Paloma, my Blithe custom from Bee's Dreamland (fakie/factory)

[KiraKira]

[CN: opinions on factory/fakes, bootlegs, etc]

My love for custom dolls carries over into all doll types. The Blythe hobby is full of all kinds of cute custom dolls, but many of those dolls are "factory" Blythe dolls--that is, made up of parts allegedly stolen from a Blythe doll production factory, or fake Blythes, which I believe means made using molds cast from genuine Blythe faces. So, basically a recast Blythe. My personal stance is that I don't go looking for knockoffs, copies, or bootleg products. I try to get the real thing. I don't have any Angelgate Pullips, and I frown upon recast BJDs. In my poking around the Blythe hobby, I saw that there are collectors who own both genuine Blythes, and fakies. However, there are many collectors who shunned the fakies and customs altogether, and only collect Kenners or other stock Takara Blythes.

I'm always been neutral on the fake/factory issue. I figured that if you are planning on customizing a Blythe, it makes sense to use a fakie or factory Blythe since you're essentially sanding and carving away and there is very little of the original doll left. Factory/fakes are less eensive than genuine Takara Blythes, and by using factory/fakes as your base doll for a custom, it could save a stock Blythe from possible ruin, and preserve it for the people who would want to keep the Blythe fully stock. But then I started to ponder a bit more. Factory/fakies are inherently wrong because of the lack of honesty in the way they originated. Somebody went and smuggled out parts that they didn't have any right to, or they made molds of Blythe's head so that they could make their own version of Blythe from it. This is cutting into the money earned from the company that makes Blythe...if people take their money and spend it on factory/fakes, then that is less money that the company is getting.

Which brings me to Paloma...my Blithe doll.
Paloma's Arrival--Bee's Dreamland Custom (fake Blythe)


blithe
blīT͟H,blīTH/
adjective
adjective: blithe; comparative adjective: blither; superlative adjective: blithest

showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.

Paloma's Arrival--Bee's Dreamland Custom (fake Blythe) by KiraKira a.k.a. JustLikeWasabi (but you can call me Shann!), on Flickr

Paloma is my sweet little custom girl from Bee's Dreamland. I had wanted a Bee's Dreamland custom for months. Ever since Bee had been accepting commissions, I started searching for a secondhand, nude Blythe to send to her. I found a few on ebay, but alas, I kept getting outbid. This went on for many weeks, possibly months even, and I gave up on it for a while. I thought about ordering a NRFB or new release Blythe, but I couldn't find one that I liked (hair, stock outfit & accessories). I felt like, if I am going to pay those release prices, I should at least like most of the doll. And then I saw this custom on BuzzingBumblebee's flickr, and read that she was in hers etsy shop. The only sticky point was that the base was a fakie or factory doll. My resolve to not purchase a fake/factory Blythe broke, and I made the decision to purchase this custom. My thinking is that what's done is done, the doll has been customized, and I just love the Bee's work. It's not Paloma's fault that she's made up of factory/fake parts, that she's a Blithe, and not a Blythe. I would love her the same regardless.

Paloma's Arrival--Bee's Dreamland Custom (fake Blythe) by KiraKira a.k.a. JustLikeWasabi (but you can call me Shann!), on Flickr

Bee has been putting these beautiful butterfly wings on the eyelids of her custom dolls. Look at her lashes! Paloma is beautifully blushed, and exquisitely carved. Her lips and subtle freckling are perfect. I couldn't resist leaving her to sit on etsy any longer, and I had to have her.

Paloma's Arrival--Bee's Dreamland Custom (fake Blythe) by KiraKira a.k.a. JustLikeWasabi (but you can call me Shann!), on Flickr
This is Bee's trademark bumblebee logo that shows this is an original Bee's Dreamland custom. Paloma is custom girl #9. I'm hoping that Paloma won't be my only Bee's Dreamland custom.

Paloma's Arrival--Bee's Dreamland Custom (fake Blythe) by KiraKira a.k.a. JustLikeWasabi (but you can call me Shann!), on Flickr
I know it is hypocritical of me to not support bootlegs, clones, factory/fakies, knockoffs, recasts, etc., and to have one in my collection. At the end of the day, it is my collection, and my money, and it is finished, so no sense looking back because I cannot turn back time, and I regret nothing. While I won't get any more factory/fake dolls, I think what I will do is to get a genuine Takara Blythe and have her sent to Bee to get customized. And then I'll put it side-by-side with Paloma and I promise you that I would not love one more than the other.


Anyway, Paloma is my work doll. She stands on my desk at work in the back office, and is kept company by my WWE Chris Jericho action figure and my plastic Finn the Human figurine. Having her around to brighten up my office makes it easier to report to work.


If you would like to see more photos of Paloma the Blithe, please visit my flickr!