Lets say that you receive an email from a representative from Takara/CWC and they want you to design a new Blythe for a future release this year. You have full control over the design of the doll. The only limitations is that the doll has the stay female (there’s no room in the budget to produce a male Blythe-sized body), the hair must be synthetic (so no alpaca or mohair) and the eyechips have to be single-coloured (but little designs in the pupil are acceptable). You also get to design the outfit, but there can only be so many pieces in the box and you’re only allowed so many things… But you are allowed a pair of shoes, socks or tights, a dress OR a shirt/top plus pants/skirt/shorts, a jacket, a hat and two fun item (eg. glasses, purse, headphones, something cool). That’s not to say that you need all of that, but you’re allowed! What would your Blythe design look like?

What would your Blythe design look like?

For me, my new Blythe design would have long, deep purple hair (like aubergine/eggplant purple) – centre part with bangs/fringe, her chips would be light brown, olive green, a medium purple and a limey green. She’d have slouchy black boots, silvery fishnets, a purple tunic dress and a classic black wool peacoat on top. I think I just really want a peacoat for my dolls. Or maybe one for each of them…

Hello everyone, and happy 2012!

It’s a common thing to make new year’s resolutions. January 1st was the start of a new year, for some it’s a new school year or new term. But a lot of people like making resolutions at the start of something new.

This year, my resolution is to make more dolly clothing. It doesn’t matter too much if it ends up being knitted, crocheted or sewn, I just want to add more to the dolls’ wardrobe. I’m definitely not doing an item per day (I do have school and other things to do, after all), but I think I’d like to set it at minimum two items per month. That way they can be done somewhat leisurely, I won’t feel like I’m rushing and at the same time, my dolls will end up with at least 24 items at the end of December that I handcrafted out of love (or pent up hate for doing little sleeves…). I currently have 5 Doll Coordinate Recipe books that I’d like to really utilize this year. I want to focus on improving my crafting skills (especially sewing!) and use some of the things that I’ve bought (fabric, ribbons, trims).

I’d also like to try to spend a lot less money on sundries. I did a little adding up of how much I spent last year and while I only spent a little bit each month, it all does add up! Between commission a couple of dresses (whoopsies…) and other lovely handmade goodies, I did spend quite a bit last year on clothes for my dolls! Of course, I didn’t count BlytheCon purchases in that because it was BlytheCon. I’m supposed to buy things, or what was the point in going? *removes tongue from cheek*

Lastly, I’m pretty happy with my Blythe family right now. The only dolls that I’m looking to add to it right now is a BL (Sunday Best or Mondrian, primarily) and more Kenners (I’d like to add a blonde and a raven/brunette), but I’m not too seriously searching for any of those right now.

There are a lot of things that people could choose to do. Spend less money on clothing/shoes. Spend more time photographing their dolls and enjoying what they have. Not buying new dolls without adopting out an older, less-loved dolly. Maybe it’s to save for that elusive grail doll, whomever she may be. Whatever your Blythe resolution may be, I want to know what it is!

What are your Blythe resolutions for 2012?

365 is a year-long project where people take photos of something (sometimes the same thing, sometimes not) every day for a year. It doesn’t have to start on January 1st, but a lot of people do start on the 1st. It’s a popular time to start and a lot of people will begin a Blythe-themed 365 with their chosen girl in just a couple of days.

I did a 365 with Sophie, my Cappuccino Chat, that I started on February 23rd, 2010 and ended February 22nd, 2011. She spent a lot of time watching me study, very little time out of the house (I found that I disliked dealing with her wispy, thin, flyaway hair – but she still looks glamourous!).

It is a rewarding experience, just knowing that you’re capable of doing it is a wonderful thing. Everyone has the capacity for taking a photo every single day for a year, but not everyone will try, or even remember to do it. Even if your photos are a little blurry on some days or taken in poor lighting, at least you’re putting in the effort to try and to take on the project!

If you are interested in participating in 365 or finding out more information, you can always check out the Flickr group, 365 Days Blythe.

Will you be starting a 365 project in 2012?

Blythe makes me happy. There’s no denying that she does, and I’m sure she makes a lot of other people happy as well. There’s something whimsical about a doll that can change expression so easily without being creepy. I grew up with having hand-me-down Barbies with heads full of frizz and a bunch of stuffed animals. I never really had a doll that I could display, a doll that I had to explain to others (because no one’s heard of Blythe before they met me). It’s an interesting dynamic, the looks people get because they want to know why a (mostly) grown woman would want a doll.

“Blythe makes me happy. Plus, just look at all the cute clothes.”

Blythe appeals to me because she’s different for everyone. Everyone has different expectations from her. She’s everyone’s friend. She’s a model, a child, a professional shopper. She’s a coy mistress with power over your credit cards and she just demands cute shoes to go with that new dress. She’s different than all the other dolls around (besides the clones, of course) and she’s got a bunch of sisters that all have cool hair colours and pullrings. Blythe is really what we put into her because if we don’t put anything into her, we really don’t get anything back.

Blythe makes me happy. And those that actually care about me enough to support me with this doll ‘obsession’ are the ones that matter. She’s definitely an interesting indicator of those who honestly think I’ve “lost it” and those who think I’m just finding myself.

How has Blythe changed your life?

I spend more time than I’d care to admit looking at Blythe and Blythe-related goodness online. But at the same time, it’s still probably less time than I spend looking at school-related things, so it’s probably a decent balance. Then again, I spend a lot of time online. Most of my Twitter-time is spent chatting with Blythe friends! Not always about Blythe, but that’s how I met them in the first place! And let’s not get me started on the amount of time I spend on Blythe Kingdom and Flickr reading posts and catching up on new uploads and ohhh, commenting on photos and posts and looking at photos… There’s just so much to do online these days, I really do need to cut back.

How much time do you spend on Blythe online (daily, weekly)?