My Olympic Event

On the slopestyle course of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, you could see a giant, modern matryoshka doll in the background as snowboarders and skiers flew past.  AP photographer Sergei Grits captured it in a photograph that became one of Yahoo's "photos of the day" on February 4, 2014.  

Inspired, I remembered that my favorite embroidery book, Doodle Stitching, had matryoshka motifs, so embroidery became my Olympic event.

Matryoshka figures have no set number of dolls.  The three smaller ones are from Doodle Stitching...

... but I drew the fourth and largest one based on Grits' photograph.  Note the goggles.

Although I found two sets of matryoshka dolls at two different antique venues this month, I didn't buy them because of their color and personality.  But when I saw this set, I knew they were coming home with me, even though they didn't nest.  They looked happy, not dour.

The first Russian doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who did the painting.  They were inspired by a carved doll from Japan, so this Oriental set that I bought in 2012 isn't that far fetched an idea.

Making new friends at the Olympics.  Forget about bean counting which country got the most medals.

I didn't finish my mini-quilt before Sunday's closing ceremony.  I was a day late; I guess I'm no Olympian.