Les PoupeEs Russes (Russian Dolls): The Making

Russian dolls are an emblem of Russian history and culture; nesting dolls are a symbol of the immense fame and popularity of Russian culture worldwide. The rich Russian culture has introduced many unique stories, ideas, cultural ethics, food and delicacies, art, music, literature & crafts to the entire world. Amongst these, Russian nesting dolls also contribute to Russian culture. That is why these handmade crafts get so much international recognition. Referred to in a variety of different names, Russian nesting dolls are also called stacking dolls matryoshka, babushka or babushka dolls, matrioshka, babooshka, matroshka, matreshka, stackable dolls (in order of popular usage).

The art of creating these famous Russian nesting dolls was developed from an already mastered craft of Russian artisans in creating Easter eggs stacked one within another. These Russian dolls are made out of wood that majorly consists of lime wood. Other than lime, birch, alder and aspen were also utilized. The tree barks are cut leaving a few rings of wood behind so that the parent tree does not get cracked. The logs are usually cut at the onset of spring, usually when the sap secretion is the maximum. The logs are then stored away for two years leaving sufficient space below for aeration.

The stage at which the doll should be carved can only be detected by true professional artisans who have gained immense expertise in making Russian dolls. After the log is ready, it is cut into multiple pieces and placed on a turning lathe. To make a doll while in rotating motion requires high skills and attention to detail. No measurements are used while making stacking dolls. The intuition of the artisan is his measuring scale that gives us the perfect end products that have currently become a symbol of Russian culture. The tools used to carve the upper and lower pieces of the nesting doll structures are quite simple and consists of a knife and a chisel. The last and the smallest piece that cannot be detached are made first followed by a sequence of making the lower and upper parts of consecutive nesting dolls.

The stacked dolls are then sent to get hand-painted and most hand-painting jobs have the same images on all dolls hence accuracy is practiced on these too where the painter carefully marks the outlines and paints a perfect and accurate multiple pictures in all the successive counterparts of the stacking dolls. The images to be painted can also be varied in terms of depicting a famous Russian tale, or the images of famous personalities from Russian politics, history or entertainment. These dolls make exceptional Russian gifts to people of all cultures since they are both elegant looking and set themselves apart from any other doll-type in the market.

Irina is an online retailing expert that has a passion for Russian gifts as well as Russian culture and history. In greatrussiangifts.com one can find unique, authentic handmade Russian gifts and nesting dolls. Shop our exclusive collection of lacquer boxes, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, amber, accessories, Russian dolls and more.

Collectible Dolls That Make Great Gifts

People have been making and buying dolls for their children for thousands of years. The first dolls were modeled after the gods and were used as instructional aides. Years later, dolls became playthings for children of both sexes. They were made of primitive materials, often clay, wood, or fur. Unfortunately, few specimens have been recovered from the prehistoric period.

However, archeologists have uncovered dozens of dolls from ancient Egypt. Since most of them were found in graves or tombs, these dolls were well-preserved. Historians also remind us that whenever an Egyptian was buried with an item, it meant that it was a cherished or prized possession. These early Egyptian dolls were made of flat pieces of sanded wood that were often painted and decorated with hair. The hair was made of strings of wooden beads or strings of clay. The earliest of these dolls were found in tombs dating back to 2000 BC.

It was not until Greek and Roman times that dolls were made specifically for girls. They played with them for several years and then, when they were old enough, they offered them as gift to their favorite goddess. Most of the dolls that have been recovered from these periods were found in the graves of little girls.

But even in the most primitive dolls, historians have noticed a common theme. The focus of doll making, whether done by a parent or a professional, has always been to make the dolls as lifelike as possible. Dolls with removable clothes and movable limbs that date back to 600 B.C. have been uncovered.

Centuries later, Europe became the hub of the doll making universe. In fact, dolls were so popular by the 16th and 17th century that, for the first time, there was such a thing as a professional doll maker. Of course, dolls were still made of wood, but the craftsmanship and attention to detail was beyond anything that had been produced in the past.

By the 19th century, a new material hit the scene. It was called porcelain, and it was made by firing special clays at extremely high temperatures. Of course, these dolls were not children's playthings-they were quite fragile. Oftentimes, they were used as simple decorative pieces.

But the most important innovation in the history of doll making had nothing to do with a material-it had to do with the subject. Before the late nineteenth century, most dolls were made by and modeled after adults. But the famous French "bebe" doll of the 1880s depicted a much younger girl. After bebe dolls, almost all dolls were modeled after children.

In the later, lean years, rag dolls were a common and inexpensive gift mothers could make for their daughters. They were generally constructed of linen or cotton and they only took a few hours to make. More often than not, they were a little girl's first toy.

And when those little girls grew up, many of them began collecting dolls as a hobby. One of the most respected doll makers in the country is the Franklin Mint. Known primarily for their coins (they are a mint, after all), the company has been producing limited edition dolls for adults for decades now.

Each doll is handcrafted by an experienced artisan, often from vinyl. The Franklin Mint calls them Portrait Dolls, because they are modeled after a famous picture of a fictional or historical figure. For example, the Scarlett O'Hara Final Farewell Vinyl Portrait Doll captures the moment when Scarlett utters her famous valediction, "After all, tomorrow is another day."

These dolls are only available for sale while supplies last, and they typically sell out fast. After that, the doll is retired, i.e., it will never be offered again. Because the supply seldom meets the demand, many collectors are forced to purchase these dolls at higher prices on Internet auction sites or at estate sales.

What makes them so special? Aside from their rarity and fine craftsmanship, the dolls also capture a famous historical image. This makes them instantly recognizable and gives them sentimental value for collectors who are fans or admirers of the subject. Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe, and Jackie Kennedy are perennial favorites.

One of the most exciting new dolls to be offer by the Franklin Mint in several years is the Michele Obama Official White House Portrait Doll. Shortly after her husband came to office, Mrs. Obama posed for an official portrait in the Blue Room of the White Office. The doll captures that historic moment, along with the poise, elegance and natural beauty of the First Lady. Fitted with a black dress, black pumps, stud earrings, and a faux pearl necklace, the doll stands exactly 16 ½ inches and is made of vinyl. The Franklin Mint limited the dolls to 9,900 worldwide.

The next time you're looking for a great gift for either a deserving young woman or a doll collecting friend or relative, consider the impressive history of doll making and a few of these great dolls.

Christian Ruelas is a freelance writer who writes about a variety of topics including shopping for collectible dolls.

Lots Of Kinds Of Dolls To Make

Some of the simplest dolls to make can be found in kits found in craft shops and online. The kits typically include the front and back pieces of a cloth doll, along with hair, clothes, and accessories. You just need to cut the pieces out, stitch the pieces together, keep an opening for filling and then fill them with your choice of stuffing. The pre-assembled packet are a very good pick as a "Mommy, what can I do?" day craft for a little girl.

For any who have a little experience, there are lots of other kits to pick from. One can make a china or porcelain dolly by purchasing a mold for the head and then crafting the torso. There are also groups online where you are able to visit with other hand crafters and receive tips about how to complete your projects.

For Halloween and folk holidays, apple-headed dolls are a popular pick. The heads and at times the hands are carved apples that were dried in a dehydrator or at low temperature in the oven. The process is somewhat time-consuming, but the finished result could be spectacular appearing. The drying step makes the illusion of wrinkles and other facial features. Not every apple will come out the way you had pictured, with some practice a little one will get the hang of it. Making rag dolls is possibly the earliest tradition passed down from mother to daughter.

During Colonial times and earlier, many families couldn't afford to buy toys for their children. By using remnants from around the home was the one choice. In keeping with the idea of "recycle, reduce and reuse," one can save scraps of fabric from every garment that you sew. Eventually, those scraps could be put together to make a remembrance quilt or various separate dollies.

However, you do not have to utilize remnants for sewing cloth dollies. One can begin by purchasing a pattern or creating one yourself if you have some ability. Plain white or beige sheets are a good choice for the body, although the bed sheets are sometimes a bit sheer. If you use poly-fill filling, the thickness of the sheet may not be important, but other types of filling would show through the sheer fabric.

The rag dolly can have clothes sewn on or one could sew the legs, arms and body in the same material the head was made from. That will require you to sew the clothing individually, but then it will be possible to change the clothing from time to time. There are many other types of dolls to make at home. One can make 1 type or try all of them. Doll-creating is a very fun hobby.

JoAnn developed her love for sewing as a child. 40 years later she is a sewing enthusiast who enjoys sharing her passion for sewing with all ages. Author of seven books and multiple e-books that explore many sewing applications, JoAnn seeks to encourage you on your sewing journey and instill in you a love for sewing. Visit her at http://www.sewingfordolls.net

The History Of Kokeshi Japanese Dolls

Japan has a very rich culture and its history had been infused with several arts and crafts known worldwide. Japanese doll making is one craft that has a history that dates back in the early history of the Jomon culture around 8000-200 BC. Yet the development of Japan's doll making had been at its finest during the Edo period which ran from year 1603 to 1867. Around 150 years ago, Kokeshi doll making made a popular debut. The Kokeshi doll is known to tourists as a common souvenir in Japan, but this has been a tradition in Northern Japan which started in the early 19th century.

Kokeshi dolls are wooden dolls that may be made of lighter mizuki (dogwood tree), dashi (pear tree), and dark cherry trees that have been aged for several months. These dolls do not have arms and legs just like a Russian Matryoshka doll which is of a cylindrical body with a big rounded head. Its features are then articulately painted with colorful traditional kimonos and a gentle expression on its face. These are some major characteristics of traditional Kokeshi dolls and these are also believed to ward off evil and prevent fires.

Traditional Kokeshi dolls are made authentic in the Tohoku area of Japan. A famous town in this area is Tsuchiyu which is famous for its hot springs and its livelihood of making Kokeshi dolls. The nature of the wood used is moist, thus the need to season and ripen the doll to make its colors more vibrant and vivid.

Eventually, the design for these dolls had evolved in which the Creative Kokeshi dolls became popular after the World War II. This is a new type of Kokeshi-making wherein the hair and the head are carved creatively to give it more form instead of a plain circular head. The body still retained the traditional cylindrical feature yet the texture and depth are now more intricate. These are now what most tourists see all over Japan as a souvenir item. Moreover, modern Kokeshi dolls are now influenced by anime characters and these fun and cartoony figures are popular to younger generation.

Today, Kokeshi exhibitions are held yearly where master craftsmen showcase their newest and best creations to locals and tourist alike. The first exhibition was held in August of 1939 in Naruko Onsen, Japan. This is also the time when the Japanese exhibitors have agreed to finally name this doll making craft as Kokeshi due to the confusion brought by several other names and references to this craft in different areas in Japan.

If you would like to get started in collecting dolls, or introduce a loved one to the tradition of doll collecting it might be a good idea to start with dolls that interest them and are of relatively low cost. Our Generation Dolls are great for younger girls while Monster High Dolls might be better aimed at pre-teen and teenage young ladies.

Making Waldorf Dolls - The Big 3 Myths That Can Hold You Back

No doubt about it, there's a certain mystique about Waldorf dolls, and with good reason. Every Waldorf doll is individually made by hand. That fact alone sets them apart from the mass of commercially produced toys. These irresistible dolls achieve their distinctive appearance by means of a unique construction method, and their uncommonly huggable feel is the result of only all natural materials.

But don't be fooled! Uncommon though they are, they deserve to be far less rare. There's no good reason why the pleasure of making Waldorf dolls should be reserved for only a handful of highly skilled artisans.

If you've ever wanted to try making a Waldorf doll, but hesitated, maybe one of these Waldorf doll making myths is holding you back:

Myth Number 1: The materials are too hard to find.

This may have been true twenty years ago, before the internet became a ubiquitous presence, but it's certainly not true now!

Waldorf dolls are indeed fussy about what goes into them. Only all natural materials may be used, like 100% cotton fabrics and soft sheep's wool stuffing. These are not commonly available at fabric shops or crafts outlets, but there are numerous online merchants who have them in many color choices, along with all sorts of useful tools and notions for the doll maker. In Australia and the U.S. there are domestic sources. Elsewhere, supplies may need to be shipped, but they are certainly not hard to find. Type "Waldorf doll supplies" into your favorite search engine to get an extensive list of vendors.

Myth Number 2: The materials are too expensive.

I'll admit, there's at least a kernel of truth in this one. Compared to polyester fiberfill, carded wool batting does seem quite costly. On the other hand, if you've worked with the poly fluff, then worked with wool, I think you'll agree that the difference in quality is far greater than the difference in price.

A one-pound package of wool batting will make a large doll, or several smaller ones. If you are making a small doll, you might consider purchasing material with a friend and sharing the cost. The cotton interlock fabric that makes the best doll skin is sold in generous widths. A ½-yard cut will definitely make several dolls, so is good for sharing.

You may also be able to recycle some materials as a thrifty alternative. A cotton tee-shirt that has been washed to a wonderful softness can be dyed and used for doll skin. Worn-out clothing often yields pieces of fabric in good condition. These can make fabulous doll clothes. Yarn unraveled from an old wool sweater makes some of the very best curly doll hair.

Myth Number 3: Waldorf Dolls are too difficult to make.

Utter nonsense! Waldorf-style dolls are among the very easiest of all dolls to make! Their body shapes are quite simple, with mitten-shaped hands (no finicky little fingers to turn) and minimal articulation of the limbs. The distinctively-shaped Waldorf head is achieved by tying two strings around a ball of wool. Presto! An adorable child's head appears as if by magic.

That marvelous wool stuffing will seem worth every penny when you see how smoothly it fills out a shape. No lumpy limbs! Plus, you can pull it all out and re-stuff with the same wool, and it's good as new.

So what are you waiting for? That special child in your life deserves an extraordinary doll, hand made with love by you.

Margaret Lunn is an award-winning quilter, doll artist, and puppeteer. Her Waldorf doll patterns make beautiful dolls easy for even novice dollmakers. For more detailed instructions and shortcut tips for making Waldorf dolls, be sure to visit http://www.WaldorfDollMaking.com.

Antique Collectible Dolls

When you think of antique dolls images of fine porcelain and frilly dresses may come to mind. However, bright red yarn hair, cotton body, and button eyes have also entered the collecting and antique scene. If you had not guessed already, we are referring to the Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls. Soft and lovable these are easily the most recognized dolls on the planet. Writer Johnny Gruelle, for his daughter Marcella, created Anne in 1915. He came up with her name from a combination of two poem titles, The Raggedy Man and Little Orphan Annie.

Sadly his daughter Marcella died at age 12 after being given small pox vaccination at school. Her parents blamed the vaccination so Gruelle became an opponent and Anne was used as a symbol by the anti-vaccination movement. Through out the years the Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls have been manufactured by many companies, Georgene and Voland to name a couple. Dolls from either of these can set you back a cool $3000.

Equally as recognizable is the Barbie doll, debuting 1959 she was the American adaptation of the German doll Bild Lilli. Ruth Handler had approached Mattel with the idea of a more grown up doll but was rejected. When she was visiting Germany, she came across the Lilli doll and promptly bought three to bring back with her. With help from an engineer, Ruth redesigned the doll and named her Barbi, after her daughter Barbara. Barbi has seen many changes over the years but one thing never changes and that is her popularity and collectibility. In 2004, a mint 1959-boxed doll sold for over three-thousand dollars on ebay. Two thousand and six seen the world record at Christie's in London when a 1965 Barbi in midnight red fetched a whopping $17,000! The Barbi doll is highly collected with the most sought after ones being pre-1973 or vintage.

If your collecting tastes run more on the elegant side, you will not want to overlook the cream of the crop that is Madam Alexander dolls. These dolls have come to represent the highest standards in the making of collectible dolls. Beatrice Alexander started the company in 1923. Unlike other dolls of the era, movie stars and various literary characters inspired hers'. The first dolls were made of cloth with faces of pressed heavy felt. Harder to find are the dolls of the early 30's these were made of composite that does not fair well over time. If you find one of these in mint condition, you are probably going to pay a mint for it. Madam Alexander's creations are opulent and beautiful a jewel in any collectors crown.

Antique dolls are dolls that are old, rare, or unique in some way. Companies will try to establish a demand by releasing only small amounts of particular dolls, thus making them rare to begin with. When making your choices carefully consider not only how much you can invest but also the dolls intrinsic worth to you. The collecting of antique dolls is indeed as much about the memories the dolls inspire as the financial gain that is possible. Many collectors focus on dolls from their childhood that bring back lazy summer afternoons playing on the living room floor.

Harald Hoel

[http://www.dollfather.com]

Make Your Own Rag Doll - Doll Making Supplies

Dolls are a child's first best friend. They serve a purpose as friends, they teach nurturing and they are really a child's first step to becoming social. Dolls can be found in almost any household in toy boxes, on shelves full of collectible dolls, on top of wedding cakes, movie star dolls in a teenagers room and sports dolls that reside in a manly sports room. You can even make your own doll.

Rag dolls were the special friend that rode with a child in the back of a covered wagon. Mothers, back then, had never heard of the words "thrift" or "recycle", but that is exactly what they did to provide their children with a friend. They used scrap rags for the body and the clothes and weeds and straw for the stuffing. In today's world, if you would like to make your own doll, your choices of supplies are not quite so limited. The basics for a rag doll would be a pattern, fabric and stuffing. Even those basics could be whittled down, somewhat, by using old linens and textiles from your closets and making your own pattern.

For a pattern, start by drawing a rectangle on paper for the body. Draw a circle sitting on one short end of the rectangle for the head. Round the outer corners of the body and the inner corners where the head meets the body in order to shape the pattern. Place the pattern on a doubled piece of chosen body fabric, with the right sides facing. Draw around the pattern. Sew on the drawn lines, leaving the bottom of the body unstitched. Cut the body out a 1/4 inch from the stitched lines. Clip the corners and turn right side out. Stuff the head and body firmly and close the open end.

Make your own doll as whimsical as you would like. The normal size for a leg pattern would be the measurement from the bottom of the body to almost the top of the head and slightly narrower than half the body width. The whimsy size could be quite a bit longer. Use fabric that will mimic stockings and cut two for each leg. Sew the legs the same as the body, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Turn and stuff the legs and close the ends. Attach the legs to the bottom seam on the doll's body. Make the arms as long as the doll's body and slightly narrower than the doll's legs. Repeat the sewing used for the legs. Turn and stuff the arms and close the ends. Attach the arms to the shoulder seams of the body.

Make your own doll clothes using the shape of the body as a guide. Add hair using craft doll hair, yarn or fabric. Finally, sew or paint a face on your doll and add ribbons, buttons and trims to give personality.

You could, of course, use most any materials to make a wide range of doll styles. Try this basic doll as inspiration for others.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

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