From a journalist to a puppeteer. From the army to creativity. Yulia Kovpak from Lutsk, an experienced media person and ex-servicewoman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, followed her dream and turned a hobby at home into an artistic endeavor. She founded her own toy workshop. First, she sewed a dress for girls, and then she tried to sew an animal from scraps of fabric, which remained. This is how an everyday pastime turned into hard work, which the craftswoman performs from the bottom of her heart and with great pleasure.

About the magic of a favourite business, inspiration from people's smiles. We talk about women's service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and helping the army through creativity with the founder of the workshop Lubava Julia Kovpak. 

In 2008 Yulia gave birth to a daughter, Sofiyka. Mother's princess - she called the girl Julia and thought a lot about it, how to choose a suitable outfit for this look. So that the child looks beautiful and individual. When Sofia turned three years old, the woman decided to sew dresses for her daughter - exquisite and necessarily made of natural fabrics.Julia's mother, Mrs. Lyubov, is a seamstress, she agreed to implement this idea. 

When Sofia's wardrobe was replenished with high-quality and unique things, women thought - why not sew children's clothes in general? Models were chosen, bought fabric and started working. This is how a family business was born.

"Somehow we had scraps of fabric left - so bright, with a nice pattern. It was a pity to throw them away, so I decided to make a toy out of them,- says Yulia.- My daughter did not play with dolls - she played with animals. She had the cow Mumunya, kittens, dogs. And so I sewed a pussy for Sofiyka. It turned out well, and I made four more of these. I was thinking of giving toys to dress buyers - we were going to the fair. And it turned out like this, that at the fair, people looked at their pussies more, than for a dress! And then my mother and I thought: maybe we are doing something wrong?. We sold out clothing collections and started sewing toys". 

The service has its own schedule and rules.At home - your own creativity

Julia Kovpak more than 15 years engaged in journalism. She worked on television in Lutsk. During the reformation of the industry, it is clear that we must move on, try something new for yourself. At the same time, she was offered the position of press officer of the military unit. Julia agreed. 

«In 2019 I went to serve him,- says the craftswoman.- The war in the country has been going on for the fifth year, serving in the army was prestigious. This is a different experience - an interesting one, responsible. And sometimes painful, when you have to see that with your own eyes, which will not be shown on TV... Therefore, every time I returned from work to my toy workshop, it was a real consolation for me. I switched, could relax. In the service, life had its own schedule and rules. And at home I immersed myself in creativity. Then it was my hobby". 

Once Yulia had a business trip to Donbas, there she met her current husband, also military, and later moved to live with him in Lviv. A family cannot exist in two cities, a confident craftswoman. She dared to resign from the service and devote time to her family and creativity.

Now the woman has returned to Lutsk again, to develop a family business in his own workshop. She sews toys herself, and my mother puts them on. Clothes, by the way, is removed, and this is the peculiarity of the products. Panties, dress, bloomers, blouses - everything can be removed and everything can be washed. 

"These are not the toys, which should be put on the shelf, and mom will say: do not touch, it's for beauty. No - our toys are for that, so that children play with them and develop through the game. I generally want to design toy models-families, so that children can play scenarios with them". 

"Craft is an individuality. And where there is an individuality - there is a soul"

Puppeteer Julia Kovpak does everything by herself.Does not copy the creativity of others, and is inspired by that, that surrounds her.Learn to notice that, what is nearby: nature, smiles, art. This is how the image of the future product is born. Then the shape is cut out, a trial version is created. And then - the most interesting:all the craftswoman's toys are tested by her daughter's toys, nephew and niece.

Previously toys Lubava were frequent exhibits of craft fairs. The goods were sold onetsy, many of them were bought by foreigners. There were buyers from America, of France, Portugal, of Spain, Australia and even from China. Now the brand is sold in Germany, Italy, Poland and most of all in Ukraine. 

Yuliya does not have time to create products for the international market - she now has an equally important job. She makes symbolic "military" keychains and figurines. I started doing this last year - I wanted to support the boys. People actively buy such things, and Lubava transfers part of the earned funds to the needs of the Armed Forces. 

Yulia also cooperates with the Lviv branch of «Plast». Makes figurines of plastuns, and also gives half of the earnings from sales to the army. 

"For me, craft is individuality.And where there is individuality - there, soul. Be-a craft product is a product with a soul. Whatever it is. You buy and feel the soul of the master. And that soul fills your space. I buy craft things myself, to support Ukrainian masters. And that's it, example, I have a doll, i look at her, I remember the author and smile, because those memories make me feel warm. And I hope so, that my toys are also pleasant for children and their mothers,- Yulia shares.- sometimes you stand at the fair on some gray day, and people walk and smile. From small to old is coming-something sad is going on, head bowed, and then he looked at the table - and immediately smiled. At such moments you understand, what are you doing this for».

 

Author: Iryna Shatalova