When is a Russian doll not a Russian doll? If you arrived to my blog in search of the Russian nesting dolls, you might be disappointed that the doll I am offering as a giveaway is actually a doll in a Russian national costume. Or one of them, since there was such a huge variety of costumes, different in each region. The Northern and Southern Russian costumes differ quite dramatically, and even then each province, district and even village would have their own distinct features.
De Agostini started a new series of dolls exclusively for the Russian market: dolls in folk costumes.
The first doll represents the Moscow province (and is wearing a winter dress).
I have a spare doll to offer as a giveaway (please note the booklet in Russian is not included in the prize, as I don't have it).
I will also add a set of three Russian dolls cookie cutters from Lakeland.
These are excellent cookie cutters, and I have used them for making biscuits. If you fancy to have a look at what you can do with the cutters and how to decorate the biscuits, have a look at my older post.
To be entered in the draw please follow two simple steps:
1. Answer the question by leaving a comment below this post
+
2. Leave a comment on any other post.
Only people who will do both steps will be entered in the draw. I love reading comments, so please indulge me, you can choose any older post to leave a comment.
You do not have to follow my blog to be entered in the draw. If you decide to follow my blog, I will be thrilled, of course.
Please leave me some means of getting in touch with you if you win: your Twitter name, or forum name (if you come from any of the comping forums), if you use a Blogger, make sure there is an email address in your profile.
And the question is (pick any question):
Have you ever been to Russia (or plan to)? What places did you visit? Did you enjoy your trip? (or not?)
Or if you haven't been, and have no plans to travel, tell me something Russia-related. Whether you collect dolls, or tried Russian food. :)
This is a not a sponsored giveaway, I would prefer it to go to someone who loves dolls and who would appreciate a new addition to their collection, or who has a child who would give it a loving home. I would hate it to end up on ebay.
This giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Good luck! The winner will be chosen after 5 May 2012.
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Many thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway, I enjoyed reading your comments. I wish I had a few prizes to give away. But there could be only one winner. All the names went into the Raffleking, and the winner is ........
CARRIECAKES
Big well done! I am going to contact you now as to where to post the prize.
Lovely giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteNever been to Russia but we did meet lots of Russians in our hotel in Turkey last year. My husband spent the last night drinking vodka (that they'd brought with them !) until 2am - they didn't speak a word of English or French and he didn't speak a word of Russia so it was all done using mimes, hilarious !
@cherylp59
I have never been to Russia, but the office building where I work has a Russian company above us and every year we get invited to one of their networking parties where we get to sample Russian vodka and nibbles.
ReplyDeleteHi. I have commented on your Mummy's Little Helper post.
ReplyDeletei am a collector of russian dolls and have a set on my mantelpiece that came from Russia with love which is chock full of all kinds of russian dolls so i am spoilt for choice. cushions, necklaces and even some kitchen utensils in my home have russian dolls on them so am slighlty obsessed with them as you can tell ;) the cookie cutters look fab x
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Russia but would like to go to Moscow. We have some Russian dolls of Russian leaders. They are very good in likeness.
ReplyDeleteI have commented on 'Honey cake with prunes and soured cream'.
@maisietoo
Hi, I am not a UK resident. But I like you blog:))) It is still winter here:(
ReplyDeleteRussia is on my list of places to go to. Love the look of those minerettes (?) on the buildings around Moscow. Have been to 27 different countries in the last 17 years - so I might still make it to Russia in the future - hope so!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go to Russia as would love to see all the stunning buildings and also see real proper snow!!
ReplyDeleteHave commented on Honey cake with prunes and soured cream
@kikicomp
i have never been to russia but hopefully in the future i will go
ReplyDeleteI would love to travel on the transiberian railway one day. I also am a bit partial to russian vodka! my daughter would love this doll! @esthermate
ReplyDeletecommented on Justin Fletcher's new CD "Hands Up" (review)
ReplyDeletei have never been and have no plans. my daughter has a set of russian dolls that she loves
ReplyDeletei have commented on Clickety Clack Track: Dinosaur Train (review)
ReplyDeleteThe closest to Russia I have been is to the Russian Border in Norway. Recently I got back some ornaments I bought in a Russian store in London in the 70's. As a child I collected dolls in National costume but sadly did not get these back so I am planning to start replacing them and to win a Russian one would be a perfect starting point.
ReplyDeleteI commented on the Honey cake with prunes and soured cream blog
ReplyDeleteI want to go to Moscow and see Lenin in his tomb .. The whole history fasinates me !
ReplyDeleteI have left a comment on world Autism day x
ReplyDeletei have never been to russia but i would love to go someday because of all the fasinating history there. i have collected since a child the russian dolls and even have one tattooed on me, ive also commented on another of your blogs, you can catch me on twitter as @lovelylaurahaye or email familyofalotofus@gmail.com thank you x
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Russia but it's definitely on my list of places to visit!
ReplyDeleteI have commented on Mummy's Little Helper...
Sorry forgot to add my contact details
ReplyDeleteTwitter - @bloomingfox
Facebook - Kirsty Fox
Email - robertfox24 [AT] aol [DOT] com
I also follow via GFC - robertfox24
I have never been to Russia but my Grandparents have and loved it! One day when the children are older! :)
ReplyDeleteMy Little Girl would fall in Love with a doll so pretty !
@OneCheshireMum
I have commented on your Chocolate Brownies Post! Yummy
ReplyDelete@OneCheshireMum
I have never been to Russia, although it hs always been on my wishlist. I even did a term of learning Russian.
ReplyDeleteI have commented on your blini recipe. My mouth is now watering!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Russia, but I have seen 'From Russia With Love.' Does that count????
ReplyDeleteI don't see why not!!
DeleteI've never been to Russia, but my brother has. He brought back the most amazing Matruska dolls for my daughter. She loves them, and has had many sets in the past which have been trashed within months. The genuine article has lasted for years!
ReplyDeletekeljbj@aol.com
I have never been to Russia but I would love to. My parents have holidayed there many times and it sounds fantastic. My daughter is also obsessed with all the dolls they bring back for her (and I enjoy the vodka they bring for me!)
ReplyDeleteI've actually never thought about Russia untill now, it's a place I would like to go too though
ReplyDeleteRaiden_Lexie@hotmail.co.uk
I have been to Russia although it was in 1991 on a school exchange trip just after the Soviet Union collapsed.
ReplyDeletewe stayed most of the time in St. Petersburg and then travelled by train to Moscow, where the first mcdonalds had recently opened and there were huge ques, we went in a department store that had its wares on tables although there was so little stock some tables had only one item on.
It was amazing to visit in a period of such massive change, although my memories are hazy now, my favourite things were my hosts pancakes and condensed milk, the ice cream cafes and singing songs in a little play area surrounded by tower blocks after 'borrowing' some vodka from a students parents, we couldn't speak russian but we could all sing the Beatles!
I'd love to go back someday to refresh my memory, my mum still has the giant tea urn my exchange student lugged all the way over on her return trip!
I went to Russia on an exchange trip in late 1991 just afetr the Soviet Union collapsed, it was amazing to visit in a time of such change.
ReplyDeleteThe main thing I remember is how friendly everyone was, my hosts amazing pancakes with condensed milk, the ice cream cafes, the ques at mcdonalds and singing songs in a little playpark with some new found friends after borrowing some vodka from one of our hosts, we couldn't speak russian but after a few drinks we could all sing Beatles (and a bit of new kids on the block;)!
I'd love to go back and redo the same trip, we stared in st Petersburg and took the train to Moscow, but my memories are pretty hazy now (the vodka probably didn't help).
my mum still has the massive tea urn my student brought all the way on her return trip here!
ive never been to russia, but i think it would be an interesting place to visit. not sure i could convince my husband to go there though as he loves the sun too much.
ReplyDeletemy daughter would give this doll a loving home in her bedroom. @emmajlowe
Morning, never been to Russia, but i would love to go, and there is a intresting coach from England to Eastern Europe so you never know. thanks for comp, have a good week
ReplyDeleteLove the doll> I have commented on the Honey and Prune cake post. @chrismse1
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Russia but have a friend who makes the most delicious Shashlyk, Russian kebabs.
ReplyDeleteHow fab to see a Russian blog, I'm thrilled to have found you and will be following with interest! I'm a bit of a Russophile, although my Russian is not as good as it used to be! I lived in St Petersburg for a month or two, Moscow for a year or so, and Samara for a few months. Russia is my second home in a way, so do coem over to my blog and say hi when you get a chance. My eldest daughter is a Larissa BTW, and number 2 has Katya and Anastasia as her middle names. Having a little name day party this weekend, too! Anyway, we'd love the doll but really I just wanted to say privyet. Off to browse your other posts now. Dosvidaniye! Leta x
ReplyDeletegreat blog,I have never been to Russia its on my list as a place to go .I did Russian history A level loved it .
ReplyDeletehave commented on Clickety Clack Track: Dinosaur Train (review)
ReplyDeleteHi - I haven't been to Russia but have been to countries that formed part of the old Soviet Union - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Out of these I would say Latvia is still the most Russian. I love Russian dolls and bought some in Latvia. I also bought some pink Russian doll earrings which I love!
ReplyDeletei was fortunate and spent january winterterm of college in russia and loved it
ReplyDeleteunfortunately i didn't have funds to buy many souveneirs so I would love to win
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
I've never been to Russia, but do have a Russian friend and my brother (who's the family history expert) says that we might have a Russian streak in us. I would like to visit.
ReplyDeleteI commented on the blini post too.
@ericahughes
hello, i have never been to russia, although i dream of taking the train from nice (france) to moscow. The trip is 48 hours and it sounds amazing, like going back in time. i also was always fascinated by russia as an adolescent because of anna karenina!!! thanks for hosting this lovely give way.
ReplyDeletecorinneloisy at hotmail dot com
I have never been to Russia and would love to make my way there someday. I have a Russian friend that would tell me about her visits there with her family.
ReplyDeletei love unusual dolls i am a huge doll fan
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Russia but it's definitely on my list of places to visit!
ReplyDeleteNever been to Russia would like to visit.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post and prize! My uncle collects russain dolls!
ReplyDelete@Jenni000
i have never been to russia but have a collection of russian dolls theres somethings quite different about them . but in a good way :) x
ReplyDeleteI don't really know much about Russia other than the fact they do the best vodka (so I'm told hehe)
ReplyDeleteAlso commented on "Mummys little helper"
Thanks for the lovely giveaway
@hlac1
Oxford is twinned with Perm and I have met many of the visitors we have hosted. I would love to visit the city, and also St Petersburg. I have also commented on Club Penguin and Earth Month.
ReplyDeletee-mail minniewhittaker@hotmail.co.uk
I'd love to go to St Petersberg, my best friends' daughter works on the cruise ships & the pictures she has of this city are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAlso I'd love to see all the colourful domes in Moscow that I've seen on TV they look fabulous!
One day I'll ge there
I have never been to russia, I would love to go to St Petersberg for a weekend. It looks very interesting. The best thing I think about Russia is thr Russian dolls. My parents bought me some when i was little and now my children love playing with them!
ReplyDelete@vickyd4v3
Never been to Russia, but love Russian dolls
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Russia unfortunately. I have seen many different Russian towns and cities on tv and they look beautiful with amazing architecture. I do actually collect Matryoshka dolls. I was given my first set when I was a little girl (probably about 5) and was fascinated with them! I know have so many sets all over the house! In every room! I also collect Russian Doll style ornaments - shaped storage tins etc! coppelia100@btinternet.com
ReplyDeleteI have commented on your Honey Cake with Prunes and Soured Cream....yummy!!!
ReplyDeletecoppelia100@btinternet.com
I've never been to russia, but i did study russian language in school! Our head was mad about russia and because i was brainy i got selected to study it i can only remember vague bits of it now! I would love to go to st petersburg one day when my kids have flown the nest:-) fab giveaway x
ReplyDeleteI commented on your peanut butter recipe it looks lush (kitten14_@hotmail.com)
ReplyDeleteIve never visted but would love to, but I do have a special Disney set of Russian Dolls
ReplyDeleteHave commented on the tasty buckwheat blinis!
ReplyDeleteI love Russian dolls and am currently working on a Russian Doll cross stitch
ReplyDeleteMy four year old daughter Roxy has the tiniest Russian doll ever! She makes it talk, has it in her little barbie purse, and it goes where she goes.
ReplyDeleteRoxy had a full set once that she spent hours with, however we took them on a train once to go to her Grandmas ( who incidentally bought them for her!) and she had left the tiniest one at home, but as we had a young baby who would swallow things we used to hide the smallest one!
Sadly though, she left them in her little bag on the train. To no avail could we get them back. Her daddy and I both went to the train station on numerous occasions to find them. And despite offers of replacing them, she said it wasn't the same and wished she could have her old ones back.
Its such a shame as they really and truly were her favourite toy. Its been just over a year now, and I'm sure If I could present her with a larger Russian doll she would be so happy. Hence why I am entering this brilliant competition! xxx Also commented on your Buckwheat blinis post! I shall be following! xxx Carriecakes x
I've never been, but I would love to go to Russia. I would love to go to the ballet in St Petersburg and hopefully it would be all snowy and beautiful :-) I watched the film Onegin which has gorgeous Russian settings and ever since it's been on my list of places to see!
ReplyDeleteI commented on your Russian doll cookies post :-) I do love cookies :-D
ReplyDelete@Laura_Cookies
Love the dolls & never been to Russia!
ReplyDelete