We <3 Nesting Dolls

USSR Life in the Sixties

2009-09-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a website that I found on Digg, showing photos of the USSR in the 1960s. Enjoy!

http://englishrussia.com/?p=1250

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com

Hand Carved Wooden Santas

2009-08-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

There is definitely something to be said for an old fashioned, handmade wood carving. Today most figurines, like Jim Shore and Willow Tree collectibles, are mass produced by pouring polyresin into molds. A hand carved wooden Santa Claus may be a bit more expensive, but it is also a much more desirable collectible because no two are ever alike.

Wood carving is a truly difficult art form. I read in the article “Sculpture: On My Work as a Carver of Wood” by Jaromir Fiala that it can take a carver as long as a decade to fully familiarize himself with the nuances of different types of wood. Once a mark is made, there is no going back; this is not a craft that allows for revisions. As he goes, the carver must incorporate the wood’s natural imperfections into his finished piece.

Wooden carvings have been a part of Russian culture for generations. A home in Russia’s northern region would often boast a wooden hen, horse, duck, or deer attached to the roof. Such a carving is called an okhlupen. An old northern Russian saying goes, “with a hen on the roof, it’s quiet at home.” These works of art were large and often carved with axes from an entire log. They were meant to protect the dwelling and family within from danger and illness. Many everyday items were carved from wood and painted for decoration, including bread boxes, dishes, and looms. Folk artists learned the skill from their families and neighbors, each bringing his own personality to the carvings while keeping in mind the tricks of his father. A carver interviewed in “The Peasant House and Its Furnishings: Decorate Principles in Russian Folk Art” by Alison Hilton says “I work the way my father worked, but not quite the same way. And my father also worked as my grandfather worked, but not quite the same as grandfather. We each have something of our own, but we still hold on to that thread of tradition.”

A hand carved Russian Santa Claus is sure to be a high quality, cherished collectible. To check some out at Golden Cockerel's website, click here.

Amy

http://www.goldencockerel.com/

Make Your Own Nesting Doll Kit!

2009-08-12T13:13:00.001-07:00

Here's something neat if you want to make your own Russian nesting doll but are less than artistically inclined. This DIY matryoshka kit comes with a 5-piece nesting doll with peasant girl outline to fill in, paints, brushes, and even "shortcut" stickers. A super cool Russian craft project for kids young and old. More advanced artists may want to create a completely unique matryoshka creation, while budding artists can give their nesting doll a professional look using the stickers.

Check out more cool nesting dolls at www.GoldenCockerel.com!

Amy

2009-08-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone always wants to know how nesting dolls are carved. One common misconception is that the whole matryoshka is carved from one piece of wood. Each piece is carved from a separate piece of wood, creating tons of sawdust. The carver eyeballs all the measurements. Watch the video above to see this in action!

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com

Nesting Cell Phones

2009-06-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

Check out these nesting cell phones by designer Kyle Bean. They show the evolution of the cell phone, from the Zack Morris-esque phones of the 80s to the iPhone. Click to read more at craziestgadgets.com.

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com

Matryoshka Doll Theremin

2008-10-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

What the hey? Witch! Witch! Just kidding--there's no magic to what the people in the above video are doing. They're playing the theremin, a Russian instrument invented in 1919. Metal antennae inside the doll sense the position of the player's hands and create an eerie sort of sound with radio frequency. One antenna controls the pitch and the other the volume. According to Wikipedia, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin has been known to use a theremin in concert.

Now you know!

Amy

http://www.goldencockerel.com/

Nesting Dolls on Sesame Street

2008-05-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else remember this?!

Cool Nesting Doll of the Day

2007-09-24T08:18:00.001-07:00

This nesting doll was made especially for Drew Carey to be given out as Christmas gifts for the cast and crew of The Drew Carey Show.

Fall is Almost Here!

2007-09-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

The first day of fall is September 23--my birthday! I'm psyched. I would love fall even if I didn't get presents. It's the best time of year to watch creepy and bizarre movies, like 1922's silent vampire flick Nosferatu and the 1980 cult classic Forbidden Zone. I get to unearth my favorite brown sweater from the closet, watch the leaves turn orange, drink hot cocoa, and admire everyone's adorably spooky Halloween decorations.

If you're looking for some nifty additions to your Halloween decor, a nesting doll might be just the thing you need. You might not immediately associate Russian dolls with fright night, but matryoshki can be pretty spooky. Just take a look at our Halloween Nesting Doll (above)! This ghoulish witch and her colorful monster friends can't wait to bring a little seasonal spirit to your home.

This Halloween Cats Matryoshka doll is the cat's meow.

Our Owl Nesting Doll is a real hoot. The set features a great horned owl complete with three-dimensional details, a barred owl, a barn owl, a snowy owl, and a newly hatched owlet.

A stacking doll depicting the story of the witch whose house stood on chicken legs, Baba Yaga.

A spooky Cat Eyes Ornament makes a great Halloween treat.

This Owl Ornament would love to perch in your Halloween tree.

And, now, a question: How do you like to celebrate Halloween? Is there a picture, recipe, story, tradition, or anything else you'd like to share? Email it to me at Amy@GoldenCockerel.com and we'll share it with the world!

Happy last days of summer!

Amy

www.GoldenCockerel.com

The baby bat cried out in fright,
"Turn on the dark!
I'm afraid of the light!"

Clearance Blank Nesting Dolls

2007-08-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

I'm a pretty big saver, so I love a good sale.

The Golden Cockerel warehouse is clearing out stock of tons of clearance blank nesting dolls. All of them are oddly shaped or sized, old, or slightly defective. Pricing starts at just $2! If you've ever thought about painting your own nesting doll but weren't sure you'd do such a hot job, these blanks are a perfect and inexpensive practice canvas. They also make a great craft project for a group of small kids. Paint, draw, or woodburn--it's all up to you! A hand painted nesting doll also makes for a real tear-jerker of a gift. I know you can make something really awesome. :-)

Call (1-800-892-5409) or email (Amy@GoldenCockerel.com) for more info!

Have a great weekend!

Amy

www.GoldenCockerel.com

Russian Crafts 101

2007-08-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hello, there. I thought it might be fun to learn a little more about some Russian crafts. Sometimes, it's hard to know whether a design is part of a time-honored tradition or just something pretty. So, here are three Russian painting and craft styles that we might want to be on the lookout for:

Zhostovo: This Russian craft of painting flowers on metal trays has been around since the early 19th century. The most common design is a bouquet of wild and garden flowers on a black background. The tray's edges are decorated with a gold design called uborka. When the paint has dried, the tray is given a bright shine with layers of lacquer. The pin shown above is painted in the Zhostovo style.

Khokhloma: An art form that began in the 17th century. Here, items carved from wood are decorated with a red, black, and gold berry design. The craft had begun to fade away by the early 20th century, but was given new life during Soviet rule. In the 1960s, the Soviets built two factories dedicated to Khokhloma production, the Khokhloma Painter and Khokhloma Painting. The two have since become Russia's largest producers of Khokhloma collectibles. The nesting doll pictured above is painted in the Khokhloma style.

Gzhel: The Russian village of Gzhel has been renowned for its pottery since the 14th century. Located to the southeast of Moscow, Gzhel has been producing white ceramics with brilliant blue floral designs since 1802. These ceramics share their name with the village. The wooden egg shown above is painted in the Gzhel style.

Okay, now go wow your friends with your new Russian knowledge!

Adiós,

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com

PS: Questions? Comments? Email me at Amy@GoldenCockerel.com or leave a comment here at the blog.

Reader in the Spotlight II

2007-08-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Kelly Flanagan has been fascinated with nesting dolls ever since 1993, when her father gave her one from Brest, Belarus for Christmas. Since then, her collection has grown to over 100 and she loves "every single one." A former art student, she most certainly has an eye for beauty and an understanding of the countless hours of work that go into each piece.

"I do not have a 'theme' like some collectors have," Kelly says. "Some collectors like to collect dolls from the USSR, some collect antique dolls, some collect fairytale theme dolls, or dolls from a few particular artists. I think I try to have all sorts of dolls. I have an antique doll, I have a couple USSR dolls, mushroom shaped, pear shaped, egg shaped, even some very unique carved matryoshkas."

Kelly believes that artist matryoshkas will be a much sought after item in the coming years. "They are becoming harder to find and much more expensive due to the time it takes to make a museum quality doll. I truly see my matryoshka collection as a fine art collection."

One of Kelly's beautiful dolls.

Another of Kelly's favorites.

Some fast facts about Kelly:

Favorite food: Prime Rib

Favorite band at the moment: Linkin Park

Favorite Book: Digital Fortress

Why she likes nesting dolls: "I love how the painting is done on a three dimensional surface (which is quite difficult) and it is not just one piece of art work. With the opening up of every doll, there is another new, beautiful piece of art."

If you would like to be our next featured reader, leave a comment or email me at Amy@GoldenCockerel.com.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com

Reader in the Spotlight

2007-07-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hello! I thought it would be fun if we posted some pictures of you lovely people with your favorite nesting dolls. Today, we're featuring Christina Rumbaugh, a communications student at Seaton Hall University.

The matryoshka above was given to Christina by her step-grandmother, who was born in a little town in Siberia. The dolls come from Semyonov, a Russian town famous for making matryoshki and traditional Khokhloma tableware. The style of Christina's doll (red dress, yellow kerchief, and black hair with curls) is strongly associated with this area, while the matryoshka her cousin received is a design typical of Sergiyev Posad.

A doll from the city Sergiyev Posad.

The black egg with red berries is painted in the Khokhloma style.

Some fast facts about Christina:

Favorite food: mashed potatoes

Favorite band at the moment: Editors

Favorite book: God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo

Goal in life: to be a household name

Why she likes nesting dolls: they're cute!

If you would like to be our next featured reader, leave a comment or email me at Amy@GoldenCockerel.com.

Ciao for now,

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com

New Collection Starters

2007-07-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

I think my boyfriend is starting to rub off on me: After two years of watching him diligently add each volume of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and The Simpsons to the DVD shelf, and collect every EP and obscure album of his favorite bands, I'm starting to become a completest. I used to not be this way, possibly because for eight of the past nine years I have either been broke and in high school or broke and in college. Suddenly, though, I need to have every season of Boy Meets World in my possession. I want every album that Sister Hazel has ever released, even the ones I know aren't quite as good and my friend April could probably burn for me anyway.

For all of my fellow completests out there, Golden Cockerel has come up with something just for you: Nesting Doll Collection Starters. Although they're called "starters," these kits add essentials that could be missing from even the largest of collections. We've divided our long-time best-selling matryoshka dolls into three main flavors: Traditional, Animal, and Fun. Any one group makes an amazing display and a super gift idea. Since each nester is filled with more dolls, you'll be amazed at the bang you get for your buck, and with just one click of the mouse. (The Traditional Collection Starter includes 100 individual dolls--more fun than a barrel of monkeys!) Imagine the expression on your child’s face when they find a whole Collection Starter staring at them from under the Christmas tree!

A little of what you'll find in each starter kit:

Traditional - Hand painted and wood burned dolls from all Russia's cities most famous for matryoshka production: Polkhovski Maidan, Semenov, Zagorsk, and more. Two matryoshka book and dolls sets, beautiful floral and iconic dolls, and a limited edition reproduction of the very first nesting doll.

Animal - The entire animal kingdom! Cats, dogs, frogs, rabbits, owls, monkeys, roosters and more!

Fun - Snoopy, Raggedy Ann, The Wizard of Oz, spaceships, clowns, leprechauns, and more of our favorite whimsical pieces.

Click here to check them out at our website.

Feel free to let us know what you think! Email me at Amy@GoldenCockerel.com, or leave a comment here at the blog by clicking the comment link at the bottom right of each post.

Until next time!

Amy

www.GoldenCockerel.com

Nesting Dolls in Hollywood

2007-07-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

There's no question about it: Lately, nesting dolls have gotten trendy. I was exploring the web the other day and stumbled across a matryoshka bonanza. Nesting doll shaped cell phone holders, nesting doll greeting cards, nesting doll pillows and t-shirts. It's amazing! I, myself, am thinking about making a nesting doll themed handbag this weekend; that would be pretty adorable. We're all hooked, it seems. And why not? Nesting dolls are beautiful, ethereal, and downright charming. Even Hollywood seems to have taken notice!

Being John Malkovich: 1999. My freshman year of high school. A bad year for me, but a good one for nesting dolls. Golden Cockerel was asked to produce nesting dolls to promote the movie, which centers around a puppeteer who finds a portal into actor/producer/director John Malkovich's head. (Side note: If you're not familiar with Malkovich, I'd recommend watching 1985's Death of a Salesman. I really enjoyed it.) After fifteen minutes of being privy to each and every one of Malkovich's thoughts and feelings, the observer is mysteriously dumped onto the New Jersey turnpike. Fifty carvers from Polkovski Maidan, Russia worked like crazy to supply Golden Cockerel with 5,000 blank five-piece dolls a week to meet the deadline: 40,000 sets of dolls in two months.

What better way to advertise a wacky tale of someone entering the head of another person than with a nesting doll? Golden Cockerel won a "best promotional merchandise" award from Premier magazine for this item. Amazingly, a few are still available at Amazon.com.

Lost: 2007. I never thought that nesting doll-related work would mean getting to talk to the pseudo-famous. A few months ago, I spoke over the phone with the merchandising manager for Duran Duran. A bit before that, I got a call from the head prop man for ABC's Lost. He said they needed some nesting dolls to appear in an upcoming episode, but wouldn't tell me much else. He picked five reproductions of the first nesting doll, the Rooster Girl, and had them shipped to Hawaii.

I must admit, I've never watched Lost before. It sounds like a pretty good show. My best friend, thirteen-year-old cousin, and future mother-in-law are all addicted to it. I think a large part of the reason I've never jumped on the bandwagon is because I can't stay awake past ten o'clock. If I'm actively doing something, maybe I can make it till midnight, but stick me in front of the tube and I'm done for. So, I employed several friends to be on the lookout for our dolls.

A few months later, my friend Christina called me, sounding very excited, and told me to turn on the TV. I did, and there was the Rooster Girl. I learned that a character was smuggling diamonds inside the doll, and then watched as he smashed her to pieces and hid her inside a toilet tank. This is probably a good thing for all those who own or wish to own a Rooster Girl nesting doll. As it is a limited edition collectors' piece, the fact that five have been broken and drowned probably means the value of the remaining dolls has gone up slightly.

It also excites me that bits of the old world are seeping into the new. I love old things. My mother's cardigans from high school, the circa 1970 pea green owl wall hangings I bought at the thrift store, black and white photographs of strangers, ancient postcards, teen girl magazines from the 1960s, well-loved books and clothes. Sometimes I feel like I'm a crazy person in this world where everything is meant to be disposed of two minutes after you've purchased it. So, thanks Lost, for making me feel like maybe someone else is on the same page as I am.

Has anyone else had any Hollywood nesting doll sightings? I know there have to be more!

Amy

www.GoldenCockerel.com

2007-07-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hello! My name is Amy and I work for a company called Golden Cockerel that makes and sells Russian nesting dolls. This is going to be the company blog, where I ramble on about various bits of news and happenings.

A little bit about Golden Cockerel:

I'm sure the first thing you're scratching your head over is the name "Golden Cockerel." It comes from a story written by Russian author Alexander Pushkin. If you're so inclined, you can read it by clicking here.

The company was founded by Gastonia, NC native Walton Conway and his Russian friend Roman Karkachev. Conway first came to Russia in the summer of 1991, by bicycle. He rode the 1,500 miles from the former West Germany and arrived in the Soviet Union to find the country in its winter of despair. He returned to America two years later with a suitcase filled with nesting dolls in tow and a desire to help.

The company is jointly located in Boone, North Carolina and St. Petersburg, Russia. All the dolls are made in Russia, either by professional artists employed by Golden Cockerel or cottage craftsmen who sell their dolls at market. Karkachev manages the Russian end of the business, while Conway deals with selling and marketing the product to retail and wholesale clients all over the world. Thanks to them, Russian artists who were once struggling to survive are now gainfully employed!

Well, that's it for this time! Adios!

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com