|
Post by princessjes on Dec 17, 2011 0:37:27 GMT -5
I think we're all aware of the negatives of doll collecting: not being able to find the doll you want the most, returning dolls that are poor quality or damaged, finding room to display the dolls, THE COSTS OF BUYING SO MANY DOLLS... But I was thinking, there are benefits too! Of course there are, or we wouldn't do it! The obvious benefit is that we all own pretty, unique dolls. Have you noticed any other benefits? I have! One of them is it's fun to make friends in a community like this, where we all have something in common: we love MH. It's fun and social, and there are MH collectors in every corner of the world. Talking about MH with other MH lovers is something I look forward to! Another benefit I've noticed from doll collecting is that hunting for dolls has made me explore! I've lived in New Jersey for about two years now and I'm pretty nervous about going into areas I'm not familiar with. However, since I've started collecting MH, I've journeyed into several nearby towns that I never would have gone to otherwise and I've gotten a better understanding of the areas surrounding my city, and how to get from place to place easily. It's afforded me a new freedom that I never would have been motivated enough to have given myself otherwise. The reward of NEW DOLLIES was something I couldn't resist. XD Has MH made you guys explorers too? Maybe given you some new friends, and perhaps a common interest with old friends? Any other benefits you've seen from collecting? I'd love to hear about it.
|
|
|
Post by Mindy on Dec 17, 2011 5:42:02 GMT -5
I find that since I've started collecting dolls (and ponies) I've been feeling more creative. The ponies and dolls especially really brighten up my studio and inspire me to create more of my own little creatures! I'm also quite a socially awkward person, and don't really have a lot of reasons to go out or have many friends so I love these little communities on the net. I live on a farm and am quite isolated as it is, but since I've started collecting even my partner is happy (and I dare say a little bit excited) to take me pony and now doll hunting in the city Dolls ARE an amazing reward. I've never really thought about them making us explorers! I like that thought. I'll be thinking that next time I go on the hunt, thanks! <3 I love the innocence of toys as well, collecting them makes me feel less tied down to the adult world. Life has some pretty serious bumps - money, relationships, politics and world issues. Sometimes I just need to throw myself into a world of dolls and ponies with nice messages so I don't become old and cranky all the time I'm sure there are so many more positives that I can't think of right now.
|
|
Prawnlegs
Mindless Zombie
Completely normal.
Posts: 111
|
Post by Prawnlegs on Dec 17, 2011 11:48:01 GMT -5
I think that photographing my dolls has actually helped me a little with my depression. It's been hard to really put myself into other creative pursuits lately, but somehow taking out my dolls and setting up photoshoots is still fun and exciting. And so is talking about them with everybody on here! I think it relates to what you're saying, Mindy, about the innocence of toys. I guess it may be an escapist thing, but I'd like to think it has value for giving me something to be happy about when I've found it so hard to be happy, and maybe it will help carry me back to more personal projects.
I've also gotten more exercise by going on monster hunts! I don't drive. There's a Wal-Mart a little less than two miles from here and the nearest Toys R Us.... is REALLY far away (like five miles or some craziness) but surrounded by yet another Wal-Mart, a mall and a Target, so when I go there it's like a monster hunting paradise. It also gives me a reason to get out of the house, which can be a really cruddy place at times.
And of course the social aspect! I am the most socially awkward, withdrawn, hermitty creature ON EARTH, but this awesome little community has given me an unscary place to communicate with other HUMANS, and dolls have become a fresh topic of OBSESSIVE INTEREST between me and Jes, who has been a friend for several years now.
This is all kind of related but ALSO I think it has freed up my imagination a bit. I used to play with toys constantly, creating epic storylines and doing accents for the different characters. It seemed like I got too self-conscious for this overnight, and then my sister and friend outgrew it, and there was a long, sad, awkward phase where I was too embarrassed to buy or ask for or play with toys, even though I still wanted to. I haven't exactly gone back to hours of elaborate roleplaying, but my dolls do get unique personalities and backgrounds, and now I use photography to tell stories about them. Which reminds me of a thread I wanted to start. TO THE BATMOBILE.
|
|
|
Post by Mindy on Dec 17, 2011 13:11:34 GMT -5
Aww Prawnlegs! I'm sure I can give you a run for your money in social awkwardness <3 It's interesting that you say it helps with your depression, I'm noticing that in myself too. This year has been pretty rough depression wise and even though collecting MH is relatively new for me, I am so much happier fiddling with my dolls - posing them and thinking of scenes I'd love to set up OMIGOSH YES! The Exercise from hunting is awesome! Even though I drive to the shopping centres, I will easily walk quite a few kilometres walking from one store to another... and back again if the prices were better at the first stores I dragged my family with me last time - I can tell you, my Mum was NOT happy with me. She just doesn't get it lol What you've said about the imagination is spot on for me too Even though the "playing" is different, it's kind of reminding me how I was as a kid. It's so easy to get caught up in having to "grow up" but who says you have to loose that creativeness? Pfft I'm totally working on being that eccentric old woman with awesome hats so playing with my dolls is a natural progression
|
|
|
Post by dIGITS on Dec 17, 2011 13:51:59 GMT -5
i'm not terribly and horribly incredibly socially awkward, but i'm pretty damn close... especially if you put me on a phone. hahaha... i'm pretty normal in person (i just giggle a lot) but to talk to me on a phone is like death. my friends refuse to call me.. text only. haha
dolls have given me a place to communicate with people other than my fiance, though, we're total home bodies... all my friends love going to bars every night and, quite honestly, i am so over my crazy party phase. ugh. so i usually chose not to hang out with my friends unless we're going to a coffehouse or lunch or walking around town or shopping... but i don't bring up my doll hobby to a whole lot of people... i'm still pretty embarrassed.... though... i've found people are all around pretty accepting. They ask a lot of questions and it can create some really interesting conversation to people i would have otherwise not really spoken to. The most fun was when I had my blythe dolls out with me in Portland... people totally accepted doll collectors there. Here in the midwest sometimes it's a little strange so I tell random strangers that I'm doing photographs for school project... (and most people assume high school since i look like i'm 16, not 25)... haha... so i'm dying for a really really really nice camera so i can take dolls out more confidently... I still think it's not real believable with a point and shoot... haha
anyway- photography, art, yes the dolls have totally made me more creative... but... i haven't had much time to do all i would like because i'm spending so much time obsessively hunting down good deals. ...and getting more dolls... bleh... but i have done some sewing for blythe i've collected TONS of fun rement, styled a doll house, done bits of customizing and used doll inspiration in my most recent prints <3
|
|
Prawnlegs
Mindless Zombie
Completely normal.
Posts: 111
|
Post by Prawnlegs on Dec 18, 2011 15:22:41 GMT -5
Most of the time I'm able to appear as a fairly normal human who is not dying of anxiety on the inside, but social interaction can be horribly stressful for me, so I kiiind of avoid it. I mail Etsy orders from a nearby post office and sometimes I dread going, because I swear the people who work there can just HEAR the approach of my mumbly, disheveled awkwardness. @n@ (They seem kind of cranky sometimes. I guess it's not a fun job?)
Ahhhh dIGITS I hate the phone, too! Phone is like +60 awkwardness for me. Your mention of public doll photography reminded me of my experiences, though! I also brought a doll on vacation (to Portland!) and took pictures in various public places. Even on the plane. And it kind of felt like shedding some of my self-consciousness, because I almost backed out each time, but in the end I said to heck with what people may or may not think, and got some really great shots for it. The other day I took some dolls to the park at sunset and some hikers walked by while I was taking pictures. I actually thought about using the "school project" excuse but I just didn't say anything and they passed by, confused. It gets easier and easier not to care. XD
|
|