Wow, it's really hard to pin down just what makes the perfect doll for me. I have 4 full size dolls now and I got each of them for different reasons.
Suzy was the first. I was in the film business at the time and we just needed a human figure, preferably female to stand in for live models during setup. Something sturdy, easy to move and dress and a mannequin fit the bill. What made Suzy pefect for the job was her unique look and stance. That and the price was right.
Some years later I learned about TPE dolls and got Jyoti. Originally, I just wanted a doll that was as visually appealing as Suzy, but one that also had tactile appeal and could be posed. Amazed by the variety available, I spent better part of a year researching dolls, vendors and manufacturers. I quickly realized just how much customization was possible and that got the little wheels in my head turning.
Next thing you know I'm seeking my holy grail, a doll that could be done up like an Indian. The eyes were key there. They needed to be large and up swept with a fairly full bowline, full cheeks and lips. As soon as I saw WM's #77 I knew that would be just perfect for what I had in mind. All I needed now was a perfect body to put under it.
Now I like proportional figures. Top and bottom heavy gals, tiny waists just don't get it for me. Problem there is, health issues prevent me from lifting much more than 50 lbs and proportional figured dolls tend to be very heavy. That's where my choice of head comes in. WM's #77 is designed for their smaller doll range, 100cm through 125cm. Although, I didn't know about the 125cm at the time. It's an older design that no one advertises anymore. I only found out about it because I happened to see one listed in TDF's For Sale section. Didn't buy that one, I needed a darker skin tone, but that got me pointed in the right direction.
Turns out, WM's 125cm has one of the most proportional figures I've ever seen. Thicker waist even than many larger dolls and proportioned more like a very short woman than a scaled down doll. Bloody perfect! Ordered that combination, head #77 with 125cm body and Jyoti was born.
A few years later, I acquired Veronica. She's a Meiki Evo Plush, my first dive into the fabric pool. Decided to get a plush doll mainly for the low weight, as even Jyoti's 51 lbs was becoming a chore for me. Couple things made Veronica perfect. She has the most human like proportions of any plush I've seen and Meiki's come with a blank face. That was perfect for me, because part of the reason I wanted a plush was to attempt to mount acrylic eyes in one. My efforts were sucessful and ended up being the inspiration for Valentina Girl's Real Head option.
That brings me to full size doll #4, Dhila. She's my brown cuddle model Valentina. She's perfect on a number of counts. For one, she weighs a mere 8 lbs! For another, she's brown! Perfect shade for another Indian Girl treatment. Next, like Veronica, Dhila's almost the same size as my wife. They can both share her wardrobe! Win, win, perfect, perfect. Ain't dolls grand?
To us the 2 things that matter most is price, and if we own that brand already. My wife is also interested in how cute or happy their faces are, but I'm not too picky as long as they're good looking, I'm happy.
- Doll Canvas - 
