Memory Lane

When the snowflakes slowly fall and it is dark on the Northern hemisphere, I usually crawl inside looking for something to keep me warm. Like a bear, a thick blanket, a cup of tea or our dog Bentley. The last couple of weeks have been so cold and so snowy, that we started to wonder if this is it - the new ice age is here. It did not matter how much clothes we put on, it still was freezing cold. And Bentley had to have his long walks and play dates with his friends and us owners standing far apart with our masks on, while dreaming about warmer days. 

But even this did pass. The rain came, made the streets icy and ready to flip you over. We walked like penguins and hoped for the best. Today it was sunny, the streets are clean from snow, ice and dangerous winter elements. The birds tweeted and it felt nice, especially for the soul. There is hope for warmer days, less clothes and some new energy.

During cold days it is always fun to remember those warm days. This time I found some photos I took in May 2016. It feels like forever ago. Husband and I took a short road trip to a nearby lake and I had Noomi with me. The sun was up high, the lake glittery and the birds had a lot to tell. These two photos are from that trip.

A very simple comparison

In June I wrote a bit about my Mokashura Duyou, telling you about the heavy head and the difficult joints. Musume commented that she was curious to see how this doll looks compared to other dolls. So I took some quick photos outdoors at the cottage and here you can see the differences. 

Some measurements. I have Noomi, Zipporah, a Monster High doll, a 11 cm (4.33 inch) Obitsu body and a ruler, that is exactly 17,7 cm. That is 6.968503937 inches. Just for fun. Zipporah is a Dollmore Narsha, 35 cm. The Monster High doll is approximately 10.5 inch (27cm) tall.

Noomi feels huge compared to the headless Obitsu body.

Noomi was hard to put in this pose, especially with the legs. A mobility type of thighs would have been great.

Noomi's arm do pose very well and she can touch her face, head and have her hands on her waist, but from time to time these arms do as they wish. Pop. I but her arm straight, but she just did not want to do that. Probably a question of stringing.

Zipporah's and Noomi's head-caps. The difference is huge.
Noomi has wigs that are 13 inch and my two Narsha's have 7 inch wigs. 

Headless Obitsu body sitting on a mountain....erhm, on Noomi's head-cap.

Zipporah and Noomi, and their happy faces.

Well, that was for today. A very simple comparison. Hope that it gave you a better picture of the sizes. Noomi really is a baby doll sized cutie.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Noomi, a Mokashura Duyou.

Noomi is my third doll from the doll company Dollmore. I ordered her in September 2014 and she arrived in the end of that year. It felt like a rather short wait, or maybe I just had gotten used to the wait after the earlier doll orders. 

Noomi with her big eyes and new face up.

When I saw this doll at the first time, I thought that it was a doll in the size of Lati Yellow and similar. The last photo on the company's page said the opposite. Suddenly it was a huge doll. So, in some seconds I changed my mind. But I could not get her cute face of my mind and those adorable eyes just etched deep into my soul. After some thinking, looking at box openings, reading reviews on different sites - I took another decision. I ordered her with a face up, body blushing, clothes, shoes and two wigs. I went all in. And then I lived with an empty wallet. 

She came one early morning, the mailman said he was sorry and I stood there in my pajamas and my hair looking like a wild bird nest. I took the heavy box, went to my bed and started to slowly breathe, open the box and feeling the joy. Such a huge doll and so, so pretty. I was overwhelmed by the cuteness.

Face up done, ready for lashes.

"She can probably fly away with these lashes" was my first thought.

But with the eyes and wig, it did not look too bad.

This year I have had her for almost 4 years. Her place among my other dollies have grown and I really adore her. There has been some moments that have given me some serious thoughts of letting her go, especially her being so heavy and me having some issues with the tilting head and my carpal tunnel syndrome. These three things to not match. But she is still around and will be for a long, long time. When my hands cannot handle it, I give her to someone else in my family to hold so that I can take some photos. There is always a solution.

Peek-a-boo.

Noomi, with sunbeams and a new face up.

The Doll Shaming tag on Instagram was a really fun thing to do.
A smaller wig, a wig cap or even velcro is needed to keep the wig in place.

In the beginning of this year, I saw that her eye lashes started to literally fall apart. Decided to take those off, but the glue - a nightmare. It ended in a clean doll face and a new face up. My daughters bought some eye lashes to me, that I could use. And now she is back to normal.

Her legs, especially the knee joints has a life of their own.
It is ok as long as one does not twist the legs too much. 

Knees in right place, but as you see -
too much twisting makes some marks on the body blushing.
Nothing bad and it can be fixed, but anyway...

"What is this thingy?" A very good thingy.
The body has one on each butt/leg and makes her sit very stable.
No tilting, no falling back and no troubles getting her to sit.
Just perfect!

Tilting head gives a strange throat, almost like an Adam's apple.

Just a bit to make it better.

Her body is perfect in size and it could be amazing if the head was a bit tinier. And it would just be a little change in the back part of the head. I do not know if there has been any changes to the head with the newer versions of this doll. Maybe I will find out when my wallet is feeling better and I can order Noomi a brother. The boy version is just adorable.

Here are the measurements for Mokashura Doll.

- Height: 40.5cm (16inch) 

- Head: 32cm (13 inch wig) 

- Eyes: 28mm 

- Neck: 10cm 

- Bust: 19cm 

- Shoulder: 7cm 

- Waist: 18.5cm 

- Hip: 25.3cm 

- Foot : 5.5cm (width 2.8cm) 

- Shoulder to the end of finger: 16cm 

- Waist to the end of foot: 21.5cm 

- Hip to the end of foot: 17cm

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I hope that you are doing well. I am at our cottage right now, we drove here yesterday. I did some gardening that day too, so now I am a bit sore, mostly in the arms. Yesterday was sunny and even this morning had a warm fuzzy feeling, but then the rain came. Tomorrow we hope for a road trip in sunshine. Enjoy the new week!

Now it is too much...

On the road to Oslo, in Norway.

Strange metal skeletons in Oslo, Norway.

It has been a lot to figure out when it comes to all the paper work and after work, after my mother in law's passing. We just have an apartment to clean now and we will do that during the Easter holidays that are coming. Life was slowly getting into normal, as normal as it can be after these things. When we were on our way to Norway the other day for a little day trip, we got some sad news from my husband's cousin. 

My mother-in-law's, Anna's, sister Svea had passed away on 21st March, in the morning. I could not take that in and it broke me totally. I was sobbing and hugging the mobile phone for comfort and saying "no, no, no....". Could not understand.

We continued our trip, but felt like numb lost souls just floating. It was so surreal. We kept contact with my husbands cousin during the trip and he will arrange the funeral and we have promised to assist the way we can, if needed. 

Noomi's head, as seen on my Instagram

New lashes, bought by my daughters-

During the evenings I have been cleaning up my Mokashura Duyou doll, Noomi. Her lashes had in some way started to loosen and fall off, bit by bit. The eye lashes felt fragile and dry, so I thought that taking them off and putting in some new ones would be a thing to do. But the glue...the GLUE. It was glued with glue on glue and then the lashes, so I had some difficulties to get that sticky glue off. 

Oh well, it ended in a mess and then I was cleaning a doll head, that suddenly needed a new face up. So that is happening....and keeping me busy. Thought to share a review of her body and head some day soon.

Just wanted to let you know about the sad news and that we are OK. But it feels that it is too much now... 

Meanwhile...

Sometimes I go through my photos or apps, that I have on my smartphone. From time to time I can combine a photo with an app and the result can be rather amusing - or a total disaster. Nevertheless, it is a nice way to keep your mind focused and just relax. 

A photo of Noomi, taken almost a year ago, and some comics (effects, words, bubbles...) ended up as a little part of a non existing story. A photo can change and become something new - this one turned from a relaxing summer day to a superhero who have had enough and wanted to do something else. Like just wanting to doll...

Hope that you are enjoying the new week! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

It took a long time, before love and romance was connected to Valentine. Before that it was a western christian liturgical celebration for all those saints named Valentine. Here in Sweden there is a little bit different story to it. There is the martyrdom, liturgical feast and the saint, of course, but it was not until 1990's this celebration started to grow here. There had been some tests earlier in the lat 1950's and early 1960's, but that did not work. Today, on the 14th February, the flower shops sell over four million roses. And when the roses are sold out, you can buy dark red tulips and carnations. 

I have never, really, celebrated this day. When I was younger, we mostly showed our love to the parents and the friends we had. It could be more as a friend's day. 

I support BJD Artists!

Noomi.

What ever I collect or buy, I want to buy the real thing. No copies, no recasts and no look-a-likes. If I can not buy it, I save for it or wait for a better moment. Behind every doll, there is an artist, who had you in mind when making, working and designing. She or he wanted you to have the best and the easiest way to say Thank You, is to buy the real thing - even if you have to wait. 

When I started in this hobby, I never thought that there would be a market for recasts. But when you suddenly stumble on really cheap dolls, that look like the real thing, you start to wonder. And yes, this hobby is expensive and it can take a long time to save up to the doll you want. And yes, sometimes you miss the opportunity to buy one, because it is a limited edition. But those things are not a reason to buy recasts. 

Well, there is no reason at all to buy recasts. Absolutely non at all. 

I waited a while for my Dollmore Mokashura Duyou. She is a Baby Doll, cute and sweet. I followed the work of the artists and made it more as a trip to something good, instead of getting frustrated by the long wait. The feeling of getting her home is something above the rainbow of happiness. The joy of doing the right thing. Being patient and supporting the artists is the right way to go.

You can read more and look at other supporters over here, at Tumblr.

A day out

It has been a rainy weekend, but even though a good weekend. Soon it is time for bed and a good nights sleep. A new week is around the corner, with lots of new possibilities. Let's hope so. 

Even if I felt a bit 'under the weather', I wanted to take a little trip by car to the lake and take some photos. It was cold and windy, but very nice. The nature smells good now. It was relaxing to enjoy it and just breathe in....and breathe out. I took some photos while breathing. 

Here they are. Enjoy and have a nice new week!

Summer holiday wishes

Someone thinks it is time to pack!

In just a couple of days it is time for lift off. I am trying to keep my head cool, so that I can remember the things I want to have along in my packing. We are going to be away for many weeks, and even if my hubby will travel up home a couple of times to work, I rather have my things along. And even if I am more than okay with just my phone (camera in there), a charger and my three ball jointed dolls, I think that I need more things.

”What is that crazy lady doing?”

I could almost see the expressions on the drivers faces, while they passed by the lake Ramsjön and saw me holding up a doll, taking photos, changing to another doll and taking more photos.

But it was a perfect day for a small road trip with three dolls and husband. The late evening before that road trip, I changed their clothes and wigs, getting all sweaty because it was so hot, humid and no breeze at all - even with open windows. The next day, around midday I put the dolls in a grocery shopping bag (so, so sorry - do not own a doll bag or a basket yet) and went outdoors. The thought of having three ball jointed dolls for a big amount of money in a grocery shopping bag made me smile. What would people say?

We have several small places with lakes, forest and paths that are nice to walk and stay at. And when the weather is perfect, as it was that day, you just need to take a trip. It was nice to stand there, in the sun feeling the soft breeze from the lake and hearing the birds sing. It was good medicine for the soul.  

Bad hair day!

I think that I am not alone when it comes to the complications with wigs for your dolls. You think that you find a lovely one and after a while it really is not the one at all. I have been visiting sites to see what they offer, I have been making my own wigs for the dolls, I have re-rooted, I have gone mad and lost all hope and started all over again.

Noomi on the left with the wig she came with.
I have a short blond for her too, she looks cute in it.
To the right, the wig I am thinking about, from Dollmore.

When it comes to wig, I have never been so much into those long ones. Probably because of the maintaince those need. This makes it even harder to find a suitable wig, because of my own limitations. A long wig gives you as a doll owner a chance to make different kinds of hair styles and that way you can change the looks of the doll. But of course, duh, that is nothing I think of when I order wigs or start to make them. 

Gooliope with her high forehead. It looks higher in the photo,
than in real life. But anyway, bangs would do her good.
Thought of the wig from Dollmore.

At the moment I have my eyes on some wigs that I think would be nice on some of my dolls. One of these I thought would be great on Monster high doll Gooliope Jellington. That girl is so, so. so pink (at some point rather annoyingly pink) and she needs something to break that color. Someone who needs color is my Dollmore Mokashura Duyou doll Noomi. She is rather pale and a wig with two colors would be great. For my Dollmore Narsha dolls Esther and Zipporah - well…they have had their wigs for a long time and in one way I have got used to those. I know that the one doll, Ever After High Apple White, is the one with the best hair. Soft, curly, thick and in place.

Apple White, still without a top but with great hair.

Well, I think I will surf the wig net for some more and dream away. One day I may find the perfect ones.

When it comes to my ordinary life, even if my dolls are a part of that life, it has been mostly flu that have been visiting us. First the kids and then us adults. We are all fine now and feeling well, even if we are a bit tired after sore throats, fever, sneezing and ache. The bed was our best friend for several days and the kids stayed home from school. A new week is here and we look forward to that. The week after that, the oldest daughter will get her new glasses - her first ones. And I hope that those will work well for her. And she is turning sweet 16 too! Can not understand how fast time flies. 

They are my two cute babies, no matter how old they are!

Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day!

Recast or not to recast...?

My girls - Zipporah, Noomi and Esther, all from Dollmore.

Yesterday was the 22nd November, a day to show the support you have for BJD-artists. The world of Ball Jointed Dolls can in a way be seen divided in two camps - those who say no to recast and those who are recast-friendly. Just the information about different shops, sizes and molds can be a lot to handle in the beginning of the hobby, but then the question about recast comes along. When I started to read about the hobby and BJD's, I could see that some of the dolls I liked could be found for a lower price. That made me wonder and I made a search and stumbled over the word recast.

I will only buy dolls from legit companies. I mostly worry about the second-hand market and the dolls that are sold there. It is hard to see the difference because the dolls that are recast, are so well made.

Other thing that worries me is the hatred. On some sites the comments are harsh between the visitors and their opinions. I would not buy a recast, for my own reasons and one is that I support the BJD-artists and the work they put in the making of a new doll. But if you want to buy a recast, of some crazy reasons, you do so - as long as you know that you can get in some kind of trouble when trying to sell the doll on the second-hand market. This is where you should be honest with the buyers and let them know that it is a recast doll you are selling.

But just a tip - why not save a bit longer for the doll you really want and pay for good, honest and legit work?

What is your opinion when it comes to recast dolls?

Would you buy a recast?

Would you buy something else that was a copy? 

Noomi

Noomi, ready for a dance.

Such a cute face with big eyes

My favorite photo of her, the sporty one.
A happy girl in her best element, in the
nature. 

She came with a pink wig.

Chubby little face.

Shy.

Let's dance!

Noomi, the cute and sporty one with a Nordic spice.

1. What's your name? -Noomi. The spelling is from the Swedish version of the Biblical character Naomi and stands for "pleasant", "agreeable" and "my sweet".
2. What's your nationality/ethnicity? -I am a sweet mix of Finnish, Swedish and Arctic Bramble.
3. When where you born/how old are you? -I am rather young, born at the sunset in the Northern landscape, near the water.
4. What's your race (human, demon etc)? -Just a human.  But I have heard that somewhere in my family there is a Nordic Goddess, Eir.
5. Are you single/taken and who is your partner? (If single, who is your crush?) -Too young for that, but I long for a sister.
6. Sexual orientation (if any)? -Cute boys, duh.
7. Favorite hobby? -Sporty things and nature.
8. Favorite food/drink? -Ice tea! Cucumber water. And food...hmmm...so many, like meatballs!
9. Do you have a job? -That was funny, no I don't.
10. Favorite animal? -Owl and octopus

Basic info about the doll:

-From Dollmore, a sister to their doll Lusion Dahlia.
-Is seen as a baby doll with her 40,5 cm/16"
-Good things: Beautifully sculpted head, big sweet eyes. Pretty hands and feet. Good thing with some special parts that make it easy to change her clothes.
-Bad things: Heavy head, can make her tumble around when posing.

A what...?

Noomi - a Dollmore Mokashura, my third doll.

- Hey, I collect BJD’s!

- You collect what?

That is the way it goes. And that is okay. I’m glad to share my strange hobby, an adult collecting dolls with ball joints. It is like humans, the dolls have joints as we do – knees, elbows, waist and so on. The dolls are very flexible and you can pose them in very lifelike ways. I have seen photos of dolls that look as humans at the first look. The BJD’s can sit and stand unaided and do not need a stand as other dolls like Barbie do.

And that is not all. You can design to your own wish, do or order a custom doll. With a BJD you can change not just the clothes and shoes but even their hair, body parts, face up, eyes, shape and so on. Only your imagination can stop you. Your doll can look as you want it, as an owner and there will not be another doll like yours. In the whole world.

Make a search on the internet after Ball Jointed Dolls or Asian Ball Jointed dolls and you can see the variety among these cuties. All from human like to vampires, trolls, baby dolls and much, much more.