merrydollround

[merrydollround]

Sculpting Berry!! 🫐🍓💖

Another process photos compilation! Most of them I have already shared them on Instagram or BlueSky, but it's nice to put them all in one place 🫶

So, I started this head on October 2023 with the idea of making a revision of my first head Merry, since 2024 is Merry Doll Round 12th Anniversary, and 12 is my number 😊

So, my first step was taking a quick plaster mold of the original Merry head (head on the right), just of the face. Then I took a replica with clay, and started working on it. This process was very quick, and I didn't take any picture of it.

My idea was to make a similar system as the original Merry, with an additional piece inside the head for the teeth.

She was a cutie already 🫶 But I wasn't satisfied with the teeth, I couldn't make it look natural, so I stored her and I kept working on Mugi and a pre-order.

A couple of months later, I took her out and decided to remake the mouth from scratch, this time making the teeth sculpted inside the mouth! Definitely I like this result way more, it feels more natural!

And that's it! The rest of the job was sandind, fixing asymmetries and priming!

During the entire process I kept calling her "Birthday Girl", and she didn't look like Merry either, so I went for a couple of name ideas, one of them being Berry (B- from Birthday and -erry from Merry). Funny enough, I would use that name all the time when I played Sims, so after sharing her on Instagram, most people agreed she was definitely Berry!

I can't wait to get her casted, paint her face with a strong blush, and put her into lolita clothes 🥰

#bjd #ball jointed doll #merry doll round #dollmaking #dollsculptor #doll #artistdoll #artists on tumblr

[merrydollround]

Dolltober Day 25

Bones

(the stunning Merry Doll Round Coppelia girl belongs to my sis)

#aaaaahhh #i barely see coppelia girls #this Elba looks so so stunning!!!

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#marty is so cooool

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Part 2/? of Mugi and other dolls!

More process pictures! Mugi is my perfect excuse to buy cute dresses 🥰

The original idea was to make the torso split into 3 parts, with a ball in the middle just because I liked the aesthetics of the ball, but it did not improve the posability (unless I changed the overall shape of the body, but I didn't want to), so at the end I decided to make it into 2 pieces, so it matches the other bodies!

Also redid some joints digitally, so they look way more neat. Making joints and pieces that are more technical is always harder to do by hand, like neat edges and perfect spheres. So being able to make them digitally is a time saver. Just so you can make an idea, it took me several days to make the piece on the left and the surface is still not smooth. For the piece on the right, it took me 30 minutes to sculpt it digitally, and 1 hour to get it printed. It's just too fast and easy 🥹

Mugi current status is practically finished! But before sending her to the casting factory, I want to digitalize her. First of all, because I want to make a human version of her head, with no horns. But also because the casting factory waiting times have gone up like crazy, and I don't want to wait for +5 months to play with Mugi, so I will print a copy to play in the meantime 🥲

Head is all smooth and soft 🥰

I sculpted a lot of hands in cute poses and I want them to be easily interchangeable with magnets, but making hands is super tedious 🥲 Sanding between the fingers, make sure all nails have the same overall shape in all hands...It's the only part that I still have to finish 💔

Last but not least! Please let me introduce you to MeiFang or MeiMei!

My most requested doll has always been an MSD Fang. I KNOW. I am fully aware that this is NOT what people have been asking me to do 😅 But since I don't think I will make a MSD mature Fang (let's say, a shrunk version of the current one) I decided to make a child version of her! I adjusted the features accordingly to the age change, so the eyes are larger and rounder, the nose and mouth are smaller, and her cheeks are puffier. Really hope people still appreciates her 🫶

I am sending you a virtual snack If you read until this! 😆

Thank you so much,

Nuria

#bjd #balljointeddoll #merry doll round #msd #work in progress #doll making

[merrydollround]

I haven't posted any doll photo here in literally ages, so let's change that!

So first I'll introduce Mugi, from what I've been calling the Munchkin line (around 42cm)! She came to my mind on December 2022 after my brother mocked me on Christmas about always making dolls that looked melancholic.

I had been wanting to make an MSD doll for a long time, but never found motivation nor inspiration. Quickly after starting Mugi, I made a bunch of heads (it happens once in a while, I get a "frenzy" and I start a few heads or dolls all at once, then some get stored because I don't find them interesting anymore 🫠) I started naming them all with names starting with M, so there is Mugi, Momo, Mei Fang (or MeiMei) and Minette.

Still, Mugi was my favourite of those, so it's the one I've focused on finishing.

Mugi next to Fang, since my idea is that Mugi looks good next to my Juvenille line (small SD). It will be the first time that I make a new doll line that has the same scale as another of my lines. So she can be a little sister!

Tumblr doesn't let me add more pictures, so I will make another post with more of her and the other dolls I am currently working on soon 👀

👉Part 2

Extra: This drawing I made of Mugi 🫶

#bjd #balljointeddoll #merry doll round #msd #dollmaker

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Thanks for your concern Anon! Unfortunately, doing dolls "for popular request" does not equal "commercial success". My personal experience is that most people will ask for this or that, because asking for something is free, then won't join the pre-order for whatever (yet valid) reason. So I took the decision to only make dolls that actually make me happy and excited 🫶

I ended up sculpting an MSD though, named Mugi! It's not what a lot of people have been asking me to do (a mature MSD) but the more childlike style, like Volks MSD or MDD. I am eager to finish her and can't wait to get her casted! 🥰

As for me closing down MerryDollRound, I actually already made my mind about it last year, but I am not mentally ready yet, and I wanted to finish some projects, like bringing back Fang or finishing Mugi. So...we'll see how 2024 goes!

Thanks for your love and support 🥰

Nuria

It scares me to think MDROund is struggling and has to think of possibly closing shop. They are one of my fav artists.

Maybe part of the problem (besides economy and people having less money) is the scale? Tiny and unusual size dolls are less popular in general. I feel like perhaps switching to working with popular scale (Minifee) could boost their doll sales?

I know it's difficult for artists to follow trends instead of doing their own thing but it's not worse than going under due to low sales. I'm at least hoping Fang will do better for them.

~Anonymous

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Merry Doll Round Olathe very much needs a new faceup, but since she has SOME faceup it’s not at the top of my list, haha. She’s lovely though! I put her on an old Angel Philia body which matches surprisingly well, but fell over into 5 pieces immediately after taking this photo, haha.

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A funny thing that happens when I have a doll that I made finally casted in resin is that I find quite difficult to customize it. I usually have the prototype in progress around for months or years, so I get super used it to see it bald, eye-less, nude.

Preparing them for pre-orders as soon as the samples arrive is HARD! 😂

Hi I collect BJDs. Blank janky dolls. All my dolls are blank and faceless. Every one. I don't paint them. I don't let anyone paint them. I just collect blank janky dolls.

~Anonymous

[merrydollround]

Owning a (BJD) business it's not only about sculpting and selling, but also thinking about new ideas, reply mails, dealing with suppliers, paying taxes, improve yourself as an artist and a brand, preparing events, dealing with failure, and lots of other chores that are mentally draining. Personally, my mind thinks about work from the moment I wake up in the morning until I go to sleep, from Monday to Sunday. But don't get me wrong, I love my job. And I am so grateful everyday to have such a wonderful, loving and supportive customers (and followers) that make it possible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to all of you who support artists over theft ♡ #merrydollround #merrydollroundmota #bjd #art #dollartist https://www.instagram.com/p/BoKWLTBnUca/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9wbsdv4rny8o

#merrydollround #merrydollroundmota #bjd #art #dollartist

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Chocolate Skin Nanaimo pre-order will start on September 22nd as marked on the calendar! 🐭🐭🐭 I realized later that 3 Spanish artist (besides myself) participated with their art in this picture, please take a look and give them a follow! 🤩✨ #merrydollround #merrydollroundnanaimo #bjd #tinybjd #16scale #cute #kawaii #tinydoll #dollartist #doll https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn1eeKHH2HC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qt0r1shx02sn

#merrydollround #merrydollroundnanaimo #bjd #tinybjd #16scale #cute #kawaii #tinydoll #dollartist #doll

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Probably Mae. She has tiny teeth. Also I did a huge cut on my thumb so I am working ultra slowly 😅 Thank you so much to everyone who is joining Dango pre-order 💕 It will be open until the 9th ☺️ Please see all the information on the website! #merrydollround #sculptor #dollmaker #dollartist #dollart #doll #art #bjd

#merrydollround #dollmaker #doll #bjd #art #dollartist #dollart #sculptor

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Pygmy pouches are now available! 💕 I've been offering them for a couple of years only at events, but now they are available for everyone on the webstore 😉 Are you ready for the next pre-order? Check the calendar If you don't know yet what is coming very soon! Have a lovely weekend 😘 ♥️ #merrydollround #merrydollroundnanaimo #doll #dollmaker #dollsculptor #bjd #balljointeddoll

#dollsculptor #bjd #merrydollroundnanaimo #merrydollround #dollmaker #balljointeddoll #doll

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Baby Nanaimo Hard Enamel pins are finally on the website! Limited to 50 and numbered! 🌟 🐋 #merrydollround #nanaimothenarwhalmermaid #hardenamel #pin #pinstagram #pingame #mermaid

#pin #merrydollround #nanaimothenarwhalmermaid #pingame #pinstagram #mermaid #hardenamel

[merrydollround]

Small side project based on @hayleymilesmakeup__ work on model @babeeselchy (original photography by @tinameyerphoto) Sculpt is @merrydollround Zuri 😊 #merrydollround #bjd #dollphotography #balljointeddoll #doll #makeup #dollartist #africaninspired #art

#doll #bjd #balljointeddoll #dollphotography #art #merrydollround #dollartist #africaninspired #makeup

[merrydollround]

Nanaimo pre-order is finally open!

Nanaimo belongs to the pygmy line, that means her size is 22cm in her human body and 26cm with mermaid tail. The new pygmy body allows to change from human legs to mermaid tail easily!

For the first release, the will be a Limited Edition “Unicorn of the sea” with new “Coconut” skin color and “Icy grey” tail, and limited option make-up option with narwhal spots on the forehead.

Also regular versions are available, with Strawberry skin and the loved Cookie skin options, and Mint or Lilac tails, at customers choice! In case you are not a mermaid person, Human version is also available for pre-order!

Each doll purchase includes: Fully assembled doll (human or human/mermaid body options) + 4mm eyes + extra horns/narwhal tusks + extra fist hands + cushions + certificate of authenticity

Please visit Merry Doll Round webstore to see all the available options!!

www.merrydollround.com

If you have any question, feel free to email to: [email protected] or use the contact form on the website!​

#merry doll round #nanaimo the narwhal mermaid #merry doll round nanaimo #tiny BJD #bjd #bjd photography #ball jointed doll #doll #merrydollround

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I wish I could help with that but I am going to explain my decision ;) 

I work hard with my casting company to get new and realistic colors (the second darkest skin tone Chocolate is also new, but it's going to be regular), but because the Dark Cocoa is such a dark resin, the casting company asked to work with limited ammounts, because it is very hard for them to get perfect reproductions.

Not only that. To achieve the smoothest surface without seamlines, each doll is sandblasted, leaving a thin white surface. This can't be seen on paler resins, but it very visible on Dark Cocoa.

This is how the doll comes from the casting factory. As you can see, the resin does not look as dark as the final photos because this layer. In order to remove this and let the real colour of the resin come out, each doll is going to be unassembled and each piece cleaned with specific products and assembled again, which certainly takes a long time. 

I hope this helps you to understand why Dark Cocoa is going to be limited.  

Thanks for reading! ;D

Nuria

Due to popular demand, Zuri will be available again very soon! You can choose between 3 colors: Chocolate Milk, Chocolate and Dark Cocoa!

Dark Cocoa will be a Limited Edition of 10 dolls ;)

Check the website for more!

www.merrydollround.com

[merrydollround]

Due to popular demand, Zuri will be available again very soon! You can choose between 3 colors: Chocolate Milk, Chocolate and Dark Cocoa! Dark Cocoa will be a Limited Edition of 10 dolls ;) Check the website for more! www.merrydollround.com

#merrydollround #merry doll round #zuri #bjd