About Me

Hiya! I’m Jules, the entity behind Vivify Dolls!

I technically started my BJD journey in 2018, when I ordered a Dollshe David Kuncci as a gift to myself after my college graduation. (I know. I KNOW.) He took a year and a half to arrive, but I did eventually receive him–only to hate what I had received. He was weighty, his joints were bizarre and uncooperative, and he couldn’t pose naturally at all. I was so disappointed in him, I boxed him up and left him in storage for the next four and a half years.

Then, in 2023, I finally had the time, space, and patience to revisit the hobby. I pulled my Dollshe out of storage (and dubbed him “Orville”) and began to explore the art of customizing playline dolls. (For those of you who remember Teasel, Clownie, and Myriam… Thank you for being here…) Soon, I was making up for lost time. I acquired many dolls, including a tiny Logan Dolls kit and an MSD from Resin Soul, and began to make connections within the doll community.

Then, Nomad Sculpt came into my life. I bought the program to treat myself on my birthday, and after learning the basics, I began the sculpt that would change everything for me. On October 26th 2023, just 5 days after my birthday, the very rough blobs that would become my debut sculpt began to take shape. I got a 3D resin printer, and on November 7th, I printed out the very first prototype of Ebbi. Ebbi (along with her many friends) was finalized on February 23rd 2024 and had two order periods.

Since then, I have fallen in love with the art of dollmaking. On October 9th 2024, almost a full year after starting my sculpting journey, I finalized The Dancer body. It debuted with two face options: Alister and Ainsley. At the time of writing this, I have many other doll projects in the works, and countless others planned, including the bodies Dreamer, Poet, and Prince, and the faces Heyliel, Ify, Anika, and others. I hope to be able to create a lineup of different heads and bodies that can be freely mixed and matched within their respective scales.

2023-24 were really rough years for me. After feeling increasingly terrible over the past few years (and going through like 4 different doctors) I finally got answers–in the form of multiple autoimmune diagnoses, including Rheumatoid Arthritis. Through all this, dollmaking and the BJD community gave me a reason to get up in the morning when life sucked and everything hurt. While this hobby is probably not the best choice for someone with arthritis (especially sanding prototypes… oof), it gives me life. I hope to be able to continue making dolls for years or decades to come in spite of these challenges.

None of this would be possible if not for the tremendous support I have received from this community.

To every single one of you who has extended guidance, support, enthusiasm, and even criticism…

Thank you.