Matryoshka Doll

May I introduce the last of my girls ...

Miss Betsy Breeze

Miss Betsy Breeze

The three girls, or babushka, are now off to a birthday party ... they are a gift for a lovely little girl that I know. I do hope she will like them!

Betsy Breeze, Ginny Gunn, Sophie Sevenberry

The making of these dolls is quite satisfying but has limited appeal unless you have lots of little girls to cater for! Betsy Breeze is made mostly in the new Breeze range stocked in my local craft shop (Creative Quilting in Hampton Court, Surrey). It has a wealth of fabrics and notions and is a dangerous place to visit ... especially if you have a purse with you! I think Betsy's head is a little large for her body, as unfortunately I am having difficulty getting the proportions right. I still need to perfect a pattern for these dolls - does anyone out there in the blogging world know of one?

Anyway, I really think I have had enough of fiddly dolls for the moment. I really must get down to some serious ironing! At present I am spending approximately an hour a day crafting, an hour a day cooking, an hour a day shopping, an hour a day blogging, an hour a day sourcing materials ... and almost no time at all on looking after my home or family - poor neglected things! There are just not enough hours in the day.

Madame Sophie Sevenberry

Mme Sophie Sevenberry 
The Flower Seller

This is my second attempt at a Matroyshka and is a little better although not at all perfect. This time I got a better shape to the body so think I understand that part, and I also managed to get a little better in the drawing department and the face looks a little less masculine, ... still not pretty, just an improvement.

Mme Sophie Sevenberry

Back View

This doll is made in the range of fabrics from Sevenberry Japan, hence the name, and I think this one is a flower seller in the market ... I think she probably needs an apron. What do you think?

Fraulein Ginny Gunn

Fraulein Ginny Gunn

Going To A Wedding

Yes ... Frau Ginny Gunn now has a face. I have realized that I am rubbish at painting and drawing as well as sewing ... she looks somewhat scary ... rather like a man pretending to be a woman. My first transvestite Matryoshka doll? Oh dear! Must practice.

Fraulein Ginny Gunn

You may notice that she is also a better shape particularly around the head but feel that I have still not got this bit right. I shall try again. I also must learn a better way to photograph dolls, they look so weird lying down but seem to topple over when standing alone ... must try and fix that too!  Now to try and repair or remake the tote bag ...

Matryoshka Doll

 Frau Ginny Gunn 
Going To A Wedding

Recently I came across some really beautiful Russian dolls called Matryoshka. They were originally made in wood - nesting dolls - but more recently have been made in fabric and sold as souvenirs throughout Russia.
I had an hour to spare yesterday and tried one of my own as a little gift ... she is around six inches tall and looks to me like she is celebrating something, or maybe going to a wedding. She is made mostly in a pretty Laura Gunn fabric hence her name, and a few scraps of Robert Kaufman fabric ... here are the results. As yet she has no face ... I need to buy the appropriate pens to draw it!  I shall post a pic when it is finished. Meanwhile meet Frau Ginny Gunn ...

Front View Minus Face Detail

Back View

I have learned a lot by this little exercise and will be able to improve upon this at my next attempt. Perhaps less visible sewing and more handwork would look better. She also has an odd shaped head - do not know how I managed that ... maybe need a pattern!  I also think that a smaller print would be more appropriate. I am also wondering just what I can do to make it stand up better (it is stuffed with Kapok and propped up in the pic). What do you think? Comments would be most welcome.