These hand-painted Matryoshka dolls are part of a series exploring my Russian heritage. Each one wears a traditional costume and holds important cultural objects.

This first doll represents Russia's nature. The blue flowers are "nezabudki", or forget-me-nots, and the white "landishi" are lillies of the valley.

This doll features Russian folk arts and crafts. The blue "Gzhel" design appears on porcelain pottery. The red, yellow, and black "Khokhloma" pattern is painted on wood handicrafts. The doll also holds Dymkovo toys -which are sculptued and painted clay figures. 

Finally, the smallest doll holds a hockey stick and skis - representing Russian winter sports.