My BJD
Journey
My BJD Journey began a year ago when I discovered beautiful BJD's
for the second or third time, only this time I fell in love with a
few. So, I bought and then went looking for my favorite doll - a
baby doll. Only to find there is very little available in the BJD
world in babies! Lots of adorable tinies but few really baby
looking dolls. So, being a doll artist I set out to learn all I
could about BJD's researching first and then began to make my own
bjd Baby mid 2009.
What a process! Just nuts - from the standpoint of an individual
self taught artist. Wow! But then I am one to persevere and prodded
by failure to try again. So here's where I ended up in February of
2010! I began with the entry below into my "What's New?" page to
begin sharing with my collectors. And will continue sharing on the
what's new page and then posting those entries in numbered order
journal style here for any future collectors who might like to come
along for the ride! I post the newest entries on my "What's New?"
page for those who have been passengers all along.
Mahalo,
Bo
Journal Entry #1 February 12, 2009
What's New? BJD's!
That's right. I'm making BJD babies, and toddlers now! I've been
working on this for the last 6 months! Wow! What a process. Trial
and error, learning by doing - BJD's are the hardest thing I've
ever tried to make!
So why? Well, I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! You can pose them fabulously!
After perfecting one body, you can sculpt head after head to make a
whole new doll! And sculpting heads is my absolute FAVORITE
part!
Finally, it leaves room for far more creativity. Both for me and my
collectors. Being a doll lover, collector, who gets the biggest
charge of all out of creating my own dolls - I love the idea of
sharing the creative possibilities with my collectors. If you buy a
BJD, you can at the very least change the wig, eyes and clothing
and make it look like your OWN creation. Or, if you are more
adventurous, you can try adding a bit to the face up with chalks or
even makeup that will wash off when you are done. Finally, the
truly artistic and creative collector, can do a whole new face up
and theme with litterally endless possibilities!
I'm excited for us both!
Of course, the purist who loves my work, can also enjoy the doll
just as is. And because it's made of resin, it will hold up well
for generations of passing on to future doll collectors in your
family!
I have been so busy DOING that I've not taken many pics and
completely ignored my website and Etsy and Ebay stores for way too
long now. So, here's a peak into the future of Bo Bergemann Dolls!
These two are the same doll, same resin, same paint & eyes and
dress, just changing the wig changes this doll A LOT! 
A Bit about the process. . .
First you have to sculpt a doll with 16 or more individual parts,
like hands, feet, knees, and thighs etc. I won't bore you. But
every place we bend, they do too! The posing possibilities are
ENDLESS! I had to learn all about vacuum degassing and silicon mold
making as well as pressure casting resin. But I am learning so
much, all the persistent challenges are indeed worth it! And this
has finally lead me to doing Limited Editions as well.
This little lady is just what came from my scratch molds, so she is
FAR from perfect and needed a lot of sanding, refining and
finishing to get her to this place. Now, I am making finish molds
and will soon be turning out babies. Through this process, I
answered the question as to WHY - no one is making little pudgy
chubby realistic looking BJD babies? Well, because each tiny peice
is a work of art in miniature which must be hollow, and then
moldable and castable. Both moldmaking and pressure casting are
easier with a peice that is bigger and sleeker, few details and
more smooth lengths. So, tiny fingers and toes with creases so
minute and little chubby rounded pieces are MORE WORK to mold and
then cast, and especially to refine and finish well. If I had known
all this going in, I would likely have made a much bigger baby than
this 5 1/2" darling. And, I'm already considering an alternate
tummy portion. Though, in clothes, making her tummy this way really
leads to that baby paunch around the middle that I soooooo
love!
I've completed another head already too! I just have to make the
molds and then I can cast that one. I'm working on resin tinting
and color choices other than the very white baby above as well. So,
check back often to see what's new! If you are interested in being
put on my email list to be notified when I get some of my new BJD
babies up for sale please contact me and let me know! I'd love to
hear from you anytime.
Mahalo,
Bo
Journal Entry # 2
February 23, 2009
The following are pics of my first original bjd. These are cast
from scratch molds and not yet perfected, but as of this week. I
have completed my finish molds and cast a couple babies from them.
I am now experimenting with resin colors. So, the babies completed
below are all white so far. But I have cast a beautiful polynesian
or mixed ethnic skin tone to match my 12 year old sons, and he is
Samoan, Irish, German. I have also cast one very pale and another
more colorful deeper caucasian type skin tone. I am working on
mixing and trying colors as I also work on casting and refining
dolls from my finish molds. Meanwhile I have to put up my new BJD
website and think through marketing and concept. What fun! A lot of
work, but I love all the creativity and experimentation
involved.
How can you help?
1) Well, I've labeled the dolls below with their resin colors. If
you could tell me what you like and why. Also what it looks like to
you would be helpful as I think this through. What colors of resin
do you usually like your bjd cast in? Which colors of dolls do you
like below, if any? And what colors would you hope to see? Just use
the contact form to give me your feedback. Also mention if you like
to be put on my list to know when new info. or dolls go up on my
site. Or else just check back occasionally when you have time to
look at what's new and share this journey with me.
Mahalo,
Bo
Plain white resin Scratchmold cast baby #
Above is same as redhead baby below - white skin different
wig
Below is newest baby #2 completed from the scratch molds in a very
pale, nearly white caucasian tone with painted blushing to make a
more pink baby skin look. She is also taking her first steps and
learning to swim! Can you tell I'm having such fun?
Newest baby above completed from my scratch molds is a very pale
caucasian. Nearly white, but not quite! Same as standing baby only
different outfit and no wig!
Below are some pics of the first baby I cast from finish molds, and
in a deeper caucasian color I'm experimenting with too! Let me know
what you think. It's just a head and torso so far. But you can see
the better quality of the cast parts as well as the new color I'm
trying out. As compared to my VERY WHITE hands, she has a bit of a
tan tint. Since babies of non Caucasian or mixed ancestries tend
often to be born lighter skinned and gain their pigment between 1-3
years of age, this could represent anything from Caucasian to
Italian, Hispanic or many varied racial mixes. I love color. All my
children are adopted and NON is so white as me - Praise God!
Although I love pale skin babies too. How could I not when I am so
very white myself. But I think the variety is such a gift from God.
Could you just imagine how boring and less beautiful life would be
if we were all one color? Thankfully, I don't have to!
Let me know what you think about color if you have the time and
interest, in a contact please. And just a heads up. From now on I'm
going to keep an album page to show off my new babies as I make
them (as soon as I find time to make that! LOL!). So check back
here for new questions and queries and updates. Also, Check the
"Newest Pics" page (once I get it up!) to see all my pics of what's
new. Just a time thing. It's a bit less work to keep this updated
that way. And since pics are some of my favorite parts, those are
easiest to update in an album format. But here is where I'll try to
do most of my communication for those interested in coming along
for the ride!
One of the most fun parts of making bjd's is knowing that
collectors can then continue the creativity with me. So, that
brings up another question. I am considering whether or not to also
sell a basic version of my baby unpainted for those who want to do
all that themselves. I could not discount a lot because the
sculpting, mold making, hand finish and fine tuning work, then
remaking all the molds into finish molds and casting each doll - IS
MOST OF THE WORK. But, you could save on the price of wigs, eyes,
clothing, and my time in painting which would mean some savings to
customers who intend to redo the doll with their own painting,
wigs, eyes and clothing anyway! Once again, please send any
feedback via my Contact Me! page.
Mahalo,
Bo
