I've never really done one of these blog party things, but I thought I might try and add to the mix with one of the many things I am 'hooked on' being Russian Matrioshka dolls! I used to help a friend who sold them to help fund his missionary trips to Russia, and of course being an artist and art lover I was blown away by the amazing talent these artists have!Some of the dolls would start out rather large and go down to literally the size of a grain of rice! They use a magnifying glass to paint on the smallest doll....I also learned that they actually start by carving the smallest doll first. I will have to add to my collection when I get a hutch to put them into :o) To visit the blog party visit Hooked on Houses and join the fun!
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I love them too! My mother-in-law used to pick them up for me whenever she went back to visit her relatives in Sweden!
ReplyDeleteRecently I've had to gratify my fix by ordering from a Russian catalog.
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
I love thse dolls too. My parents have had a set since I was little and they fascinated me.
ReplyDeleteThank you...there are some that I would die to own!I can't remember the name of the artist, it may have been Lida or something but her dolls go for hundreds because the detail is just incredible...like a true portrait.I love art...it's funny I've had people ask me why, if I am an artist do I collect art, and I find that strange...yeah I can paint lots of things, but heck there are SO many different styles and designs & colors...I enjoy it as much as any other art lover!:o)Have a great weekend!
ReplyDelete...they still fascinate me Jen :o)...I suppose it's the little girl in me unwilling to give up her dolls!:o)
ReplyDeletethey are so cute! i love the blue ones... my little sister brought me a set back from her study abroad semester... so sweet! kids always seem to like the teeny tiny ones
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful, we have a stall selling them at our craft market and I always stop to admire them. Glad I'm not the only one :)
ReplyDeleteI love nesting dolls too -- when I was a child my grandmother visited Russia and brought back a set for my mother -- we have them here in our office and as my grandmother passed away, I often look at them and think of her.
ReplyDeleteI love the russian dolls, I bought a set for my daughter, such beautiful designs.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought these little nesting dolls are neat too. I've never had one though. I imagine children would love them too. There is something so special about them. Have a great night.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE those. I used to have a lot of Matrioshka dolls when I was little. But I really played with them and pieces disappeared. No sets ever survived, but I remember them well.
ReplyDeleteI know, when I taught 3rd grade and would bring in some of my dolls to show the kids I always would hold onto the smallest dolls and show them with supervision...I also had to try and stress to the kids that you have to try and NOT twist them to put them together as this loosens them up and they won't stay together...instead you are supposed to try and line up the picture and then push together...I still am amazed at the detail these artists can get on something so small and 3-dimensional!:o)
ReplyDeleteThese dolls are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I love Julia's blog.
I know, and the blog party thing is pretty neat!There are so many interesting people out there!I can feel a bit disconnected here in my studio and getting to chat a bit online with others is great!:o)
ReplyDeleteI had bought some while in Berlin and lost them somewhere among many moves. I'm upset about that! Yours are lovely.
ReplyDelete...and of course I was led to paint a nesting doll today (see post above) :o)
ReplyDeleteI visited St. Petersburg in 2000 and it took me forever to decide which set of these dolls to buy.
ReplyDeleteThe only other memento I brought home was an original water colour painting.
You should check out THIS artists' dolls!She has to be by far THE best Russian doll artist!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lida-studio.com/ I just wish her site was also in English!