After spending a lovely few hours going through Vega's doll blog (whose doll profiles also gave me the final push to finish Lady Vajra's profile), I've realized that I really like reading of others' adventures in the hobby, and have no real outlet for describing my own...which is silly. I have a website. I should use it. AND THUS THE BLOG WAS BORN!!!
Anyways. In the spirit of the new year, I'll do a bit of reflection and scene-setting in the hopes that I can look back on this at the end of the year and really appreciate what changes over a 12-month period. :)
The Me
A lot of the usual things you'd talk about at family gatherings are hard to describe about myself right now. My career consists of 4 or 5 different hats hiding under a Scrum Master job title, despite not running Scrum. My relationship and home life are up in the air, in a careful balancing act I'm running after some deep thinking at the end of 2025 led to a choice I'm not sure how to communicate yet. My health is stable, but at the edge of 30, I'm increasingly aware that I need to make those last few lifestyle changes a priority so I can continue to say that in the coming years. And there's that whole "edge of 30" thing too.
I'm turning 30 in 2026.
Despite everyone ribbing me about it IRL...I'm so glad!!! I survived my first two decades, and now I can spend the next one crystallizing everything I've learned about myself in those first two. What a blessing, to get older. No matter what happens or who tells me otherwise, that will remain true. It's a gift! I want to make the most of it.
The Dolls
My current collection is an eclectic mess, but one I'm (mostly) satisfied with. I have 20 dolls listed on my site, but the actual number is closer to 25 or slightly over that. The "Outer" 5 are nameless shelf-sitters (mostly blind box dolls), bought because they were pretty, with one exception...my goblin from Mushroom Peddler, who stubbornly continues to not have a name. I wouldn't mind adding her to the site and doing more there, she's just been irritating and slippery about it. Of the 20 that ARE there, I keep 10 on a rotation to bring to work which I consider my "Main" dolls, and of those 10, I have about 5 I like to bring to meetups regularly, which are my "Inner Circle".
Verdi doesn't count for any of these - as my "partner-in-all-things" (thank you Critical Role for describing my relationship to my dragon so succinctly), she transcends all those categories. It's notable if she ISN'T with me.
Aesthetically, 2025 has had a pretty deep focus on the fantasy side of my collection. I've revitalized my puppy princess after regretting that I lost her character by selling her head. I've revitalized my lucky black cat with new outfits and a clearer aesthetic, distinct from her company-provided concept. I said goodbye to an idol, the golden witch Beatrice (who never even got a profile...), a gravure model, and a pop diva, and welcomed in a dragonborn monk, a great mage's apprentice, and an angel. And I have taken pictures of my dragon every month of 2025. I'm big into fantasy these days, I guess!
I don't anticipate adding new dolls this year - the last full doll on my current wishlist arrived in November, and no current or past releases have really gripped me. It's possible something upcoming might change that, but it would have to be spectacular. And more importantly, I'd have to have the budget for it, which is laughably unlikely unless I decide to downsize elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, I have lots of dolls I'm tempted by, but thinking hard enough about my crew and the plans I still have for most of them is often good enough to kill that interest. And if that doesn't, time will.
What I WILL be focusing on is option parts, clothing, and props. I have to organize what I have already and get cracking on downsizing, but from there I'm going to get wishlists going. Vajra BADLY needs some new fits and some wings, Fern and Echo could use some more options, and I would like to see if I can find some cute stuff for Jinzhu during my Japan trip. My dream would be more hands for Vajra, but that'll be tough with her size and skintone. More stuff in general would be nice for Vajra though. Hopefully Japan can help with that. And the prop hunt is forever ongoing, just because I love tiny stuff. One day I will use them all...
The Creative Pursuits
2025 was a FANTASTIC year for photos, and I really want to meet it or beat it. I had at least a couple photos every month of Verdi alone, and I really enjoyed all my outings for them. Last January was the only really lacking month, so...I better hurry and get that fixed this year!
I'd also like to start sprinkling in shoots that focus on other dolls. Fern was a good test of that late last year, and I think I'm at a place with Verdi where I'm not as desperate for seasonal photos of her. She's got the full calendar covered in her current incarnation now, so letting someone else have a turn won't make me feel like I'm missing an opportunity with her. Oh, that's another thing for the wishlist - a good doll stand. I'm spoiled, Verdi looks good laying down, but can stand on her own in some pics...and it isn't hard to 'shop a hand out. But I can't do that with the human dolls, I'll get bored. I need a good stand for those more dynamic poses.
Didn't do a whole lot of faceup work last year, aside from painting Mini V, which was fun but not something I'm keen to do again. Thank god I don't have plans for other pet dolls - that's about the only kind I can paint, so I'm safe...
Sewing didn't happen at all, and while I'm toying with the idea of trying that again...sewing frustrates me to tears. If I DO make anything for my dolls, it'll have to be simple. Like, "one of those loose drapey dresses that's actually just a rectangle" simple. Vajra might be a good model for that, Middle Eastern fashion lends itself really well to that kind of silhouette. Plus, if I can get my hands on a Smartdoll hijab, I can reverse engineer the pattern and use my scraps for more hijabs! Win win!
Aside from that...I would like to finish the last details of Mameko's magical girl outfit (all materials have been bought, I just need to assemble them), and make some more jewelry (to keep or sell) out of the giant bead pile I have. That would be fun...but we'll see!
The Overall
2025 has become the year of divorce in my eyes, which I was surprised, but not unhappy, about. Despite the connotations, so many people I know changed their lives for the better with their divorces, letting go what was no longer serving them. Technically I did that too on a doll level, and I sure feel less burdened. The collection changed, but definitely for the better - I know what I like and what I want a little better now! I hope I can carry that capacity for change into 2026, too.
On a global level this wasn't a great year, but in my small personal sphere...I'm content. I enjoyed the year overall, and I hope the year to come will be just as good for me. :)