Russian Treasures

I posted a few days ago about the Russian flag quilts I made for my friend’s daughters.  When we first started chatting about these quilts months and months ago we made a deal.  I would make the quilts for the girls and in return Josie would bring me some amazing Russian treasures.  I gave her a short list of things I’d like (you’d think I could have brought home all the treasures I wanted when I lived there.  But I didn’t.)  I am thrilled that she was willing to bring them for me.

This is a green amber pendant necklace.  I love green amber, it is just so pretty and when the light hits it you can see so many different colors embedded inside.  I brought home a small necklace and bracelet, which I still wear.  But I love how big and chunky this one is.  The picture just can’t do it justice.

These two drawings are done in ink, probably with a ballpoint pen.  I brought one home for my sister and I have always wished that I had one for myself.  And now I have two.  And I don’t know why, but I kind of really like them clipped up in my old pants hanger.

This is probably my favorite thing.  And I am so glad that she was able to sneak it through customs.  (Russia isn’t too keen on letting their antiques leave the country.)  It is an Agfa Anastigmat Jgestar camera and from what I can find it was manufactured in Germany in 1933.

Wow.  I know.  It’s a 35mm camera, but I have absolutely zero idea how to use it.  I need to do a lot more research to figure out what I need to know so I can try and take some pictures.  But for now I just know that it is awesome.

I love how this last picture turned out!  Josie brought me a few big families of blank Russian Matryoshka dolls.  I am not exactly sure what I am going to do with them. But I love this contrast between the blank dolls and my collection of washi tape in every color.  I have several painted sets that I brought home with me from Russia.  I know there is no way I can make these more beautiful than those.  I may be a lot of things, but a painter is not one of them.  One day I’ll take pictures of those and show them to you.  They are absolutely amazing works of art.  And I will set these blank one’s out on my desk and I’m sure inspiration will strike.  Eventually.

So what is your all time favorite souvenir?  Or what is the one that got away and you still regret not buying it.  Mine is some gorgeous marionette puppets that I saw in Prague.  They were so incredible and I am still kicking myself for not bringing one (or six) home.