Showing posts with label through. Show all posts
Showing posts with label through. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

enhance the Value of Collecting straight through understanding the History of Your pottery Doll range

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The history of Russian ceramics dolls begins with the first Russian facility founded in 1744 with chiefly small items being made. It was a monumental occasion when it first began, as it was the first firm in Russia and only the third throughout the entire European nations.

It wasn't until the 1750's that the first ceramics dolls in forms both of animals and humans were created. These were ready to only a small amount of people, namely nobility. As commerce expanded, more of these astonishing dolls found their way to loving arms of children and caring hands of some adults resulting in some of the most amazing collections of handmade dolls.

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Today's ceramics dolls continue to reflect their beginnings as many of them are dressed in traditional costumes complete with ornate embroidery and fur trimmed wraps and hats. These costumes often depict the area of Russia they come from. The half-moon hats, also known as Kokoshnik, are reminiscent of the Northern and Central provinces while the dolls costumed with rectangular hats, called Soroka, are from the more southerly reaches of Russia.

Exceptionally gorgeous bead work worked with pearls is common as are gold embroidered patterns. These astonishing costumes are ordinarily hand stitched and embroidered, as the traditional dress would have been. The ceramics hands and faces are fully hand painted adding to the charm and validation of the doll. Most often, the body and garments are hand stitched expanding the value of the doll.

A range of Russian ceramics dolls is never complete without a set of the Four Seasons dolls, which represent, of course, the fours seasons and the splendor of these in Russia. Summers are gorgeous with keen flowers and lush grasses; winters are cold and cover all in a shimmering layer of ice and frost. Spring is the renovation and promise of the year to come with fall being a time for harvest and a return to the earth. Each Russian ceramics doll from this series is detailed depicting a version of elaborate traditional garb including headdress in the colors, fabrics, and materials of the seasons.

For the serious collector of dolls, the Russian ceramics dolls should not be overlooked. They continue to carry forth old traditions in a new world that tends to overlook the past.

Simply knowing that somewhere the age-old convention of handmade Russian ceramics dolls still exists and is chronic to bring charm and joy to so many is sufficient to continue to procure this amazing art form. They will keep their charm with attentive care and the most minor of repairs generations down the line. Such a doll given to a child would inspire new adventures and a longing to learn the stories of old. Children love to play with such exquisite creations in the starting naturally because of the charm of the doll. Soon, though, their natural curiosity blooms and they begin to examine about stories that reflect their doll, the dress, and ultimately the history behind such a considerable piece of folklore.

An assortment of small Russian ceramics dolls in the six-inch size would be an affordable way to bring a bit of the legacy into the foreground of a child's mind without breaking the bank. Studying about the doll, determining where she came from by her clothing would bring families closer together as they learned together.

These small Russian ceramics dolls would also fit handily into many dollhouses for hours of imaginative play. Russian ceramics dolls have a resplendent history just waiting to be shared by new generations of doll lovers, children, and collectors all over the world.

enhance the Value of Collecting straight through understanding the History of Your pottery Doll range

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Helping Your Kids Break straight through Gender Stereotypes

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Gender stereotypes hurt us all. Boys might stifle their emotions, and girls might stifle their opinions, in order to be socially acceptable. These stereotypes limit each person's leisure and expression, and perpetuate ideas like: men must work a lot, earn lots of money, and should not bother spending too much time with their kids; women must care for others and not be "selfishly" complex with their own interests.

How can parents help girls and boys break through gender stereotypes? Here are some ideas:

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1. A parent's example is key. Try to make sure the father of the family is engaged with childcare and household duties. This can be difficult, because most men were not raised to pay attentiveness to household chores or children! When children see that both their mom and father are complex with decision-making and with household duties, they will get the idea that both girls and boys can and should do these things.

2. Expose your children to toys that help improve gender boundaries. It's true that children often gravitate to gender-specific toys: boys like to play with trains, and girls like to play with dollhouses. Still, I advise having at least some gender-boundary-stretching toys in the house, in case the kids do want to play with them. I have two boys, and they occasionally play with the dolls I have bought them. My older son likes to jump rope, and he has gotten into beading through a class at school.

3. Expose your children to books that stretch gender stereotypes. It is amazing that many books out there, even today, refer to roughly all animals by the pronoun "he"! Do population forget that animals come in two genders, just like humans? Look for books that feature girls in active roles, and boys in nurturing, peaceful roles. Buy cookbooks for boys (and girls), and books about science for girls (and boys).

4. Let boys wear beautiful things. Boys' clothes tend to be genuinely drab from a very young age. You can pick blue, or gray, or more blue, or brown, or more gray, or maybe some red. I try to add color and sparkle to my boys' apparel. When my older son was four, he told me that "beautiful things are for girls." It made me sad to hear him say that, yet I knew he was only telling me what he'd noticed in the world nearby him. It's easy to introduce pretty things to boys when they're young and are happy to wear necklaces and scarves. As they get older, you can try tie-dyed clothes, which are fairly hip and fashionable in most communities. Try buying Halloween costumes with some sparkle and color to them - not just bloody, scary things. Clowns, wizards, and animal costumes are good. Keep the costumes in a box for the boys to wear any time they want to play "dress-up."

5. Most important, perhaps: treat children as individuals, allow them to express their own opinions and emotions, and help them to pursue their own interests.

More suggestions are at my site, Gender Equality Books: http://www.genderequalbooks.com

Helping Your Kids Break straight through Gender Stereotypes

 

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