My love for dolls started with my mom. She would tell me about how life was growing up with many sisters, that it was hard to own a doll, and paper dolls were often all they could afford in those times. Because of that, when she had me, and being a girl, she wanted to make sure I had what felt like all the dolls in the world: Barbie, Disney dolls, Bratz, and all the pretty dolls she could get me. Still to this day, we share that love for dolls; she crochets avant-garde dresses for them.

That early love for dolls eventually led me to discover Blythe around 2005–2006 during the MySpace era. I would scroll through forums on MySpace and Flickr, completely mesmerized by the doll photography community, and at one point likely stumbled upon Gina Garan’s iconic work. I was instantly in awe of those big-eyed dolls from Japan, but for years, having a Blythe of my own felt like a distant dream.

In 2025, that dream finally came true during a trip to Japan. One of my top priorities was visiting a Junie Moon store. The funny part is that I went to the one in Shibuya, but it was closed for remodeling at the time. I was so disappointed and thought I might leave Japan without ever seeing Blythe in person.

But while we were in Himeji, my boyfriend made it his mission to get me to a Junie Moon store, since it was truly the one thing I wanted to do in Japan, besides eating all the amazing food we could find. We woke up early, took the bullet train to Osaka, and arrived before the store even opened. We were the first ones waiting outside that morning.

That’s where I finally bought my first Blythe: Heavenly Strawberry, my pink-haired girl. (I had bright pink hair at the time, so it was fitting. You will also see the most photos of her)

Being there felt surreal. I honestly shed tears because I couldn’t believe I was halfway across the world and finally meeting Blythe after admiring her for so many years. It felt magical, like my inner child was screaming with pure joy. Seeing all the dolls around me, I felt like I was floating. I wanted them all. I wanted a room filled with just Blythe, just like the store had them displayed on shelves in their cute outfits.

While in Japan, I even earned a second doll, Lavandula Babe, as payment for an engagement shoot I photographed. It made the whole experience feel even more special.

Since coming home, my collection has grown. I started my customization journey using “fake” models since my real Blythes are too precious to risk damaging. Practicing on Aliexpress dolls allowed me to learn the craft, and that’s where the real customization magic began.

Customization is a long process. I start by taking the doll’s head apart and removing the eye mechanism. Then I sand down the shiny factory coat, carve new details into the lips and nose, and shape the face to give her unique features. Once everything is smooth, I seal it with Mr. Super Clear so I can begin the makeup. From there, I add new lashes, change the eye chips, create a unique beaded pull string, fix the hair, and finally sew outfits for her.

The work that goes into customization is long, but rewarding. I love everything about customization and just being part of the Blythe world.

My goal is to have more people discover Blythe and hopefully see her become more known and easily available in the U.S., just as she is in Japan.