Pastel - Nesting Dolls, Message Hearts, Eat Me Macarons, and Ukrainian Eggs

Pastel Four Print Set

My latest set of illustrations is for the love of babies, little girls and Mommies everywhere; Matryoshka, Message Hearts, Eat Me Macarons, and Ukrainian Eggs in pastel colors. Perfect for displaying together on a nursery or girl's room wall. I hope you like this set! :)

Matryoshka Magnets

Classic Matryoshka Magnet Set

Did you know I offer magnets as well as prints of my Matryoshka? I do. In fact a customer contacted me with a great magnet suggestion this week. She asked if I could create a magnet set of my Russian Doll Classic Matryoshka Family illustration. I'm so excited about how it turned out (above image)! When I packaged them up together in a cello sleeve, stacked with the largest one in the back and the smallest in the front, they looked so pretty, such a garden of colors! I need to photo the next batch I package, and post it to show you.

International Matryoshka Magnets

I can't believe how many international Matryoshka illustrations I have drawn in a little over a year. I have 31 now and I'm working on my next, a Norwegian Matryoshka. I never could have drawn so many without all your helpful suggestions. Thank you!! The image above shows them all, and a link to all the magnets. If you are looking for a specific nationality or ethnicity that is not currently available in my shop please contact me and I will add it to my list of suggestions. You can leave a comment here or send me a conversation on my shop. Thanks again! :)

Southern Nigerian Matryoshka

Southern Nigerian Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Southern Nigerian Matryoshka

Introducing my Southern Nigerian Matryoshka, another wonderful culture suggested to me. While doing my research I marveled at all the beautiful Gele head wraps I found. I hope I did the Gele justice. Also, I continue to be amazed by how many cultures in our world wear red beads of some kind. I can't help but group my Matryoshkas (in my head) into categories based on similarities. I have the red bead girls (Polish, Brazilian, Dutch, Croatian, Italian, Ukrainian, and now Southern Nigerian), the gold girls (Cambodian, Pakistani, Russian, Greek, Afghan), the jasmine flower girls (Cambodian, Pakistani, Japanese), the list goes on and on. It is such fun.

In the months ahead I am going to be posting suggested groupings of Matryoshkas based on color, region, and season. I hope you find these posts helpful. My first grouping suggestion is my fiery red and light aqua blue color combination Matryoshkas. Happy decorating! :)

Southern Nigerian, Aqua Indian, Chilean, and Vietnamese Fire Matryoshka

Ukrainian Girl Matryoshka

Ukrainian Girl Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Ukrainian Girl Matryoshka

Say hello to my Ukrainian Girl Matryoshka! I hope you like her! She is making me yearn for spring, with her colorful flowers and maypole like ribbons! I have been drawing her on and off for a couple of weeks now. She took me a little longer than usual because I have been so busy revamping my shop and educating myself on running my business, that I have had little time to draw. Etsy had a really terrific Etsy Success Symposium day last week, with some wonderful speakers. I learned a lot and am implementing. There are videos posted of some of the Symposium in case you missed it and are an interested Etsy shop owner. My favorite part of it was April Bowles- "Achieving Your Creative Goals"(the second video at the link, the first one isn't working). April's website is Blacksburg Belle.

My Ukrainian Girl Matryoshka was suggested by someone who contacted me through my Etsy shop. I am working exclusively from my list of suggestions now. Please keep the suggestions coming! :)

Czech Girl Matryoshka

Czech Girl Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Czech Girl Matryoshka

My Czech Girl Matryoshka was inspired by the folk dress of the people of Skoronice in the Czech Republic. One of my wonderful customers requested I draw a Czech girl and suggested folk dress from this area that was Moravia. In my research I found lots of lace, puffy sleeves, and black aprons embroidered with colorful flowers.

This matryoshka also has a personal connection because I live in Winston-Salem, NC. The "Salem" comes from a settlement founded by Moravians who settled in North Carolina in the 1700s. It is now the historical Old Salem with restored buildings, museums, shops and gardens. My husband and I were also married in a Moravian church in neighboring Kernersville, NC.

Next on my list of requests is a Ukrainian Girl with blue eyes and brown hair. She should be fun to draw too because the girls traditionally wore wreaths of flowers as a headdress. Please keep the suggestions coming! :)

Italian Girl Matryoshka

Italian Girl Matryoshka

Ciao! Well, it is about time I drew an Italian Girl Matryoshka isn't it? I mean, my last name is Italian, my husband is Italian, even my Grandfather was Italian. Also, I have had requests for her. What can I say, I am only one artist and there are so many people to draw! :)

I have departed from my usual very symmetrical style of drawing matryoshka and stayed truer to my original sketch with this one. There is a lot to live up to when drawing an Italian! Leonardo, Michelangelo, I mean the pressure! LOL Anyway, I hope you like her.

Also, I want to share with you links to two recent blog posts about my work. The first one is a lovely lady and her family, who's little girl just turned 5. She had a matryoshka themed birthday party and contacted me to ask if I could make an Afghan Matryoshka for her daughter Ava, which I did (I love it when people give me suggestions). The party was a huge success and she has posted about the party and included photos on her blog The Art of Family.

The second blog post is on my friend Carrie's blog The Vintage Wren (also the name of her wonderful Etsy vintage store). Carrie and I went to school together and were inseparable. We had such fun studying Graphic Design and Art together and are still good friends. Carrie wrote a very kind post about my work, you can read it here. In addition to Carrie's vintage shop she also has an art shop- The Artful Apple and a knitting shop- Lily & Lulu filled with beautifully knitted garments and creative and inspiring renderings. Here are a couple of my favorites:

FORK

Tuesday (cowl)

I don't know how Carrie does it all; three shops, three children, a beautiful blog with incredible photography and she is beautiful as well, in every way. :)

Irish Dancer Matryoshka

Irish Dancer Matryoshka

Irish Dancer Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Happy New Year to you all! Thank you for all your past support and I wish you a very happy, healthy and successful new year! I have a new Matryoshka illustration to show you, my Irish Dancer Matryoshka! She was suggested to me by a wonderful customer who is collecting my work. I created my very own Celtic knots for this piece. I have always wanted to experiment with drawing Celtic knots. It was such fun, I imagine it is something I will want to do again in the future. It is tempting to make a line of these dancers all standing side by side. That would be an excuse to draw more Celtic knots! You all have such great suggestions, please keep them coming!

Croatian Girl Matryoshka

Croatian Girl Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Croatian Girl Matryoshka

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you have a fun and safe New Year's Eve and Day. Speaking of "New" I have a new drawing to show you! My Croatian Girl Matryoshka. I've had two kind requests for a Croatian Matryoshka and one was even so kind as to send me a link to what she had in mind— a Croatian Folk Dancer! This was really allot of fun. Something about red and white I just love, maybe it is the valentine connection. I hope she surpasses their expectations and I hope you love her too! :)

Afghan Girl Matryoshka

Afghan Girl Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Afghan Girl Matryoshka

Happy Holidays to you all! We are enjoying (a very unusual for the southern US) white Christmas weekend here. I hope wherever you are, you are cozy. I have a new illustration to show you, my Afghan Girl Matryoshka! Someone was nice enough to suggest her. For the clothing she suggested bold colors and tiny circle mirrors. I also added gold coin fringe which I saw in some of my research. I hope you like her! :)

Happy Holidays!

Holiday items in my shop! :)

Hello everyone! I hope you and your loved ones are well and enjoying this holiday season! Above is a compilation of a few of my snowy, holiday, gift ideas from various sections of my shop:

Accessories
Books & Zines
Magnets
Prints

I am hoping to have a chance to draw this week. You all have given me several suggestions for matryoshka- Afghan, Croatian, and Irish. If I have forgotten one that you would like me to draw please remind me. I am sticking with traditional cultural themes but also have an American Women series that I will be adding American women from different eras. If you have any suggestions for any of those I would love to hear them. Thank you for your support and I wish you and your families and friends a wonderful holiday season! :)

Finnish Girl Matryoshka

I've had a couple of people request a Finnish Girl Matryoshka. After much research I was having a difficult time deciding which ethnicity to portray first, until Jill of Barrel of Monkeys was kind enough to point me in a direction. She suggested Kansallispuku style! So this is my version of a Finnish Girl, Kansallispuku style Matryoshka! How do you like the wind in her hair and hair ribbons? I'm really enjoying it! Can you tell? Thank you for the suggestion Jill! Everyone please keep the suggestions coming and if you know of examples of traditional dress that really helps! :)

I think my Polish, Finnish, and Dutch Matryoshkas would look splendid displayed together.

Dutch Girl Matryoshka!

This is my latest illustration, my Dutch Girl Matryoshka! I think she and my Polish Girl Matryoshka would make a nice set displayed together. My mother visited Holland as a child and has always talked about how beautiful it was. Recently Risa of restlessrisa suggested I draw a Dutch doll. Thank you for the suggestion Risa! Please keep the suggestions coming! :)

Greek Matryoshka!

My Greek Matryoshka is now available in my shop. I had someone ask me if I could draw a Greek Matryoshka, and she was kind enough to send me some links with examples of traditional dress. Sometimes I get a request but I have difficulty pinpointing what the traditional dress is, so links to examples are a big help. Thank you to everyone who is making suggestions. It really helps inspire me and I really want to know what you would like to see. I wonder what wonderful ideas you will come up with next? :)

If you like my Greek Matryoshka you may also like my other "Gold Sisters" (adorned with gold jewelry and embellishments) Cambodian Girl and Pakistani Girl.

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. :)