nesting dolls

When my sister and I were little, our aunt went to Russia for a holiday and brought back a matryoshka doll as a souvenier for us.  I loved it ... taking it apart, lining up the dolls in order, studying the designs from more intricate on the larger ones to very simple on the teeny tiny one, putting them back together.  But my favourite part was gently twisting the seam until the pattern matched.  E.x.a.c.t.l.y.  I could not put them back in the toy closet until they were perfect.

However, we also used them for tea parties ... as in we used them as drinking vessels.  The unprotected wood on the inside didn't like that very much.  But I've loved matryoshka dolls ever since.  So much so that a few years ago I gave them to my girls for Christmas.  Every once in a while I'll take it apart and put it back together.  Just for fun.  Just because. 

Cheap therapy. ;)

So a few months ago I spied this cute matryoshka doll cotton tape in a local shop.  When I got it home I wondered what in the world could I make with it.  Nothing came to mind right away so I set it aside ... then this simple zakka-style idea took shape.  I'm sure one of my daughters will claim it soon enough and fill it with girly treasures.

Comments

[Teresa]

I alwayslove the projects you post. This one got my attention quickly when I saw your embroidery. I love the font you used. If you care to part with info, where did you find the font?
Thanks,
Teresa

[Hildy]

So sweet! I remember my pediatricain had some in his office and I always loved to play with them:-) And I love them on fabric f.e. the Little Matryoshka line by Riley Blake.

[Marji]

I see that scientists have discovered a new "pink world" at the edges of the solar system; can't wait to see pictures of that! Looking forward to spring so we can have our own pink world right here on terra firma. In the meantime, tuning in to the colorful world you create is always fun.

[shelley]

I have a lovely set of these....my daughter is a high school youth leader at her church and their summer trip was to Kaluga, Russia...and she bought them for me....so pretty!!!

[Karen Seitz]

Ha ha -- we are so alike in some ways, as in loving Matryoskas and lining them up EXACTLY. I also have some of that cute ribbon favorited in my etsy lists. I sure wish I had a local shop that carried things like this, but maybe my budget is happy that I don't...

The pouch is so sweet, Thanks for sharing another great project.

[edith]

I was fortunate enough to have an aunt who lived in Russia. I only saw her twice in her lifetime. On her first visit, she brought all the girls a set of these dolls. That was back in the mid 1970s. I still have them. I never played with mine except to take them apart and re-align the design when I put them back together. Such fond childhood memories. I don't blame you for purchasing the tape. I would have done the same. Your little bag is adorable. Good for your girls, but you'll probably need to make a second one :)

[Corinne]

As much as I loved your dolls, I LOVE your bag even more...!! Do you have a tutorial on how to make one? I especially love the different effect of having the draw strings apart from the main body of the bag...so very lovely...!!!

[greg]

My grandmother had a set of nesting apples that were from a trip to Hawaii. I was obsessed with lining up the shading on those apples!

[Polly Hada]

Well, I ditto all of the above. Your ideas are so special. One of a kind ideas. This would make a darling gift for grand-daughters. Hope you'll share the font and how you made the bag. Will google that darling tape. Hope I can find some!

[Melody]

So clever and so cute - a beautiful little bag.

[Michelle]

I get so inspired every time I see one of your projects - they are always so pretty!

[Sarah]

I have a set of nesting dolls that belonged to my cousin from when she was a little girl. Sadly she passed away a couple of years, but my little girl loves playing with them. Your bag is very sweet and pretty, thank you for sharing. Sarah xo

[Margaret]

Your bag is darling! Have you seen the Nesting Dolls mug rug pattern at Craftsy? It's really cute. (I tried to put a link to the pattern in here, but I didn't know how to do that. It's really easy to find -- just go to Craftsy, click on Patterns, then type in nesting dolls on the search line.)

[wendy]

Adorable. I've always loved Matroyshkas too, but didn't get a set until I went to Prague in 2001. I've since been to Russia and collected a few sets, and I lived in Poland which has their own version, similar but less curvy. I'm also very glad you used the read name for them, I see them being called Babushkas all over blogland. they're not called Babushkas at all and that actually means Grandma, or old woman!

[Super Mom - No Cape!]

I love the little bag you made with the braid. The braid, the embroidery and fabric you chose all go together perfectly. I have a set of nesting dolls that I bought from a Christmas market when we were posted to Germany. They are stored away most of the year but are brought out and displayed at Christmas time.

[ina]

Babushkas!!!! I have a set of nesting doll glasses and coasters. Lisa gave them on two different occasions! I love babushkas! ;p

[Jennifer Gwyn]

Hi K! I thought the little pouch you made was a great place to store the nesting dolls. Seems like a perfect fit to me! Thanks for sharing today - enjoy it as always!

[The Russian Store]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful site and story! Love the pictures too. Just wanted to say that.