How did everyone get into collecting 1/6 dolls?

[kenaiqueen]

Late to the party here, but for me, it's always been about the clothes. I never really liked dolls much as a child because my mom kept pushing Tiny Tears at me, but when I saw Barbie and her outfits, I had to have one! I had an original Barbie with about a hundred outfits (mostly home-made) in my pre-teens, but I gave her to one of my sisters who was a serious collector when I left dolls behind for many years. I took up dolls again about 3 or 4 years ago when I saw some pictures of BJD's that belonged to one of the ladies in my NaNoWriMo local group. I picked up some Disney & Barbie besides my 1/4 Tonners, but most of my 1/6 are Monster High. I'm up to 11 at the moment. My favorite is my Lagoona, Lucie, who is standing here by my computer.

[Geektopian]

BTW, the serious answer for me is that it's been a life-long obsession. I remember wanting a GI Joe when I was very little and finally getting one for Christmas in 1973. There was a fairly long dry spell during the late 70s and well into my adulthood before 1/6 scale male action figures again hit the market in the mid-to-late 90s. At first, there really weren't any compatible action figure like female dolls but that started to change as time went on. The first Volks Dollfies was intriguing but they were actually a resin kit that you assembled. They went to pre-assembled resin then to molded ABS and vinyl but I thought they were a bit too expensive and they already had a reputation for quality issues. I had purchased the Hasbro GI Janes, all of the US market Cy Girls and even some of the early Dragon females before some folks on a chat session told me about the then relatively new Obitsu bodies. I was intrigued but had no idea of where to buy them until one of the members of the chat group discovered a small Canadian importer-retailer. That's where I bought my first few girls in 2003 before taking a short break from the hobby in 2004.

In early 2005 I met Emory Sung on another message board when he was first floating the idea of expanding his Collectible Card Game business, The Junky Spot, by taking over the importing and retailing of Obitsu dolls from a friend who was getting out of the business. It took a while for him to get the online store running and then the "joyous" 2005 Atlantic hurricane season kept me off the net and away from my hobbies for a while but by late 2005, I bought my first new Obitsu girl in over two years. It was all down hill after that!

More recently, I've spent some time away from the online side of the hobby while turning my attention to raising my son, who was born July 2012. I kept things going by focusing on collecting older, less expensive figures that I had wanted but hadn't bought in previous years. In early 2013 I decided to refocus on current offerings but due to higher prices and space constraints, purchase fewer items. With the birth of my daughter coming up in just about three weeks, I will again be focused on "dad duty" for a while. Who can say what things will be like with two little rug rats running around except obviously much busier! I still hope sneak in the occasional doll but we'll see how that goes.

[Tealove]

I started about January. I had been avoiding the toy aisle for years because I didn't think that I had the room for toys... or that I should be buying them for myself.

But I caved when I found the tiny My Little Pony, Granny Smith. A grandma toy!!??? With a walker? Cute! Then I looked her up online and discovered the MLParena. Bought more Ponies. Started looking around their doll forum and just got hooked on Livs, Barbie, Monster High, Strawberry Shortcake, BJD, Tonners and Ellowyne Wilde. I want a little of everything. I've mostly stuck with Ellowyne but I adore my 1/6 dolls. Maddie Hatter sits on my work desk and we have tea together. I love seeing her every day.

I didn't get into dolls until my 50th birthday and then it was making cloth dolls. Two books got me into dolls:
http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Mate-Dolls-Noreen-Crone-Findlay/dp/0873418069/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1384799924&sr=8-11&keywords=soul+dollsand
http://www.amazon.com/Baba-Vasilisa-Brave-Marianna-Mayer/dp/0688085008/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384800016&sr=8-2&keywords=vasilissa+the+beautiful
Then I found Hitty
http://www.amazon.com/Hitty-Her-First-Hundred-Years/dp/0689822847/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384800118&sr=8-1&keywords=hitty+the+first+hundred

Oooh... I followed your Hitty link to the preview and ordered the book. I think I'm going to love it.

[MeltedCaramel]

Geektopian: Ahhh...your reply, it made me want to like...snuggle something. Also, yay for dads collecting dollies! When your kids get older they're either going to love the hell out of you or pull double oh-seven moves to get to the bus stop in order not to be seen with "doll dad". XDDD. But seriously, that's awesome that you're into them. I think most kids with dolls remember their parents blandly playing house and nodding off during the process.

Tealove: Awww, I know what you mean. I think all of us, unless we're either complete social outcasts or flat out don't give a flying acorn, go through a bit of that "dolly guilt" stage. "I'm too old for this." You think. "What will people think of this?" You wonder. I went through a lot of angst in that department because I've been told my space looks like an artist and a twelve year old boy cohabitate. I've got action figures, a ton of 1/6 dolls, 1/8 static statues...it looks like a toystore exploded some choice goods. Then I realized: Hey, disregarding religious belief, we all only live once, I like to do this, and if I can't explain to someone why it's more art than just "collecting dolls" then it's not my fault.

I sort of gave the rest of the world my middle finger. XDDDD Also, Maddie Hatter, is she a MH doll? I haven't been keeping up with the new releases.

[Studio 126]

I had 12" wooden lay figures to help me with drawing, but they weren't much help for faces (and the female version wasn't much help for boob placement... ). At a second-hand toy store, I was smitten by a [Jazzie as] Mrs. Heart doll. Her body was useless, but she was the beginning of my 1:6 head collection. I changed her name to Leona.

Shortly after, Mattel introduced Barbie's Gymnast body. I started to buy them as viable lay figures with improved and diverse heads. Once I learned how to safely swap Barbie heads, it became a vehicle for heads that weren't available on articulated bodies, including Leona.

Between second-hand stores and my nieces growing out of their Barbies, my troupe of artiBabses grew quickly. It wasn't until later that Hasbro rolled out its Classic Collection GI Joes. They had good head sculpts, were reasonably well articulated and affordable. They were perfect. Whenever I had a little extra money, I would pick up one or two more with different head sculpts, and other guys like Power Team. Once I learned to swap CC Joe heads, I added male heads from less articulated bodies.

I now have 76 married couples employed at Studio 126. I am pretty much done actively collecting new figures, but will still grab reasonably-priced guys & gals from resale shops.

[MitisFeles]

I played with Barbies as a child, but I hated (and still hate) their smilling that shows teeth that was the most common mold in my childhood collection. My favourite Barbie was Pocahontas because of her faint smile and her more defined face.
I noticed that I tend to like more dolls that resembles me in some way (brunettes, or, in the case of MH Spectra, her facial structure), and probably is a common issue...anyway, when I was 12 years old I had an old library in my garage that I transformed in a doll house for my Furga-like dolls with hand-made fornitures and all the thing that can made accessories for them... there was a stable for my Little Ponies clones too!
Then I avoided dolls for years, until searching Deviantart (it was 2009, or something similar) I first saw BJD. I saw a Yoko and a Nya from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (maybe a Dollfie Dream) that make me fall in love, but I discovered the price of a BJD and disheartened I conclued that I will never got one and put my mind at peace. But I also saw some customized Barbies, and decided to try customize one. I made my own Yoko from a fashion doll, and a Lita Halford from Brutal Legend:.
Then I saw on DeviantArt Nko's Obitsus and discovered that I can have a BJD (in the Dollieh Sanctuary sense, that's mine too! without buying an huge, pricey dolls... and so bought the first couple of Obitsu, Faye, my 27 cm Fairy, and Kiriane, my 25 cm S Gretel. Then the girls wanted some boys, and I bought two Neo Goh Volks Guy; then I got an RD Susie, and so on... now I have 12 dolls (three are Monsters High), and mainly they are strange hybrids, because I love to experiment and I wanted to have the wider range of different bodies available. I used to be a cosplayer and doll customization resembles it a lot: you have to do a lot of different things, painting, sewing, crafting, search for supplies... and I adore it!
I'm currently waiting for my first MSD, a Dollmore Catish Reaa... she looked so much like my "fursona" that I irremediably fell in love. I never had a MSD, and if I will not have some shock from the big size I'll probably adopt more: I saw three other MSD that I love and I already have a character for each of them: they are Resinsoul Ming, Fantasy Doll Yolanda and Dollchateau Douglas.

[Tealove]

Tealove: Awww, I know what you mean. I think all of us, unless we're either complete social outcasts or flat out don't give a flying acorn, go through a bit of that "dolly guilt" stage. "I'm too old for this." You think. "What will people think of this?" You wonder. I went through a lot of angst in that department because I've been told my space looks like an artist and a twelve year old boy cohabitate. I've got action figures, a ton of 1/6 dolls, 1/8 static statues...it looks like a toystore exploded some choice goods. Then I realized: Hey, disregarding religious belief, we all only live once, I like to do this, and if I can't explain to someone why it's more art than just "collecting dolls" then it's not my fault.

I sort of gave the rest of the world my middle finger. XDDDD Also, Maddie Hatter, is she a MH doll? I haven't been keeping up with the new releases.

Awww... thanks for understanding. I actually try to keep my collections orderly and nice in the areas I allow visitors. But I have one room I call "staging". In that one, it looks like an explosion of toys and boxes. Only I go in there. lol. When people ask why I have so much... I just say I needed a hobby. That's the truth after all.

Maddie Hatter is part of Mattel's "Ever After High" line. It's related to Monster High (they even have a cross over), only the characters are based on Fairy Tales. The dolls are same-ish. But their clothes are creative like the Monster High dolls. Monster High shoes are amazing. Sometimes they are the only reason why I want a new doll. Maddie is suppose to be the daughter of the Mad Hatter. I didn't think Alice in Wonderland was a fairy tale, but I like the idea of a sweet but mad doll. She wears a teacup on her head and her shoes are sculpted to look like fine china. /ramble

I'm currently waiting for my first MSD, a Dollmore Catish Reaa... she looked so much like my "fursona" that I irremediably fell in love. I never had a MSD, and if I will not have some shock from the big size I'll probably adopt more: I saw three other MSD that I love and I already have a character for each of them: they are Resinsoul Ming, Fantasy Doll Yolanda and Dollchateau Douglas.

Oooh! An MSD! I love the choices you've made. I don't have one but I've heard they are about the same size as Ellowyne Wilde. She was much bigger than I expected... so it was kind of a shock. Too big to fit on my desk. But now I love it and I hope you will too.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Maddie Hatter is part of Mattel's "Ever After High" line. It's related to Monster High (they even have a cross over), only the characters are based on Fairy Tales. The dolls are same-ish. But their clothes are creative like the Monster High dolls. Monster High shoes are amazing. Sometimes they are the only reason why I want a new doll. Maddie is suppose to be the daughter of the Mad Hatter. I didn't think Alice in Wonderland was a fairy tale, but I like the idea of a sweet but mad doll. She wears a teacup on her head and her shoes are sculpted to look like fine china. /ramble

I was about to comment that I love your avatar, then I did a double take - presumably that's Maddie as your avatar? She looks a lovely character, and I adore the hair!

[MeltedCaramel]

Awww... thanks for understanding. I actually try to keep my collections orderly and nice in the areas I allow visitors. But I have one room I call "staging". In that one, it looks like an explosion of toys and boxes. Only I go in there. lol. When people ask why I have so much... I just say I needed a hobby. That's the truth after all.

<---Good for you. When I say it looks like a toy store exploded in my room, I mean that literally. I have cats, which means things get stepped on, slipped, slid, etc until you just throw up your arms in frustration. When I got an anime body pillow (haha, I hate body pillows but the picture on it I was like powerless to resist getting the stupid thing) I literally just flung it into the corner of my room with a bunch of accumulated figures and doll stuff.

Maddie Hatter is part of Mattel's "Ever After High" line. It's related to Monster High (they even have a cross over), only the characters are based on Fairy Tales. The dolls are same-ish. But their clothes are creative like the Monster High dolls. Monster High shoes are amazing. Sometimes they are the only reason why I want a new doll. Maddie is suppose to be the daughter of the Mad Hatter. I didn't think Alice in Wonderland was a fairy tale, but I like the idea of a sweet but mad doll. She wears a teacup on her head and her shoes are sculpted to look like fine china. /ramble

<---I found a pic of her and she's adorable!!! Alice in Wonderland, the original version, isn't so much a fairytale as a literary classic/acid-trip, but the public conciousness has gotten quite used to the Disney-fied version of it and it sort of "snuck into" fairy tale literature. Most fairy tales have dark, grim origins so I think she would have been good as an MH doll considering the nature of the original work, but fairy tales have a plethora of interesting characters to choose from as well. I hope the line grows beyond your usual "princess" feel it seems to have now. Admitttedly it seems rather new and it all depends on if they catch on like MH did. But Little Red Riding Hood as a goth badass? I love it.

http://www.nowinstock.net/news/wp-conte ... h-cast.jpg

The huntsman is a little "meh", his hair makes me wince. I love Raven Queen though. As well as Briar Beauty, based on the somewhat obscure "Briar Rose" fairytale. (Although some of these names...Apple White...ouch.) I love the one based on Cinderella with the glass slippers winding up her legs and the clock-at-midnight motiff.

I can see why you chose Maddie though. The doll's teacup hat alone would make me have grabby hands.

[Tealove]

I was about to comment that I love your avatar, then I did a double take - presumably that's Maddie as your avatar? She looks a lovely character, and I adore the hair!

Yes! That is Maddie! The crazy one.

Maddie Hatter is part of Mattel's "Ever After High" line. It's related to Monster High (they even have a cross over), only the characters are based on Fairy Tales. The dolls are same-ish. But their clothes are creative like the Monster High dolls. Monster High shoes are amazing. Sometimes they are the only reason why I want a new doll. Maddie is suppose to be the daughter of the Mad Hatter. I didn't think Alice in Wonderland was a fairy tale, but I like the idea of a sweet but mad doll. She wears a teacup on her head and her shoes are sculpted to look like fine china. /ramble

<---I found a pic of her and she's adorable!!! Alice in Wonderland, the original version, isn't so much a fairytale as a literary classic/acid-trip, but the public conciousness has gotten quite used to the Disney-fied version of it and it sort of "snuck into" fairy tale literature. Most fairy tales have dark, grim origins so I think she would have been good as an MH doll considering the nature of the original work, but fairy tales have a plethora of interesting characters to choose from as well. I hope the line grows beyond your usual "princess" feel it seems to have now. Admitttedly it seems rather new and it all depends on if they catch on like MH did. But Little Red Riding Hood as a goth badass? I love it.

http://www.nowinstock.net/news/wp-conte ... h-cast.jpg

The huntsman is a little "meh", his hair makes me wince. I love Raven Queen though. As well as Briar Beauty, based on the somewhat obscure "Briar Rose" fairytale. (Although some of these names...Apple White...ouch.) I love the one based on Cinderella with the glass slippers winding up her legs and the clock-at-midnight motiff.

I can see why you chose Maddie though. The doll's teacup hat alone would make me have grabby hands.

Thanks! She is my favorite. The others are lovely too. I also have Raven, Hunter and Ashlynne. Ashlynne's shoes are beautiful! Not as pleased with her box hair though. Hunter's hood can be pulled up to cover his hair. It makes him look mysterious.

I had to google Medicom. That line looks like a lot of fun too. So detailed!