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Dollie Project Ramble

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:47 pm
by Jobee
This will be a ramble, but I don't think anyone would understand this better than you guys. I tried to break things up and linked pictures so it wouldn't be such a text-wall.

I wanted to make a doll of my wow character, Jouselle. Man, it has been a rocky road so far.

Got the head and body. Neck-piece breaks. Bad.
Managed to get head back on, but can only turn left and right, and can't remove. I take this as acceptable at this point.
Did the face-up. Good.
Sought after wig in the right color. Could only find that color as loose hair that's bought in chunks for rooting. I take this as acceptable at this point.
Had diodes to make glowing eyes, kit doesn't fit in her head, bad.
Found person who could make the right eyes, good.
Received hair. I realize I have no tools to root the hair or make a wig. So I agonize over what I could possibly do better and research both options.
Get the eyes in, wrong eyes. Bad. Sent back.
Made elf ears out of Sculpey. Came out really good.
Right eyes came in. They don't fit. Tried to modify the inside of the head to make them fit. Bad.

At this point, I want a new head with no eye-holes so I can just paint them, but can't put a new head on this body due to the neck piece being broken, so I need to buy a whole new doll. But I have a damaged doll right here that I'm kind of attached to and feel bad for. She's not what I want anymore, but she's been through so much already. She stares at me with ill-fitting buggy eyes and her slightly lopsided elf ears. She always looks like she's expecting someone to give her good news, a slightly excited and curious look. I've thought about selling her or giving her away after the project is done. It's really frustrating knowing I cannot use her for the very project she was purchased for. But she's here, looking at me, well, looking kinda straight forward. I feel very guilty.

I'm not sure what I was hoping for, but I really needed to get this off my chest, and even my "dollmeet" friends don't really get it like people here do. Thanks.

Re: Dollie Project Ramble

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:27 pm
by landwhale
Sorry to read all you've been through. I can certainly understand being attached to a doll. Is there a way you can rework her into a different doll? You haven't really posted a pic of why her eyes don't fit so I'm not sure if there is any way to salvage your girl. In regards to the head movement, the range of movement on my 27cm obitsus were fairly limited from what i remember. They don't really do much more than turn from side to side. (I'm not at home now so I can't check for sure). In this respect your doll isn't a lost cause at all.

The head size for 27cm girls are too small to do a lot of LED work. Glowing eyes might work if you get glow in the dark eyes. I can find the link at some point for you if you haven't already found them.

Not sure what your girl looks like right now but you don't have to give up your girl. Perhaps you can repaint her eyebrows so she looks less surprised and expectant? From the face up photo, her facial dimensions look fine. You could also try using sculpey to close up her eyeholes a bit too so she's less starey?

And if there is no way to make her Jouselle, a lot of us have worked dolls into a mess. Some of us keep them and some of us toss them. For those who keep them, their little quirks make us love them more.

Re: Dollie Project Ramble

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:27 pm
by kurosu.chan
Awww! I do know how this feels, though...I sculpted a little tiny boy, but he has this air of...strangeness...that won't go away. I love him though! Maybe if I cleverly suede his joints?
I think there is always a fix for any problem. If you don't find it, I'm sure Jouselle will tell you what it is. Good luck, to both of you!

Re: Dollie Project Ramble

PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:49 pm
by Jobee
Actually, the picture with the elf ears, she actually has her eyes in her head for that one. I think she's just going to be re-purposed. Thanks for listening. It's nice to get a response that isn't a blank, confused stare. :p

Re: Dollie Project Ramble

PostPosted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:18 pm
by Tira-chan
She does look pretty. Maybe you can switch her to different eyes and wig, and have her be a friend for Jouselle when you do make her?