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? :)

New- Hmong and Pink Hanfu Chinese Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits!

Hmong and Pink Hanfu Chinese Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits

Hi! I hope you are having a good week. I've been in major nesting mode this week. Clearing things out and sprucing up. I think because I'm gearing up for the holiday season both personally in my home and professionally with my shop.

I just listed two close-up portraits, Hmong Girl and Pink Hanfu Chinese Girl. I'm really enjoying these close-up portrait versions of my matryoshka. I adore their sweet faces. I can't help it, they are like my children. I hope you like! :)

New- Brazilian and Guatemalan Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits!

Brazilian and Guatemalan Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits

I enjoy learning about different cultures when I'm doing research for my matryoshka drawings. Because we have adopted a child internationally we know children from lots of different cultures which makes it even more interesting to me. Such is the case with the Guatemalan Girl Matryoshka. I have had several requests for a Brazilian Matryoshka. I've never been to Brazil but my husband Eric is a musician and we love Bossa Nova music. While researching I enjoyed seeing all the examples of traditional Bahian dress with its long full skirts. Both are such beautiful cultures.

For my full view Matryoshka prints: Bahia Brazilian Matryoshka print and Guatemalan Girl Matryoshka Print.

Brazilian Floral Fabrics Now Available!

Red and White floral stripe design inspired by my Bahia Brazilian Matryoshka illustration.

Gray blue floral design inspired by my Bahia Brazilian Matryoshka illustration.

Happy Sunday everybody! These two fabric designs are inspired by my Bahia Brazilian Matryoshka illustration and are now available on Spoonflower. As you have probably noticed by now, my international Matryoshka illustrations have design elements in common- flowers, leaves, and swirls. I did this to unify the group as a series and to illustrate that as people, regardless of where we come from, we all have things in common. Click on the pictures above to go directly to the fabrics on Spoonflower. If you would like to read my earlier posts on my fabric click here. :)

New- Pakistani and Cambodian Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits!

Pakistani and Cambodian Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits

I drew these two Matryoshka in succession (first the Cambodian and then the Pakistani). I enjoyed drawing all the gold adornments so much that I wanted to draw another culture that wore allot of gold. This is why I always think of these two Matryoshka girls as going together, my Gold Sisters! Also, the Jasmine flowers in their hair. That is why I'm posting these two close-up portraits at the same time (Cambodian and Pakistani). I hope you like them! :)

Cambodian Floral Fabrics Now Available!

Cambodian Dark Blue and Gold Flower fabric inspired by my Cambodian Matryoshka

Cambodian Red Flower fabric inspired by my Cambodian Matryoshka

Happy Friday! Here is another set of fabric designs now available on Spoonflower- My Cambodian Dark Blue and Gold Flower and Cambodian Red Flower fabrics inspired by my Cambodian Matryoshka! This makes ten fabrics so far. You can read my earlier fabric posts here. I'm not done yet, I'll be listing more fabric tomorrow!

New- Peruvian and Portuguese Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits!

I always think of these two girls (Peruvian and Portuguese) as friends, neighbors, even though their countries of origin are far away. I drew them together with my Tibetan Matryoshka because I was intrigued by how similar the use of colors, embroidery, layering of clothing, is in all three cultures. The Tibetan girl rounds out the 3 musketeers. I just didn't include her here because I posted her Close-up Portrait last night. :)

New Close-Up Matryoshka Portraits

Aqua Indian Girl Matryoshka Portrait

Tibetan Girl Matryoshka Portrait

I was experimenting with different layouts today when I got the idea to do some close-up versions of my Matryoshka. So far I've posted these two in my shop; Aqua Indian Girl Matryoshka Portrait, and Tibetan Girl Matryoshka Portrait. I hope you like them! :)

Guatemalan Floral Fabrics Now Available!

Guatemalan Flower fabric design inspired by my Guatemalan Matryoshka

Guatemalan Floral Stripe fabric design inspired by my Guatemalan Matryoshka

Hi everybody! I hope you are having a good week. Time for more fabric designs!! Inspired by my Guatemalan Matryoshka these 2 fabric designs are now available at Spoonflower along with the 6 fabrics I listed earlier this week. If you missed my earlier posts about the fabric you can find them here. I'll be listing more fabrics on Spoonflower over the next few days. :)

Hello Autumn!

Today is the first day of autumn here (I live in North Carolina in the US). I love autumn. The summer was so hot and humid. I love the cooler weather, and the long shadows while playing outside on a late September afternoon. Our autumn leaves don't peak until mid to late October but the anticipation of their magnificent colors, and picking out pumpkins to decorate our front porch and carve as jack-o'-lanterns, is exciting! I am wishing you a beautiful September, where you are, what ever the season. OvO

Above are some of my creations to help celebrate the coming of autumn.

Korean Floral Fabrics Now Available!

Korean Floral Stripe- fabric design inspired by my Korean Matryoshka

Korean Flower- fabric design inspired by my Korean Matryoshka

I'm so excited about my new fabrics I'm posting twice in one day!! :)

Inspired by my Korean Matryoshka illustration, these two fabric designs are now available on Spoonflower.com (along with the four I uploaded earlier). Read more about my fabric designs and Spoonflower on my earlier post.

My First 4 Fabrics Available Now!

Tibetan Clouds- Clouds inspired by my Tibetan Matryoshka illustration.

Peruvian Stripes- Floral stripe inspired by my Peruvian Matryoshka illustration.

Aqua Indian Swirl- Swirl design inspired by my Aqua Indian Girl Matryoshka illustration.

Pink Hanfu Flower- Floral design inspired by my Pink HanFu Chinese Girl Matryoshka illustration.

Now available on Spoonflower.com my first 4 fabric designs! Inspired by my Matryoshka illustrations, these fabrics are designed to accompany my artwork. Whether you collect my illustration prints to decorate your child's nursery or bedroom, or you display my Matryoshka magnets on your kitchen refrigerator, Spoonflower offers a variety of fabric weights to fit a variety of applications. Perfect for crib sets, bedding, drapery, aprons, whatever your fabric needs. 

Spoonflower suggests (and I do too) you order a test swatch first to check that the colors are what you are expecting. Colors appear different from computer screen to computer screen and also print differently on different printers. So the fabric may not match what you see on your screen or my art prints exactly. By ordering a test swatch first, you can test and see if all the planned colors for your decor are in sync and meet your expectations (good idea when planning an entire room down to the paint for the walls). I don't get a percentage from test swatch orders, I just want happy customers. Happy decorating! :)

More fabric designs to come in the next few days!

Vietnamese Matryoshka Sisters- Fire and Water

Vietnamese Fire Matryoshka

Vietnamese Water Matryoshka

Hi everybody, I hope you are having a good week. Thank you for all your comments. I'm eagerly waiting for my fabric swatches to arrive. I was feeling a bit under the weather this past weekend but I'm feeling better and back in a productive mode. I'm proud of myself because I wanted to complete a new Matryoshka this week and it is only Tuesday and I've completed a set of sisters, my Vietnamese Fire and Water Matryoshka Sisters! TA-DA! I hope you like them. Now, who to draw next? ;)

Final Fabric Sneak Peeks!

Cambodian Girl Matryoshka Fabric Designs Sneak Peek

Pakistani Girl Matryoshka Fabric Designs Sneak Peek 

Hi everybody! Happy Friday to you. Well, these are the last two sneak peeks I have planned before I receive my fabric swatches, approve them (hopefully) and begin offering the fabric. I can't wait for the swatches to arrive! Thus far I've designed fabric for twelve of my fourteen Matryoshkas. The two I haven't designed for yet (Violet Tuareg Girl and Hmong Girl) will come later along with future Matryoshka illustrations and their fabrics. Check out my earlier posts to see the rest of the collection of fabrics. Have a great weekend! :)

More Fabric Sneak Peeks!

Korean Girl Matryoshka Fabric Designs

Romanian Saxon Girl Matryoshka Fabric Design

These are sneak peeks of fabric I have designed to go with my Korean Girl Matryoshka and Romanian Saxon Girl Matryoshka. You can read more about my new fabric designs in recent posts here. I'll post more sneak peeks in the upcoming days. Thank you for looking and reading. :)

More Fabric Sneak Peeks!

Tibetan Girl Matryoshka Cloud Fabric Design

Portuguese Girl Matryoshka Fabric Designs

Peruvian Girl Matryoshka Fabric Design

Here are more sneak peeks at fabric I have designed to go with my Matryoshka prints. These three Matryoshka illustrations were designed as a series and share the same color palate. You can read more about my new fabric designs in my posts last week here. I'll post more sneak peeks in the upcoming days. Have a great week! :)

More Fabric Sneak Peeks!

Aqua Indian Matryoshka Swirl Fabric Design

Pink HanFu Chinese Matryoshka Flower Fabric Design

These are sneak peeks at fabric I have designed to go with my Matryoshka prints. You can read all about it on my Fabric Sneak Peek post, Thursday, September 2nd. I'll post more sneak peeks in the upcoming days. Have a Great weekend! :)

Fabric Sneak Peek!

Bahia Brazilian Matryoshka fabric designs Sneak Peek.

Japanese Geisha Matryoshka fabric designs Sneak Peek.

Guatemalan Girl Matryoshka fabric designs Sneak Peek.

You may have seen my tweets and posts about designing fabric to go with my Matryoshka prints. This is a sneak peek of what I've been up to! :)  The fabric company I'm using for this project offers a variety of different fabric types and weights appropriate for home decor and clothing. I've ordered swatches and they should be here in a couple of weeks and I'm bursting with anticipation!! I'm offering these fabrics so that my collectors can have a way to decorate a room, create clothing, etc. based on the designs in my illustrations.

Some suggested uses:
Accent Pillows

Aprons

Bed Coverings
Clothing and Costumes
Crib Sets
Curtains
Shower Curtains
Table Cloths and Cloth Napkins

I have designed one or two fabrics each to go with twelve of my Matryoshka illustrations thus far. Over the next little while, while I wait for the swatches to come, I will post more sneak peeks of the fabric designs. Also, the background color behind each of these Sneak Peeks is a color that exists in the Matryoshka illustration, and I'm showing it here as a possible wall color suggestion.

I've got my eye on the Bahia Brazilian Matryoshka red and white fabric design. I'm thinking it would look lovely as curtains in my kitchen, but the Guatemalan Girl Matryoshka fabric design would be fun too. I have a collection of Blue Ridge Dinnerware hanging around my kitchen that either would work well with.

Based on the results of the swatches I may need to tweak the designs some to perfect them. I just wanted to let you in on what I'm working on and what new things are on their way. I wish you joy! :)

Hmong Girl Matryoshka

Introducing my latest illustration "Hmong Girl Matryoshka". This illustration is inspired by Hmong traditional New Year's celebration clothing. There was so much to be inspired by this beautiful people and their culture. I just adore their beaded hats and pleated skirts, and silver coin decorations! I hope you like her. :)

Guatemalan Girl Matryoshka

Introducing my newest illustration, Guatemalan Girl Matryoshka. I really enjoyed drawing her. She is full of joy! My colorful little cherub. I think she and my Peruvian Girl Matryoshka are going to get along famously! They will look so cute paired together, hanging on the wall! I'm so excited! Can you tell? Her festive colors are putting me in the mood for a party! I hope you adore her too! Shameless I know. Sorry, I can't help myself, I love sweet little children. :)

Romanian Saxon Girl Matryoshka

This is my latest illustration a Romanian Saxon Girl Matryoshka. Lorena (lorenabr) requested this matryoshka and requested she wear traditional black and white Saxon style clothing. It was fun doing a mostly black and white illustration. Very different from what I usually do. I did take the liberty to make designs on the black fabric. I don't know if the traditional fabric would be velvety or not but I made the designs to suggest either detail cut into velvet or embroidered black on black. My matryoshkas are inspired by different cultures, not exact copies of the different costumes, so I take allot of creative liberties with them.

I haven't drawn very many blonds. It was a challenge creating enough contrast with fair hair and fair skin. I gave her dark blue eyes because I wanted to make blueberry eyes. I have dark blue eyes and fair skin, so their is a little bit of me in her.

Thank you Lorena for the suggestion! I have had a suggestion for a Belgian matryoshka but I am having a hard time finding any reference material showing traditional clothing. I haven't forgotten the ballerina request! I'm thinking Sugar Plum Fairy! :)

Matryoshka Magnets

A) HanFu Chinese Matryosha Magnet

B) Aqua Indian Girl Matryosha Magnet

C) Violet Tuareg Matryosha Magnet

D) Peruvian Girl Matryosha Magnet

E) Tibetan Girl Matryosha Magnet

F) Portuguese Girl Matryosha Magnet

G) Bahia Brazilian Matryosha Magnet

H) Cambodian Girl Matryosha Magnet

I) Pakistani Girl Matryosha Magnet

J) Japanese Geisha Matryosha Magnet

K) Korean Girl Matryosha Magnet

These are all my Matryoshka magnets thus far! I can't believe I'm up to K! Now I'm working on a Saxon Romanian Matryoshka. The next couple of weeks are really busy so I probably won't get to work on it as much as I would like to. I'll unveil it here as soon as things calm down and I get things done. :)

Free Color Proof

Japanese Geisha Matryoshka Color Proofs B, C

Pakistani Matryoshka Color Proofs A, C, D

As I mentioned in an earlier post, when working on my illustrations I print out color proofs (same quality as all my prints just not the final illustration). Because I don't want to waste paper and ink, I try to keep my printing down to a minimum and I save my proofs in hopes of coming up with something useful to do with them. These proofs are beginning to pile up, so it is time to come up with a solution! I am offering one free color proof (from photos above) with any purchase in my shop totaling $12 or more. These are one of a kind, so they will go to the first person who asks for each proof. Just leave me a message at check out which color proof you would like. I think "Free" is FUN! That is why I offer free shipping in my shop too. :)