BlytheLife.com opened in July 2010 and is a blog and resource hub for all things Blythe!
Blything? Dolling? Playing with Dolls?
Written on October 16, 2013 at 12:00 pm by MichelleFiled under: Musings
There are a lot of different words that can be described the activity of playing/collecting Blythe. The easiest way to explain it to people who are (mildly) freaked out by the big-eyed, big-headed dolls is to call it “Well, you see, I collect Japanese dolls, they’re modern versions of this doll that came out in the 70s”. See, once people find out that something is vintage, it makes it all better. Vintage is very “in” these days.
I’ve come across people who can be very negative when it comes to adults who say that they “play with dolls”. Which is why I’ve since changed it to “collecting dolls” and then further elaborating about how they’re Japanese dolls. It seems so much more socially acceptable when the dolls are more exotic, or expensive, or just collectible. Online, my favourite way of how people talk about playing with Blythe is the word Blything. I don’t know who came up with it first, but it is the most entertaining one that I see online quite often. I’ve even found myself using it verbally at doll meets on occasion! I like calling it “Blything” to other doll people. To people who aren’t “into” Blythe, it’s “collecting” because it’s a lot easier than explaining everything.
No matter what you call it though, they all have the same definition: the act of enjoying, playing with and collecting the lovely dolls that we know as Blythe.
What do you call it?
I say collecting! I do like Blything, though, because it is EXACTLY what I do XD
I call it ‘dollaring’ …meaning I spend more money on their clothes than my own >.< lol! great question and fun blog!
I’ve always been someone who calls a spade a spade. Yes. I play with dolls. The same way men play with “action figures” and model trains. Don’t like it? Bite me! If you don’t pay my bills, you don’t get to judge me.
I also say collecting, but I do like Blything (and speaking Blythe). SonjeB – absolutely right!