Gift Ideas for Mother's Day: jewelry, bags, accessories

Here are some more great gifts from the Russian team:

Antennae Galaxies necklace by MagicGlowJewelry

Women Silk scarf by galafilc

Blue Leather Notebook Cover by TwoStarlings

Knitted wool shawl by NatkaLV

Owl Pendant Necklace by Reginao

Crochet lace shawl by socksandmittens

Faceted Golden Rutilated Quartz pendant by Arctida

Knitted tote bag by GalaKnits

Silver pendant by OlgaKolymaWireWrap

Crossbody knitted bag by LaCigogne

Beaded pendant by CrazywoolByElena

Hand painted Umbrella by AnnaWeissArt

Green bead crochet necklace by FromFirstHand

Happy Mother's Day!

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Etsy Craft Party 2016

There is a great tradition invented by Etsy to celebrate creativity, an annual Etsy Craft Party. This summer it is going to be on June 17th through 19th. This is a great event to connect and share ideas with your community and we at Russian Artists Team love to do it.

Since our team members are scattered around the world, we decided to hold a virtual party this year. So next weekend we will publish some tutorials and giveaways on our blog to celebrate handmade spirit. 

We will also share them on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Visit us to see what we have:

Russian Artists Team blog

Russian Artists Team Pinterest

Russian Artists Team Facebook Page

Featured artist: Anastasiya Prosvetova, Prosvetovaart. Acrylic painting

When you see a picture that's touching to you, you wants to know more about its creator. That what happened with us when we see the beautiful works of our team member, Anastasiya at her shop, Prosvetovaart. So we contacted her and asked to tell us a bit about herself and her artistic inspiration. Anastasiya agreed and we are happy to share her story with you, our dear readers.

 Here is her story:

My name is Anastasiya Prosvetova and I am an artists from St. Petersburgh, Russia. I paint little gentle winged creatures who leave me when they find people who love them. It was sad at first, especially when the first angels were gone but I am always happy for them. Their light images are always a part of me and my new creations.

New images are coming and staying with me. They are waiting for the right moment and showing me their story like a colorful slide show. Where they are coming from?

... The snow was softly falling on the ground this morning. Here is a new image, a new story. The pencil is begging me to pick it up. The magic is coming from daily life. You just need to look around and see the inspiration.

 When you take a thought trapped in your mind and turn it into your image it's like freeing a bird from a cage. You feel light and excited. You are  not sad about anything and you do not think about anything. The world around you is kind and beautiful.

And this is my favorite state of mind.

Interview by Tanya Socksandmittens

Holiday Gift Exchange 2015

The yearly Holiday gift exchange 2015 application process is on!

The rules are simple. There is a large group of people participating but you will send just one gift and you receive one gift.

How to know what to send? Albina (albinasjewelry), our exchange curator, will send you all the details on a gift for your recipient. Don't forget to include a greeting card with your name, shop name and contact info!

Remember, how busy post offices are in December? Send your gift early so that it would get there just in time for the Holidays!

To participate you have to be a member of Russian Artists team on Etsy. Please visit our forum for details.

Last minute Halloween projects from Russian Artists

There is just a little bit time left for decorating for Halloween. If you are hosting a party here is some ideas for a last minute crafts and food from our team members blogs:

Falling leaves decor tutorial from Alecia's (Artctida) blog:

 

Black cat free cross stitch pattern from Vita's (DwarfsTreasure) blog:

Printable wine glass tags from Irina's (graphicland) blog (free image):

Appetizers ideas and recipes from Tanya's (socksandmittens) blog:

There are so much more great project ideas you will find in our shops on Etsy. Happy Halloween!

Victorian Halloween ephemera digital collage sheet by karisagraphic

Digital download abstract ink drawing by AlPlo

Printable Victorian Halloween gift tags digital collage sheet by graphicland

Halloween digital collage sheet by MyMidnightMoon

 

 

Hand painted decor from nordfolk

Today, we would like to introduce one of our team members, Olga, who runs nordfolk shop on Etsy. Her shop is filled with lovely hand painted matryoshkas (nesting dolls), Christmas ornaments, Easter eggs and other wooden home decor items.

Here is what she says on her artwork:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

 My name is Olga and I live in Arkhangelsk - one of the oldest town in the North of Russia. I do not have any special education or degree in Fine Art, but  I have been keen on art throughout my life, utilizing every spare moment. I cannot imagine my life without  brushes and paints.

I have been doing Fine Art drawing since 2000. I have done special Russian north folk art such as Mezensk, Puchuzhsk and Permogorsk style  paintings, but finally I have focused on the Boretsk style Painting.  Initially, I made  traditional folk items and ornaments, but over time I began to invent my own  stories and themes and to add new, atypical traditional painting elements such as "paisley" pattern.

2.  What items do you offer for sale in your shop?

 In my shop I have interior/indoor decor: wooden dolls, eggs, apples, boxes etc. My daughter and I are developing hand-painted wall panels now, which will appear in my shop in spring.

 
3.  Your items are distinguished by clean, bright and luminous palette. The colours of your work are reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance frescoes. What is your secret?

I use Tempera paints. It has the necessary qualities. Sometimes I use metallic acrylic. I do not rely on ready-made palettes and I am always looking for new, more sophisticated color combinations.  Quite often I use a certain color scheme at the request of the customer.

As I have said already,  I am doing Borets Painting - it requires special artisan skills, neatness, patience, and has a rather complex technical execution.

4. How much time do you spend to produce one item?

 Creating one item  takes about 4 days to a month, depending on its complexity and theme.  I always try to create artworks that are not only beautiful, but tell some story - stories of my life, a story of the traditional trades and crafts and North Russian routine of ordinary people’s life and leisure activities.  But sometimes I draw people in a more modern lifestyle.

5. Do you take the custom orders?

 Before I opened my shop on Etsy, I worked mainly with individual orders, they are still my main source of sales. Custom orders very often give me a new challenge that helps to develop my creativity and make my work even more unique.

Interview by Sveta CherryGardenDolls

Russian folklore

Russian Artists team is a group of Russian speaking artists and craftsmen scattered all over the world. We all gather here on Etsy to exchange our creative ideas, knowledge and craft making experience.

Many of our team's members items are inspired by Russian folk art. There are tales and legends, verbally transmitted through the generations over the centuries. 

Palekh collector's plate Ruslan and Lyudmila Russian FairyTales by Agardencottage

There are traditional Russian household items and matreshkas (nesting dolls). 

Matryoshka russian doll from CherryGardenDolls

And of course, there are pretty traditional folk clothing and accessories which got a modern twist with the help of our great artists.  

Russian bears are still walking through the city streets:

Amigurumi crochet bear toy from PetsLair

A cup of tea taste better when it poured from a samovar. It can easily fit a gallon of water!

Vintage Brass Russian Samovar from sovietgifts

The shawls and scarves are so pretty and colorful. Perfect for winter!

Russian folk art shawl black with roses from  MulberryWhisper

... so is valenki, a felted wool footwear:

Valenki from LoraPavlova

Please enjoy our creations and vintage finds!

1. Allaras 2. Galafilc 3. MiracoliSpB 4. Crafts2Love 5.FleetingStillness 6. StudioFantasies

Story by Natalis Iolalis (PetsLair)

Translated by Svetlana (CherryGardenDolls)

Holiday gift exchange 2014

Yearly holiday gift exchange has become a tradition for our team. Last year 42 team members from 15 countries  participated in this fun event.

Albina Manning (AlbinasJewelry) was the hostess for this event. Every participant was assigned a person to whom she (he) anonymously gives a gift. Participants also did not know from whom they will receive a present so it was a lot of fun to unwrap those packages.

Let us show you the chain of Holiday gifts of 2014! (to enlarge the picture, click on it , right click View image)

Little bit about rabbits

I was thinking recently  - why people are so fond of bunnies and even keep them as pets? And I can admit - I would like to  take care of some timid, curious and cute bunny…So – here is a few interesting facts that I have found about these animals and I would like to share with you:

In many cultures around the world the Rabbit represents the moon and consequently, death and resurrection.  Possible reasons:  A Rabbit is resembled in the markings on the Moon (body and 2 elongated ears, nocturnal life, gray / white fur.

The Rabbit or Hare is symbolically linked to the female deities, of youth, intuition, the revival of life and fertility. In African, Native American, Celtic, Buddhist, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Hindu and Teutonic myths associated with female hare is the cycle of reproduction. As prolific animals hares and rabbits are often associated with magic and the white rabbit figurine was the mascot to get fertility and is regarded as an assistant at a difficult childbirth.

In Buddhist mythology the Hare is marked as a selfless animal, kind and able to sacrifice themselves. According to legend, a hare jumped into the fire and roasted to nourish the Buddha himself. In gratitude, the Buddha put the rabbit on the Moon.

The Hare often appears in Christian iconography. His helplessness personified people’s reliance on God.
Modern emblems exploit the sexual symbolism of the hare. As an erotic symbol the Rabbit is used, in particular, the famous American magazine for men "Playboy."

 more details are here

bunny brooch by  BatikElena, toys and doll by CherryGardenDolls, FancyKnittles, PetsSign, ZuzuHappyToys, art print by NathingsArt, iphone case by Crafts2Love, vintage figurines by OldBox, gift tags by OPStyle, clothing by CozyHat, DariKrolika, KsyuKnitting

Story by Sveta CherryGardenDolls

Spring flower hoop art ribbon embroidery DIY project

Winter is still here but we are all waiting for spring. While evenings are still dark and cold why not treat yourself with pretty hoop embroidery project. Our team member, Maria from LaMariaCha shop on Etsy, stitched this flower to share with you!

To make one for yourself you will need:

White tulle 5"x5"

Off white waste canvas fabric 5"x5"

Green felt, about 1"x1"

4 " wooden hoop

Hot pink organza ribbon, about 3 yards

Embroidery floss in green and hot pink colors

Embroidery needle

Butterfly wooden button

Scissors

Here is how to make this:

Mount tulle fabric evenly on a hoop, mark center of the surface and stitch seven lines (half radius) from the center of the circle as show pictures 1 and 2.
 Thread  a needle with the ribbon, make a knot on a long side.

Using basting stitch technique (long up and down stitch) starting from the center and moving in a spiral direction clockwise make long stitches over and under every other line(half radius). Do not pull ribbon tight, make it lose on a right size. (3,4,5,6,7,8).

Continue working in spiral way up until flower is ready. When the flower is ready, cut out flower from the tulle fabric with a ~1.5" border.

Now mount canvas on the loop. Make sure the fabric is stretched evenly with a good tension. With a green floss embroidery a flower's stem using back stitch technique.

Attach the flower using the running stitch (short up and down stitches) at the center of the canvas and the prepared green felt leaf on a side of the stem.

Make a couple of stitches in the canvas to anchor the thread where you are going to attach a cute butterfly button. Lay the button on the place and sew it in.

Enjoy your stitching!

DIY project by Maria Chaplygina (LaMariacha)

Translated by Lyudmila (woolsolution)