Matryoshka Dolls

I'm still finding photos of my summer vacation that I meant to share. While walking around the Glebe, a neighborhood in Ottawa, I came across an alley with some beautifully painted Matryoshka Dolls. Doesn't the brick wall look interesting and so colourful! Can't you just see these paintings translated into a quilted or an embroidered piece?

This type of doll, also known as Russian nesting dolls, refers to a set of wooden dolls that decrease in size and placed inside the other. When I was a child, I had a set of  these.

The yarn, pictured at the bottom, was purchased at Yarn Forward, another shop I visit whenever I'm in the Ottawa area.

Check out these sites for some interesting patterns for these little dolls:

• Here's a free crochet pattern for making your own set of these dolls.
• Sew Daily has a set for you to sew. 
• Tutorials for making the dolls.  
• Doll ornament 
• Finger puppet 
• 'Tis the Season

Enjoy!

Yarn Forward

I visited Yarn Forward on Hazeldean Rd. Kanata, the other afternoon. They have a variety of yarns, knitting needles, pattern books and accessories. I did purchase a couple of balls of yarn that caught my eye! It's called Drake and is made in Italy. I will use it in probably use it in some felting project. I met a very talented artist, Francine Hebert, at the shop. She showed me some of her shawl pins that were on display. Please check out her blog.