Featured artist: Marina, Miopupazzo. Miniature art doll brooches

Miopupazzo shop is such a great place for collectors of unique miniature art doll brooches, toys and mixed-media collages. All of them are Marina Druker's (the shop owner) original designs and patterns. 

 The best part, she can create your very own special custom piece of art using your photo!

Marina is also an author of "Enchanting Art Dolls & Soft Sculptures" book.

Here is what Marina share about herself:

There are so many interesting things in the world that a lifetime will not be enough to try everything. I have so many creative ideas but I need to restrain my desires.  I chose the miniature art.

I love a small size of my work. Typically, fabric art works are done in a large scale, a large wall panel or a quilt. I create the same layered textured effect but in tiny dolls dresses and soft sculptures.

I was born in the beautiful city of St.Petersburg, Russia. In my childhood, I learned a lot in various craft classes for kids. From the early age I visited the great museums, such as the Hermitage and Peterhof, many exhibitions of decorative and applied arts.

In 2003 I moved to Israel where I met wonderful people,  great weather and my inspiration to create dolls. I started to work with Paperclay and evolved my own signature style of tiny crazy quilting dolls dresses.

In 2012 I published my first book about doll-making and crazy quilting dolls dresses “Enchanting Art Dolls & Soft Sculptures“(C&T Publishing). 

Even thought my biggest interest right now is creating tiny doll-brooches, in the future I would love to illustrate children's book using these techniques.

Collage and handmade dolls, isn't this fun?

A teddy world!

Last summer my friend Tatiana invited me to participate in Teddymir exhibit in St. Petersburgh, Russia. The exhibit's opening was on October 29th, 2015. It seemed so far away that I didn't even want to think about it. However by the end of summer I had a mini collection of amigurumianimals and I decided to exhibit them.

So I signed up! The organizer, Tatiana, did a lot to promote the exhibition. The whole city was awaiting the opening. It was in perfect location, at the artists street in the center next to Palace square. It was also a perfect time since the exhibition continued for the 10 days of school break.

Here are a few participating teddies:

You can choose a teddy or other toy in any style. Teddy Frida and teddy Dali:

Here is an area with large teddies. You can hug them and have your picture taken:

Here is a shelf with my toys:

 

Every day there were teddy workshops. Drawing, felting, clay sculpting and even teddies cupcake decor!

I fell in love with teddies so I took part in a workshop and made one tiny one too! Mine is last:

For both those visiting and taking part in the exhibition there were competitions and prizes. I took part in Tourist Teddy competition with my Lion, Monkey and the Fox and submitted some photos of my toys in well known tourist locations:

This was a great event. If you'd like, you can participate or visit the one next year!

If you are not in the area but would like to participate, your handmade toys can be submitted by mail.


Story by Natalia (PetsLair)
Translated by Nadia (LuNaViFelt)