Strawberry Milk Tea

Words just can not describe how much I enjoyed the Volks SD Workshopand Reception. The event was so full of surprises that I am in awe of Volks. I arrived early to the Doubletree Hotel to find the Volks staff manning a table near the entrance and a group of dolls on a round table in the lobby. I set Sebastian (my Williams) and Mai (my Toppi) on the table and took a few photos before I ate my bento from Mitsuwa (it wasyummy!) It was great to see Mikey again and to finally meet Cassiel, the original creater of the "walking guide to Volks" who is now the translator for Volks and still very, very enthusiastic about this hobby.

Dolls invade the lobby!

Finally, after socializing with everyone, we filed into the room and after a brief introduction to how the class would be run we began. Half of the class was instructed by Mr Ota, the head of the factory where all our Super Dollfie are born. The other half was taught by Mikey, daughter of company president Mr Shigeta and creator of the Tokyo Boys storyline. My group was assigned to Mikey, who had Volks USA doll advisor Bailey to help her with any difficult English or explanations. She was very patient and clear in her explanations. I have done several face ups and have a good, not great, handle on face ups. But I still learned so much from her.

Mikey explains

We all were concentrating so hard in our work, that my group was actually silent for once. Even Volks USA manager Kayo-san commented on our silence as my group tends to be very energetic inside Volks. Mikey even noticed that I like to do detailed work, which can be my downfall as I sometimes tend to focus on the details rather than the work as awhole.

And all too soon, the class portion was done and it was time for the reception. The room grew more crowded as the reception only attendees filed in. I felt bad as we were not able to reserve a spot on our table for Mr Postman but he was pre-occupied with photographing the event. The snacks provided were actually rather substantial-crackers, cheese,fruit, cookies, and brownies.

Mikey read a beautiful letter from her father (who was not able to attend because the Volks staff was busy with the opening of the newVolks headquarters in Japan). I loved how during the cooling fall months he often thinks of Los Angeles! Then she stated how amazed she was by the vast array of limited dolls we all had! Some of these dolls she had not seen since the event they were released at. And starting with each type of doll, asked people to raise their hands and would ask each one about their dolls.

I had the only standard in the room, my Volks Megu. She was astonishedthat her head was from 2002. I loved her insights into each of thedolls in the room:

Toki was sculpted by Mr Enku

Toppi is the mascot and writer of the Volks USA blog

Choumai really likes Cristal (she brought two Cristals)

The new SD17 Williams has improved knees

It was really humorous when Kayo-san commented that Mr Postman is knownas the "Dollfie Dream King" who has 20 Dollfie Dreams at home! Mikey added that he has a counterpart in Japan. I think they need to meet at some point!

The staff from Japan was introduced-Mikey, Cassiel, Mr Ota, and SD doctor Wake (pronounced waa-keh). It was announced that the SD doctor would be tending to injured dolls and soon he had a line of "patients"to tend to. I was in awe of the array of tools he had at his disposal. Volks USA manager Kayo-san enthusiastically gave a wonderful speech praising each of her employees. Then came the big surprise-Volks would be holding a lottery for several prizes! The prize list included:

A Komame's Little Lessons Book (which I own and recommend!)

An SD Girl Outfit

An SD13 Boy Outfit

Two Super Dollfie towels

Two sets of zoukei mura eyes

One rei tenshi

Two sei tenshi

We all laid our numbered tickets in front of us and held our breaths.The first 7 prize winning numbers were called and then it was time for the rei and sei tenshi. Cassiel called out a number in Japanese first then repeated it in English-number 34. I gasped loudly as my heart began to beat out of control. I was mumbling "Oh my god! Oh my god!"over and over as I got to the front. Cassiel enthusiastically replied,"Oh my god!" to me. My hands were shaking as the box was placed in themand I posed for the photo-I really hope I don't look like a dork! My hands were still shaking as Bailey had me write my name on some Volks form and gave me the One Off Certificate and Super Dollfie shopping bag you get when you buy a doll.

My prize!

My hands were still shaking as I got back to my table and began to openthe box and put the wig on my new little rei tenshi. I passed the little angel around the table as everyone was curious. After my little win, I was no longer paying attention to the remaining two winners. We were then given copies of Volks News 26, which had been mailed out the day before in Japan so we were likely the first people to get our handson this issue. And Mikey announced the date of the NY Dolpa (June19-20) We all flipped through our copies of Volks news as Mikey explained that Volks was completing their new headquarters in Kyoto, which will have a store on the first floor. It was then that Bailey reminded us that we needed to clear the room by 4:00pm so we had very little time left to use the photo spaces.

Mai and my new rei tenshi

Quickly, the entire room swarmed to the photo spaces and began to setour dolls down. What I enjoy about Volks owners are how courteouseveryone is. No one crowded the photo spaces and everyone watched outfor each other as we snapped photos of each others dolls. It was alsowonderful to meet so many of the doll owners I know online and to finally put a face to the name.

Later that evening, we prepared a thank you gift of fancy cookies and I drew a little Thank You picture that everyone signed. redrosin took that into the store today.

Our gift basket

I've always been astonished by the interest that Asian Ball Jointed Dolls generate. I had been worried that no one would show up for any of the panels, especially since some of them had been scheduled at 10:00am-a time when most people were a) sleeping b) still registering or c) racing to the dealer's rooms. And for the first panel of the day, batchix's panel on her Machina dolls, no one had shown up. I was not surprised given the time of the panel but it is disheartening especially since it can be nerve wracking to prepare a panel and then not be able to give it. I do hope for next year that they do not schedule panels so early.

So by 3pm on Saturday I was surprised to see a pretty full room at my panel, "Exploring Doll Culture in Japan." I had decided to combine my panel with Batchix's and start off with a general introduction to BJDs since the main BJD panel would not be until Sunday. We unpacked and displayed our dolls-Batchix's Luts Shiwoo elf, redrosin's Volks Rinon, and my Volks Williams, Megu, and adorable little Toppi.I explained a bit about the differences between subcultures in Japanand the west then explained what BJDs were all about before passing the mike to Batchix. Batchix did a wonderful job describing her production process-everyone appeared to understand the cost and amount of work that goes into producing one of these dolls if not the details.

Next,redrosin and I took over and explained our experiences in Japan. Wecovered the shops (Volks, Soom, and the second hand retailers), Volks Dolpas, and Volks Owner's Appreciation Events as well as the smaller exhibitions such as I-Doll and Doll's Garden and how we were able to visit them and participate in those events. I showed a lot of photos of these events and places. I also bravely showed the video of my Omukae (welcoming) ceremony-which I humorously described and got a lot of giggles once that famous song "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" played. Afterwards we realized we left some things we wanted to say out but were pleased with our discussion.

On Sunday, I helped Aimee Steinberger with the General Introduction to BJD panel. It was more of a basic description of ball joint dolls followed by a Q&A session. We got lots of good questions and even some interesting ideas on where the development of BJDs could go next-robotics used to help stabilize dolls so they could hold certain poses better? Afterwards, we invited everyone up to the front to get a better look at the dolls, which is where that picture in the LA Weekly was taken. I was answering a question and had no idea that photo had been taken. Those sneaky LA Weekly gals!

I have always adored the Volks SD17 boys. And of all the Volks story arcs, the Oath of the Silver Coin has always been my favorite. After all, its about PIRATES! And I have seen and ridden Pirates of the Carribean countless times that dolls based on a pirate story instantly appealed to me. But alas, I missed out on the original releases and could only enjoy redrosin 's beautiful crew consisting of Cecile and both Reisners.

But after Dolpa 20s epic re-release of Kurumi and the High Mode design competition, I was beginning to feel hopeful.It was not until Dolpa 21s release of two Tokyo Boys dolls that my suspicions really began to rise. I knew there had to be another Oath of the Sliver Coin release. I was ever so surprised when Volks dropped another one of its bombs-an SD17 Williams!

However,to get him one had to attend the Volks Kobe Cruise. I had alreadytravelled to Japan for the Tokyo Disney event so I would not be able toescape from work to attend this event no matter how tempting another trip to Japan would be (not to mention the place where Kobe beef comes from, but I digress!) And competition for one of those spaces would be tight. Fortunately, I knew who would be attending and immediately contacted everyone I knew in Japan. I was ever so surprised and shocked when I got the email that my friend had gotten onto the cruise.

Since then, I have tried not to think of his arrival-it just seemed so faraway ! But this week a boy of the sea, the ensign of the royal navy Williams, arrived on my doorstep and I am simply in awe, both by his stunning beauty and his presence. From the moment I opened the box, I was impressed with the packaging and work to create Williams. The sword and gun came packaged in wooden boxes, Cecile's blind eye is packaged in a cute little box, and the limited outfit in a box instead of theusual plastic bag we get from Volks.

The body is tall and lithe, not gigantic. And capable of a variety of articulated poses muchlike the articulated body of my Super Dollfie Cute Toki, Raphael. But unlike Raphael, he has a higher center of gravity so initially getting him to pose the way I wanted to has been a bit tricky. And he is strung a bit tightly but I am very, very impressed with him. I have so many ideas for him, whom I have named Sebastian (after a very famous manga character!)

Mai (Toppi) admires the gun and the box it came in (Yes, she is wearingthe Alice and the Pirates shirt that is a bit too big for her!)

A close up of the epic gun and the gun hand. I have so many ideas for this gun. Steampunk anyone?

Reisner's sword and sword hand even came in an elegant box.

After last years disappointment of an online Dolpa or Dolls Party, I was not feeling hopeful that we would see a Volks event in Los Angeles this year. But, I really wanted the social aspect more especially since I missed the Los Angeles Dolpa in 2007 because I was in Italy during the registration period so I only got to see the tail end of that Dolpa. And that is what is the best thing about a con or convention-the silliness you have with your friends (at least I would hope so if you are dressed as a perpetually drunk and lazy spacetime witch!)

So I was very excited when Volks announced the Volks USA Autumn 2009 Event Rush.The Super Dollfie Workshop, an event where classes in make up application and doll body care is taught, is finally coming to the US.I lost the lottery to attend the make up application class at Tokyo Disneyland so I’m hoping my name gets picked for this years event. And although a large number of applications means my chances of attending are lower, it also means the possibility of Volks holding more events here.

In addition, those attending the class will also be able to purchase School A and School A Sweet Dream heads in white skin as well as the Mini Super Dollfie kits Shulze and Maria. School heads are the classroom heads offered for sale at these workshops.

 And now that I’ve put in my application, I will sit and hopefully stay patient to see if I have made it into the class. And perhaps dream about the possibility of winning one of the beautiful one-off dolls they have created for us this fall!

I adore my new doll Raphael so I took him to the Volks store yesterday to meet redrosin  and the_fall_season to help red rosin plan her upcoming trip to Japan and was delighted that she had brought her Toki. There was another Toki in the showroom for a total of 3 Tokis!!!!!

Well having 3 Tokis in the showroom was indeed special enough for Volks to put them in their blog:

Raphael, Joshua, and Jr (belongs to red rosin). Photo courtesy of Volks USA and redrosin.

Sorry, I just had to add to the Toki spam. He is just so cute!

And if anyone actually looked at the Volks USA blog entry, it stated that Volks USA will be accepting pictures of owners dolls to be posted inthe blog. How exciting. They really don't realize how many photos of my dolls I have or how many photos I may submit...

In the excitement of Baby the Stars Shine Bright Coming to America, I received a cute little surprise but never had the chance to write about his arrival.

I had fallen for the Super Dollfie Cute line of dolls from Volks a while ago. And what is there not to love-a highly articulated body that makes for easy posing and a sweet backstory that is somehow connected to Tenshi No Sato.

Initially I had dismissed Toki as cute but not a must have and his default outfit way too similar to the omukae (welcoming) outfits that can be purchased with the Full Choice System. But then something happened. I saw redrosin 's Toki in person and loved his sweet face that was so similar to Reisner and I knew I had to bring him home.

I had heard that he was still available on the Volks International Site so I wasn't to worried about getting him. But as my luck would have it,  lots of other people had discovered his charms and was listed as unavailable (aka sold out). A week later as I was about to bid on his head on Yahoo Japan Auctions Daniel Falls contacted me with news that a Toki came up on the international site.

So in a split decision I purchased him in a very choreographed cyberdance that involved Daniel Fall's releasing him from his shopping cart and me clicking on him to purchase before someone else bought him. In four days, he arrived on my doorstep.

Raphael, as I have chosen to name him, is much cuter in person with rosy lips that appeared stained by brightly colored candy and a mischevous look on his face. And the default outfit I had so casually dismissed is adorable. It even comes with antique style knickers-How cute is that???

But enough gushing, here are a few pics of the mysterious messenger from Tenshi No Sato:

Posing with Mai:

And the day he arrived, I had a PM waiting in my inbox at Den of Angels from Red Rosen:

and...

(Toki next Reisner-see the similarities!)

I love my doll friends. They are all awesome, if somewhat crazy, people that I am truly fortunate to have in my life. And as for Raphael, he has settled in quite nicely with my other dolls, becoming very good friends with Mai.

Photo courtesy of Volks

"My old home town, the streets hazy with fog.

So many years, so much time has swept by,

since I departed those streets.

Even now his wails resound in my ears.

The wound by which he lost his right eye remains even now

unhealed, and continues to ache deep within my heart.

Will this grief perhaps bind us together, one day...?

The Black Shark has vanished

into the Ocean of Deep Black.

The youthful ensign Williams's heart aches, as

he persues signs of their ship..."

One of my favorite doll clothiers Arcadia Dolls just released its latest collection, The Great Arcadia Circus and it is simply stunning and incredibly fun. The Great Arcadia Circus was inspired by not only the circus but also of the Victorian era. As a fan of Cirque du Soleil's amazing costumes, I had been anticipating this collection since they first announced this upcoming collection in February.

Photo courtesy of Arcadia Dolls

What I particularly like about this company is that you are given fabric choices and the option to add hats and headresses and other accessories to your outfit of choice. The only drawback is that the outfits are fitted to only about 5 different doll types currently. Hopefully as the company grows, this number will increase.

As I was ready to order I was disappointed that one of my fabric choices had sold out before I could make a decision. Not to worry, they will be getting more of the fabric soon. And shipping was a mere 18 euros from Spain, where the company is based. I look forward to the arrival of my two outfits which should take about 5 weeks to complete.

Even if one is not interested in purchasing any of the outfits, the photography is wonderful and worth a look as well. The props and backgrounds they constructed to show off this collection are amazingly made. I particularly love the way the dolls are posed in this setting. It looks like snapshots of circus life and life in another era.

Now if only I could figure out how to make a doll sized hoop...

I've had this for a few weeks but the Jesusita fire kept me occupied...

Lately,I have been dreaming of some outdoor furniture for my dolls and howcute they would look on it. Then one day Choumai sent me a picture of apark bench she had made without me saying anything about what I wanted!

Later that night she showed up at my place proclaiming, "Here, this is for you!"

I was touched. My friends are truly amazing!

Sophie (Kurumi) and Amelie (Bianka) enjoy their new bench.

The bench can comfortably hold 4 SD sized and 7 yoSD sized dolls.

I have always wanted a long-leggedbody for my SD13 boy  Adriano (an F-16 or Lucas if you can't recognizethe mold!) but it always seemed too costly and too tedious. But lo and behold, some long legs (just the legs) became available on the DOA marketplace and suddenly I could not resist. Even though a 2 cm heightincrease is a small, I notice the difference. It has inspired me to take new photos of him, which has led to a new quest to find dramatic architecture and settings to use to capture him in photographs.

But personality-wise, despite the new height, my Adriano is still the same moody bastard he's always been.