Sunday, July 3, 2011

Armenian Matryoshka

Armenian Matryoshka

Armenian Matryoshka sketch

Hi, and Happy Independence Day (long holiday weekend) to those of you in the US. I just completed my Armenian Matryoshka. She wears a sheer veil, silver coin necklace and long ringlet curls. I fell in love with her and her culture as I drew her. I hope you like her too! Please keep the suggestions coming! :)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

German Bavarian Matryoshka

German Bavarian Matryoshka

 German Bavarian Matryoshka pencil sketch

This is my latest illustration, my German Bavarian Matryoshka. I have had several requests for a German and specifically a Bavarian Matryoshka. She is wearing a formal style of dress (dirndl) versus a folk/everyday look. I enjoy finding similarities between cultures and this is another silver coin, choker necklace, and apron wearing Matryoshka. I've also included my pencil sketch. I hope she lives up to everyone's expectations and you like her. :)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Roman Goddess Juno Matryoshka

Roman Goddess Juno Matryoshka

As you probably know by now, I welcome suggestions of nationality/ethnicity/culture to draw as Matryoshka. Ancient Roman was suggested, and as I researched I came across beautiful sculptures and paintings depicting the Roman Goddess Juno. As I read about her I knew she was the perfect choice to draw as my Roman Matryoshka! She is described as being associated with femininity, childbearing and marriage. Also, she is often depicted with a peacock, that is why I included the peacock feathers. I hope you like her! :)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Framing

Portuguese Girl Matryoshka 5"x7" print

Chinese Pink Hanfu Girl Matryoshka 5"x7" print

Japanese Geisha Matryoshka 5"x7" print

Hello, I have begun framing and photographing my Matryoshka prints to show examples of what the pieces look like framed and displayed in a home. The Portuguese Girl Matryoshka is lying on a Portuguese Apron my Grandmother bought in Portugal in the 1960's. The Chinese Pink Hanfu Girl Matryoshka is hanging on a mural I painted on my dining room wall of plum tree branches in bloom. The Japanese Geisha Matryoshka is sitting on a bamboo shelf with a wooden doll my grandmother got in Japan in the 1950's. Next, I'm going to photograph my larger prints in different frames and settings. Please note I am only selling prints in my shop, not framed pieces. I purchased these frames at a local store for a $1 each. Because the illustrations have a white boarder outside of the Matryoshka, I think they look great without matting. So if you are thinking about starting a collection of my Matryoshka you don't have to go to the poor house over framing and matting. :)

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Scotswoman Matryoshka

Scotswoman Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Scotswoman Matryoshka

Scotswoman Matryoshka Rough Pencil Sketch

Hello friends! I have just completed my Scotswoman Matryoshka. Another redhead! I am a redhead by choice and Scot on my father's side (my maiden name is Stuart). With this Scotswoman Matryoshka I departed from my normal symmetrical style, as I've only done a couple of other times with my Italian Girl and Queen Elizabeth I. Sometimes I like to experiment with a more natural pose. I hope you like her! :)

Here are the two redheads I've drawn so far.

Scotswoman MatryoshkaQueen Elizabeth I Matryoshka

And because I forgot to show you this in my last post, here is my preliminary pencil sketch for my Swiss Girl Matryoshka.

Swiss Girl Matryoshka Rough Pencil Sketch

And another grouping suggestion, my Swiss and Finnish Matryoshkas.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Swiss Girl Matryoshka

Swiss Girl Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Swiss Girl Matryoshka

Hello, this is my Swiss Girl Matryoshka! She was inspired by the women of Nidwalden Switzerland. Their white shirts have pleated (starched I would think) sleeves with black bands and lace cuffs. Black lace covers the lower part of the arms. I really enjoyed drawing all the lace!! Silver adornments include a hair stick and chains on the bodice of the dress. I hope you like her!

I have just added my suggestions list to the right hand column of my blog, so you can see what is coming up next and make sure I have added any nationality/ethnicity suggestions you have made. I work on my suggestions list from the top down (in the order that they were suggested). I haven't researched all of these yet and I can only draw them if I find sufficient examples in my research. If you make a suggestion, photos or links to examples are most helpful! Please leave me a link in a comment or convo me on Etsy with a photo. Thank you for your suggestions, and please keep them coming!! :)

Friday, May 20, 2011

Matryoshka Party Kit Printable PDF

My Matryoshka Party Kit Printable PDF includes all this!
I have been working for the last month on bringing you a Matryoshka theme party kit! Last week I completed the design and over the weekend I staged my own Matryoshka party! 

Streamers
Food Label Signs (blank for handwriting)
Cupcake Toppers
Straw Decorations
Paper Dolls that stand and nest
Coloring Sheets
Finger Dancer Dolls
Doll Face Stickers
Party Favor Box
Cookie Doll Decoration Card
Invitation
Thank You Card

Close-Up of the table items

Another Close-up

My Matryoshka Favor Box

These are my original designs and I worked really hard to make each item easy to assemble. I'm very pleased with the way the Matryoshka Favor Box came out. It's one continuous piece with only one tab to glue!

My Matryoshka Invitations
 I wanted the invitation to have some aspect of how a nesting doll works but I wanted to minimize construction work. I decided to come up with a design that did not require cutting, only folding (the cards do come 2 to a sheet so the only cutting is cutting the 2 cards apart on a dotted line). I think I achieved the effect I was going for with minimal effort for the assembler. The card is designed to open in the middle (like a nesting doll). Open the doll to reveal the hidden invitation!

My Matryoshka Thank You Cards
The Thank You Cards are just a simple fold over card with a blank inside.

Matryoshka Party Activities
(3 Paper Dolls that stand and nest, 2 Coloring Sheets, 4 Finger Dancer Dolls)
I've tried to anticipate your needs by offering an entire Party kit and also offering two smaller kits: an Activities Kit, and a Decorations Kit. The Favor Box, Invitations, Thank You Cards and Coloring sheets are also sold separately. If there is any other configuration or item you are wanting to purchase individually, please let me know and I will make additional listings.

I think these Matryoshka party kits are perfect for birthday parties, bridal showers, or baby showers! I hope you like them! Happy parties! :)

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Queen Elizabeth I - English Matryoshka

Queen Elizabeth I - English Matryoshka

Hello and Happy Mother's Day! I have been busy working on my latest Matryoshka drawing from my list of suggestions and just completed her this morning (and listed her in my shop). She is my first redhead! The suggestion was "English" and after conducting a poll on facebook I chose Queen Elizabeth I to represent England. Because she is royalty, I tried to infuse the illustration with ethereal qualities. I've learned a few new techniques drawing the lace and feathers that I am very excited about. I may have to draw other ethereal female images. Let me know if you think of any you would like to see! :)

This is my original rough sketch for the illustration:

Queen Elizabeth I - pencil sketch
Please keep in mind this is a rough sketch, drawn one morning before the sun rose, in a dimly lit room, with a lead and eraser challenged pencil. I really need to stock up on new pencils and erasers. ;)

Monday, May 2, 2011

Matryoshka Coloring Sheets PDF

Matryoshka Russian Nesting Doll Coloring Sheets PDF
I have been busy working on a Matryoshka party kit chock-full of fun and helpful printable PDFs. I can't wait for you to see them! I wanted to give you a taste while I complete the design of the other elements. These coloring sheets come as a two page PDF file. Page 1 shows a single black and white version of my Classic Matryoshka Russian Doll, and page 2 shows three nesting dolls. Fun for a bored rainy day activity, and fun and economical for party or classroom activities. Once purchased you can print as many as you like as often as you want! I hope you like them and are inspired by this and my future party kit to have your own Matryoshka themed party! Happy May my friends! :)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Colored Shells and Matryoshka Party Kit


Hi everyone! I hope you had a nice weekend. I want to share with you a fun, creative idea we came up with that you might want to do too. This year when we colored our one dozen eggs (with a typical store bought Easter egg dying kit, that comes with dye tablets that you add vinegar and water to) it went too fast (as fun things often do) and before we knew it, all our eggs were colored! My daughter said (in her imaginative kid way), "What else can we color?" I looked at her and said, "Good question." We thunk and we thunk, and she said, "How about that plaster Christmas decoration I have left over. That was a great idea! So now the pressure was on, I needed to come up with something too! Then it came to me, "Seashells!" They have a surface similar to eggs and I thought surely the vinegar and dye would etch and adhere much like it does to the surface of an egg. And you know what? It did! Not as vibrantly, but still they turned out pretty pastels. My daughter had a ball (as did I) and we ended up with more dyed shells than eggs!

The basket in the photo is my Easter basket from when I was a little girl. It is a wicker basket striped with green and pink dyed wicker. It has faded over the years. I sat there dying those shells and thought, "Hey I bet this would work on my wicker basket!" By the time I thought of it we had already poured out the pink dye but I used a paint brush and painted over the outside green stripes of the basket. The wicker drank it right up. I'll have to remember to brush on the pink dye next year. So I leave you with my daughter's question, "What else can we color?" :)

Oh, and another question - I am in the process of designing a Matryoshka Birthday Party Kit as a PDF printable. What types of items would you like for me to include? Thanks in advance for your input! :)

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Thai Dancer Matryoshka

Thai Dancer Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Thai Dancer Matryoshka

As promised in my last post, my newest illustration- Thai Dancer Matryoshka! I drew a dancer because I was inspired by the hand positioning and all the gold adornments of the traditional dance costumes. Also, I couldn't resist adding another "Gold" girl to my collection. I think she would look splendid displayed along with my Cambodian Girl Matryoshka, don't you?


Thai Dancer Matryoshka and Cambodian Girl Matryoshka (she is a fan dancer),

I'm realizing that many of my Matryoshka illustrations are inspired by traditional dance costumes but I haven't always labeled them as "Dancer", this was unintentional though. I may go back and rename some of them at some point.

Have you noticed my new blog layout? I rearranged it to include a new Etsy mini (top left) of my Etsy favorites! My Etsy favorites will include Matryoshka, girls room and nursery decor, and cultural items you may be interested in. I am browsing Etsy for fun items to share with you everyday so please check back often! :)

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Akha Girl Matryoshka

Akha Girl of Thailand Close-Up Portrait

Akha Girl of Thailand

I have just completed my Akha Girl Matryoshka illustration! While working from my suggestions list I came to Thai and in my research came across this beautiful and interesting people. The Akha people live in various regions of Asia but in my research for this illustration I focused on the Akha people living in Thailand where they are referred to as hill tribe people. So this is the first of my Thai Matryoshka illustrations, she is all silver adornments (and colorful beads) and my next traditional Thai Matryoshka will be all gold adornments. Please keep the great suggestions coming! :)

Below is my grouping suggestion for this illustration.

Hmong Girl Matryoshka, Akha Girl Matryoshka, Tibetan Girl Matryoshka

Friday, March 25, 2011

Turk Bride Matryoshka Illustration

Turk Bride Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Turk Bride Matryoshka

Happy Friday! I completed my Turk Bride Matryoshka this morning and listed all items of her in my shop. She is the first of my Matryoshkas that I have titled "Bride" but not the first that incorporates in their traditions gold coin jewelry and adornments. You may remember my Greek and my Afghan Matryoshkas. Below are three that would make a nice grouping of blues, golds, reds and rusts. I hope you like my newest Matryoshka and please remember your cultural suggestions are most welcome! :)

Cambodian Girl Matryoshka, Turk Bride Matryoshka, and Greek Matryoshka

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Hungarian Girl Matryoshka Illustration

Hungarian Girl Matryoshka

Happy spring! I just completed a Hungarian Matryoshka illustration. She wears my version of traditional Hungarian, Kalocsa dress, complete with floral embroidery. Thank you for your continued support and suggestions.

Here are more of my matryoshkas wearing aprons:
Portuguese Girl Matryoshka

Polish Girl Matryoshka

Czech Girl Matryoshka

Chilean Girl Matryoshka

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Norwegian Girl Matryoshka and Norwegian Purse

Norwegian Girl Matryoshka and Norwegian Traditional Purse illustrations
Hi everybody! Thank you to everyone who has participated in my BOGO sale celebrating my shop's 2 year anniversay! It is still going on as I write this post. Fittingly, my latest Martyoshka illustration has a companion illustration, a Norwegian Traditional Purse. Knowing I just created this pair of illustrations, I couldn't take down my BOGO sale yet could I??? It just wouldn't be fair! :)

The Norwegian culture was kindly suggested by a customer. In my research for this drawing I enjoyed learning about Norwegian bunads, traditional costumes worn by men and women alike. I especially fell in love with the purses. When I was finished drawing, and realized how small the purse would be in the final print, I decided this just would not do! So, I created a companion print to the Matryoshka of just the purse. I hope you like them both! :)

Monday, February 28, 2011

BOGO SALE!


Thank you for all your support in my shop's first two years! In honor of my shop turning 2 I'm having a BOGO SALE, Buy One Get One Free! Please hop on over to my shop and check it out! :)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

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! :)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

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! :)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

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! :)