The skin color chart above illustrates the color choices a seller offers for a 1/6 scale BJD doll that I had my eyes on for several months. Before ordering, I contacted the seller to confirm that color E was, in fact, available. The seller assured me it was along with the comment: "It's dark." My reply was, "That is what I want!"
Seller's description indicated the doll would arrive nude; the price included make up (face up or whatever BJD people refer to as facial painting). The eye color would be random, but seller agreed to send an extra pair of brown eyes. I was cool with everything. I just needed to place the order.
I finally ordered and made the proper notation in the comments section of the order form:
Be sure that the doll is Color E. I was also promised extra eyes (preferably brown) since the inset eyes will be a random color. Thank you!
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| This is the doll I received along with the extra items shown in the next photo: |
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| Extras include another pair of brown eyes (the doll already has brown eyes), eye putty and eye lashes. Not shown is a Magic Eraser-type sponge and the pink satiny doll wrap she arrived nestled inside. |
As illustrated, the doll arrived with a complexion that is not color E. It is a cross between C and D, shown on the skin color chart. I immediately contacted the China-based seller to point out the gross nature of the error and to ask what steps I needed to take to have the doll made in the desired color.
Seller apologized for the mistake and gave me two options: I could keep the doll and receive a $20 discount or return the doll and have another one made in the correct color. After additional communication, I opted to keep the doll and have the seller make a new one for a price we amicably agreed upon. Instead of discounting the one I kept, I asked the seller to send a dress for the new doll. The new doll has arrived, but will be introduced later. This post will continue to focus on the first doll.
Her name is Elin. She is a 1/6 scale BJD/SD by Iplehouse. She stands 10 inches, is made of resin, and has the typical BJD features of multiple ball joints and removable skull for easy eye-changing access.
Since "she" decided to stay, we had to find on-hand wigs and clothes to fit her. Some things that had been ordered for her were already here when she arrived while others were still in transit.
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| Doll trunks that store clothing for small dolls and wigs. |
I went through doll trunks where clothing for dolls 10 inches and under is kept. Doll wigs were also selected for Elin to try on for size. Temporarily, she borrowed another doll's dress, socks, and shoes. She modeled the following clothes and wig combinations, posed for photos, and ultimately decided to wear a dress, socks, and shoes that were made for dolls her size.
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| Elin wears an Afro wig borrowed from All-Natural Lizette. We tried Lizette's straight wig on her but neither of us liked the length or look. It was just too much hair for a girl her height. The dress, socks, and shoes were borrowed from Daria by Dianna Effner. Too much flash from the camera distorts the detail of this Boneka dress. |
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| This carrot colored wig, along with the next three, were borrowed from Paulette Goodreau's Mirror-sculpt BJD in cocoa complexion, that I simply call Cocoa. |
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| With the Afro wig Elin wears a ladybug themed fashion with backpack. This fashion was made to fit Georgia (from the Ann Estelle doll line). My two Georgias are the twins seen here. |
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| Elin wanted to show off her backpack and the two real crayons it holds. |
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| This is another dress made for Georgia, part of a multiple-piece set. The coordinating raincoat and rain hat are shown below. The white shoes were made for 1/6 BJDs and were ordered for Elin. The brown pixie wig was borrowed from Essential Lizette. |
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| Elin tries on the matching rain hat and rain coat with the dress shown in the previous image. |
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| This is a top made for the now-discontinued Groovy Girls dolls. It, along with several other Groovy Girls separates, was purchased for the Goodreau BJD, Cocoa. The top fits Elin like a dress and is worn with black shoes that were ordered for her that arrived prior to her arrival. |
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| This is it! This is actually a 1/6 BJD/SD dress that I won in an eBay auction immediately after placing my order for Elin in complexion E. We both like this dress and the better styled Afro wig the best. |
While she was supposed to be color E. Color C Elin has stolen my heart. She did not want to return to China and I did not want to see her go back. She is delighted that she has a playmate. Elin #2, who has already arrived, will be introduced soon.
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