"I want a man like this!": A talented artisan from Rostov crafted a doll inspired by the singer SHAMAN and Danila Bagrov from the film "Brother."
Girls from Shakhty began to seek the master for "dream men" that can be hugged at any time.
Photo: Personal archive of the publication's hero.
32-year-old Maria Marimir from Shakhty has never attended a SHAMAN concert, but the doll that came from her needle found its way into the hands of the singer amidst a crowd of thousands.
In the evenings, she also sews beloved movie characters, including a cartoon version of Danila Bagrov with a fabric gun and a portrait of an elderly woman that was left to the children and grandchildren after their grandmother's passing. Moreover, her lawyer husband helps her in creating the toys.
“IT'S SO ENGAGING THAT IT NEVER GETS BORING”
Maria has loved crafting since childhood. She embroidered and made flowers from beads and ribbons.
- I was about six or seven years old: it was almost time to go to first grade. One day my mom didn’t know how to keep me occupied. The first thing she found was a box of beads. She brought it to me along with a piece of paper and some PVA glue. From that, I created my first picture.
In the first grade, the future master asked her parents to take her to art school. Among all the subjects, she enjoyed decorative graphics and batik the most. However, even after enrolling in university and becoming a lawyer, Maria never abandoned her beloved hobby. When her daughter was born, it felt like a second wind opened up for her.
- No matter what I did, it eventually became routine, and I found it boring. But when I tried sewing dolls, I realized that this activity combines many types of crafting. It has been so engaging that it hasn't gotten boring for six years.
MORE PEOPLE STARTED TO REACH OUT
At first, Maria admits, her family viewed her passion as something trivial.
- But when I began showcasing my work on social media, more and more people started reaching out. They asked for similar dolls. Now even my relatives reach out: like, someone has a birthday—make a gift!
Maria's dolls, following current trends, do not have detailed faces. They only have eyes and rosy cheeks.
- If we recall how a traditional Russian doll looks, which children have made for centuries, those toys had no faces at all. They served as amulets, talismans. Such a doll could keep secrets and wouldn’t reveal a child's secrets to anyone.
The craftswoman explains that even though the doll only has eyes on its face, it must closely match the image from which it is sewn.
- Even if you don’t know the person personally, their energy can be felt from the photo.
HUSBAND MAKES FASHIONABLE SHOES
Maria's dolls, despite being made of fabric, can move their arms and legs as if they have joints. This requires making many complex parts, each stuffed with varying densities of synthetic padding.
- To ensure the model can stand on its feet, a weight needs to be added. This is usually buckwheat groats.
And to ensure the beauties are fashionably shod—in boots, shoes, sandals, and sneakers—her husband has even gotten involved.
- Making shoes for the dolls requires considerable physical strength. My husband helps me with this. He makes shoes from genuine leather using a specific technique: he has to stretch the last, work with a large needle, and an awl—his fingers often get pricked.
IT TAKES A HALF-MONTH FOR EVERYTHING
For Maria, making dolls is a very emotional and creative process.
- It’s absolute meditation for me. Even when I have a hectic day at work, once I get home and feed everyone, I can relax while sewing and find my inner balance.
Even when it seems like the last stitch has been made, the doll may still not be ready.
- At first, it may seem that there’s nothing left to add. But if it sits overnight, it becomes clear whether any elements need to be added, or if the image is already complete.
Maria doesn’t make dolls one at a time.
- Working on them is not just about sewing. Different processes take time: the filler needs to settle a bit, the glue needs to dry—everything takes about half a month. In a month, I can create four to six dolls. On weekends, I spend about three to four hours cutting out, and on weekdays—an hour or two in the evening after work and all the household chores.
In addition to human replicas, Maria also makes many animals.
- Sheep, kittens, foxes, horses, and most often, of course, bunnies. Their legs also move.
“YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP!”
Despite having created over a hundred dolls, some toys remain unforgettable.
- It’s a very sad yet touching story. About five years ago, my daughter ordered a doll for her mother's 88th birthday. She recreated her grandmother’s image from a photograph. The toy lived with the elderly woman for a long time. Recently, the daughter wrote to me: “Mom is gone, but she’s always with us when we look at this doll.” So the doll was passed down.
For a girl who is an athlete in rhythmic gymnastics, her parents gifted her a doll version of herself with a medal for first place on its chest for her 12th birthday.
- For three years, the doll has traveled with her to all competitions. The girl believes it is her talisman.
Sometimes mishaps in the work on the next model turn out to be quite fitting.
- Once, I struggled for several days with one toy—one leg kept turning in. No matter how I resewed it, it wouldn’t straighten. By the time I had to give the gift, I warned the family of the heroine, whose doll I had made, about the “defect.” They just smiled: “Leave it! She really walks like that: her right leg is a bit turned in.” You can't make this up!
“MAKE A DOLL FOR OUR BOY”
Maria has also sewn mini-replicas of stars. Once, a fan of the singer SHAMAN from Siberia wrote to her.
- She simply sent a photo with the request, “Make a doll for our boy.” I looked—and it was the famous artist! She, along with her fan club, gifted the singer his textile image at a concert. Later, she sent a video of the presentation to the singer on stage.
On another occasion, a fan of the actor and director Sergey Bodrov Jr. reached out for a soft “portrait.”
- She sent a photo of him as Danila Bagrov from the film “Brother” and said: “I want such a wonderful man for myself!” I crafted his “signature” sweater, recognizable boots, and the girl insisted on adding the noticeable scars on his face. That’s when I realized the doll was turning out too cute. I started experimenting: I made a gun from polymer clay—it looked too doll-like. Then I sewed several layers of fabric and painted the “weapon”—that was the way to go. The doll is both cute and rugged.
Of course, I crafted while listening to the movie's music, the master recalls. And when the youth asked me to sew a version of the rapper “Gon.Flad,” I had to start from scratch to learn about his songs.
THE MAIN CRITIC IS MY DAUGHTER
Maria hasn’t thought about which stars she will sew next. However, she wants to refine her characters to make their figures more human-like.
- This will be an Amazon girl. I’m already preparing for the project: I’ve made the dolls’ legs longer, they’ll have waists, pronounced chins, cheeks, and even ears to wear earrings.
Her daughter Lisa helps her stuff the details with synthetic padding and constantly asks: “When will you teach me to sew?” She is a preschooler and the main critic of her mother’s toys.
- If she says it’s ugly, then it’s ugly. And if she says “Wow!”, then that’s a success! Even adults have the same emotions during the presentation.
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