babushka dolls

[thefixer]

G'day all

Just wondering if anyone has turned a set of babushka dolls. One of my daughters collects them and has asked if i could make a set. If anyone has done them i would love to see some pics. Painting them could be a problem though coz I'm not very artistic

Cheers
Shorty

[artme]

On the very long - indeed endless - gunnado list!

[joe greiner]

I've collected three sets from garage sales, but never turned any. Each doll seems to be a box, turned end grain from a reasonably stable timber, probably boxwood or something like that. The interiors don't need to be particularly smooth - just large enough to contain the next smaller size. A set of patterns would be advisable.

"Babushka" is Russian for "grandmother" or "old lady," and also refers to a head scarf worn by my Irish Grandmum (had some Russian immigrant neighbours, I guess).

Outside themes (sometimes bizarre) can be anything under the sun. A set, perhaps painted by your daughter, could represent your own family, and become an heirloom. Google [woodturning babushka] just got over 700 hits.

Cheers,
Joe

[wands]

Evidently Babushka is what we westerners labeled them, not what Russians call them. I once asked a Russian friend about "Babushka dolls" and she did not know what I was talking about, when she worked it out she told me they are "A matryoshka doll".

Just found this if interested: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Babushka-doll

Funny however, it is listed under Babushka.

Cheers, Steve

[Tornatus]

Steve's got it right - the proper Russian name for these dolls is "Matryoshka", which means "Little Mother", so called because each doll contains a "daughter" doll, which contains another "daughter", etc, etc .... My wife has a set which she was given when we were on posting in Moscow, many years ago, and it contains a large number of "daughter" dolls - the "mother" is about 200mm high, and the smallest "daughter" is about 10mm high.

They are usually decorated with traditional costume designs, which can include a scarf, which is where the confusion with a "Babushka / Grandma" scarf may have come about.

[joe greiner]

I had originally Googled [matryoshka], but got more hits with [babushka]. I first learned about them at an animated film festival in Seattle about 30 years ago. One of the films had that title, and consisted of stop-motion images of the dolls roaming about, IIRC. Youtube might have something similar, but I don't have time for exploration at the moment; seems to be a bunch of them.

I repeat my suggestion to Google [woodturning babushka], or [woodturning matryoshka] for guidance.

Cheers,
Joe

[joe greiner]

Here's a link to some text instructions:
http://www.enotes.com/how-products-e...atryoshka-doll
Note the requirement that a full set be made from one single piece of wood, for consistent warping and shrinkage.

Some Matryoshka production videos from youtube:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhR9ALVd0Js&feature=related"]YouTube - Carving a Nesting Doll[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhavJvuJ_kE&feature=related"]YouTube - Russian Doll Production for Discovery Channel[/ame]
The printing contraption is a form of offset printing, also used on golf balls.

Joe

[munruben]

Bit beyond my capabilities at the moment.

[thefixer]

Bit beyond my capabilities at the moment.

Yeah, mine too but I'm gunna have go anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Thanks for all the info and video clips Joe, plenty of food for thought there. I hate it though when people make it look that easy

Cheers
Shorty

[joe greiner]

Yeah, mine too but I'm gunna have go anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Thanks for all the info and video clips Joe, plenty of food for thought there. I hate it though when people make it look that easy

Cheers
Shorty

Me too, Shorty. I hate it when people tell me something is easy, too. Brain surgery is easy if you know how; tying your shoes is difficult if you don't know how.

I reckon the first turner's use of the tool rest in parallel mode wasn't exactly right the first time he tried it.

Joe

[marter1229]

Whats worse then the term "easy"?
When the doctor says there could be a slight discomfert.

[Ed Reiss]

.....the heck with babushkas, Barbie is more like it!!!

[hatchet]

G'day all

Just wondering if anyone has turned a set of babushka dolls. One of my daughters collects them and has asked if i could make a set. If anyone has done them i would love to see some pics. Painting them could be a problem though coz I'm not very artistic

Cheers
Shorty

Mate did u ever do the Babushka doll thing? If so, any tips/pics to share? I am thinking of making some for my nieces. I dunno how to woodturn, but I will have a go at anything realy.
cheers, Hatch

[thefixer]

Mate did u ever do the Babushka doll thing? If so, any tips/pics to share? I am thinking of making some for my nieces. I dunno how to woodturn, but I will have a go at anything realy.
cheers, Hatch

G'day Hatchet

Not yet, still on the "to do" list. Finding the right timber has been a problem. Although I recently tripped over some claret ash that may do. I might green turn a few and wait til they dry out. It appears to be a very stable timber so far. I'll post my progress.

Cheers
Shorty

[ElizaLeahy]

I have a set painted as cats that was given to me by a client years ago.

I got it open once, when I first got them, and never again - until recently when I started box making.

Then I thought "drat this, pointless if I can't get them open" and prised them open. Turned out that only the outside one was stuck.

I was thrilled to bits to find them so rough inside. Made me feel so much better about my box turning!