhead.
Framing is also very important. When I take a picture, I really scrutinize the image I am seeing on the display of my point-and-shoot camera. Sometimes I tilt it one way, then the other, move up and down, shift over, then come back, before taking a few pictures. A picture can be a lot more striking if the doll isn't just centered in the picture and filling the entire shot. I try to catch other elements are positioned in such a way that attention is drawn to the doll, but I'm certainly not always successful.
Of course, my best trick is to take LOTS of pictures. My camera's memory card can hold nearly 1,000 photos, and I clear it whenever I download the pictures to my computer and back them up, so I shoot constantly when I am taking photos of Claudia. I always take several shots (at least three, sometimes up to ten!) of the same picture. Sometimes the auto-focus malfunctions, or the lighting changes slightly, or something blows in the way. The display on my camera doesn't show everything that I might notice while looking at the picture on my computer. I hate taking a picture that I love when I click "capture," only to discover that it's flawed and ultimately unusable! It's so very frustrating!
I hope the weather is nice tomorrow! I'm really looking forward to taking more photos of Claudia~ ♥
Now that is over, and I plan to start taking pictures of her again. Taking photos of Claudia is one of my favourite things to do with her, because it is a way that I can share her with other people. This was especially important before my person moved, as prior to May there were usually several hundred miles between us. I am not a very good photographer, so I rely on a few tricks so that I at least have a few pictures decent enough to show other people without feeling ashamed.
Natural lighting is really the best for dolls. Artificial lighting seems to make them appear to be very odd colors--Claudia looks ghostly in the glow of a lamp, but fair-skinned and sweet in the sunlight. Sunlight does cause resin to yellow, however, so it is important to keep in mind the level of exposure the doll receives. I am not too worried about yellowing, but I love my doll and want to keep her in as good condition as I possibly can, so I don't simply leave her in the sun to bask.
However, if the light is too bright, pale dolls can be washed out. In very intense sunlight, Claudia's blonde hair and white uniform seem to shine and obscure a lot of details. I've noticed that a little bit of cloud cover is best for her; I try not to take pictures around noon, when the sun is directly overhead.
Framing is also very important. When I take a picture, I really scrutinize the image I am seeing on the display of my point-and-shoot camera. Sometimes I tilt it one way, then the other, move up and down, shift over, then come back, before taking a few pictures. A picture can be a lot more striking if the doll isn't just centered in the picture and filling the entire shot. I try to catch other elements are positioned in such a way that attention is drawn to the doll, but I'm certainly not always successful.
Of course, my best trick is to take LOTS of pictures. My camera's memory card can hold nearly 1,000 photos, and I clear it whenever I download the pictures to my computer and back them up, so I shoot constantly when I am taking photos of Claudia. I always take several shots (at least three, sometimes up to ten!) of the same picture. Sometimes the auto-focus malfunctions, or the lighting changes slightly, or something blows in the way. The display on my camera doesn't show everything that I might notice while looking at the picture on my computer. I hate taking a picture that I love when I click "capture," only to discover that it's flawed and ultimately unusable! It's so very frustrating!
I hope the weather is nice tomorrow! I'm really looking forward to taking more photos of Claudia~ ♥
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Adjusting the Elastic Tension
When my doll arrived, she was strung very loosely. Ball-jointed dolls are strung with elastic, which gives them the tension to move at their joints and hold poses. I knew that she would arrive with very loose tension, as it stated such on the Rosette Doll website. However, I was unprepared for the actual task of tightening her elastic cord, since I have never owned a doll before or done maintenance on one.
I avoided it for a week or so, afraid of breaking her and unsure of exactly how to go about the process. Unlike most dolls that I have seen, the knot for the loops of elastic within her body is not inside of her head. It is actually inside of her upper torso. This meant that I could not (as I had thought) simply pull up the elastic a bit through the head, re-tie the knot, and all would be well.
Determined to avoid taking the entire doll apart and restringing her so that the knot WOULD be inside of her head this time, I spent a while peering at and examining her, trying to analyze how she was assembled. The guide book that she was shipped with had a diagram, but it didn't initially make sense to me because I had so little experience with ball-jointed dolls. When I examined her body, I would notice all kinds of small pieces that made me even more determined not to take her full apart unprepared.
One day, when trying to pose her to take some pictures, I finally decided that I simply had to adjust her tension. Her knees continually buckled if I propped her up, and there was only so much interest I felt in taking photos of her sitting down. I took a deep breath and sat down to adjust her.
Luckily, it was not as terrifying as I had feared--although when I unhooked the elastic and her torso was separated from her legs, it was extremely unsettling to hold the two pieces of my extremely expensive doll! I realized that, although the knot was in her torso, this simply meant that I had to adjust the elastic just above her abdomen piece, and then pull the elastic up through the torso and head. (As opposed to either adjusting the elastic while the head was still on, or above the neck with the head removed.)
Her tension is much better now. As soon as I was finished, she was sturdy enough to stand! She might need further adjustment, but for now I am quite proud of myself~ ♥
I avoided it for a week or so, afraid of breaking her and unsure of exactly how to go about the process. Unlike most dolls that I have seen, the knot for the loops of elastic within her body is not inside of her head. It is actually inside of her upper torso. This meant that I could not (as I had thought) simply pull up the elastic a bit through the head, re-tie the knot, and all would be well.
Determined to avoid taking the entire doll apart and restringing her so that the knot WOULD be inside of her head this time, I spent a while peering at and examining her, trying to analyze how she was assembled. The guide book that she was shipped with had a diagram, but it didn't initially make sense to me because I had so little experience with ball-jointed dolls. When I examined her body, I would notice all kinds of small pieces that made me even more determined not to take her full apart unprepared.
One day, when trying to pose her to take some pictures, I finally decided that I simply had to adjust her tension. Her knees continually buckled if I propped her up, and there was only so much interest I felt in taking photos of her sitting down. I took a deep breath and sat down to adjust her.
Luckily, it was not as terrifying as I had feared--although when I unhooked the elastic and her torso was separated from her legs, it was extremely unsettling to hold the two pieces of my extremely expensive doll! I realized that, although the knot was in her torso, this simply meant that I had to adjust the elastic just above her abdomen piece, and then pull the elastic up through the torso and head. (As opposed to either adjusting the elastic while the head was still on, or above the neck with the head removed.)
Her tension is much better now. As soon as I was finished, she was sturdy enough to stand! She might need further adjustment, but for now I am quite proud of myself~ ♥
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Making a Doll Your Own
The setup from Rosette Doll is one in which each doll arrives with a specific wig, specific eyes, a specific body, a specific outfit, and a specific faceup. This is not common among ball-jointed dolls--most dolls arrive with random eyes and a random wig, naked and unpainted. Sometimes they can be purchased as a "fullset," where the doll should arrive as shown in the promotional images--usually a limited edition. Although Rosette Doll does issue limited edition dolls, even the basic dolls are fullset.
While there is something fulfilling about receiving a doll exactly as shown in the promotional images, part of the fun of ball-jointed dolls is customization.
The doll that I purchased was a limited edition Violet. Fitting of her name, she arrived with a violet eyes. Her wig was a lovely pale brown and ivory blend, styled with curls and pulled back from her face. However, those eyes and wig, although beautiful, did not seem correct for the doll I wished to own. When I first noticed Violet's face sculpt, I envisioned her with dark brown eyes and blonde hair.
Based on the measurements provided on the Rosette Doll website, I purchased two blonde wigs from DollHeart. The particular proportions of the dolls meant that even though she is taller than a typical 45cm MSD-sized doll, she wears a 17cm wig that would fit a Yo-SD-sized doll. However, my doll is a young lady at Rosette School, not a baby as most Yo-SD-sized dolls are depicted. It took careful searching to find wigs in such a small size that also looked at least somewhat mature.
At DollHeart, I found two~ One caught my eye immediately, because it seemed perfect for a young Victorian girl. The wig features a ponytail of curled ringlets, eyebrow-length bangs, and two thin ringlets to frame the face. Ringlets are very prominent in hairstyles around the Victorian era, especially so for girls. The ponytail, however, gave the effect of a more mature updo--and certainly a single ponytail is more adult than pigtails.
However, the second hairstyle was not at all suitable for an old-fashioned young lady--it was a twisted, pinned up ponytail with two thin braids coming from the back of the style. However, I couldn't help thinking that I would be able to take the ponytail down and brush it out, allowing her to have an "unstyled" wig for more casual events. Now, restyling a wig is not easy, and sometimes it cannot be done. Wigs are not human scalps, so the hair is often omitted in areas if it cannot be seen, as it reduces bulk. Luckily for me, my suspicion was correct, and it was possible to unstitch the ponytail and slice out the braids. The wig does have a few odd spots under the top layers of hair where the fiber in a specific area has been trimmed extremely short, but overall it is more than functional.
When my doll finally arrived, the blonde wigs were waiting for her, but she still had the same violet eyes. I really wanted to replace her eyes with dark brown eyes from SOOM similar to the kind she already wore. However, the colors that I was looking at were sold out in the size that she wore. I was lucky enough to find out that another member of Den of Angels had received a bonus pair of 14mm dark SOOM silicone eyes with the student version of a doll who had been ordered during the Christmas present period. In the meantime, my doll seemed a bit listless, despite being rather lifelike. There seemed to be something wrong because her eyes just weren't the right color.
The new eyes arrived the other day, just two days after I paid for them. As soon as I placed the first eye in her faceplate, I knew they were perfect! Her entire faceup seemed enhanced and lively, accented by the dark eyes. I keep thinking that perhaps I'd like to get a different shade of brown, to see what they'd look like, but her eyes right now are gorgeous~! I'm so glad that I was able to get a pair for her so quickly!
While there is something fulfilling about receiving a doll exactly as shown in the promotional images, part of the fun of ball-jointed dolls is customization.
The doll that I purchased was a limited edition Violet. Fitting of her name, she arrived with a violet eyes. Her wig was a lovely pale brown and ivory blend, styled with curls and pulled back from her face. However, those eyes and wig, although beautiful, did not seem correct for the doll I wished to own. When I first noticed Violet's face sculpt, I envisioned her with dark brown eyes and blonde hair.
Based on the measurements provided on the Rosette Doll website, I purchased two blonde wigs from DollHeart. The particular proportions of the dolls meant that even though she is taller than a typical 45cm MSD-sized doll, she wears a 17cm wig that would fit a Yo-SD-sized doll. However, my doll is a young lady at Rosette School, not a baby as most Yo-SD-sized dolls are depicted. It took careful searching to find wigs in such a small size that also looked at least somewhat mature.
At DollHeart, I found two~ One caught my eye immediately, because it seemed perfect for a young Victorian girl. The wig features a ponytail of curled ringlets, eyebrow-length bangs, and two thin ringlets to frame the face. Ringlets are very prominent in hairstyles around the Victorian era, especially so for girls. The ponytail, however, gave the effect of a more mature updo--and certainly a single ponytail is more adult than pigtails.
However, the second hairstyle was not at all suitable for an old-fashioned young lady--it was a twisted, pinned up ponytail with two thin braids coming from the back of the style. However, I couldn't help thinking that I would be able to take the ponytail down and brush it out, allowing her to have an "unstyled" wig for more casual events. Now, restyling a wig is not easy, and sometimes it cannot be done. Wigs are not human scalps, so the hair is often omitted in areas if it cannot be seen, as it reduces bulk. Luckily for me, my suspicion was correct, and it was possible to unstitch the ponytail and slice out the braids. The wig does have a few odd spots under the top layers of hair where the fiber in a specific area has been trimmed extremely short, but overall it is more than functional.
When my doll finally arrived, the blonde wigs were waiting for her, but she still had the same violet eyes. I really wanted to replace her eyes with dark brown eyes from SOOM similar to the kind she already wore. However, the colors that I was looking at were sold out in the size that she wore. I was lucky enough to find out that another member of Den of Angels had received a bonus pair of 14mm dark SOOM silicone eyes with the student version of a doll who had been ordered during the Christmas present period. In the meantime, my doll seemed a bit listless, despite being rather lifelike. There seemed to be something wrong because her eyes just weren't the right color.
The new eyes arrived the other day, just two days after I paid for them. As soon as I placed the first eye in her faceplate, I knew they were perfect! Her entire faceup seemed enhanced and lively, accented by the dark eyes. I keep thinking that perhaps I'd like to get a different shade of brown, to see what they'd look like, but her eyes right now are gorgeous~! I'm so glad that I was able to get a pair for her so quickly!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
