Toy Master Irina Prilukova

May 17, 2021

A photo story about people who changed their occupation due to circumstances.

I always remember my inner conviction that I would never work in an office. When the opportunity arose to set up my own business, I began to develop in the field of optics. I spent two years in this business. Then I got bored. I offered this business to my husband, and he still runs it.

I was a housewife, raising children. The bunnies came as a consequence of a major trauma: a triple fracture in my leg. I was bored out of my mind. I folded origami, beaded, knitted blouses.

Found a squiggle, tried to sew, and went the first bunny. Exactly one year after the break, I was with the bunnies at the first Mlyn.

Мастер игрушек Ирина Прилукова выбирает ткань для своих игрушек

Мастер игрушек Ирина Прилукова шьет зайца

Мастер игрушек Ирина Прилукова вдевает нитку в иголку

After my illness, a different life began. The bunnies gave life a different meaning.Now my business is just toys and traveling with them.

My toys have found homes all over the world. People buy toys from me who I like. In all this time I have sewn over 2,000 toys. That’s how many good people there are in the world!

Мастер игрушек Ирина Прилукова со своими игрушечными зайцами

Watch a video interview with Irina Prilukova:

The material was created as part of the project “Photohistory. Express course”, organized by the Belarusian Association of Journalists and the Media Training Center “Media Coach”.