Interested in having us make a custom nesting doll for you? It's affordable, and fun. Send us your snapshops and we'll create a custom Russian nesting doll depicting your family, friends, whatever! This works well both for a single gift, or for a whole batch of custom promotional items. Personalized custom nesting dolls unleashed!

Let us make a custom Russian nesting doll for the next big event in your life. From your pictures, ideas, and artwork, our artists can create stunning wedding favors, promotional items, and more!

Golden Cockerel makes lead-free, non-toxic Russian nesting dolls and Russian crafts that are safe for your children. However, many matryoshka dolls have small parts that present choking hazards, and not every doll we sell is made at our workshop, under our scrutiny. Read about the ins and outs of nesting doll safety.

When, where, and how was the first matryoshka made? Nesting doll history is fascinating. Learn about the nesting doll's history, a journey from simple toy to folk icon.

Looking for inspiration for painting your nesting doll? Take a look at some of the Russian matryoshka masterpieces our customers have created from blank nesting dolls!

Watch how easy you can paint a nesting doll using Golden Cockerel's DYI Volga Maiden Nesting Doll Kit.

The program, "A Hand Up," is a reaction against cuts in government funding for the orphanage No.3 in St. Petersburg, Russia and was designed by Golden Cockerel. Dedicated to helping Russians help themselves, Golden Cockerel arranges for professional artists to teach the children the traditional Russian folk art of painting brooches. The brooches are then "sold" in America for modest donations to the program. All of the proceeds (100%) are split between the young artists and their orphanage, badly in need of repairs, bathroom renovations, etc. See how this program is making a difference in many young lives.

“If I were to write a book about nesting dolls” says Golden Cockerel’s chief nesting doll designer Misha Yudin, “I’d not necessarily write about how dear or how beautiful they are, but about how difficult they are to make, what tedious, painstaking work it takes.”
This comes from the man who has dedicated his last 15 years to nesting doll production; to say he knows what he’s talking about is an understatement.

In 2001 we invited him to oversee our matryoshka workshop, where now he wears many hats: chief designer, artistic teacher, productivity manager, even creative visionary. His signature belongs on each of the countless dolls that we produce.
To learn more about nesting dolls and Misha Yudin, read a full length interview with the artist.

How small can a nesting doll get? How tall is the world's smallest matryoshka? Read on to find out!

Start your Christmas shopping early at one of our Greek festivals or Christmas shows. We bring our stocking stuffers down off the mountain to the flat lands of North Carolina and beyond so you can hand pick the perfect gift. Russian stuff at Greek festivals? These community gatherings celebrate the culture and Orthodox church; the Greeks and Russians share a common religion. Come celebrate with us!

Learn more about the history of Russian porcelain (aka, fine china) with this brief overview. Happy reading!