Olena Chystyakova

This Lviv master has started to study folk doll after she received one as present several years ago. Shortly after this she made a doll herself. By now Olena has a collection of motanka-dolls that she has created herself and she continues to experiment with them.

Creative work

The master makes different kinds of these dolls: berehynyas (protectors), wet-nurses (to be put to children’s cradles); Easter doves and angels, etc. She uses only natural materials: cotton, flax, wool, wood, beads, herb collections and she makes motankas using the technology “without cutting or piercing”, sewing only some components of clothes. Olena observes the rule of starting creative work only when in good mood. She tries to make each doll such that it will find its place in any apartment or office. Dolls’ heights are about 30-40 cm.