Welcome to Blythopia’s first feature on a Blythe Customiser, Joey of Mo’Betta Blythe Customs!
Send me an email or leave a comment if you’d like to be featured next!
Name: Joey Gomez
Age: 34
Location: Dallas, Texas
Occupation: Myo-Therapist
3 Facts about you:
I’ve been a long term doll collector, I collect other dolls besides blythe, including Barbie, BJD’s, Mdvanii, & other vintage clones.
I’m a trained dancer, I began taking ballet when I was 5 years old, but I also know other forms of dance such as Jazz, Modern Jazz, Salsa, Tango.
I am the proud parent of a kitten named Moshi who is a Sphynx.
1. Who was your first Blythe and how did you get interested in the hobby?My first blythe was a Samedi Marche Encore, I didnt really know much about Blythe at the
time and I honestly thought it was silly to pay so much money for a Mondrian.
I first got introduced into Blythe by an internet friend who joined one of my Yahoo groups for
Male Doll collectors, he is/was a Kenner restorer and Blythe enthusiast. He was the one who planted the seed of temptation in my head. I really couldn’t relate to Blythe until one day I saw an ad in a magazine featuring a Mondrian Blythe. It was love at first sight, I knew I wanted a Blythe right then and there.
2. When did you start customizing Blythe and tell us about your first ever custom?
I think I began customizing Blythe back in 2004 but I wouldnt really consider those customs…it was all so new to me I think I’d call those victims instead of customs. LOL. My first custom was a Lounging Lovely, her name was Dita Von Hoochie, she had a cute little black bob with new hot pink lips, new eyelashes and slight lip carving. She was a hot mess but gosh I loved that little girl, she was very sassy.
3. How many Blythes do you currently have and do you currently have a favourite?
My family currently consists of 9 dolls:
Isa my Blonde Kenner
Kennerpeds Zombiefoot my Brunette quirky Kenner
Mamie Dupree my mohair Tiina custom
Belle Jolie my Bubble Boom Tiina custom
Bathilda Spells my EBL Blue mohair custom done by me.
Gus my Bud Loves Sissy Cinnamon Girl custom
Frida my Tan Girl Prototype girl, she’s competely stock
Telsa my Disco Boogie, almost stock except for blue lids
Simone my little black girl Blythe custom done by me
4. What is your least favourite and most favourite part of the customization process?
I would have to say my least favorite part of the customization process is the removing of the make up
of the stock dolls. The irony is that I used to love this process because I found it very soothing and relaxing but after 70+ customs its just gotten repetitive.
5. Do you have a fondness for a particular mold? Are there any molds you won’t customize?
I have a fondness in my heart for BL’s, EBL’s & RBL girls, I just love these molds. There’s something
magical about them and I think Takara did its best work with these girls.
I wont customize SBL molds mainly because I just dislike the mold intensely, but also because they are such a pain in the rear to open and put back together and they never come together the way the were prior to opening. There’s always something sticking out and not fitting quite right back into place. I hurt myself once with a saw attempting to open one of these girls and I swore right then and there, that unless the owner opened the doll and sent her in parts to me I wouldnt be working on them. As I stated above I use my hands for my job and its financially not wise to injure my hands working on a custom, especially if the injury is going to cause me to lose work for a couple of days or so.
6. Do you have any stock girls? Are there any stock girls you feel are too perfect to change?
I only have one stock girl she’s a tan skinned prototype or factory girl, he looks like Heather Sky but has a center part hair with no bangs. She also has bubblegum pink blush, lipstick & eyelids, she came to me with Ultimate Tour’s eyemech which I thought was wonderful.
As far as customizing stock girls well I dont think I’d have the heart to customize any BL’s I just really love them..Im okay with restoring them back to their original state but I love their little quirky look so much I find it heartbreaking to customize them.
7. What custom are you most proud of?
The custom I’m most happy with is Cosi fan Tutte, (a Saffy custom) and the reason Im proudest of this girl is because it was a gift for my bestfriend which came out beautifully and made her super happy.
8. When you take commissions do you prefer the owner to have an exact idea in mind or do you like to take charge of the creative process?
I really enjoy the creative process of customizing but I do like it when the owner of the doll has an idea of what sorta theme they are going for with the custom. I want to make everyone happy so I try my best to accomodate everyone, that being said I know I dont have a particular style of customizing so I think Mo’Betta Blythe has a little bit of something for everyone. I make sad girl customs, super bright happy customs, gothic customs and well Im all over the place but each doll is made with love.
9. And finally what most people probably want to know – are you currently taking commissions, and how long is your waiting list?
I am accepting commissions currently and my waitlist is about 2 weeks currently.
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Great interview thanks for that
I am curious with the AA customisations, are you able to bend the legs still or does the paint crack off?
What a great interview! it’s always nice to know a little about the person who can create such wonderful dolls.
I love your work!