Walls literally come to life thanks to the desk lamp illuminating the room with its magical shadows and intricate speckles. Gourd carving art by Jane Mawson

Gourd carving art by Jane Mawson
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia based artist of applied art Jane Mawson graduated from Washington College in Chestertown Maryland. A third generation artist, Jane works mostly in interior design, home decor and sculpture art. Inspired by the Bauhaus tradition, her artworks include a whole gallery of beautiful hand carved gourd lamps.
Noteworthy, Jane successfully exhibited her art works in the Abington Art Center and Accent Gallery in Ocean City, New Jersey. Also, the book ‘Creating Gourd Lights’ by Susan Nonn (published in 2017) features some of Jane Mawson’s works.
According to Jane, she considers herself more artisan than artist, using old world manual skills. In particular, wood working and pyrography, carving and sculpting, thus blurring the line between craft and art. Jane sells her wonderful works through her Etsy shop “Unique Handcrafted Gourd Lights”. So, if you want a unique and magical design of your home, visit her Etsy shop (the link below the post).
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Christmas Angel. Patchwork, application, three layers, synthetic winterizer, quilted. Patchwork by textile artist Maryana Zolotova

Textile artist Maryana Zolotova
Born in Suzdal, talented craftswoman Maryana Zolotova graduated from the Suzdal Art Restoration School in 1990. There she studied watercolor, oil and pastel painting techniques. According to Maryana, her love for patchwork appeared when she was a schoolgirl. First, she sewed a cadaver crow for a friend for her birthday. Then a big monkey appeared, and a little caricature doll for a teacher. “I will never forget my first mini-exhibition at school. It consisted of 10 toys, and I was proud of myself. Organized by my teacher Olga Grigorievna Knokova, who played a big role in my creative life”.
Later, when Maryana became a mother, she sewed clothes for her child, decorated them with applique and patchwork. In addition, she continued to make dolls in national Russian costumes.
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New winter, 2017. Figurine in a mixed technique. Materials – wool, wire, acrylic paints, chiffon, self-curing plastic, floss, embroidery. Mysterious felted creatures by Alexandra Petrova

Mysterious felted creatures by Alexandra Petrova
Russian artist Alexandra Petrova (pseudonym Voronikha) began to create felted creatures in the technique of dry felting since the spring of 2007. Petrova graduated with honors from St. Petersburg University of Technology and Design with a degree in Decorative and Applied Arts. The master lives in St. Petersburg, and, as she writes about herself, “I periodically disappear in the forests of the Pskov region.” It is in the forest that she draws inspiration from her mythological creatures. The names of these animals are no less mysterious than the design. For example, the Mistress of Mists, the Mistress of Summer Days, the Collector of pine needles, the Forest Evening, the New Winter, Summer Warden of Winter, etc. Her toys periodically participate in various exhibitions of applied art.
Along with the felted toys, she began to sculpt the creatures of self-hardening plastic (from the end of 2011). Made in a single copy, for each creature the artist used various additional materials – wire, glass, beads, plastic, etc.
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A cute little bat with onyxes for eyes, hanging off a branch growing quartz crystals, up against a starry night sky. Lyla Mori spooky symbolic embroideries

Lyla Mori spooky symbolic embroideries
According to the talented artist Lyla Mori (aka moonflesh), October is her favorite month. Born in October, this probably influences all her creativity and in particular, way of life. Undoubtedly, the gallery of stunning Gothic mini embroidery pieces is a truly work of art. Besides, her art is exquisite and inspirational, and behind each embroideried piece is an interesting story. For example, a stunning collection of embroideries with willow branches and urns titled “Sacred”, inspired by the gravestones in Salem’s Burying Point Cemetery.
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An angel with a bird. Materials – Ceramic tiles, tile printing, wood, author’s technique of sublimation printing. Handmade work by Gothic naive artist Pavel Nikolayev. Novorossiysk, Russia

Gothic naive artist Pavel Nikolayev
Novorossiysk based artist Pavel Nikolayev has been painting since the age of five. According to the artist himself, he can’t imagine his life without paints, and generally, without art. Meanwhile, inspired by the work of old masters, he created his own style, resembling “gothic naive”. Although the artist experiments in different styles, yet his works in Gothic naive are something special. In particular, “An Angel with a Bird” – originally painted on wood, and then, by means of sublimation, the author made a print from it. Next, he transferred the image onto the ceramic tiles under the influence of high temperature and pressure. Such technique makes it possible to create bright and durable panel.
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A mother and a daughter, Russian handmade dolls. Slavic faceless folk doll magical power

Slavic faceless folk doll magical power

Why does the Slavic folk doll have no face? Indeed, the traditional rag doll is faceless. As a rule, not indicated, the face remained white. Meanwhile, a faceless doll, as an inanimate object was inaccessible to the evil, unkind forces to get into it, and therefore harmless to the child. In addition, it had to bring him well-being, health, and joy. It was a true miracle: from several rags, without additional details – hands and legs, without a designated face, the master managed to produce the character of the doll. The doll was emotional, it could laugh and cry.
In fact, in ancient times, the dolls had another purpose, it protected from disease, misfortune, and evil spirits. The doll took care of a man, and was called: guardian or bereguinya. As a rule, the most protective were dolls, made without needles and scissors. Also, creating a doll, a master avoided cutting the fabric, instead, he/she used to tear it. That’s why such doll sometimes was called “rvanka” (from the Russian word “rvat'” – to tear).
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A Hungarian couple in traditional embroidered costumes. Hungarian folk art embroidery Matyo Roses

Hungarian folk art embroidery Matyo Roses
Any folk art is closely connected with life, the nature and the history of each people. Known for brightness of colors and variety, national Hungarian embroidery is stunning and recognisable. Noteworthy, each region of Hungary brings its own characteristics.
There are two types of Hungarian embroidery – matyo and kalocsi. Matyo includes black background and bright silk threads for bright floral patterns. Traditionally, the main motif is a large rose located in the center with smaller embroidered motifs around it, and each of them has its own significance. Also, the colors of embroidery bear special significance. For example, yellow means sun, black – the strength of the earth, blue – sadness, and green – mourning.
However, Kalocsi embroidery includes natural motifs and white thread. Gradually, embroiderers added other colors. Now there are 27 colors. The basis is white flax. Besides, each color has its own meaning: red – youth, flowering, yellow – the sun, and a combination of blue and violet – mourning.
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