Folk Dolls and Pocket Companions: SLAVTOBER Week 1
Humans have a long tradition of breathing life into objects through magical thinking. During week 1 of Slavtober we’re looking at small handmade creatures, companions and dolls, created in Slavic folk traditions with a specific intention. We’re going to leave out the statues and figures of deities: our interest is in the mundane, personal objects. Welcome, welcome, to the week 1 and our very first art prompt of this art challenge celebrating Folk Craft and magic in human hands!
Slavtober is a month-long celebration of Slavic / Eastern European folklore and creativity, hosted across my online platforms (instagram + newsletter + tiktok).
I’ve been hosting it on and off since 2020, hoping to gather a community of artists and folklore enthusiasts, share the wonders of Slavic folklore with others and create a space for us to share our folk-inspired artwork. Over the past 6 years that’s exactly what happened, and I’m so excited to host Slavtober once again in 2026!
WEEK 1 PROMPT IS:
DOLLS & POCKET COMPANIONS
Let’s look at Ukrainian motanka dolls as inspiration and create our own small handmade creatures charged with protective meanings. They remind us that hand craft doesn’t have to be perfect - it’s the intention behind the protective object that matters most.
What intention will YOU put in your creations?
MOTANKA
Motanka is a small pocket doll created from scraps of fabric and string, originating in Ukraine with Eastern Slavs. These days this craft is also popular in other Slavic countries such as Poland (where I’m from), and different types of dolls are known for different protective purposes.
It’s a powerful example of a small companion created with intention. There are different kinds of Motanka, and each one is unique. They could be a way to connect with maternal ancestors, but have grown into a talisman of a kind, created by women for themselves or their loved ones, and often placed in children’s cribs for protection.
You can be very creative when creating a Motanka, but there are some rules you can’t break:
1) Never use a needle, scissors or anything sharp to make the doll - or you’ll stab your fate and turn it into a bad one.
2) Your doll can’t have a face! It can accidentally end up looking like someone else, and serve this person instead of you. The doll must be faceless, connected to your intention.
Illustration depicting motanka and protective plants & symbols from Slavtober 2025. Also a part of this print series!
Sometimes you’ll see that motanka’s face has a cross made of intertwined colourful threads. The cross is a solar symbol, bringing harmony and balance. Each motanka is different and fully unique to its creator and their intention:
AND NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN.
The interpretation of this prompt is entirely up to you.
Will you try to make your own Motanka with a personal intention? Perhaps using materials or a memento important to you?
Create artwork / costume / scene inspired by this craft?
Or perhaps create an entirely new creature that will become your companion?
What intention will you put into this piece of art?
JOIN US:
Share your creations online and remember to tag me and use the hashtag #slavtober - I’d love to see them!!
Make yourself comfy and stay here for Week 2 of Slavtober, where we’ll talk about the rich world of folk patterns!