Murmansk resident creates magical dolls that travel across Russia

Magic always bubbles in Marina Kazak«s kitchen: among fabrics, wool, and sculpting, unique author dolls are born. Each carries the warmth of the maker»s hands and joy to new owners. Despite an administrative career and office routines, creativity has become Marina«s way of self-expression and a source of joy for people across Russia. The artisan»s story—in an interview for 51.RU.

From biology to creativity

«I graduated from Murmansk State Pedagogical University with a specialty in »teacher of biology and ecology«,» Marina says. «I didn»t end up working in my field, but the knowledge has been invaluable in life—from raising children to gardening.«

After university, she joined the scheduling department at MSPU, where she worked for 19 years organizing the educational process. Now Marina works at the Institute of Creative Industries and Entrepreneurship of MAU, handling educational and methodological work. But creativity has always been by her side.

First steps in the magical world of dolls

Marina grew up in a family where knitting and needlework were part of daily life. «My mother and grandmother taught me to knit, and with my sister we made doll rooms, drew, and sewed clothes for dolls,» she recalls.

Handmade dolls came later, in the 2010s, when online master classes and new creative materials began to appear. It was then that Marina first encountered Waldorf-style dolls—soft, cozy, and stuffed with wool.

Masha—the first doll

Her first Waldorf doll was Masha, sewn from an old white T-shirt in one evening. «I tinted the fabric with lingonberry juice and herbal tea to give the skin a natural shade. I remember how much joy this process brought!» Marina shares.

Although Masha was damaged by the cat, Marina still keeps her: «This is my first doll, my joy. But then I realized that I needed to keep learning and practicing.»

Marina is self-taught. She masters techniques through trial and error. Today, she creates dolls using a mixed technique: the head, hands, and legs are made from self-hardening clay, and the body is fabric stuffed with sawdust, polyester fiberfill, or wool.

Creating one doll takes from three days to a week. Sometimes inspiration strikes suddenly, and a character is born in the middle of the night, with sleep postponed for later.

Dolls travel across the country

Marina«s dolls travel all over Russia—from Tomsk to Bryansk, to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. For each new »journey,« Marina packs the dolls with care and delights in photo and video greetings from their new homes.

Her customers are creative people who value handmade work. Sometimes the dolls end up resembling the clients« loved ones. »Occasionally, I unintentionally create whole families of dolls,« the artisan smiles.

In December 2023, Marina participated for the first time in an amateur decorative and applied arts exhibition, presenting five of her works. And when her personal VKontakte album overflowed with doll photos, she created the community «MariKa» to share her creativity with friends and fans.

«I create dolls not for philosophy, but for joy and beauty. The main thing is that when a person looks at a doll, they smile and feel warmth in their heart,» Marina says.

Creativity is a hobby for her, a way to distract herself from work. Her dream is to maintain a balance between home, family, and work, leaving time for new ideas.

Advice for beginners

Marina is certain that everyone can create. «Take material that you like and let your heart guide the process. Even if at first only you like the result, there will definitely be people who appreciate your work,» the artisan inspires.