matryoshka plush

Departing this week: two plush matryoshka dolls made for a pair of little girls in Texas.

This pair of dolls was sewn from wool felt and are huggably-sized, with one sister a little bigger than the other. Lulu has a wee bit of a wave in her hair and both girls have their names embroidered on little patches on their tummies. Their mom asked me to make these for her daughters because they are a Muslim family, and nesting dolls wear a similar head scarf to the ones worn by Muslim women. As such, I just made sure that there weren't ties beneath the chins, which reads a little bit more "Russian peasant." I quite like their rosy cheeks and their red, red mouths!

I'm pleased with how they turned out...and now I may have to do another one for myself at some point. Did you know that the word "matryoshka" is derived from the word "mother?" Very sweet! More information on the history of nesting dolls here.

mine!

This doesn't happen that often, but I've decided to claim something for my own that was originally purchased as a Christmas present for someone else.

At the L.A. County Fair this summer, we browsed through Liliana International, a great booth specializing in Russian lacquer boxes, jewelry, and other gifts. There were lots of antique icons and hand-painted eggs, and best of all, a big selection of nesting dolls.

I've mentioned my fondness for matryoshka before, though I've never actually had a real set before. We found this cheery red-painted set that looks very storybook-like that I just loved, and since it was very reasonably priced we got the set to give it to someone else.

The mistake was that I decided to open up the package and leave it on display on my bookcase to admire for a little while...and then a little while turned out to be a few months...and then, well, they just look as though they belong there, all snug in their little corner. I'm sure we'll find something else nice for the original recipient.  But I'd mourn these forever if I had to give them up.

matryoshka tape

Like my beloved Hello Kitty, I fear that this theme might be becoming a little cliche, but I do so love matryoshka. We recently got a hand-painted wooden set from a Russian dealer at the fair, which we're saving for a Christmas present for someone--but what on earth was I thinking? I should have gotten a set for me, too!

What I did get recently for myself recently, however, is this fun set of deco tape as well as rubber stamps with nesting doll themes since the seller was doing a moving sale. So cute, and such a bargain! I can't wait to use them.

I'm not really a stamp collector, but I also really love the stamps from Japan that were on the package. Someone offered to send me the Wallace and Gromit Christmas stamps when they come out in the UK in November, which makes me really happy...between those and the Simpsons stamps and the Calvin and Hobbes stamps here in the U.S., my mailbox will be a lot of fun in the coming months.