New- Polish Girl Matryoshka

Introducing my latest drawing, a Polish Girl Matryoshka! I had a request for a Polish girl matryoshka last week. I was so delighted when I saw how interesting and intricate Polish traditional clothing is and happily discovered the origins of something that I have wondered about for the longest time. For many years there was a house I would often pass by that had beautiful white lace curtains with a zigzag edge. I would always look at the curtains and wonder where they came from. I knew they had to be Old World, they were so beautiful. I was delighted when I saw that the Polish aprons appear to be the same lace fabric! Finally, my white curtain mystery is solved! Please keep the great suggestions coming! :)

New- Russian Girl Matryoshka!

Russian Girl Matryoshka

I just completed my latest matryoshka illustration, "Russian Girl Matryoshka". It is about time I drew a traditional Russian matryoshka isn't it? I came up with a couple different versions of this and I've had a request for some gift tags of my matryoshka so I'm thinking about making a set of Russian Doll gift tags for the holiday season.

I hope you like her! :)

New- Matryoshka Paper Goods

Matryoshka Family Lists PDF Printable

I have had several requests for paper goods featuring my Matryoshka illustrations. This is my first, "Matryoshka Family Lists PDF printable" (I remove the logo that stretches across the lists when I fill an order). What is great about PDFs is you can print as many as you want as often as you want. I'm going to print out a bunch of these for my shopping and to-do lists. I'm also going to print out stacks of them, wrap with colored tissue paper and a pretty ribbon and give as gifts this coming holiday season. Happy list making! :)

New- Chilean Girl Matryoshka

Chilean Girl Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Chilean Girl Matryoshka

With the Chilean miners ordeal and successful rescue last week the Chilean people have been in my thoughts. I'm so happy for the families who have been reunited with there loved ones and especially happy for the children of the miners. This matryoshka is inspired by these very inspiring, beautiful Chilean people. I hope you like her. :)

New- Native American Woman Matryoshka Print

Native American Woman Matryoshka Close-Up Print

Native American Woman Matryoshka Print

My latest matryoshka illustration fits into both my usual traditional dress matryoshka series of dolls, and my new American women matryoshka series. I really enjoyed researching Native American traditional dress and coming up with this, my version. Anybody know why I chose a turtle as a design element?

I also came across another subject I would like to illustrate. It is not matryoshka but related. That is all the hint I will give for now. You will have to wait and I will surprise you. I promise not to make you wait too long. :)

Also, an update- Holly did a very nice post on her blog about the matryoshka portrait I did of her (she was my first American Woman Matryoshka- Holly 21st Century). She included the photos of herself that were my inspiration. Thank you Holly! :)

Have a great weekend everybody!

New- "Holly 21st Century" American Woman Series Matryoshka

"Holly 21st Century" is the first in my new series of American Women Matryoshka! Holly is a beautiful, bright, American woman who embodies the handmade movement of today. I was inspired by the real Holly Embry of HollyRocks (also HollyRocksJewelry.blogspot.com). We have become friends though Etsy and our blogs. She has a generous and kind spirit that resonates through everything she does and all her interactions. With a degree in education, she shares her entrepreneurial knowledge with others by teaching a class about how to start an Etsy shop at a local community college. Holly was kind enough to allow me to draw her portrait as my 21st Century American Woman. Thank you Holly and bravo! (The link to the close up portait is here.)

New- Latvian Girl Matryoshka!

My friend Karen's father is from Latvia and she recently suggested I make a Latvian Matryoshka. I'm so glad she did! She told me Latvian traditional clothing has beautiful colors and patterns. After doing some research I can't agree more. Beautiful! I found lots of examples of striped skirts, vests, collared shirts fastened with a brooch, and a large variety of headdress. I hope she, her family and you like my Latvian Matryoshka! :)

New- Korean Girl and Japanese Geisha Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits!

Korean Girl and Japanese Geisha Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits

Happy Saturday and happy October! The fair is in town here and we look forward to going every year, so we are excited. Our first fall activity! Next weekend I think it will be a visit to the pumpkin patch. I love this time of year!!

Just listed these two close-up matryoshka portraits- Korean Girl and Japanese Geisha! I've been listing and posting about these close-up portraits in pairs. This pair I chose to post together because they each have three main colors and I drew them in succession. So I  always think of them as being closely related in my international matryoshka series. Did you think it was because they are both Asian? :)