Save 10% off Mystic Kids from Junkyspot

Junkyspot is offering 10% off the already low prices of all in-stock Mystic Kids! These dolls are a relatively new company, but have a good reputation, some fantastic face sculpts, and even better prices. If you are looking for a lower priced introductory doll, this might be a good time to dive into the hobby. Junkyspot is a great place for shopping, too! The sale lasts through August 1, 2014.

UK's RoseDolls Charity Raffle - and store closing!

Directly from RoseDoll's website--please pay them a visit for a great cause!

Charity Raffle!

RoseDolls are holding a charity raffle with awesome prizes to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Further to our 50% discount just recently announced, we will be donating the remaining 50% of sales of our in stock items directly to the charity fund.

With our greatest regret, we wish to inform everyone that we will be closing. After the raffle is complete and money donated to charity, we will be officially closed. We invite you to read on about our last endeavour!

Why this charity/ What is it all about?

In 2010, in the United Kingdom alone, 325,000 people were diagnosed with cancer. That is 890 people a day. In addition, it is estimated that 1 in 3 people will develop cancer in their lifetime. (Source: Cancer Research UK).  Cancer has, and will continue to affect the lives of millions- not just those diagnosed, but also their family and friends who care for them. It is something close to the heart of RoseDolls and was chosen not only because of this, but due to its existence and prominence all over the world. This is significant, as we know this message will reach a BJD community worldwide.

This charity uses it’s donations in order to fund cancer research, thus the development of treatments for many types of cancer. This has benefited the lives of countless people affected and with further funding will undoubtedly help save more lives. To find out more, please take a look at the official charity website:  http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Every single penny raised will go straight to Cancer Research.

What are the prizes?

We have some fantastic prizes donated to us be wonderful companies! We thank them for their display of generosity:

1^st Prize:Little Monica donated a beautiful Little Harmony Irin. She is a ¼ size doll, in white skin tone. She comes with a pair of acrylic eyes only and without face up. 

Company Picture:



Details can be found here:

http://dec89229.gdreamweb.com/shop/step1.php?number=896&b_code=B20090616064226

2^nd Prize: 
  RoseDolls are donating a Dikadoll Shall Head, with face up (as in pictures). (Additional items TBC) He is a 70cm doll head in a creamy white skin tone.
Company picture:

3^rd Prize: 

Ersa Flora and Alice’s Collections have donated to us 21 pairs of lovely BJD eyes. Some are acrylic and some glass, ranging from natural browns, to vibrant blues, rainbows, anime eyes, pupil-less, glittery and more. They also range from 14mm to 20mm, though, the majority are 14mm and 16mm. Perfect for trying out a new look for your dolls!

(More pictures soon)

So… tell me more about these raffle tickets….

As of the 27^th of December, raffle tickets will be sold until the 30^th of January 2014. Drawing will take place on the 31^st of January 2014 and the winners announced on the 2^nd of February 2014. (Deadline may be extended to allow more time for fund raising. We will immediately notify everyone if this is happens and adjustments to dates will be made as appropriate. )

One raffle ticket is a £1 GBP.  Tickets are electronic and will be submitted for drawing once we have confirmed that everything is ok. Raffle tickets can be purchased on our site here:

http://www.rosedolls.com/store/raffle-ticket.html

There is no limit on the number of raffle tickets you can purchase, so of course the more you purchase the greater chance you will win a prize! There will be free shipping for this prize to the winner worldwide (Though we kindly ask the winner to provide funding if they wish to have extra insurance to cover the full value of their prize where applicable.)

IMPORTANT : Please order the raffle tickets alone; If you wish to make other purchases please make it a separate order! This will help us greatly with preparation for drawing winners. Thank you.

Finally…

We hope you can spare a small amount to support this cause, a cause which is heartfelt and dear to so many. Please help spread the word to other BJD fans you know~

Thank you for your time and thank you again to the amazing companies who donated the prizes!

To take a look at the sites of the wonderful donators, please see below: 

Littlemonica- http://www.littlemonica.com/index.php
Ersa Flora Eyes- http://www.ersaflora.com/
Alice's Collections- http://www.acbjd.com/

Attention - European readers!

Hello, my dear European readers,

I've been working on my next book, working title is currently A Little More BJDs for Beginners, and I'm revising my list of current doll dealers and doll companies. It's with a heavy heart that I just saw that Mikka's Dollhouse is going out of business. I did see that she has all her current inventory listed at fantastic prices, however, and she ships to all European countries.

If you're a fan of Berdine Creedy, Doll in Mind, Bo Bergemann, DollnDoll, or Fantasy Doll, go check out her store. And be sure to check out the good prices on wigs, too--some are listed at 50% off, and I think you guys may be able to save some taxes and the like.

While I'm on the subject... what else would you be interested in as I'm updating a list of doll companies? I'm adding the price range, doll quality and notes (according to feedback I've personally had and also what I'm reading from owners), company communication and shipping times, and how and where you can order. Is there anything else you'd be interested in knowing in a great, grand list of dolls?

I'm actually thinking of contacting each company as well--to see if they'd like to let me know something special about their dolls.

Jessica Pierrot EID

**Update** She has been sold!

Are you looking to add Iplehouse EID Jessica to your collection at an affordable price? You may be able to find the perfect one on the secondary market from Jan. You can see lots of beautiful photos of this limited edition doll, Jessica Pierrot from 2009, on her website here.

For $550 (shipping and insurance is additional), you will receive the nude, normal skin (large bust, general type non-mobility thigh) doll with the company face-up, an additional set of hands, high-heel feet, extra elastic, including two Iplehouse wigs (blonde and brunette), and three pairs of 12mm eyes (green, blue and brown). She includes her original box and certificate of authenticity, and the seller is her original owner. (You can rest assured you're getting an actual Iplehouse, and not a recast.)

According to her seller, originally, this doll sold for $846. She was one of the original dolls in the Noctarcana Circus collection. You can see her page here.

This doll uses the first EID body, and looking at her photos, she has a very even skin tone with no visible yellowing. She is in incredible condition. She's lovely!

Because she is so heavy, her owner would like to ship her within the US only.

I have to confess, Jessica has never been on my wish list before--but this girl is really amazing. And this price is such a steal! Someone should pick her up. She's an incredible doll, and really, one of the first limited edition dolls that helped put Iplehouse on the map. (Plus, if you buy her, then I won't be tempted, LOL!)

Photo belongs to Jan Carmen.

BJD Con in San Diego!

It's tomorrow!

Here is the information for the Wild Wicked West convention, San Diego's 4th Annual BJD Convention.

It's only $10 cash at the door for admittance - November 3, 2012. The vendors:

• Pixiedust Design: Fashions for Tiny BJDs 
• PamSD's Miniature Costuming: BJD Clothes for MSD, SD, and larger dolls 
• Nancy Hay Decorative Arts: Hats 
• Pinniped Designs: Pinniped Designs 
• jennygrey: Clothing & Accessories for YoSD, MSD & SD 
• Bats' Lagoon: Resin doll designed by Bats here in California 
• Shiny Jumble: Jewelry and accessories for dolls of all sizes 
• Ms. Cholong: DollHeart, Red Ruby, and JollyPlus 
• MegannArt: BJD clothes and accessories for a variety of sizes 
• Susan Lake Designs: Creates handmade, one of a kind and limited edition Headwear for BJD. 
• Doll Peddlar: Our abundant inventory gives our customers a range of choices from basic play dolls to investment works of art. 

The theme:

This year's theme for the costume contest and display area is the Wild Wicked West!  So bring out your cowboy and cowgirl, your card shark and your saloon madam, your tinker and your blacksmith, your indian and your soldier, as well as all those supernaturals that gold country happened to uncover, dig up, or otherwise disturb!  If it happened in a spaghetti western, a fantasy western, a sci-fi western, or a gawd-awful B-movie western that was showcased on MST3K, then it happened here!

I'll be there--come see me and say hello! I have short blonde hair today, and I'll be bringing some fun Peak's Woods saloon girls.

Summer surprise wig event from Denver Doll Emporium!

From now through September 13, Denver Doll Emporium is having a really terrific deal on first quality, brand new wigs from LeekeWorld.

• You choose the size: 6/6.5, 7/8, 8/9 or 9/10
• Then you choose the style: Short/Medium (boy/girl, may be all short or have layers with long tails), Long (boy/girl), or Girls only (curly, with boys or braids, only feminine styles)
• Cost: $16 for one wig, or 2 for $30. Each additional wig is just $15.

For details, check out Denver Doll's page here. This is a random wig event--the quality is really nice.

Photo property of Denver Doll Emporium.

Why are BJDs so expensive?

Peak's Woods Sky, as imagined by Val Zeitler
A.k.a. the one that got away

When you do a search for BJDs on Google, one of the first questions that comes up in that search is, Why are BJDs so expensive? With this post, I hope to shed some light on this topic.

First, when you say the word expensive, what exactly do you mean? Well, a resin ball-jointed doll can range in price from $75 to over $1000, and even more, depending on edition size, whether it's a basic doll or full-set, and so forth. Primarily, here are some factors of what influences price.

Handmade production
In the BJD world, the production of the ball-jointed doll is an arduous process. The heads and bodies of the dolls are first sculpted by artists, usually in clay, and cast into molds. Each piece of the body must be engineered carefully to include a canal for the elastic, so the doll can stand on its own.

Polyurethane resin is a toxic substance, which is liquid when poured into those molds--each part separately, and by hand--and then left to harden. (Resin bubbles easily, and it takes experts to pour it and mix it perfectly.) After each piece is removed from the mold, and seam lines are scraped, sanded, and often polished. The molds must be cleaned after each use. The dolls are strung by hand.

If there is a face-up, the face is painted and sealed, gloss accents are applied to the eyes and lips. Eyelashes are attached. Eyes are set. Then the heads are attached, and the dolls must be securely packaged for overseas travel.

For an absolutely fascinating and detailed description on what it takes to make a BJD, check out this interview with artist Kaye Wiggs with BJDmagazine.

Production location
Dolls manufactured in China usually cost a little less than dolls manufactured in Korea or Japan. Labor is generally less expensive. Especially in today's market, you'll be able to find dolls with the same quality as dolls poured in Japan and Korea.

You only need to look at companies like Resin Soul and sister company Bobobie for some examples of quality resin. In my experience, the doll comes to you already sanded, and prices are really good. However, production times can vary widely, so I'd recommend going through a dealer, such as Denver Doll Emporium or Junkyspot for these dolls. Often, dealers stock these inexpensive dolls, which range from $75 to $220.

Edition size
Another item to consider is the edition size of the doll. Are you looking at a basic BJD or a limited edition (either a monthly doll, full-set, doll party exclusive, etc.)? The full-set or limited edition doll will add a significant cost to your doll. Of course, as your doll will be more limited in production, the doll may indeed hold its value. A basic doll is usually more affordable, and you can style your doll the way you like, in a true one-of-a-kind look.

I tend to try to plan ahead as much as possible. If you enjoy collecting from a particular company, you can look at their previous year's releases. Or it's possible to contact them at the beginning of the year and ask about upcoming editions, so you can plan your budget. (They may not give away details, but you might be able to plan ahead.) You can use layaway if needed and budget ahead of time.

Resin color
If you're a fan of tan or colored resin, you may be disappointed. It's usually more difficult to match colored resin than it is to use white or pink skin tones. Some companies charge $10-15 extra for colored resin. Others may charge up to $30 for dark resin.

Face-ups
You can always add the face-up later, rather than purchasing a company face-up. This may save $50-80, depending on the company. I often find that when trying to saving money on a doll, however, I would rather have the company face-up, or even spend extra on an artist face-up, as this tends to really make the doll.

BJDs as works of art
Keeping in mind how much of the doll is handmade, being able to obtain one for just $75 is a pretty sweet bargain, in my opinion. It may be out of your current budget, but we are living in a Buy-It-Now culture. It won't kill you to save up for your dream doll. Trust me, that doll will probably come to your home eventually anyway. Why not save up for a little while, even if it takes more than a year, for the doll of your dreams?

To me, when you can support a smaller company, one-of-a-kind artists who do face-ups or create clothing or outfits, just for you, you're contributing not just to the economy but also to the world of art. It's worth it!

Little Queen will be available to order tomorrow!

The Little Queen is now listed on Peak's Woods website as the next full set doll. She will be available for preorder starting tomorrow, April 25, 2012 through May 25, 2012. Lay away is available as well.

This gorgeous Fairy of Fairytales girl uses the Rabbit Goon sculpt with a limited face-up, which is included in the $332 base price. You choose normal or white skin. Two pairs of hand parts, 14mm crystal acrylic eyes (random in color), a box, cotton cushions and a certificate of authenticity are also included. 

When you add the dress ($150), you also receive the gown, skirt, bloomers, stockings, shoes and hairband.

I'm noticing that the wig isn't listed, so I might drop them a line and ask if the wig is extra or random. I know Peak's Woods includes lovely eyelashes on their dolls, and I really adore the red lashes on this little lady!

Also, I haven't heard yet if there will be a free monthly fairy for April and May--the last one was a winking cutie, and was included with any order of a full doll.

Doll In Mind Christmas event

DIM Luria, Happy BJD

From November 17-30, 2011, you can take advantage of DIM's Christmas event:

Save 10% off your order of all full doll orders and
Receive a random bonus head with any DIM complete doll order.

Please note that a Happy (Doll in Mind's mini size) doll will receive a random Happy head, and a Love (Doll in Mind's large size) doll will receive a random Love doll head, and you cannot choose which head. I've had Benetia, Luria and Adina on my wish list forever!

Photo property of DIM.

Update on 3rd annual San Diego BJD convention

San Diego BJD Convention
Supernatural Orleans
November 5, 2011
11AM-3PM
Marina Village
Terrace Room
1936 Quivira Way
San Diego, CA  92109

Please come! Introduce yourself to me. I'll be there with dark brown (or black) and turquoise or blue hair. And the Peak's Woods dolls. Or ask JennyGrey (she'll be selling) who I am, and she will point me out.

Check out the website for more information, directions and a schedule. This is a great opportunity to get connected to other collectors, see more dolls, buy some outfits (they will have something for everyone), wigs, shoes, and maybe some eyes and there will be a resin BJD dealer there, too. Plus it's only $10 at the door.

For more on the theme, this is what I found on the website:

This year's theme is 'Supernatural Orleans', a tribute to vampires, zombies, voodoo, witches, and all things eerie and magical.  There will be doll costume contests, games, prizes, and raffles, plus refreshing drinks along with many of your favorite dealers!

New Alice in Dark Wonderland DollHeart release!

Noby Alice Memory Full Set BJD

New Alice-themed DollHeart items are available for pre-order from your favorite DollHeart dealer. Here are just a few of the items available:

• Noby full-set Alice Memory - $329.90 - She's a YoSD sized doll, complete with outfit, shoes, wig and face-up.
• Mad Hatter Version 1 - $149.90 - outfit sized for 70cm boys
• Mad Hatter Version 2 - $149.90 - outfit sized for 70 cm boys
• Rabbit Party - $119.90 - outfit for SD13 boys
• Alice Dream - $119.90 - outfit for SD10/13 girls
• Rabbit Fantasia - $99.90 - outfit for MSD (boys)
• Rabbit Illusion - $99.90 - outfit for MSD girls
• Rabbit Fairyland - $109.90 - outfit for MSD
• Alice Fairyland - $109.90 - outfit for MSD girls
• Rabbit Time - $89.90 - YoSD
• Alice Memory - $99.90 - YoSD

Alice Dream

Alice Memory

Photos property of DollHeart.

Third Annual BJD Convention in San Diego

According to a post on Den of Angels:

The Third Annual San Diego Ball-Jointed Doll Convention will be held at the picturesque Marina Village on the waters of Mission Bay on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 11 AM to 3 PM. We'll be located in the Terrace room on the south end of the Marina Village complex at 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, California. 

This year's theme is 'Supernatural Orleans', a tribute to vampires, zombies, voodoo, witches, and all things eerie and magical. There will be doll costume contests, games, prizes, and raffles, plus refreshing drinks along with many of your favorite dealers!

$10 per person at the door. Please note that anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Some doll nudity is likely. 

Dealer and Sponsor inquiries welcome.

You can find the DoA discussion thread here. I'm planning to attend--I'll let you know what color my hair is before I go--but probably black and blue or purple--so I'll be easy to spot. Come say hello!

Dollheart Fukupukuro sets available for pre-order!

Love Dollheart? Love grab bags? Love great deals? The 2011 Fukupukuro is for you!

$59.90 will get you a value of $120-140 worth of BJD clothing by Dollheart in these special edition packages. You choose your doll size: YoSD, MSD, SD10/13 Girl or SD13 Boy.

It's all randomly thrown together, but a lot of their items match and are really fun for play! This is a great option for clothing for BJD collectors on a budget.

Yeru looking for a new home

Yeru, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Peak's Woods Fairy of Color Yeru is looking for a new home. She is a normal skin, large bust version, enhanced with body blushing and new fantasy eye lashes.

She includes your choice (of three) wigs, purple acrylic eyes, and this gorgeous dress by Gingerlime Designs.

See lots more photos of her on Flickr.

I currently have her listed on Den of Angels. Thanks for looking!

Honey Queen Princess LE on Peak's Woods this morning!

This photo was on the home page of Peak's Woods this morning--it looks like our tan doll will a Fairy of Bugs this year! Adorable!

I'm not positive, but I think this might be the Lady Bee and Wake-Up Lady Bee (or the romantic elf version) sculpt.

More details to come!

Doll Peddlar upcoming events...

For more BJD fun and shopping, check out the Modern Doll Collectors Convention, and stop by the Doll Peddlar's booth. It will be in San Antonio, Texas, September 14-17. I am trying to finagle a way to attend this convention.

For my lovely international (European) readers, you can meet the wonderful people of the Doll Peddlar and their goods at the Ldoll Convention in Lyon, France, from October 8-9. One day, I will make it to this convention, too.

(Oh my goodness, the shopping will be fabulous!)