Talk to me about Blythe..

[kCherry]

I've never wanted one until recently when it occurred to me that I'd like to have at least one in my toy collection to help round out the doll side. The more I look, the more they appeal to me. This is how I got into AG and I'm head over heels for them now! I smell trouble! LOL

Like with any other line of collectibles I see that Blythe has a long history and tons of variations. Lots to learn! I'd love to hear what you guys think of them, if you have one (or seven) and what you'd recommend for a customizer just peeking into the line.

My friend Ms. Fickle has given me lots of great info and I feel pretty confident in beginning a real search for my first Blythe dolly. What do you guys think of the big-headed girl? Would love to hear everyone's experience with Blythes!

And of course, Pictures are Always appreciated!!!!!!

[Skitterbug]

That's about what happened to me.. browsed the photo thread and then somehow fell for dolls which never previously appealed to me! Of course, I got into customizing them and now I have four blythes around the house in various states of assembly

I'm personally quite fond of factory girls, if only because they provide a cheaper alternative for a wee newbie customizer like me!

Here's a photo of my latest girl (that's all put together) for you

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[shelvesofwhimsy]

Also just generally curious about them

[Lilithdrff]

I honestly never wanted one...until now. The more I look at photos, and customs the more I want one. My wallet cannot cope!

[klein]

I like Blythe, unfortunately I think I like Blythe more in photos than I do in real life  . I currently have six full sized girls and a middie in house, normally my like happy medium is six total so I'll likely be rehoming one soon. I've cycled through nearly 100 Blythes through the years trying to find the perfect ones for me 

I'm not too active in the Blythe community, there are a lot of fakies so please take care when you purchase if you are looking for official girls only.
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I know AJ has a forever home though she is currently out on loan for a little bit.

[Radiance]

I like Blythe and have a few. I know for customizing the RBL and RBL+ molds are the easiest to open, though RBL+ tend to have thinner plastic so you have to be really careful carving. Honestly, genuine Takara releases in the past year or so have had all sorts of quality issues. My Simply Love Me girl arrived with part of her dome (the plastic under the scalp) crushed so she had a big dent in her head, and she was NRFB. So be aware! When I first got into Blythe I loved customs, but since then I've really started liking stock girls, or girls with small changes like eye chip changes.

My first girl, Sid, is a Simply Peppermint custom:
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And here's my Punkaholic People; I changed her chips & gave her sleep eyes & new pull strings:
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Blythe is really cute and quite sturdy so they make good travel dolls There are a lot of fakes out there known as TBL (for Taobao Blythe) and they have really nice hair, which is something recent Takara releases have been lacking. Some people are OK with fakies and some hate them. There are also clones such as Basaak or Blybe that are very similar in appearance, but way lower quality and much cheaper.

And then you have the Kenners- those Holy Grails of the Blythe hobby. They have a special something about them that Neo Blythe just doesn't have.
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I love Kenners

[kCherry]

Thanks for the posts, lovies! And for sharing your pictures and advice! I am somewhat shocked at how little comprehensive info there is online about these dolls. Trying to find good tutorials on customizing has proven to be next to impossible. I suppose that doesn't surprise me terribly as a lot of artists do not like to share how they create their artwork. Maybe they think it spoils some of the romance, I dunno.

  I now have this girl on loan from FickleVerte,
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She is definitely a project doll, to say the least! Just taking her cap off and throwing a new wig on her made a world of difference.

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I want to have a go at taking her make-up off soon and working on her poor wittle lips; her bottom lip's been sanded down to nothing!! Anyone know the best thing to use to that? I know I want to keep acetone away from her. What about using Windsor and Newton? Or do I just sand it all off?

Since I'll be doing some sculpting I'm leaning towards a DotD faceup for her. With Halloween right around the corner it seems like just the thing to do.

[Vertefae]

Absolutely sand only! Acetone and winston can melt her. Rubbing alcohol may be ok.

[kCherry]

Absolutely sand only! Acetone and winston can melt her. Rubbing alcohol may be ok.

 Thank youuuuuuu!!!

[Vertefae]

Absolutely sand only! Acetone and winston can melt her. Rubbing alcohol may be ok.

 Thank youuuuuuu!!!

welcome.. call me if you have any other questions, i'm off today

[kCherry]

  Got her apart and removed the face-up with no problems a-aaaaand..

She has new lips!!! They're big, poofy not-so-perfect lips as I wait for the apoxie clay to dry, but she has lips!!

  I have my eye on a couple of other girls on eBay. Will share if and when I nab anymore dollies.

Anybody else got Blythe girls to share with us?

[Buzzingbumblebee]

Well of course I always have Blythe photos to share . It took me a while to start loving Blythe. I startet with ponies in 2010, then Pullips in 2011, and a whole two years later I took the plunge and bought my first Blythe. Right from the start I knew I wanted to customise them, as it was the customised girls I loved. And I couldn't bring myself to spending so much on them, so I had to do it DIY style . Now of course I have gotten used to pricy dolls, especially after I started loving BJD's . So I have bought custom girls by others as well, my incoming girl is by Gbaby and was a expensive commission.. So I've had to sell more other dollies than I have ever managed to bring myself to before to compensate . It's a slippery slope this . I absolutely love customising these girls. Look forward to seeing what you do with the girl you are working on .

The girl I'm waiting for, photos by the artist
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My Gbaby Charlotte by Mona, on Flickr
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My Gbaby Charlotte by Mona, on Flickr

My one and only Kenner, Daisy:
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Kenner love by Mona, on Flickr

Wednesday, the favourite among the girls I have worked on. The inspiration for her look literally came to me in a dream:
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Goggles by Mona, on Flickr

Sofie, another fav. I love red heads:
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Sofie the beautiful by Mona, on Flickr

Hannibalina, the ghost I couldn't bear to sell:
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#10 Ghost by Mona, on Flickr

[kCherry]

Dang!!! Those are really beautiful customs, bbb!! I don't think I'da been able to let that ghost go either!!! I'd have had a hard time parting with Wednesday or Sophie, for that matter!! Charlotte is beautiful, too! Nice nab! I'll bet you'll be uber happy to have her home!

  I am waiting on two new girls to get here (maybe tomorrow? *hopes* ) and am having the most fun with Polly while I wait!! New pictures of her! I've decided to hybridize her with a Pullip body as it just fits her personality better, I think. Still working on her hair/head cap, which may or may not be permanent, we'll see how it suits her. And I'm still looking at outfits. I think I may have found the perfect one, just gotta save up a bit for it and matching things for her feet.

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  I hope to see more beautiful Blythe's soon!!

[Buzzingbumblebee]

Thank you so much . The girls above are all forever girls, wouldn't let any of them go. I have to decide before I even start customising a girl that I have to sell her, no matter how pretty. Because I need money, and I can always make more girls for myself. Of course it's never the same, as I want each girl to be unique . I failed with my little ghost. But I feel confident I will manage with the next. I have to sell her anyway, as she is part of a collaboration with a wonderful dolly seamstress .
I think my Charlotte will be home tomorrow actually, so hurray .

Wow, what a transformation . Great success on those lips! Hope you can get her outfit soon then .

[Vertefae]

She turned out super duper cute! I'm either really proud of laughing my butt off that you caved to the Blythe bug.

Either way I'm glad you're on the crazy train with me finally!

And of course since you got the project girl and I was Blythe less someone snuck into the mail box

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She should be here next week I think. In time for our pumpkin date!!