Sense, Sensibility & Matryoshka

Weathermen predicted a rainy day which screwed up my plans for what I wanted to wear to our family day trip. I tried this and that, and the pile of rejected pieces rapidly grew on my bed. I almost gave up and was ready to turn to an easy option like a pair of jeans, which definitely would make my life simpler - and the hell with all that being true to my creative self stuff. I did not sleep enough the night before, and the gray skies did not brighten my mood either. But I knew that what I really wanted was to wear a new maxi dress which was in my closet waiting for a couple of weeks for warmer weather and just the right occasion for its first outing.

"So what if it's rainy? Sure the dress will get a little wet - but so would jeans." I would not feel good if I decided on jeans, I knew it. "If the weather gets really nasty, we will just spend the afternoon at a museum, and instead of walking outside, after dinner in a restaurant, we can drive around."  I tried to reason with myself. That battle again, almost as old as the world itself. Sense and sensibility. What will take over this time? As I was balancing on the edge of the decision, as if the future of the world depended on it, visions of Vix and Curtise brightening the streets of English towns with their vintage maxi dresses, were following me as good fairies that rainy morning. The ladies whom I admire and adore endlessly, for their pure creativity, passion for life and not letting either people or circumstances decide what they are going to wear. "Go for it, Natasha, just go for it." Someone must have said it out loud. Was it me talking to myself? Was it Justin? Or one of the fairies whispering in my ear?

And I did! I went for it. And I felt wonderful, w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l all day, till we came back home very late that evening. And then at home, till I fell asleep at night. And who knows, maybe it was my happy mood that helped to move clouds. Who says it is not possible to change the weather to suit your plans? All I know is that as we were leaving Tacoma, it was such a heavy downpour that for a moment it seemed we were destined to stay indoors. And by the time we arrived on Bainbridge, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and we had one of the loveliest family days ever, strolling in the beautiful and incredibly quaint village.

So what my post has to do with Matryoshka? 

Here is what... 

Ta-daaa! 

Matryoshka, Lialina style!

Matryoshka (or Russian nesting doll) is a common souvenir, traditional wooden toy and a symbol that strongly associates with Russia for the last century, despite the fact that its creators, carver Vassily Zvyozdochkin and folk artist Sergey Malyutin, were inspired by a Japanese nesting doll depicting an old Buddhist monk - such is the irony of life. It brings joy with its bright colors, lovely rounded shape and fun of discovering what's next and how the pieces fit into each other, but it also has a deeper symbolism and meaning - the succession, or continuity, very much like generations of one family line. 

The littlest Matryoshka in the world is made by Anatoly Konenko, the Russian artist, master of micro-miniature. It's painted according to traditional canons and is only 1.5 mm (or 7/128'') tall! It now is in the Museum of Slavic Mythology in Tomsk, Russia (source)

There are a few traditions of Matryoshka painting, as well as so-called author style Matryoshka dolls, widely popular nowadays. On the upper left photo, you see "Girl with a Rooster", the very first Matryoshka, created by Zvyozdochkin and Malyutin in 1890. On the right upper photo, a traditional style common in Semyonovo Village (Nizhny Novgorod region). You can see that it differs from the Sergiyev Posad style (Moscow region) on the photo below. Photo source

Photo source

What has a louder voice in your head usually - sense or sensibility?

Do your favorite blogger friends visit you disguised as fairies?

My outfit: 

Dress - Chico's

Jacket - Old Navy

Boots - Pikolinos (old)

Purse - Cole Haan (old, via TJ MAXX)

Accessories - Chaos NY, Chico's, Lane Bryant

Babushka's outfit:

Vest - Eddie Bauer

Top - thrifted (via Goodwill)

Anna's outfit:

Top - thrifted (via Goodwill)

Jacket and jeans - Old Navy

Shoes - Vans (via Nordstron Rack)

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Linking up with Share-in-Style - show your yellow or come as you are!
And 52 Pick-me-up: Baroque - why not! :)