This isn't fully thought out, but I was thinking about fake/recast dolls, and how the Blythe community has a different take (in general) on fakes compared to the BJD community.

For BJDs, I am anti-recast, and I thought that when I wanted to get into Blythes, I should maintain that stance. Because after all, why would this stance change from hobby to hobby? That would be hypocritical. So for a while, I considered Blythes, but kept away from buying them because I didn't want to get into another hobby when I considered the TakaraTomy ones expensive, and I would rather spend on my BJDs anyway. I researched a bunch on Factory dolls and Taobao Blythes (coined TBLs though that's not an official term), and realised they're the BJD equivalent of recasts. Well, not exactly the same, since factory Blythes are supposed rejected/discarded parts from real Blythes, but for them to have such a consistent supply of Factory Blythes makes me question if they are indeed rejected parts. When in doubt, I don't buy, so I've just been steering clear of anything other than official Takara Blythes.

I had discussed this with my boyfriend when I first found out about factory Blythes and TBLs, and was lucky that when he got me a present, he bought an official Blythe, knowing my stance on fake dolls. In a sense, I think if he didn't buy my a Blythe, I wouldn't have gotten myself one first. (Although right now I do think it'll be fun to buy some more Blythes, I want to get my BJDs their bodies and stuff first, so no new Blythes, just clothes for my current one).

Also, I have been a bit wary/uncomfortable with following Blythe owners and artists. Because they're not as firmly against recast/fakes as a whole, and because some customisers prefer buying factory Blythes to customise, it's hard to tell which dolls are real, and which are fake. And I don't know. I'm not going to harass anyone, or even, really, tell them that their dolls are fake if they are not aware of it. I just don't see myself having enough tact for it to come across as being concerned/to inform them, and I think it will not be terribly polite. I've mostly just been ignoring the fake ones I do come across. But, I feel like that's also not the right thing to do? Like, it makes me uncomfortable. I don't know. I'm not sure what the answer is for this, if there is one, but ugh, fakes are annoying me in the hobby. And yet, I don't think it's right either, to just be pointing it out to their owners. And like what about those people who are anti-recast but okay with fake blythes? Should I still follow them? I feel torn about this.

I mean with doll friends in real life, when they do bring up fakes, I would just say it's not worth it to buy them (most of the time the intention is to practice), because there's plenty of good alternatives. Want to practice modding or faceups? There's practice heads from Doll Family. And right now Unoa faceplates on the second hand market are being sold for around 30-50USD, which is a pretty good price. If you find yellowed/damaged ones, it's even cheaper. So, really, there's no need to get recasts or fake blythes to practice...? And most of the time they just mention it in passing, so I don't really have to worry about them getting fakes. But with online communities, I don't know what's the boundary and if I should just close the page and mind my own business. (Which I know is not entirely right either.)

Urethane eyes comparison

Just a video showing some of the different types and brands of urethane eyes, especially the sparkly crystal kind that are really popular lately. I have Oscardoll, Sproutydoll and Makoeyes (Mako is mostly just a side comparison though).

On that note, I really like how Cypher looks with his new Sproutydoll eyes, they're really really shiny, and the colour is just gorgeous :D The little roar face rocks her glitter teal/turquoise eyes too, but she needs a name, and a body, lol.

Alright! One of my youtube videos finished processing, so I can share what I've done on my Blythe so far. Side note about her name: she didn't take any of the names I thought of at first. Didn't really responded to Casey or Fern. (I know dolls are inanimate, but sometime it feels like certain names do suit them better and you *feel* like the doll likes it more. It's probably my own projection but yes, let's not delve into that, lol.) So because I was out of ideas, I went searching for grey names (yes I typed that), and found names for grey cats. Lol. Foggy was one of the names that stood out and worked. I jokingly told my bf that it also means foggy brain because she's probably a bit scatterbrained. We'll see if that's true, though. Haha.

Also, here's the full photo I used for the thumbnail. Really pretty girl :)

Edited videos and uploaded them to youtube, but now after using the editor to enhance the video (increasing brightness and contrast), the videos are stuck in processing. Argh. Whyyy. I really want to share these videos okay.

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I also edited a bunch of photos from the mini meet I had with Ching the other day, but I don't have the group shots yet. Still, I figure I should share these before I forget. I brought Pebbles, Hew and Joe there. Pebbles because we wanted to take photos of our Unoas together. Ching's Liese is a modded Latea. The indoor platform area was pretty nice and bright :)


Then we went out for photos on the roof. Pebbles looking generally sad. Lol.


Regarding the meet attendees, I took Hew out for photos cos he had a new faceup.


Joe was out cos he hardly gets photos. He's also wearing Caillen's wig (now his) because of that wig swap they had a long time back.




There should still be a group shot and one of Ching's dolls which I think I will update when I do edit those photos. At least I got a bunch of new photos of my dolls. I think next up will be Elly and Tiyana. They've not had proper photos for a while now.

In the meantime, I took a bunch of photos today, of Cypher, Jelly and my Blythe. The Blythe has a name now! She's called Foggy. I'll explain more when the youtube video actually finishes editing/processing.

More Blythe stuff!

I finally edited the video of her box opening! It's quite different from a BJD box opening. So much more packaging involved, which kind of reminds me of Barbie's packaging (from when I was a kid). Anyway, I'm thinking of naming her Casey, or Cas for short.

I also made her an outfit (the one on the left below). This is the first outfit done almost entirely on the sewing machine. Previously I have been hand-sewing what little doll clothes I do make. There's a lot of mistakes, but I think I have a better idea on how to use the machine now. Also, the top is a bit short on one side...oops. Well, the overall look seems fine enough. The right photo is the top I made with her stock pants/bloomers. Haha. And a necklace I made.

I really want to put her back, but I think it'll be wiser to wait until I get her eyes, paint them, change them, before putting her back together. I'm also asking a friend to help me get her a PureNeemo body, so it'll be better if I do all the changes together, before trying to put her different parts back together. It's so much work, so doing it just once would be better. It's not like putting her back now would let me play with her much, since school is starting soon.

She needs to be glossed as well. Which is at least something I can do tomorrow, unlike the eyes (my order hasn't even shipped because it's the New Years holiday) and the body swap.

Just a thought... it seems that Blythe customs don't always have as decently drawn eyebrows (by that I mean line work, they don't look very sharp, and if it's a BJD faceup would usually be regarded as a beginner's lines in watercolour pencils), and yet these customs are sometimes selling or being asked for a price of $300+. I just wonder if the line work of eyebrows are not as big a concern for Blythes than it is for BJDs. I do recognise the price as being justified, since their carving and such are usually quite good, but the faceups are not to my liking. Well, anyway, it doesn't really matter since I'm not buying.

Side note: I do tend to prefer Blythes without eyebrows though. It gives them a certain charm, since their stock look never has eyebrows anyway.

Also, I have a long way to go in learning how to carve.