The BJD world is expanding and growing so quickly. As the hobby continues to evolve, BJD fans are now creating their own dolls! Today we are featuring a fellow YouTuber TeenyTinkers and her amazing journey from dolly lover to dolly artist!

I am so excited to feature today’s artist and let you read about her amazing process!

TeenyTinkers Interview:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your doll you’ve created!

Hey, I’m Rosie: BJD collector, artist, knitter, and mom to three fur kids and two human kids. I live in Ontario, Canada where the autumn is beautiful but in the winter the air hurts your face. I play ukulele and piano when I have time, and I also like to paint watercolor illustrations. I am happiest when I am making something- including dolls!

Hollow is the name of my first completed BJD. She’s had many versions, and started out as a cloth doll called Kevin. She began as a lump of paper clay, and has since been sculpted digitally (because the thought of casting a clay doll that could disintegrate or crack in the process is honestly TERRIFYING to me!)

She’s a 42 cm MSD sized doll, with sweet eyes and the cutest button nose. She is thick in the hips and thighs, and a fantastic stander. Her face is super versatile and looks really different with different faceups-I often get comments about how people think my four prototypes are different dolls entirely. 

She’s slim MSD sized on top, big baby MSD sized in the legs (can share clothes with a Roze Heln, Culur, or Frapzilla doll I think!) But stretchy MSD pants tend to work well too. She does have big feet and wears an SD shoe. 6-7 wigs work best and 10-12mm eyes fit the eye wells. 

What made you want to create your own doll?

Ever since I got my first BJD I knew I wanted to make one. I’ve loved drawing and illustrating forever, and I created this elf-y chunky character that I wanted as a doll. But I could never find a sculpt I liked for it. So I decided it was time to just get into it!

Did you have anything that inspired you during your creation process?

There are elements I liked from other dolls, or things I wished my other dolls had that went into Hollow’s design. 

She has magnetic hands because I LOVE dolls with magnetic hands. They are so dressable! She also has a belly ball which is a play on the Dust of Dolls belly ball joint, but with more mobility. 

I mentioned she’s really standable. That may sound silly to some, but I have many gorgeous dolls who cannot stand without heavy sueding to save their lives. When I try to take photos and a doll falls over it’s the scariest thing. I wanted Hollow to be able to stand on her own easily, so she is very bottom heavy, with larger feet. She is so sturdy, in fact, that she can easily give other dolls front carries or piggybacks!

What was the most challenging part in creating Hollow?

There was a steep learning curve. It’s hard to say what was hardest, since everything that went into making Hollow was a new skill. I really started from square one.

I guess the hardest thing for me to deal with was my own frustrations. I am very much a person who needs to be great at something the first time they do it. With sculpting, I wasn’t. Usually that would result in me dropping the clay or closing Blender and doing something else. But I really had to push through it. Ignoring my own doubts and limitations, and taking time to practice and learn new skills- that was the biggest challenge. 

What was the most enjoyable part in creating Hollow?

Besides seeing her little face come to life? Collaboration. Working with other artists, asking questions and learning from them. I had help with Hollow’s initial 3D sculpt from another artist. I had help printing her prototype in resin. I had help with preorder preparations and choosing casters. I had help from friends when I doubted myself and dealt with Imposter Syndrome as a doll artist.

There were, and are, so many people I have met during this process who have taught me so much. I am so thankful.

What is the number 1 advice you could give to someone looking to create their own doll?

Ask for help and don’t be afraid to make a thousand mistakes! If you keep trying, and learning, you only fail forward. Look at this process as a chance to learn something new, create something for yourself, and make new friends. 

I have always loved Hollow as a character, but now as a doll, she has become so unbelievably special to me. Part of that is the literal blood, sweat and tears. But a bigger part is looking at her, and everything she has brought me. The friendships, a new skill set, more confidence and a ton of memories. 

Do you plan on making more dolls in the future?

Oh, absolutely! I have actually begun work on a new little lady- a human this time. I started her a while ago, shortly after I saw the Hollows in Resin for the first time. Assembling those prototypes gave me the most incredible feeling, and I loved them so much. I knew then that I was hooked, and I’d be at it again soon!

BUT that’s all I’m going to say, because my energy is pretty focused on Hollow and her pre-order right now!

More about the Pre-Order for Hollow!

Please check out her website https://teenytinkers.com

She has all her info listed there on the site! You won’t want to miss out! Psst…..she even has layaway options!

Where else can I find TeenyTinkers?

TeenyTinkers has a Youtube channel with lots of informative videos as well as some creation process videos for her latest doll!

You can also find TeenyTinkers on Instagram account as well!

https://www.instagram.com/teenytinkers

She also makes hilarious BJD TikToks! https://www.tiktok.com/@teenytinkers

@teenytinkers

Monique xplorer dolls I’m looking at you #bjd #doll #balljointeddoll

♬ –

You can see a full list of her links here: https://linktr.ee/Teenytinkers

Huge thanks to Rosie from the TeenyTinkers Show for letting us interview them! I wish them the best of luck for their pre-order and look forward to seeing more content from them in the future!

Do you have any questions for Rosie from the TeenyTinkers? Ask away in the comments section down below!