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Meet Featured Fan Creampuff, also known as Daniel !!!! Posted by valmaxi on April 30, 2008, 10:00 am Message modified by board administrator April 30, 2008, 10:02 am Daniel's post is split in to 2 parts. Please be sure to check out the first reply at the bottom of this post for more on Daniel's doll hair experience and doll photos Hello to all the fabulous folks at Doll Divas! I am very proud to be sharing my dolly story with you all. First, a bit about me for those who have never heard of me! My name is Daniel and I’m 26 years old. I live in London in the UK. I have lived all over the UK and overseas in Korea and Hong Kong. I’m a Drama teacher and though it’s a very challenging job teaching in London, it’s a job that I take very seriously and can at times be incredibly rewarding (as well as a great deal of fun). I have a great boyfriend who works with puppets – can you see a theme there? I haven’t told him about the doll collection yet…But I’ll keep you posted! I used to have a wonderful cocker spaniel called Jolene. Sadly she was involved in a car accident a few years ago and didn’t survive. My life has changed a great deal in the time since I lost her and has meant that I probably won’t get another pet for a while now. Life in London can be very exciting; there are always new clubs and restaurants opening and there is a wealth of cultural activities to engage in as well. If you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it. My obsession with dolls started when I was very young, probably about 5 years old. As a toddler my family lived in South Korea and there was a distinct lack of other children for me to play with. I remember getting an Asian version of Barbie who I loved. I wanted to take her everywhere with me. My mother, being the artistic soul she is, indulged me for a while. But when we moved back to the UK, dolls were out of the question. At the age of 10, I was too old to play with dolls. So for a while, dolls played no part in my life. But as my little sister grew older, she started to receive Barbie dolls at Christmas. I remember one year when I must have been about 12, ALL of my sister’s presents were Barbie dolls and clothes. I remember being fascinated with them and ignoring my own toys in favour of hers. It was then that my mother, much as I love her, took a really harsh view of my fascination with dolls. All my passions in life were ‘expressive’, including painting, acting, dancing and the like. I think she was worried about the negative view society would take of me. As much as I hate to admit it, I actually stole two of my sisters Barbie dolls and kept them hidden under my bed. I would wait until I went to bed at night and then play with them. I loved imagining the exciting lives these dolls led! But after a while, it was discovered that I had stolen the dolls. The theft was not the big issue for my mother, but the fact I still wanted dolls was a problem. So, dolls were off the menu again and by this point I had grasped that it was a corrupt thing for a male to play with dolls. Then at age 15 my family moved to Hong Kong. As a teenager in a foreign country, I became much more independent and embraced the ‘artistic’ tendencies that just seemed to pour out of me. I would go to Toys R Us every few weeks and secretly purchase a doll for myself. By the time I was 18, I probably had 20 various fashion dolls that I kept hidden in my wardrobe. I’m not sure if my family were aware of it or not, but it certainly wasn’t discussed again. The reality is that I was a nightmare teenager with a plethora of problems that needed more attention than an obsession with dolls! When I left Hong Kong to go to university in the UK, I threw all my dolls away. I had decided that now I was an adult, dolls needed to be left behind. I spent my 3 years at university happily without them. I was too immersed in a life of fun and frolics to care about dolls! But then I discovered something that would change my life forever – Ebay. I used to buy old books and videos from the infamous website. But one fateful day, for purely nostalgic purposes, I did a search for Barbie. Well, words cannot describe how excited I became. Suddenly there were thousands of fashion dolls in the world to choose from! I didn’t like the conventional ‘smiley face’ play line dolls; I was drawn to the dolls with unusual face moulds and glamorous fashions. The internet became a key tool for me to research the various companies that produced modern fashion dolls. Eventually I came across Fashion Royalty. I was shocked at the prices of the dolls, but was intrigued by them. I cannot remember which doll was my first, but I was completely besotted with them. This was the line of dolls I had been waiting for! I have loved all the characters produced so far, but my favourite is Kyori. No matter how many times she surfaces, I am always smitten with each incarnation (but I have to admit that Eugenia is seriously giving Kyori a run for her money!) But it took me a long time to decide that spending serious money on dolls was acceptable. In the end I decided that I have every right to. I work very hard for my money and can spend it on what I choose. My dolls are prized possessions and some of them are very special indeed. As I entered the world of FR, I also discovered the world of doll boards. I began to read them in secret. I regularly came to Doll Divas. It seemed like such a fun place to be, where lovers of all kinds of dolls chatted in harmony. When I decided I wanted to join in at Doll Divas, I was still rather shy and did not want to reveal any personal details. So I knew I needed a STAGE NAME! I wanted something glamorous and recognisable. I thought I would name myself after the makeup applicator that you use to apply face powder. In my silly brain I thought that they were called creampuffs! So, the name has stuck since then. I now realise the word I was looking for was powder-puff, and that creampuffs are in fact a type of cake. A few years on and Doll Divas has become a special part of my life. I have made some wonderful friends here and I was very lucky to be able to meet some of them at the FR convention last year. As you’ll have realised, collecting dolls was something I was led to understand was a shameful pastime for boys. And let’s be honest, it’s still not in the mainstream. It took me a long time to embrace this hobby that I was drawn to and Doll Divas was an integral part of that process. Doll Divas is the only place I can share my hobby, which still remains a secret to the rest of the world. My dolls are still stored in my wardrobe after all these years, but now they are stored with care and precision! Of all the places I have visited in my relatively short time on Earth, Doll Divas is one of my favourites. The folks here are friendly, compassionate, creative and inspiring! I have learned so much during my time here and have made some great friends. Even though my collection is mainly FR, I love seeing all the other fashion dolls on the market. I love the fact we all share our passion together in a really exciting way. My heartfelt thanks go to all the moderators that make sure the board runs smoothly and stays a safe and positive place to visit. Doll Divas has changed my life for the better and I am eternally grateful to all of you. So, what is it about fashion dolls that fascinate me so much? Well I have always been an escapist and enjoy drama and creating different characters. It’s such a passion for me that it led me to train as an actor and then eventually train to become a Drama teacher. I play with my dolls in much the same way I did when I was child and then a teenager. I imagine the glamorous lives they lead and can escape from the harsh realities of life for a short while. The other big factor for me is the GLAMOUR. As a man, my opportunities for style are limited. But I love escaping into a world where clothes are fabulous, makeup is dramatic and there is never a hair out of place! Playing with dolls encourages and engages all of my artistic tendencies, the biggest of which is playing with hair! I LOVE LOVE LOVE styling doll hair. There is nothing as therapeutic or rewarding. Every time I boil the kettle to straighten a doll’s hair with boiling water, a smile creeps across my face. Sometimes I am more ambitious and cut hair as well. The results are hit and miss. Some of my haircuts I’m very proud of, but there are several I have ruined as well! Luckily, I discovered that there are some very talented re-rooters out there as well. My first doll to receive a new head of hair was Seashore Rebel Natalia, re-rooted by the wonderful Valerie Campbell. This doll has been a firm favourite in my collection ever since and has gone through a great deal of style changes! She will always hold a special place in my heart. Don't forget to check the second part of Daniel's post in the lowest reply to this post http://members.boardhost.com/DollDivas/msg/1209567690.html Message Thread: Meet Featured Fan Creampuff, also known as Daniel !!!! - valmaxi April 30, 2008, 10:00 am What a fascinating story, - Snwlprd in Stoon May 1, 2008, 1:49 pm Wow, Daniel! I enjoyed reading every bit about you. What a wonderful and talented person you are. - Inti May 1, 2008, 12:27 am Aww thanks Inti!! There are some wonderful teachers at Doll Divas, for sure!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:56 am glad to meet you , nice to see a pic of you - silkstone001 (Jeff) April 30, 2008, 11:50 pm Thank you Jeff - what a nice thing to say!! Dolls definitely get the creative juices flowing! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:55 am Hi there cutie ! Nice seeing you and learning more about you . >>msg>> - MarC April 30, 2008, 11:42 pm Hi Marguerite!! Thank you for the hats - I can't wait to see them!! (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:54 am So glad to read and learn more about you, Daniel. Are you coming to convention again this year? - Crystal April 30, 2008, 9:33 pm Hey Crystal!! I will definitely be at the FR convention this year!! (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:52 am That's great! Looking forward to seeing you again! I think that is why we love dolls >>> - Crystal May 1, 2008, 1:22 pm Hi Daniel, great to read about you! Thank you for sharing - Amanda April 30, 2008, 9:01 pm Thank you Amanda!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:50 am Nice to meet you, Daniel!! Wonderful job on Seashore Natalia!!!! - Ivory in Tokyo April 30, 2008, 7:44 pm Thanks so much!! Valmaxi is an awesome re-root artist....she transformed her!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:50 am Hi Daniel, nice to "meet" you! - Marna April 30, 2008, 7:36 pm Thanks Marna - the Creampuff mystery is a mystery no longer.....LOL!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:49 am Hi Daniel. It was wonderful to read & get to know you a little bit through this post. Your pix are - Kari S April 30, 2008, 6:47 pm Thank you Kari....It's definitely been a big journey for me, accepting my love of dolls (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:48 am WOW! Cool... thanks for sharing your story!!! Its nice toknow people better!! - Donna in Ont. April 30, 2008, 6:33 pm Thanks so much Donna - it's been an honour for me today!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:45 am Daniel, you are a real sweetheart! It is great to know all about you...well almost... - Barbara April 30, 2008, 4:47 pm LOL!!! Thanks so much Barbara!! London is such a unique place (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:39 am So GREAT To Read About You Daniel!! - ~*The Roy*~ April 30, 2008, 1:37 pm Oooh Roy - are you moving to London?? (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:36 am LOL I Wish! That Would Be Cool. Alas I Am Stuck in TN! <nm> - ~*The Roy*~ May 1, 2008, 8:03 am Daniel - thank you for sharing. I loved hearing about your.... - ChristineN April 30, 2008, 1:16 pm Aww Christine....You are possibly my favourite Canadian!! (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:35 am Hi Daniel! So nice to meet you! I think we are going to be at the same table at the FR convention! - Hilda April 30, 2008, 1:15 pm Woohoo Hilda - table mate!! I'm really looking forward to convention this year (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:34 am Hi! Love your hairstyles. - Jes April 30, 2008, 1:13 pm Thank you Jes!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:33 am It's so wonderful to get to know you Daniel! Your story was---> - Kimbopotamus (Kimberlee) April 30, 2008, 1:02 pm Awww thank you Kim, that's very sweet of you!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:32 am Nice to "meet" you Daniel, it's always so interesting - Maura in Pittsburgh April 30, 2008, 12:54 pm Thanks Maura.....I have aways been a fan of the Featured fan days!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:32 am Sorry to say this....but I've gotta get going now folks!! (msg) - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 12:52 pm Hi Daniel...thanks for sharing your bio! Love your Kyori!>>> - Sheila in CA April 30, 2008, 12:44 pm Thank you Sheila! Kyori says thanks too! And yes, Daniel is an awesome name...LOL! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 12:50 pm Daniel, It's great to learn a bit more about you! You had me laughing regarding your search for a - sandra April 30, 2008, 12:35 pm Awww thank you Sandra! I really appreciate your kind words (msg) - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 12:49 pm You always make me feel so good, and bring a smile to my face! I love - sandra April 30, 2008, 1:00 pm Omit the words "make you" LOL I edited the message, and forgot to erase those two. It may not - sandra April 30, 2008, 1:04 pm Dang it!!! I'm having one of those, can't spell days. I best go and do what - sandra April 30, 2008, 1:05 pm Hi, Daniel! Not only are you talented, but you're a looker too! Nice to get to "know" you better! nm - Kathy April 30, 2008, 12:26 pm Awww thank you Kathy.....you've made me blush!! It doesn't happen often either....LOL! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 12:47 pm Great to meet you! I just love these 'get to know you' sessions! - Stinker's Stuff April 30, 2008, 12:03 pm Hey there! I don't think I would get anything done if we all lived near each other....LOL! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 12:12 pm Nice to know more about you! Love what you do with your dolls hair! - Fabio from Rome April 30, 2008, 11:44 am Thank you Fabio! There's not much I love more than playing with doll hair!! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:47 am LOL I have a rerooted Natalia that looks so similar to your one! Look > - Fabio from Rome April 30, 2008, 11:51 am Ooooh she is similar! Your girl is gorgeous! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:53 am I love it all - I giggled when I read the part about your screen name = priceless :) - Pink Man April 30, 2008, 11:34 am Thanks Jon - I'm glad I gave you a giggle! It's nice to know I'm not alone in the doll mania! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:37 am CP! I adored reading about you and your love of dolls. Not quite as much as I love to hear your - Jill in AZ April 30, 2008, 11:24 am Awww Jill - you rock! It's wonderful to see Ms KremePuff again! (msg) - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:31 am very cool....great to find out more about you - uriah April 30, 2008, 11:13 am Thank you Rob....I now realise how many dolls I have 'tampered' with!! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:16 am btw, the origin of your name was very different than i would have guessed - uriah April 30, 2008, 11:20 am I'm sure I can't even *begin* to imagine....LOL! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:40 am "Please sir, can I have some more?" Its so great to learn more about you... msg - Jcowdlylion (Joey) April 30, 2008, 11:07 am Aww Joey, you are such a terrific guy! I'm glad I stuck with Creampuff too! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:09 am Daniel it was great reading about you! We are so happy to have you as part of the DD family! - Heidi April 30, 2008, 10:53 am Thank you Heidi! It's really great to be back at Doll Divas....everyone here is awesome :-) - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:00 am What a fascinating story you have, Daniel! Thank you so much for sharing! :) - Dawn - OSS April 30, 2008, 10:40 am Thank you Dawn....it's always a pleasure for me at Doll Divas :-) - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:42 am Daniel, I loved reading about you!! ...so nice to meet you - Nise April 30, 2008, 10:31 am You guys can meet in Oct, we'll all be sitting together I think - valmaxi April 30, 2008, 10:41 am OMG!!! that is so cool ...Val I loved meeting you ...this gal is so much fun to hang out with - Nise April 30, 2008, 10:50 am HaHaHa, practice away !!! - valmaxi April 30, 2008, 10:52 am Awesome - today just gets better and better! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:43 am Thank you Nise - it's an honor to be here today! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:32 am Daniel, you know I adore you !! It is so interesting to learn more about your life! - valmaxi April 30, 2008, 10:21 am Awww Val you are one of the most amazing ladies I have ever met!! (msg) - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:26 am SECOND PART: Featured Fan Creampuff - valmaxi April 30, 2008, 10:01 am Re: SECOND PART: Featured Fan Creampuff - Lisa N Va. May 1, 2008, 7:51 am Thank you Lisa!! If only we could be as glamorous as our dolls - LOL!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 9:19 am Great hairstyles, nice trick with the rolling papers>>> - Marna April 30, 2008, 11:59 pm Thanks for the heads up Marna! I suggested rolling papers because they're very cheap! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:24 am It's so nice to learn more about you! I love how you got your "name"! - Marie in NY April 30, 2008, 10:03 pm Thank you Marie! The name is gonna haunt me for years to come, I'm sure! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:24 am Great to meet you and what a lovely collection..nm - babsinoz April 30, 2008, 8:03 pm Thank you Babs!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:24 am It's very nice to meet you Daniel. :-) - April April 30, 2008, 7:15 pm Thank you April - it's been a pleasure being the featured fan!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:25 am Nice to meet you Daniel. Your collection is beautiful (msg)... - Nilsa in CA April 30, 2008, 6:48 pm Hi Nilsa!! That is my OOAK 'Bonnie + Clyde' doll (msg) - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:27 am Holy Macaroni man you are amazing! I need to come here more often! amazing...msg - frjunkie81 April 30, 2008, 6:38 pm Aww thanks so much! I'm glad to hear my story has resonated with people. Be brave with dolly hair!!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:28 am WOW Gorgeous pics!!!! - Donna in Ont. April 30, 2008, 6:35 pm Thank you Donna!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:28 am Wow...Some Beautiful Hairstyles!! <nm> - ~*The Roy*~ April 30, 2008, 1:38 pm Thank you Roy!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:29 am Daniel I've loved reading your story! I'm so glad you shared and am looking forward to seein you .. - Shane in MA April 30, 2008, 1:12 pm Thanks Shane....I very much look forward to seeing you again this year.... - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:29 am Love your cut on Giselle! Its awesome! - Maura in Pittsburgh April 30, 2008, 12:52 pm Thanks Maura!! Giselle is definitely flavour of the month right now!! - Creampuff May 1, 2008, 1:30 am Your girls are gorgeous and your photography is eye-popping! nm - LindaNY April 30, 2008, 12:16 pm Thanks so much Linda!! I keep trying to improve with the photography!! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 12:46 pm why do I suspect there is more of a backstory on the rolling papers? - uriah April 30, 2008, 11:26 am Oh you're a bad boy.....yes, it did indeed involve some trial and error....LOL - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:28 am Thank you for all of the calorie free eye candy! So makes me want to>>>> - Val in NH April 30, 2008, 11:01 am Well if I change career again I may just try my hand at hairdressing....Just on a larger human-scale - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:07 am Where to start??!!! Daniel, what an absolutely charming and wonderful story you have shared with us! - Susan K. April 30, 2008, 10:53 am Aww thank you Susan...It's great that you've given your son the option of dolls (msg) - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:59 am Ah, but once you caught on to the joys of rerooting (courtesy of Val), then "destroyed" just becomes - Susan K. April 30, 2008, 11:02 am LOL....You're probably right....and yes, Val has saved many of the dolls I've destroyed...LOL - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 11:06 am Great hair!! LOVE the shorter, sleek styles. Wonderful! - Dawn - OSS April 30, 2008, 10:41 am Thanks Dawn....I love adding a bit of variety to my collection....I love shorter styles too! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:43 am Drool... I love your short hair Ginza... and Seashore Rebel.. and Brighter Side..> - Veronica April 30, 2008, 10:32 am Thank you Veronica! Gina and Seashore Rebel are my most beloved dolls - they get a lot of attention! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:37 am I love what you did with Giselle!!! - valmaxi April 30, 2008, 10:24 am You've got ultimate dolly hair Val! It's long and blonde and glamorous!! I'd love to style it!! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:28 am Bring it on, baby!! - valmaxi April 30, 2008, 10:36 am What an entertaining bio Daniel!! Great reading! I howled when I read about the Creampuff name.(msg) - Gwenevere April 30, 2008, 10:18 am Aww thanks Gwen! I haven't acted in several years since I decided to train as a teacher.....BUT... - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:20 am It is so nice getting to know more about you, Daniel... msg.. - Kim in TX April 30, 2008, 10:13 am Thanks Kim! Natalia is a gorgeous gal since her trip to Val's salon! - Creampuff April 30, 2008, 10:17 am Search Messages: