Virginia has two online doll businesses;  her BJD fashion and accessory site Raw-Kiss, and her repaint and face-up site Forever Virginia. Her background in graphic arts has enabled her to develop special eyes and glasses for dolls. There are also a variety of fur wigs available, especially  tiny ones, in various colors and textures on her site. Periodically a series of OOAK outfits for dolls with a unifying theme are released.

Virginia started as a repainter of fashion dolls. “It was the July 2004 issue of Haute Doll Magazine that introduced me to the art of doll repainting. I’ve always loved dolls and fantasy, and I was completely enchanted by the repainted Tonner dolls that looked like beautiful fairies with a modern edge.” She practiced and eventually became quite adept at painting Tonners, Barbies and Obitsus. Though she was aware of BJDs and was attracted to their looks and articlulation, Virginia was hesitant about the price of the dolls. Eventually she had to get one. Her first doll was a Dollzone Megi. According to Virginia ” it was all downhill from there!”  Megi was replaced by other dolls, as Virginia tends to buy, customize, and eventually sell most of her collection. She admits “I have a pretty high turn-over with my own collection. I enjoy the whole process of searching, buying and customizing. Sometimes they stay around longer than others, but nothing (in my collection) is totally ’safe’.”

According to Virginia, “I’ve always found ways to use my computer skills to enhance my dolls. One example is my glasses, a product I developed for the fashion dolls which carried over to BJDs equally well. The glasses are printed acetate plastic sheets that you cut out and bend to fit your doll.” Her computer also allows her to create unusual doll eyes with the use of acrylic eye kits. “I currently have 38 unique styles available in even sizes 8mm-20mm available for $12 each. I also offer a custom eye option for $20 and can create pretty much create any style the customer can dream up. I really enjoy giving people that thing they’ve been imagining and searching for.”

Raw-Kiss also offers an assortment of fur wigs, especially for the tiniest of BJDs. “I started the wigs for Puki, especially short fur styles because they seemed to be in short supply. I’ve also done sizes up to 7/8. I recently did a wig collection called “Fright-Furs!” that had a halloween style – the “wolfy” wigs for LittleFee were particularly popular.” Virginia’s daughter also periodically has some wigs for sale in the shop. “My daughter (almost 13) is completely in love with BJDs too, and I taught her how to sew Puki wigs so she could save for a second doll (she got a Puki for Christmas last year).”

Raw-Kiss was launched last summer not only to sell eyes and glasses, but to showcase Virginia’s newest project, doll fashions. ” I’m not a professional seamstress but as with face painting, my skill is growing in this area. I am now working on my fifth collection which will be called “Apple Days” and is inspired by one of my regular customer’s request for a Holly Hobbie outfit. I don’t tie myself down to one style (such as punk or lolita) but like to explore many fashions – giving them my own ‘raw kiss’ touches and introducing unexpected fabric and color combinations. I have a list of about 25 different collections I’d like to make so you can expect many more to come!”

Raw-Kiss will always have room for whatever new product Virginia can come up with. “I guess you could say I’m a very curious tinkerer and that makes me a great doll fanatic. I’m constantly imagining more fantastic characters and exploring new techniques – my studio is a craft cave of wonders for sure! And now that my daughter has caught the BJD bug, I have someone close at hand to share my latest “brilliant ideas” and “dolly experiments” with.”

Raw-Kiss – Eyes, ‘glasses’, fur wigs, and fashions for BJDs

Forever Virginia – Face-ups for BJDs along with Fashion Repaints

Fashion Theme

The glasses' are printed on acetate sheets

Tiny glasses on a Lati White doll

Tiny fur wig

Outfit from theme 'Run Riot'

Puki wig by Virginia's daughter