There are two seasons of the year that I love to use as background to my doll photoshoots and those are spring and fall. Summer is okay too but I will be hauling my photogear with my dolls out and about and the humidity of this country is killing. And too many people have time off and minding my business. I am not interested in explaining what I am doing, why I am lying on the ground for photograpy nor hearing remarks that dolls are for kids. I could have been doing drugs people, leave me be.
Liccas and Momokos are the most handy to carry dolls, I take them often when I go shopping in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. I don’t need to bring my DSLR, my phone’s camera suffices for out- and indoor photography. I dress them for the outfit of the day. Put them in a protective case in my handbag and off I go. These types of photoshoots are the majority of my shoots. It is just a big hassle to bring my larger dolls.
In my garden I have noting remotely coming close to spring blossom. In the past we had a pear tree but it was removed after it stopped giving fruit. The only cherry tree in my local area is in the garden of an office which has been abandoned and closed off to public so I don’t feel getting arrested because of photoshoot. It is a shame though, it is a very nice cherry tree.
But I am in luck that right across my house there is a Reiki studio that has a tree that carries blossoms so during my lunch break on my work from home I took this lovely photo of my Licca wearing a furisode.
I have no clue what type of tree this is, but it does fit the spring image.
The vibrant colours of the furisode jumps out of the picture and it looks like she is standing in an orchard. Pretty proud of myself with this composition. It got me in the mood for more outdoor photoshoots, until the weather decided to do a funny and we ended up getting hail storm and low temperatures which sucks. Low temperatures sucks especially because everything in my body starts to hurt, I can barely move my fingers and joints and will spend most of my time under a blanket reading or playing on my Switch.
The coming week the forcast is still not good but they said April should be looking better which I hope for. I want to take more nice photos of my cute girls.
“Thanks for all” Expressing my gratitude to blossoms At the parting.
As you know I collect dolls, and not one type of doll as I may admit. My first ever dolls were the Barbies my mother got me. She gave me an off-brand dark skinned to balance out the all white line of Barbies produced in the 80s. She always expressed the pity there wasn’t an South-East Asian on at the time to come closer to a girl’s role model. Well, Barbie’s looks are only a man’s ideal in the end that’s while I like Licca-chan better.
Then I grew older and discovered Pullips, visited Japan and discovered Blythe (to my shame did not buy one) and went down the Asian ball-jointed dolls rabbit hole in which I still reside. The thing I like the most about the hobby is photography. Taking my dolls to beautiful gardens or places to eat and take cute photos. But that also means they need to be dressed well. Pullips, Blythe, Momokos en Liccas come dressed but their factory outfits aren’t always that pretty. While the Pullips and Blythes have higher end stock clothes, the Liccas are marketed towards young girls and they have not a big spending budget. Here is were handmade clothes come in.
While I wished to be better on the sewing machine, you do need to practice in order to get better, I do not have the time yet to do so. Then you can turn to other people who make fitting clothes for your favourite dolls. These seamstresses have quite a few years of skills under their belt and in collectors circles a big fan base. I remember M for Monkey being at a convention in Barcelona and when the doors opened people sprinting to her table to get their hands on one of her outfits. The recent years the sprinting and overbidding in the hobby world has settled down as people moved to different interests or have less disposable income. Because being collector is a luxury.
For Licca and Momoko I have found that the best seamstresses are located in Japan, Korea and various parts of China but ordering from them is a different ballgame. I am not proficient in the languages of each respective country nor do I have a domestic address that they only ship too. That is when proxy services come in. Someone located in, for example, Japan will order the item for you, do all the communication and will forward it to you for an additional fee. Very handy to get much wanted items that you cannot find in Europe.
I have been using Doorzo for 2 years now and they have been brilliant. Their app has a marketplace connected to mayor brands, stores and second hand shops. My favourite is Minne, a handmade online marketplace where creators sell crocheted toys, wooden toys, clothes, doll items and miniature food stuff. Last time I was in Japan, I was amazed at the huge craft stores they had there. Multiple levels of paper clay, fabrics, ribbons, buttons, tools, etc. While in the Netherlands crafting shops have become smaller and fewer, this was an absolute treat. I could spend hours browsing the shelves and deciding what to bring. Looking forward to my next trip and feeling sorry for my poor wallet.
This weeks Minne arrival, facilitated by Doorzo, had a mix of things. Two outfits, a crocheted bear, a pencil case and a miniature food prop.
The pattern on the pencil case is Showa era design, especially the dolls that existed during that time. I love the Showa era: was a period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) from December 25, 1926, until his death on January 7, 1989. A lot of things went down, WWII and radical changes happened to Japan during that period, like their remarkable economic growth in the decades following 1950.
The creator had two colours of bears up on the sales post and I chose for the beige one because you could see the blush she had painted on. I thin its very cute and will be joining the family of crocheted animals I have in my home office.
Sometimes I have trouble to see the details of the fabric on my little phone screen, I’ve since installed the Doorzo app on my tablet for a better view, so I bought this Atelier Shizuca outfit on a guess. It’s nice in person so I am really happy with this outfit designed for Licca-chan.
The second outfit was created by Pirandechoco whom I follow on Instagram. The style is leaning towards Mori, which I love so much. Mori-kei (森系), or “forest style,” is a Japanese fashion aesthetic originating in the late 2000s that emphasizes a natural, rustic, and fairy-tale appearance, designed to look as though one is living in a forest. It features loose-fitting, layered clothing made from natural materials like cotton, linen, and wool in earthy tones. A perfect outfit to get my Hazel the Hedgehog out of her stock clothing.
Last up is a Nyanko-don miniature food prop for upcoming photo shoots. This bowl is only 3cm with a loose lid which means I need to find a container to safely store them together. The topping so so detailed on this small piece: you have aburaage (fried tofu slice), cat paw dumplings, a teeny-tiny egg and negi (a leek like onion). Very well made prop, so happy!
It was a good haul handmade haul this time round. Very happy with this delivery. After this one shipped I came to the conclusing that one of my Momokos needed a traveling outfit suitable for my Japan trip this coming fall. And what better outfit than a furisode. So I ordered the outfit together with some Pokemon picture cards and a few items from the Pokemon Center to make the shipping worthwhile. Those items have already arrived at the Doorzo warehouse and are waiting for shipment. 🙂 Two orders in one month is uncommon for me but I needed this outfit.
In the past people would speak about having a guilty pleasure when it cames to hobbies that other people would frown upon. Collecting dolls was something that belonged in the realm of old ladies and little girls but grown women? Not likely perceived as a hobby for them. I would feel unease to talk about my collection but over the years I stopped caring about someone’s opinion. I like dolls, I collect dolls and I will dress them up for fun. Like my good friend would say, it could have been drugs when we buy something that might seem quirky.
It is also a form of escapism, self preservation. If I didn’t have this I would be yelling at the TV or computer screen: “How can you treat other people like that?!” And boy with the state of the world today you need your little sparks of joy to keep you from going nuts haha.
One of these sparks for me is Licca-chan. I came across these adorable little fashion dolls during my firs trip to Japan in 2006. In a corner of the toy section in a huge department store, the name of which escapes me for the moment. And I think for all the fashion dolls outthere, Licca-chan is the most wholesome. She is cute, has a great fashion sense and doesn’t warp little girls minds into impossible beauty standards.
Licca-chan in a custom made one-of-a-kind furisode.
Fashion dolls aren’t something of the last century, they may have been in use as early as the 14th century. European royal courts in the 16th century to show the tactile qualities of fashion which could not be incorporated into paintings or described to tailors in words. A letter dated 1515 and sent by Federico Gonzaga on behalf of King Francis I of France to his mother Isabella d’Este asks her to send a fashion doll to the French court so that copies of her style might be made for the women of France. Imagine owning a fashion doll dating that far back, I would be rich haha.
Bild Lilli doll would be the first fashion doll before the launch of the wellknown Barbie but influence wise Licca-chan had more of an impact on me as a grown woman than Barbie ever did. She gives of the sweet girl in the classroom vibes. Always there to listen and inspire. Mind you, Licca-chan is an 11-year old girl whom competed with the more mature looking Barbie and she still managed to inspire kids to become a DJ, fashion designer or an ambassador.
Licca-chan was launched by Takara (Japanese toy company) in 1967 and created by former shōjo manga (japanese comics targeting an audience of adolescent girls and young adult women) artist Miyako Maki. She enjoy the same popularity in Japan as Barbie does in the US.
In 1966, Takara planned to enter the dress-up doll market taking advantage of the know-how of the plastic process. The initial plan was for the company to plan a dollhouse which could be carried by children, for dressing dolls of other companies like Mattel. The size was larger than expected and the plan was reviewed not suitable for Japanese housing circumstances and children’s carrying. While planning, a fashion doll, in a setting of elementary school, the height 21 cm to fit in the palm was in favor, adopting characteristics of a cartoon girl. Miyako Maki was put in charge of the illustration of the advertisement at the time of release and the advertisement was named as “supervised by Maki-sensei”.
The name “Licca-chan” was decided by the general public offering on the July 1967 issue of the monthly girl manga magazine “Ribon”. Subsequently, the name “Rica” became known as a name that works for both Japanese and foreigners. Two years after the launch in 1969, the dolls were accepted by the Japanese children causing Mattel (makers of the Barbie doll) to move its production base to another country, focusing less on sales in Japan. Licca-chan started exceeding Barbie sales and began to reign as the queen of Japanese dress-up dolls.[9] Despite the popularity, Licca-chan dolls suffered a decline in sales in the 1990s due to rival dolls based on anime like Sailor Moon. In 1996, Licca-chan returned to the top sales of dress-up dolls again.
The best thing about Licca-chan is that they have a special telephone line that little girls can call and hear pre-recorded messages of how Licca-chan is doing and telling the callers little jokes. This telephone line came into fruition after a young girl called the Takara customer service line and wanted to talk to Licca-chan. The representative within a heartbeat she told her: “Yes, this is Licca-chan speaking”. And until this day, girls can speak with her and hear about her day. Very cool Takara.
Modern day dress Licca-chan and Furisode Licca-chan
Through Licca-chan I found myself on a complete different side of Instagram, the Japanese small creators on Minne. Minne is one of the biggest online markets for handmade items and boy they have a ton of Licca-chan sized outfits that makes your heart skip a beat. A real doki doki moment (doki means heart pounding sensation).
Licca-chan in a handmade outfit from Minne joining me on a trip to Amsterdam
Because of her size, she is easy to carry with you for impromptu photoshoots. I have a small toiletries bag where I can safely transport her. Because she has tiny feet, I don’t want to lose her shoes in the abyss called my backpack.
Of the top of my head I have around 10 different Licca-chans. Some a bit more limited than the other. I am normally a remove from box collector but there is two girls that I have not unboxed yet as seen below. For the non-collectors under us, a never removed from box doll with a pristine condition box can have a high market value in the collectors world. But I am not in the hobby for money, I am here for the enjoyment of dressing up these dolls. Ps: I’ve seen insane bidding wars on these types of dolls and it takes the fun out of collecting for me.
Licca-chan Hello Kitty collaboration. Two of my favs in one box, what more can a woman like me wish forLicca-chan Tokyo Olympics version. I was going to visit Japan that year but Covid hit and the whole world went to shit. I still have a pretty doll in the aftermath.
Official Takara clothes for Licca-chan are inexpensive and the reasoning behind it is that it still a fashion doll for little girls. A ¥ 10.000 (€54) dress is way out of reach for children and teens. And I hope that it stays this way. Many of childrens hobbies have been taken over by adults and sucked the fun out of it for mere hard cash, looking at you Pokemon trading card game.
While I paid €23 for that red furisode (the most formal style of kimono historically worn by young unmarried women in Japan) by an creator on Minne and I hope this person doesn’t sell herself short seeing the quality of fabric and detail put in this dress. There is a long history of creators under valueing their own hard work, in the hope people would still buy their outfits. Come on lads and ladies, you are wizards on the sewing machine, ask your honest price!
Another gorgeous dress by a Minne creator. Licca-chan is my matcha home girl
And now that the weather is getting better, I will be out and about more. So I should take Licca-chan with me more often. Because she deserves the spotlight in my camera roll. Because every day is Licca-chan appreciation day. 🙂
Can’t remember when I exactly joined the hobby but it’s been after my visit to Japan in 2006 so next year will be my 20th anniversary since I started collecting ball-jointed dolls, Blythes and several other dolls. Too many some may think haha.
I first saw the Unoa dolls from a friend in the hobby, and they struck me as a more delicate and mature MSD (43-45 cm) size dolls then the Volks standard out there. Less child-like and I liked them. But obtaining an Unoa was a bit difficult at the time, I hopped on a split-order and managed to get a Sist faceplate. My friend had casted the backplates so I was able to hybrid my own Lusis with a Angel of Dream body that was a decent colour match. And Veerle was born.
Unoa Sist hybrid
I am still proud of the face up I did waaay back, but haven’t really tried doing more faceups afterwards *sweatdrop*.
But I still have three Unoa dolls on my wishlist for years and recently was looking in the second hand market. Lo and behold the original creators are still in the doll business but you will need either a friend in Japan to buy it for you or use a proxy service which makes things a bit easier. I hope *sweatdrop*.
So the dolls that I am looking for are Unoa Chibi Roron and Lilin with Roron the first to aquire and a Unoa Sister Ange. Can’t leave a sexy lady out of the team now can I.
Unoa Chibi Roron
Unoa Chibi Lilin
Unoa Sister Ange
The chibis are just plain adorable and I have a lot of fun and colourful ideas for them. Brightly coloured wigs, flashy and cheery clothing, sneakers. You name it. Both will have small busts.
The Ange sculpt will require a bit more planning as I do not have really any clothing that will fit her. I think they are even slimmer than a Fairyland Minifee. But this project will also be fun.
Unoa dolls can be purchased via their official website here.
We are not talking about real sheep but about the cute little sheeplike dolls created by QLYwork. They really give you a retro feel, with their painted eyes and cute features.
These girls are ready to get dressed. 😀
I spoiled myself a bit when I found out that QLY made new outfits for 2025. They had previously been wearing the travel outfits and while these were extremly posh clothing the headdress would not stay on because the girls have smooth scalps lol. Besides they were both fully black and white outfits and my girls deserve a bit of colour.
I made my pick of the three below. 🙂
Apple Candy Dress set, Little Red Riding Hood of Apple and a Sailor outfit.
Getting them dressed was way easier than with the travel outfits. Elastic headbands versus ribbons to tie them down, my preference goes to the elastic.
Once again amazed by the quality of these outfits. I can’t do it for such a small scale. These sheep are only 11,5 cm in height.
Aren’t they cute?Look at the wee stem on the apple headband!
But I bought two more items, a print for my wall and a bear pin cushion. The pin cushion is my all time favourite now and I know some people will be very jealous of such a cute item on my sewing desk.
Well protected in transport with cute bear apple art on the box. This pin cushion is the bomb!Just perfect for my dressmaker’s pins.Now to find a perfect frame for this one. Maybe a coloured one would be nice?
I love it when the sellers add an extra gift with your purchase, I got the 2025 New Year gift containing some stickers and a 2025 calendar.
I feared that some items were lost when I received the prcel from the postal service. It had two gaping holes and felt so light. But because it was all wrapped in bubble wrap together and the print was on the bottom nothing was lost thankfully.
I used to work for the postal services and I had parcel tape in my truck to fix holes in parcels. They must have changed the policy since I left as this parcel was an absolute mess.
All and all, I always love to shop with QLYworks and hope to see more outfits and maybe another sheep girl in the future.
In 2024 I decided I didn’t want to fully earn my living from working in corporate. It had been a stressful year, several colleagues ended up leaving the workplace along with quite a few redundancies. Do I have faith in the future with my current work? I wish I could but appeasing the shareholders and having a stable work environment do not mix. This is the way in capitalism and I don’t feel I can grow old in such a world.
My hobbies give me energy and motivation to become a skilled person. While it is a niche market, the doll collecting world, I think I will be able to generate some income out of it. Often you hear that you shouldn’t try to make a living of your hobbies but on the other hand working myself into oblivion for bosses that don’t care is not a future that I want for myself. I care alot about my work, but being underminded and facing understaffing is the fight I need to give up on. For my own sanity.
Can’t remember how long ago I started collecting dolls, maybe at the beginning of the millenium but I have made quite a few friends nationally and internationally. Taking photos, exchanging ideas and even trading or buying stuff from each other. While I have been in the hobby for a long time, I am pretty much absent from the online communities like the ones on Facebook or forums. I enjoy looking at the photos that people share but I shy away from commenting. So In 2025 I want to be more active in showing my love and support to other doll fans, creators and enthousiasts.
Another plan for 2025 is launching my online shop. I have already registered myself on bigcartel, created a designated e-mail address and have been reading up on all the legal stuff that I need to know to open up my shop. Will keep the name underwraps until everthing is ready to launch.
On the todo list: – to register at the Chamber of Commerce (I feel like a Ferengi 😉 ) – get my VAT-number – open a business bankaccount – create a logo – create business cards – find sustainable packaging solutions – set op business shipping accounts with various logistical services – figure out the pricing – all the legal requirements that the EU has set up for product safety.
It is a massive list before launch and it takes a while to get through it. I work 40 hours a week and on the weekends I am working on my shop stock. I might do a soft launch via Instagram, offering a few of the items to test the waters but I am not a big van of Paypal with its fickle tendencies.
And the 2026 goal is to have a booth at a local doll and bear fair in my hometown. The organiser of the event passed away and it was not certain this fair would be continued but they launched the 2025 campaign so I am hopeful for next year. A couple of years ago they only had 1 stand with Blythe and now they dedicated two whole rows with Asian ball jointed dolls, Blythes and Smart Dolls. I can’t wait until March to find out how big the floor has grown and see my friends again.
I feel good about these plans, I get the support I needed from my family and friends. Even some don’t really get my hobby, they still think I should pursue my dreams.
