Exploring Blythe?

Have you ever found yourself saying “Oh no, I’d NEVER get a (fill in blank) doll” with regard to your doll & action figure collecting? :whistle:

I do it sometimes… and on a couple of occasions I’ve had to eat those words: namely when I started adding Takara CGs and  Fashion Royalty Dolls to my collection.  In both cases I said I’d never collect them (or conceivably want them).  Of course now, if you look at my collection you’ll see that I have quite a few CGs, and 4 Fashion Royalty dolls to my name (It was 5 but I chucked one on feebay last week).

When I first  looked at Blythe I thought “No way!! That Big Headed Doll is not ever going to be something that I am going to add to my collection!”

Right?

Oh, that’s not to say that there weren’t some out there that I thought were cute.

Or downright funky….

Let me lay out some of the reasons why I started thinking about getting one.  They might not make sense, and you might not agree with them, but hey it’s still a free world (in my part of it anyway)! I’m not asking you to agree, or to like them…..just to tolerate, Ok?

• Looking at different photos of Blythes, Blythe Clone/Knock offs I saw a real range of creativity & openness.
• Something else is that many of the people who have them really play with them and take photos of them. Not just a couple of “look at my new dress” pics but like taking them out and about. That mentality appeals to me.
• People who are willing to play with their dolls. And create things for them. And they’re friendly on the boards I’ve checked out. People didn’t snub me because I was buying a knock-off. I liked that egalitarianism.
• Even though these dolls are expensive people are willing to customize them across the scale from simple mods to crazy things. I like that.

I decided to welcome the Big Headed girl into my Small Head collection.  I bought a knock off on feebay for pretty cheap (am waiting for it to arrive) and Mark, being the guy he is decided to get me one as well (although not a knock off). So–from a no Blythe collector I’ve suddenly become one overnight!

Mark got me a secondhand Natasha Moore Blythe.

I liked her haircolor but I’ll say that once I’m comfortable w/ experimenting on the clone I’ll work on her to make her more my thing.  She did come with most of that stuff seen in the pic (that’s a web found pic btw not my actual doll).  She arrived on Thursday and was a really nice pick me up after the bad news from the oral surgeon.  Yes, doll therapy! :silly:

Blythe’s big downfall in my eyes was/is her apparent lack of articulation.

Why would I go forward and then step backwards???

I think if I have to answer that I’ll say because she’s a different avenue for me to walk down & explore.   Something different.  A way to stretch my creative muscles without getting out of dolls all together.  I doubt I’ll ever be one of those people with shelves full of them, but the face/ head does have a certain charm & interest for me.

Ok so let’s talk basics here.

What is Blythe’s body like?

IMO it’s not good. It’s kind of like barbie back in the 70′s except that her arms only go up & down. No side up & down movement. (I’ve heard that some of the clones have that though)

• I’ve read across the web that her body can be replaced with a Takara Licca body (though I’m not sure the point in bothering with that since the ROM & posability isn’t improved that greatly.

• I have seen them popped onto 21 & 23 cm obitsu bodies and size and height comparisons make that seem a good option. More posability & if you reinforce the body torso interior it can even manage to support her big head & pose freestanding.

C was asking me about how Blythe compared in size with Momoko & other dolls. So here are a few shots.

Note that I’m using the fishing line method on Blythe for now. If I don’t prop her against furniture or a wall she just falls over.

And for giggles:

Blythe has semi-arched feet which are very squidgy.

One last thing….

Just remember that old adage:  “A mind is like a parachute: it works best when open!”