USSR Life in the Sixties

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

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!

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

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

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

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

Does anyone else remember this?!