Just in time for Otakuthon, Pine arrived in the mail today. I worked from home, thinking I would have to sign for her because the package required a signature. However, the mail carrier left the package in a locked parcel locker, so a signature wasn’t even needed!!

I bought Pine, a Bardo Research Anitya with awake and sleeping faceplates, about a week ago for $1802.95 shipped because I really loved her sleeping faceplate and because, for once in my life, I could afford to drop that much on a semi-impulse purchase. I also just really wanted something to make me happy right now, and her sleeping faceplate’s expression really spoke to me. The expression seems to blend concentration and effort with relaxation, stillness, and tranquility. At the same time, the expression also reads as wistful, melancholic, or nostalgic. I interpret the expression as one in which the person is trying hard to maintain balance despite distractions. An alternative interpretation is that the person is trying to meditate but is experiencing distracting thoughts. Plus I love her affectionately and delicately molded ripples of flesh.

I quickly decided that her name was Pine, a lovely word with a dual meaning: both that of an evergreen conifer common to Vermont and that of a verb meaning “to long for.” Both meanings have their roots [hah!] in Latin. The arboreal source is pinus, and the verb’s source is poena, the Latin word for punishment, pain, and suffering. The multilayered meanings of enduring, durable, ubiquitous, soft-wooded but prickly tree and intertwined desire and pain make the name full of evocative character! I also decided that she’s a Hardshipper, but not a Saxon. I think her family has some more plant names in its history, though.

I usually like to paint my dolls myself, but I really like the default faceup on Pine [first pic]. I believe that it’s done by the Bardo Research sculptors, Alexei and Oksana Geets, who are Russians in the UK.

At 31cm, Pine is almost 1:5 scale at least in terms of body. You can see how she’s taller in bare feet than the Hippie is with shoes on [second picture]. You can also see how thick her legs are comparatively. The head, however, is completely 1:6 scale, so I’m declaring that she’s a tall fat person. She only fits in that magenta leotard [meant for 1:6 scale female action figures] because it’s so stretchy.

As I was figuring out what Pine should wear to Otakuthon, I first gave her a DollsAhoy blouse with integrated vest that I’ve had for like 25 years [second pic]. Then I tried a Mattel Sanrio Chococat dress for the top and added an MGA Rainbow High Shadow High basketball bag [third and fourth pics] and generic 1:6 scale plastic green clogs. As much as I liked the basketball bag [custom painted orange by someone else], it did not match her personality as much as the Rainbow High bag with the sun and moon on it. I added a Zuru Mini Fashion baseball cap because I don’t want to cover her beautiful skull with a wig, and she was ready to go [fifth pic].

I say that she has cheap clothes because the hat [under $5.00], Mattel Sanrio dress [under $5.00], and clogs [under $10.00] were gifts from @natalunasans. I paid under $10.00 for the Rainbow High bag and maybe $25.00 for the bodysuit.