Natalia and Tetiana have been embroidering for over 20 years, inheriting their skills and passion for embroidery from their grandmother, Maria Matviyko, from the village of Velyki Sorochyntsi in Poltava Oblast. Their grandmother was an avid embroiderer who also participated in exhibitions.<\/p>\n
For millennia, the art of creating motanka dolls has been passed down through generations, and Natalia and Tetiana continue this ancient tradition.\u00a0 These dolls, more than mere toys, are believed to be protective talismans warding off evil forces. To avoid attracting unwanted attention, they are traditionally crafted without faces.
\nSome motanka dolls, particularly those from the Slobozhanshchyna region, feature intricate cross patterns that replace eyes. These crosses are created by carefully intertwining threads of various colour.<\/p>\n
The sisters use only natural materials such as linen, hemp, cotton, and wool, and they embroider by hand using over fifty techniques from various regions of Ukraine. Their works have been exhibited not only in Ukraine and Poland but also in Turkey, Thailand, and Georgia. In 2012, as part of the Viva Ukraine festival, they prepared an exhibition presented at the Ethnographic Museum in Wroc\u0142aw.<\/p>\n
In addition to their other works, the Katrychenko sisters showcase embroidery from the culturally rich regions of Reshetilivka and Borshchiv.<\/p>\n