My name is Iryna, and I am passionate about making motanka dolls. I started very recently – in the summer of the notorious 2022 year, after the full-scale invasion of russia in Ukraine. 

Before that I was completely far away from making dolls. But i made some other handmade things. As long as I can remember, I was always fascinated by some creative hobby. I sewed, then knitted and crocheted, then embroidered, it was a hobby. ⠀Before the start of the full-scale war, I was involved in the organization of active recreation and vacations. I was active myself too: I rode a bicycle in the summer and snowboarded in the winter. 

But since February 24, 2022, my life, like the lives of many Ukrainians, completely changed. 

Once I saw exceptionally gorgeous dolls of Ukrainian craftsmen in social media. I began to search for new photos of fabric motanka beauties, eagerly read the history of the motanka dolls and worked on the technology of their making. 

My dolls helped me in the most difficult times of the war – at its beginning. Thanks to them, I was able to switch my mind from constantly monitoring news about war and military actions to positive thoughts about making the next motanka. Making dolls inspires me and gives me hope. I hope that Ukraine will defeat the enemy on the battlefield and become free and happy again.
This is how my all-consuming creative journey with motanka’s began