Warsaw. Madrid. Paris. Vancouver. Gold Coast. London. Chicago.

What do all of these cities have in common? They are all playing host to their respective BlytheCons this year (for Australia, it is their annual Blythe Fest!).

I will personally be attending the one in Vancouver, Canada (my attendance is mandatory, seeing as how I’m helping organize it!), and haven’t fully made decisions on the other ones. As it currently stands, the Canadian dollar is weak so it’s hard to justify trips outside of the country. However, with the weak Canadian dollar, that means it’s a lot more affordable for people to travel to Canada (bonus!). I love going on trips though, and would love to figure out a way to attend one of the other major Blythe events that are happening this year if I can swing it. That and I’m considering my trips for the next few years based on when and where there will be scheduled events. It’s a nice excuse to go to new-to-me places while having something to do beyond playing tourist.

Are you planning on attending any BlytheCons or other big Blythe events this year? Which ones?

Something that I really enjoy doing (when I have the time, *ahem* – not with school) is making up photo stories with my Blythes. I haven’t done one what feels like a really long time. Photo stories are fun because they sometimes involve the use of props, making the dolls have funny expressions (looks of exasperation, annoyance, and boredom – just to name a few), and then to come up with the dialogue. Coming up with dialogue is one of my favourite parts of putting together a photo story because it really allows me to tap into the personality that I’ve given them.

Do you make up photo stories with your Blythes?

Yesterday was Family Day in British Columbia, a statutory holiday. This meant that I was on “Sunday” mode and forgot that it was actually a Monday. This is why the Question of the Week is a day late – whoops! (I knew I should have scheduled the post ahead of time…)

Even dolls take selfies sometimes.

The interesting thing about Flickr is that you can find out what camera people are using for their photos, if the information is embedded into the photograph. I see that a lot of other people also use their camera phones like I do, what did I ever do before I got a phone with data to easily upload photos for all of the internet to see? I rely so much on my smart phone when it comes to a lot of things. My calendar, email accounts, social media, apps related to school, music, news, and my most carried-along camera. Yes, I still have a point-and-shoot camera, but I don’t always take it around with me because it’s not something that I always think about taking it along with me. I really wish I did take more photos of dolls on a regular basis, besides mostly at local Blythe meets, but c’est la vie! My main camera is, without a doubt, my smart phone (a Galaxy S3). So handy and it fits into my bag or coat pocket easily.

What do you use for your main camera?

My perpetual shyness when it comes to pulling out a doll in the public has been well documented on BlytheLife. I tend to feel self-conscious unless I’m around other people. Strength (and safety!) in numbers, after all. I don’t tend to carry around a Blythe on a regular basis. They’re fairly expensive, they’re also quite big (and take up a lot of room in my bag), and plus I don’t always have the opportunity to pull a doll out for photos. Despite the last part, I do find it comforting to occasionally have a doll with me.

My regular travel buddy does change from time to time. Occasionally it is a Petite, sometimes it’s a Petworks Usaggie and then there’s my Hujoo Nano Freya (super fun – but still without a name!). Sometimes it’s nice to carry around a doll that’s smaller than a Neo or a Kenner… Don’t let them know that I said that.

Do you carry a doll around on a regular basis? (And who is it?)

365 has a special place in my heart because it chronicled that year where I took a photo-a-day of Sophie. She got the most attention that year, the most outfit changes, and the most camera time. After that, if she could have give the camera the finger, she might have. Photo challenges, even the ones that sound simple and easy, are quite difficult at times. Sure, I could have taken and posted 365 photos of my doll on her stand in the same outfit day in and day out, but where would the fun be in that? Plus that would be super boring.

I find myself wanting to do another photo challenge, but at the same time I really don’t want to commit myself to something like that. 365 is one of the more labour intensive photo challenges because it just goes on forever. I failed my second attempt at 365 with Eden, I ended at day 114 – or 32% complete. Poor Eden. It’s just as well, I probably would have gotten more broke trying to clothe her and keep her shoes interesting for 365 days since it’d have to be all pink, all the time.

Eden’s last 365 photo, #114. She is wearing a Licca dress.

I’ve been toying with the idea of those challenges that are a photo a day for one month. Surely I can manage 30 photos? (February is coming up and that’s only 28 days!) I like the idea of attempting one again, but I also don’t like the idea of publicly failing (yet again). The problem with the challenges where it’s once per week is that I attempted that once before, and I forgot after week 5. It was a bit of an all-around fail that year for photo challenges.

Are you currently participating in a photo challenge with Blythe?

Which one are you doing?