History
This is a work in progress. I wrote it about 3/4 through my collection when I was very sleep deprived. ^^" I'll complete and edit it soon~
Overview
- Collection Beginnings
- My first GA Participation
- Breaking the Y!J Barrier
- Hits & Misses
- Mid-break
- Round 2! Fight!
- Hosting GA's
- Third Quarter Stretch
- Outliers
- The Final Four
- Where to Continue From Here
Overview
- Collection Beginnings
- My first GA Participation
- Breaking the Y!J Barrier
- Hits & Misses
- Mid-break
- Round 2! Fight!
- Hosting GA's
- Third Quarter Stretch
- Outliers
- The Final Four
- Where to Continue From Here
Collection Beginnings
1. Togepi (Set 5, 1998)
It began with these fella's--they were my most-beloved Pokemon toys from the 90's when I was a kid. I had an Eevee at one point but I believe I left it at my cousin's house a long time ago :(
I first joined the community in January or February of 2011, but it wasn't until April that I made my first introductory post, in which I featured a shoe box dug from my childhood closet containing the very beginnings of my pokemon collection.
A lot of the toys it contained were figures, which remained minty since I was more of a "plush" person.
Therefore, I decided to auction off most but these two, and made a vow: 1) to collect as many Snorlax plushes as I can, and 2) to collect every single friends plush in existence.
This story will focus on my largest and longest ongoing collection: The friends plush.
It began with these fella's--they were my most-beloved Pokemon toys from the 90's when I was a kid. I had an Eevee at one point but I believe I left it at my cousin's house a long time ago :(
I first joined the community in January or February of 2011, but it wasn't until April that I made my first introductory post, in which I featured a shoe box dug from my childhood closet containing the very beginnings of my pokemon collection.
A lot of the toys it contained were figures, which remained minty since I was more of a "plush" person.
Therefore, I decided to auction off most but these two, and made a vow: 1) to collect as many Snorlax plushes as I can, and 2) to collect every single friends plush in existence.
This story will focus on my largest and longest ongoing collection: The friends plush.
My first GA participation
2. Snorlax (Set 6, 1999)
3. Chansey (Set 3, 1998)
4. Wigglytuff (Set 5, 1998)
5. Blissey (Set 9, 2000)
6. Clefable (Set 6, 1999)
I took part in my first GA back in 02/2011, run by cuddlefist and neeko48. I acquired something I was very happy with –
a Snorlax friends plush!
I was delighted because it was two of my collection items combined - Snorlax and friends plush. :)
I also won from this GA: a boxed Chansey, Wigglytuff, Blissey, and Clefable.
I couldn't afford more from this set at the time, but knew someday, somehow, I would acquire the rest of these eventually.
I just hadn't decide how committed nor how feasible the task would be at the time.
3. Chansey (Set 3, 1998)
4. Wigglytuff (Set 5, 1998)
5. Blissey (Set 9, 2000)
6. Clefable (Set 6, 1999)
I took part in my first GA back in 02/2011, run by cuddlefist and neeko48. I acquired something I was very happy with –
a Snorlax friends plush!
I was delighted because it was two of my collection items combined - Snorlax and friends plush. :)
I also won from this GA: a boxed Chansey, Wigglytuff, Blissey, and Clefable.
I couldn't afford more from this set at the time, but knew someday, somehow, I would acquire the rest of these eventually.
I just hadn't decide how committed nor how feasible the task would be at the time.
Breaking the Y!J Barrier
7. Espeon
8. Cyndaquil
9. Jolteon
10. Wobuffet
11. Psyduck
12. Hoothoot
13. Bulbasaur
14. Pichu
15. Bellossum
16. Hoppip
17. Smeargle
18. Vileplume
19. Jigglypuff
20. Wortortle
21. Azumarill
22. Poliwhirl
23. Wooper
24. Dratini
25. Caterpie
26. Pikachu
27. Sentret
28. Clefairy
29. Mareep
30. Snubble
31. Meowth
32. Chikorita
33. Ivysaur
Next came the lot that made me break the Y!J barrier and all its wallet-busting goodness.
If not for my then-grail sticking out at the front of this picture (Espeon), I may have never signed up for a deputy service.
Fortunately, it wasn't nearly half as scary as I thought. I ended up buying two lots around the same time, providing a more solid foundation for my friends plush collection.
'Lil Espeon joined the ranks of my favorite collection items, since Espeon had always been a favorite of mine growing up. ^^
Worthy of mention is that I unknowingly acquired another of my most-valued plush through this escapade: the Terry cloth / Yujin capsule Snorlax plush sticking out on the left.
I love this little fellow to death, and made a post about him and the rest of my Snorlax plush. I also commented on the Poke Plush Project's picture, since at the time it was unknown that it was a Yujin capsule plush.
To conclude this section, I started my picture checklist after receiving this lot. ^_^
8. Cyndaquil
9. Jolteon
10. Wobuffet
11. Psyduck
12. Hoothoot
13. Bulbasaur
14. Pichu
15. Bellossum
16. Hoppip
17. Smeargle
18. Vileplume
19. Jigglypuff
20. Wortortle
21. Azumarill
22. Poliwhirl
23. Wooper
24. Dratini
25. Caterpie
26. Pikachu
27. Sentret
28. Clefairy
29. Mareep
30. Snubble
31. Meowth
32. Chikorita
33. Ivysaur
Next came the lot that made me break the Y!J barrier and all its wallet-busting goodness.
If not for my then-grail sticking out at the front of this picture (Espeon), I may have never signed up for a deputy service.
Fortunately, it wasn't nearly half as scary as I thought. I ended up buying two lots around the same time, providing a more solid foundation for my friends plush collection.
'Lil Espeon joined the ranks of my favorite collection items, since Espeon had always been a favorite of mine growing up. ^^
Worthy of mention is that I unknowingly acquired another of my most-valued plush through this escapade: the Terry cloth / Yujin capsule Snorlax plush sticking out on the left.
I love this little fellow to death, and made a post about him and the rest of my Snorlax plush. I also commented on the Poke Plush Project's picture, since at the time it was unknown that it was a Yujin capsule plush.
To conclude this section, I started my picture checklist after receiving this lot. ^_^
Hits & Misses
So you're probably thinking I won that lovely lot on the right, no? Wrong. I actually missed out since I didn't have enough money at the time! :'(
There were so many in there that I had such a hard time finding later on.
I took a break from my friends plush collection after this, but I guess it taught me to go with the punches and learn to cut your losses every once in awhile.
To be honest though, I still twinge every time I look at the ones that took me a lot of time/money to acquire later on (Chimchar and Skitty, I'm looking at you).
The upside is that I do appreciate my collection much more because of the work I went through to get those certain ones. It ain't worth it if ya don't sweat, yannoe?
There were so many in there that I had such a hard time finding later on.
I took a break from my friends plush collection after this, but I guess it taught me to go with the punches and learn to cut your losses every once in awhile.
To be honest though, I still twinge every time I look at the ones that took me a lot of time/money to acquire later on (Chimchar and Skitty, I'm looking at you).
The upside is that I do appreciate my collection much more because of the work I went through to get those certain ones. It ain't worth it if ya don't sweat, yannoe?
Mid-break
34. Charmander
35. Marill
36. Elekid
37. Lucario
38. Squirtle
Anyway, I dawdled in mostly my Snorlax and Espeon collections for the remainder of 2011, albeit at a slow pace.
I took breaks from the community when my final year of college kicked in (Study Abroad followed by double degree = no time for collecting).
I did miss out on a lot of things I am looking for ardently right now, which I see in old posts dated during the time I was inactive. :x
I eventually picked up the pace a little in December 2011, purchasing a 2004 Charmander from aleyina and pantherotter's GA, a Marill from peeche00's, and an Elekid/Lucario/1997 Squirtle from feathercrotch's sales.
(If you're wondering how I keep track of all this, I have a spreadsheet documenting all my purchases from LJ for feedback purposes).
After that followed a long string of impulse buys which became the beginnings of many side collections, then finally this collection journey brings us to July 2012 where I really started getting back into the game.
35. Marill
36. Elekid
37. Lucario
38. Squirtle
Anyway, I dawdled in mostly my Snorlax and Espeon collections for the remainder of 2011, albeit at a slow pace.
I took breaks from the community when my final year of college kicked in (Study Abroad followed by double degree = no time for collecting).
I did miss out on a lot of things I am looking for ardently right now, which I see in old posts dated during the time I was inactive. :x
I eventually picked up the pace a little in December 2011, purchasing a 2004 Charmander from aleyina and pantherotter's GA, a Marill from peeche00's, and an Elekid/Lucario/1997 Squirtle from feathercrotch's sales.
(If you're wondering how I keep track of all this, I have a spreadsheet documenting all my purchases from LJ for feedback purposes).
After that followed a long string of impulse buys which became the beginnings of many side collections, then finally this collection journey brings us to July 2012 where I really started getting back into the game.
ROUND 2! FIGHT
39. Bulbasaur
40. Entei
41. Plusle
42. Minun
43. Celebi
44. Ash
45. Teddiursa
46. Ditto
47. Oddish
48. Lugia
49. Totodile
So here we are to the second half. I think I'm somewhere between halfway and 6/8 completed with my collection.
I picked up a 2004 Bulbasaur and Entei fp from Kawaiiouji and poke_zula's GA (thank you kindly ^_^), Plusle and Minun from schenzi's sales, Celebi and the SUPER GRAIL ASH KETCHUM/SATOSHI from KillMeNeko, and also this lot pictured on the right from Y!J, signaling my need to re-open sales and sell extras to make up for it. I was now entering the phase where I could only obtain some of these friends plush through lots.
I was very pleased to find two more grails, Teddiursa and Ditto, in this lot above from Y!J, along with Oddish, Lugia, and Totodile. I also came across the fourth Espeon to pass through my hands, which I thought was very funny having been so desperate to get one before. More on that in the Snorlax post I linked above.
40. Entei
41. Plusle
42. Minun
43. Celebi
44. Ash
45. Teddiursa
46. Ditto
47. Oddish
48. Lugia
49. Totodile
So here we are to the second half. I think I'm somewhere between halfway and 6/8 completed with my collection.
I picked up a 2004 Bulbasaur and Entei fp from Kawaiiouji and poke_zula's GA (thank you kindly ^_^), Plusle and Minun from schenzi's sales, Celebi and the SUPER GRAIL ASH KETCHUM/SATOSHI from KillMeNeko, and also this lot pictured on the right from Y!J, signaling my need to re-open sales and sell extras to make up for it. I was now entering the phase where I could only obtain some of these friends plush through lots.
I was very pleased to find two more grails, Teddiursa and Ditto, in this lot above from Y!J, along with Oddish, Lugia, and Totodile. I also came across the fourth Espeon to pass through my hands, which I thought was very funny having been so desperate to get one before. More on that in the Snorlax post I linked above.
Hosting GA's
50. Vulpix
51. Pikachu
52. Squirtle
53. Quagsire
54. Pikachu
55. Darkrai
56. Charmander
57. Piplup
58. Mime Jr.
59. Mew
60. Pikachu
I then began hosting GA's at this point, since the list of friends plush I didn't have was getting narrower and narrower.
I obtained Vulpix, 2005 Pikachu, 2004 Squirtle, and Quagsire through my first co-hosted GA, then did my first solo-host GA to obtain the 2000 Pikachu (I was and am always very grateful to all my GA participants! ^_^) .
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I also obtained the Shaymin friends plush from another co-hosted GA most recently.
Through two more self-purchased eBay lots, I obtained a Darkrai, my second Ash (which I may or may not keep as a travel buddy), the 1997 Charmander, and 2007 Piplup. Through more Y!J lots, I added the Mime Jr., 2004 Mew, and the 2004 Pikachu to my collection.
51. Pikachu
52. Squirtle
53. Quagsire
54. Pikachu
55. Darkrai
56. Charmander
57. Piplup
58. Mime Jr.
59. Mew
60. Pikachu
I then began hosting GA's at this point, since the list of friends plush I didn't have was getting narrower and narrower.
I obtained Vulpix, 2005 Pikachu, 2004 Squirtle, and Quagsire through my first co-hosted GA, then did my first solo-host GA to obtain the 2000 Pikachu (I was and am always very grateful to all my GA participants! ^_^) .
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I also obtained the Shaymin friends plush from another co-hosted GA most recently.
Through two more self-purchased eBay lots, I obtained a Darkrai, my second Ash (which I may or may not keep as a travel buddy), the 1997 Charmander, and 2007 Piplup. Through more Y!J lots, I added the Mime Jr., 2004 Mew, and the 2004 Pikachu to my collection.
Third Quarter Stretch
61. Mew
62. Pachirisu
The friends plush in this section are ones I had to obtain... separately.
This means often for higher prices and more than any regular person would pay for them. The ones where I became the type of person eBay and Y!J listers are secretly hoping to discover their listing and pay the high price for such a small item. And yes... I did.
I obtained (finally!) the 2001 Mew after finding it spontanteously through eBay. I was very pleased since I always seem to come across either the 1997 or the 2004 one. Here he is next to his two brothers! So cute.
I purchased a Pachirisu on eBay as well after missing out on one and checking eBay desperately for another. Funny and sad story, I actually owned this little guy a year and a half ago, but sold him in a lot by accident without realizing what he was. I even contemplated messaging the person to whom I sold the lot to try and buy the Pachirisu back, but it seems like a lot of people are active/inactive during different months. ;_; In the end I decided not to bother the person, and am glad I found the one on eBay instead. His eyers are derpy and one is higher than the other, but I suppose the derpyness is what drew me to friends plush in general in the first place. ^_^
62. Pachirisu
The friends plush in this section are ones I had to obtain... separately.
This means often for higher prices and more than any regular person would pay for them. The ones where I became the type of person eBay and Y!J listers are secretly hoping to discover their listing and pay the high price for such a small item. And yes... I did.
I obtained (finally!) the 2001 Mew after finding it spontanteously through eBay. I was very pleased since I always seem to come across either the 1997 or the 2004 one. Here he is next to his two brothers! So cute.
I purchased a Pachirisu on eBay as well after missing out on one and checking eBay desperately for another. Funny and sad story, I actually owned this little guy a year and a half ago, but sold him in a lot by accident without realizing what he was. I even contemplated messaging the person to whom I sold the lot to try and buy the Pachirisu back, but it seems like a lot of people are active/inactive during different months. ;_; In the end I decided not to bother the person, and am glad I found the one on eBay instead. His eyers are derpy and one is higher than the other, but I suppose the derpyness is what drew me to friends plush in general in the first place. ^_^
<-- Well here it is... a picture of the lot I sold containing the Pachirisu. Words cannot express my self-loathing right now. There he is on the left-most. T_T
To be fair, I think at the time I was more focused on only getting the older, pre-2001 friends plush since I deemed finding all the friends plush as near-impossible. This was still back when I wasn't 100% committed or 100% convinced that obtaining all of the friends plush was possible.
63. Munchlax
64. Gengar
Other outliers I obtained include a Munchlax and Gengar purchased separately for high prices on Y!J. I suppose I could have asked on the comm for these last outliers, but I was still trying to keep my friends plush collection on the down low since I was afraid I would psyche myself out or something. Like when you go to the gym , post about it on facebook, and then never go again. That sort of thing.
To be fair, I think at the time I was more focused on only getting the older, pre-2001 friends plush since I deemed finding all the friends plush as near-impossible. This was still back when I wasn't 100% committed or 100% convinced that obtaining all of the friends plush was possible.
63. Munchlax
64. Gengar
Other outliers I obtained include a Munchlax and Gengar purchased separately for high prices on Y!J. I suppose I could have asked on the comm for these last outliers, but I was still trying to keep my friends plush collection on the down low since I was afraid I would psyche myself out or something. Like when you go to the gym , post about it on facebook, and then never go again. That sort of thing.
65. Eevee
The last little fellow to round out this section is my beloved Eevee friends plush. ^o^ I finally had one again after so many years! I was able to do a pseudo-trade with pikafreakrachel and decided to let go of my beloved pikacar for it. I'm very happy because the Eevee I found was in amazing condition; I will cherish it always ^^. Also, it was comforting to know that the pikacar was going to a lovely new home where it belonged! I just hope others who own my last friends plush outliers are willing to think the same. ;_; Anyway, thank you so so much pikafreakrachel if you are reading this! <3
The last little fellow to round out this section is my beloved Eevee friends plush. ^o^ I finally had one again after so many years! I was able to do a pseudo-trade with pikafreakrachel and decided to let go of my beloved pikacar for it. I'm very happy because the Eevee I found was in amazing condition; I will cherish it always ^^. Also, it was comforting to know that the pikacar was going to a lovely new home where it belonged! I just hope others who own my last friends plush outliers are willing to think the same. ;_; Anyway, thank you so so much pikafreakrachel if you are reading this! <3
The straggling outliers
66. Treecko
67.
The last few of the friends plush bunch. I am currently waiting on a Treecko friends plush and a friends plush special boxed set at the time of this writing. I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't win the latter ;_;.
I missed out on a full set sold by usakochan back in May because that was the last quarter before graduation and was I focused on my senior thesis. Thus I was very inactive on the community.
Luckily, I came across an old news blog for the Bandai friends plush, and, lo and behold, an alternate picture of the specials which was not yet on my checklist appeared. I realized something – the friends plush specials were boxed altogether. I felt sheepish. How many times had I possibly run into that boxed set before and not realized it was the Friends Plush Special I was looking for? I checked Y!J immediately, and sure enough, there it was. A listing I saw repeated multiple times. Glad that was over with. They are very cute and small. :D
Lastly, after all this is said and done, I will hopefully be purchasing a Horsea and Buneary for high prices on eBay, and will consider doing a wants post for the remaining four: Chimchar, Skitty, "flying" Mew 2005, and the elusive 2008 Pikachu.
67.
The last few of the friends plush bunch. I am currently waiting on a Treecko friends plush and a friends plush special boxed set at the time of this writing. I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't win the latter ;_;.
I missed out on a full set sold by usakochan back in May because that was the last quarter before graduation and was I focused on my senior thesis. Thus I was very inactive on the community.
Luckily, I came across an old news blog for the Bandai friends plush, and, lo and behold, an alternate picture of the specials which was not yet on my checklist appeared. I realized something – the friends plush specials were boxed altogether. I felt sheepish. How many times had I possibly run into that boxed set before and not realized it was the Friends Plush Special I was looking for? I checked Y!J immediately, and sure enough, there it was. A listing I saw repeated multiple times. Glad that was over with. They are very cute and small. :D
Lastly, after all this is said and done, I will hopefully be purchasing a Horsea and Buneary for high prices on eBay, and will consider doing a wants post for the remaining four: Chimchar, Skitty, "flying" Mew 2005, and the elusive 2008 Pikachu.
The Final Four
Where to continue from here
There are a few other ones I guess I can't really say I've gotten. There are doubles you can see in my checklist of say, 2000 Mareeps from different sets.
Although I did come across a lot of these doubles before, I ended up selling them off since I didn't want to hoard.
If, though, you happen to have ones I have never even seen, like a 2001 Smeargle (I've had many Smeargle's pass through my hands, but their tags all said 2000) or a 2001 Bulbasaur (all the ones I've had that look like the one in the picture say 1998) I would love to buy them from you.
I guess until then I will never be able to say I have had them all, if one gets picky. ^^ Alternatively I could go for trying to collect each friends plush boxed, but I'll take a break before I even attempt that (also I lack the space for it).
For now I will try to clean each plush that came to me dirty or pilled, perhaps replace a few for newer-condition'ed ones I happen to find at a good price. Lastly, I will begin the friends plush database I have been wanting to start ever since I began this long escapade. I hope this database will serve other peeps as an aid if ever they want a tiny, derpy plush collection that won't take up too much space.
Well, that's my two cents. If you've been reading this far I am grateful and honored for your time and attention. Thank you for sharing my collecting journey with me and I hope you aren't too scared off by my obsession! More than anything, I hope I've warned you -- collections take a lot of patience. A LOT. OF PATIENCE.
*~*
Without much further ado, I say: go forth, and catch 'em all!
And yes, I did write this at 5am in the morning. c:<
~Ladylale, formerly ladyurja.
Although I did come across a lot of these doubles before, I ended up selling them off since I didn't want to hoard.
If, though, you happen to have ones I have never even seen, like a 2001 Smeargle (I've had many Smeargle's pass through my hands, but their tags all said 2000) or a 2001 Bulbasaur (all the ones I've had that look like the one in the picture say 1998) I would love to buy them from you.
I guess until then I will never be able to say I have had them all, if one gets picky. ^^ Alternatively I could go for trying to collect each friends plush boxed, but I'll take a break before I even attempt that (also I lack the space for it).
For now I will try to clean each plush that came to me dirty or pilled, perhaps replace a few for newer-condition'ed ones I happen to find at a good price. Lastly, I will begin the friends plush database I have been wanting to start ever since I began this long escapade. I hope this database will serve other peeps as an aid if ever they want a tiny, derpy plush collection that won't take up too much space.
Well, that's my two cents. If you've been reading this far I am grateful and honored for your time and attention. Thank you for sharing my collecting journey with me and I hope you aren't too scared off by my obsession! More than anything, I hope I've warned you -- collections take a lot of patience. A LOT. OF PATIENCE.
*~*
Without much further ado, I say: go forth, and catch 'em all!
And yes, I did write this at 5am in the morning. c:<
~Ladylale, formerly ladyurja.