Too Much Of A Cute Thing

Posted by Petra, Staff Writer

A couple months ago, my friend Rory sent me a link to these Thomas Paul "Folk" plates, knowing that I collect matryoshka dolls (a.k.a. nesting dolls, or babushkas) and that they're also one of my favorite little motifs -- you know, in the way that some people fixate on giraffes, or mushrooms.

I couldn't wait to clear up cabinet space for them. After all, it's not every day that one's favorite little motif appears on tableware! But a week or two later, Valerie (my desk neighbor) IMed me a link to these matryoshka-themed items at none other than Urban Outfitters.

a piggy bank

some sort of weird pillow resembling a punching bag

This was another story. When one's favorite little motif appears at a store like Urban Outfitters, it usually means that soon it will be so ubiquitous you'll only wish to escape it. But no, there it will be, staring back at you from some tween's too-tight tank top. Look what's happening to poor owls and seahorses, just like skulls and antlers before them. I popped over to Fred Flare, and sure enough ...

So, while I doubt nesting dolls will ever be the new birds, I wanted to share some of my favorite items before they felt tired -- starting with this card design by Egg Press. "You're a Doll!" And you, card, are pretty darn cute.

Then there's this little four-piece stamp set from The Small Object ...

... and this tote I found one day on Cafe Press. The best part are the Russian words beneath each babushka (I think they count to 10). You can get the same design on everything from aprons to bibs.

These ponytail holders are made by a company cutely called FluffStuffs.

The Wurst Gallery sells paint-your-own dolls. Because matryoshkas were historically associated with motherhood, I think a homemade set (decoupaged, maybe?) would make such a nice baby gift.

Or, you could make your own from felt. A super-easy pattern by Maize Hutton was recently featured by Craft.

One Good Bumblebee has fun little stickers, cards, and a nesting-doll cellphone pouch.

Indie jewelry designer Hannah Zakari makes a bunch of babushka necklaces.

And finally, I'm not sure how I'd wear these lapel pins by Thymbyl Designs, a German Etsy shop, but I love them.

I'm sure we'll be seeing many more (not-as-cute, mass-produced) matryoshka designs soon. Are any of you experiencing the sudden proliferation of your special little motif? Any thoughts on what the next big overused one will be? My money is on the acorn.

*** Update: Thanks for the tip, Feli -- I just love the Tsk Tsk illustrations, and her gorgeous hand-painted dolls.

Comments

[Victoria]

This is absolutely gorgeous! Being Ukrainian, I love nesting dolls and have a few myself. The Indie necklace is so cute!

[Alex Cichon]

A list of things that are or soon will be (woefully) overdid. Yeah, overDID.
1. all things woodland or related (read: deers, birds, acorns, squirrels, leaves, owls, trees, branches, wood and woodgrain, grass, the color green, berries, flowers, dirt)

2. skulls and the macabre

3. creatures of the deep (especially the poor darlings lacking spines. read: octopuses, squids, jellyfish)

4. unicorns, unipegs, pegasuses, and all other creatures of mythic proportions.

5. dinosaurs, especially poor tyrannosaurus (as in the been-around-the-block phrase "subtle like a t-rex")

6. people, houses, planets and other heavenly bodies, faces, eyes, mouths, children's literary characters, all things quaint, cute, folksy, antique-y, grandparent-y, nature-y,

im done.

[porto]

Hey, have you seen this fabric?
http://www.freespiritfabric.com/core-pages/gallery.php?gal_id=121&sw_id=2590
Very matryoshka!

[knittinglizzie]

www.superbuzzy.com has really cute matryoshka patches, I got one of each color!

[cortney]

i will always and forever be obsessed with pearls. and while i don't think that a picture of pearls on a t-shirt or a pearl pillow is going to attract too much profit, i always feel the symptoms of that's-my-thing syndrome when i see someone else with a long strand of pearls on. coco chanel and i will just have to suffer together.

[Alex]

Very nice, you have some really cure matryoshka patterns here!

Regarding the blank nesting dolls, you might wish to know that I have plenty of them and at much lower prices in my Matryoshka Store at http://matryoshkastore.com/

Cheers,
Alex

[k]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailypoetics/126893401/in/set-72057594104389710/
a fold-out business card based on the design

[carrie m]

i KNEW nesting dolls were going to be big after the renegade craft fair. Here's a link to a post including a ring I bought there:
http://everywordsapurl.blogspot.com/2007/06/seaworthy.html

and here is a link to a post including some matroyshka fabric that i picked up at purl patchwork:
http://everywordsapurl.blogspot.com/2007/06/swatch-portrait-makeover-revealed.html

[Emily]

I know what it is. The "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster. Which I love. But check this out: Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) wore it to the Paris Harry Potter 5 movie premiere (http://www.styledash.com/2007/07/05/remember-to-keep-calm-and-carry-on/). Either he's way hip or the phrase/poster is beginning its cycle of overexposure. I will choose to believe the former. :)

[Shannon]

I read this a few days ago, pondered how I felt about something becoming an ubiquitous design element (on one hand, yes, it's yucky to something lovely and meaningful to you suddenly be everywhere... on the other hand, so cute!) and thought no more of it. Until I was fabric shopping this evening, and found this at purlsoho. Yucky? Cute? Agh! http://www.purlsoho.com/product_detail.php?type=fabricprint&id=1761&url_path=/products/fabricdetail/3052

[Erin]

I went through the same thing when I saw the pillow at Urban Outfitters, and then the motifs all over etsy. Excited, then worried and a little sad, then feeling silly that I care that I won't be the only kid on the block anymore with a Russian-foilk-ish bedroom. Oh well.

[bonnie van voorst]

As an girl with an absolute passion for anything old (e.g. my great-grandma's jewelry, old textiles, buildings, buttons, photographs...), it can be frustrating to watch my precious enamel bead necklace end up on Urban Outfitters' website-- but there is never any substitute for REAL old things, or things that are beautifully crafted and unique.

I love balloons and dinosaurs, though, and I sure hope they're (relatively) safe from all but the under-five crowd...

[Squid37]

Oh my gosh I'm so glad to find this blog! I just got the DIY Nested Dolls today from Urban Outfitters! I want those stickers now. . . :)

[Tiel]

hi there,

I see me there. Thank you Feli and thank you bluelines for the mention. Nice to see other works too.

[maize]

Thank you for featuring my Matroyshka Doll pattern! I just returned from a two week visit to Japan and purchased some material there with Matroyshka dolls on it. I can't wait to make something with it!

Cheers!

[annie Waddoups]

I've had these great pillows at Conran's on my bookmark for months, hoping to finally get them for my new place. You will love these matryoshka covers...
http://www.conranusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=16775&cid=CushionsThrows&language=en-US

[Amy T.]

Several years ago (like over 10 years ago) I decided I liked sunflowers, and then they were everywhere. At first I loved it, then I gave them a rest for a while. Recently I have fallen for them again, especially after my husband got some great photos of some growing in my garden.

[Jilly Phillips]

Hey Petra! Loved the matryoshka dolls! Have many in my own collection and some wonderful folk art dolls from the north of Russia. Check out our linen company at www.russiahousecollection.com. Mostly designs in Russian linen but we also carry some folk art pieces, shawls, enamal trays...currently re-working the website...but more goodies to come!
Cheers, Jilly

[Emily]

I'm still sad that owls have been plastered everywhere because I still love them. But I have definitely seen quite a few acorns on etsy. Maybe it begins there!

[Ilene Johnson]

Thank you so much for featuring my matryoshka bag. Mine is the one with 10 matryoshkas and the numbers 1 - 10 in Russian. I too am a big fan of these dolls and have came home from Russia with a small collection many years ago!

[thymbyl designs]

Thanks for the friendly plug! I'm delighted to see that the Matryoshka trend is finally taking off outside of Europe, too.

The customers who bought my Matryoshka lapel pins either wear them on their jacket lapel (they reported positively on their suitability with lady business outfits), and also pinned to their totes, as they make a nice little eye catcher. I am sure they would also look great on a zakka-style linen pencil case, and those who are really daring trendsetters would pin one to their summer cotton cloche hats!

Thank you again for including me!

[feli]

Have you seen Tsk Tsk? She is an Australian illustrator that does matryoshka drawings too.

http://tsktsk.typepad.com/