For centuries the birch tree has been a symbol of Russia. It is one of the most beautiful trees in the world. Many folk songs and folk tales incorporate the birch tree.
For ages birch wood has been used in Russia and other countries for the production of kitchen utensils, baskets, jewelry boxes, shoes, canoes, and toys. The texture of birch is similar to that of a mix of leather and cork. Birch wood has also been used to make containers for the storage of fish, flour, honey, berries, nuts and other foodstuffs. These containers help keep foodstuffs from spoiling. For example, the birch breadbox keeps bread fresh for one to two weeks. Liquid stored in birch containers will not get hot when in the sun and will stay cool and fresh for a long time.
The air in birch groves is extremely clean. Birch bark is an ecologically clean, natural material with high bioenergetics.
The birch tree is also called a "warm" tree. Birch wood is very warm to the touch, even in a cold room due to its positive
power. Birch is referred to in folklore as possessing calming and healing effects. Touching birch can help to reduce stress.
Wearing jewelry made from birch can eliminate depression, relieve headaches, and positively influence the human energy.

 My name is Nikolay Makhrov.  I was born in 1959 in Moscow Region, in town named Balashiha.
I graduated the Moscow Art Institute, faculty of Applied Art.
I am a professional artist and a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and a member of the GUILD of INTERNATIONAL CRAFTSPEOPLE, of UNESCO.
In 1990 during my trip to Siberia, I got acquainted with art of processing birch bark by local population. It was then that I received the first lessons of working with the birch bark. The following stage was the North of Russia - Arkhangelsk, where this art differs from that of Siberia. Thus, studying features of folk-art in each region of Russia, I developed my own style.
Lately I've been using in my work birch bark of southeast Siberia origin, since it is most suitable for my works, which are: decorative panels, dishes, baskets, boxes of different forms and sizes, caskets and so on.
Many of these are used in daily life of a person. Some of the boxes are used for storage of honey, milk, bread, flour, tea leaves, sugar and so on. Now in Russia it is widely spread, and is an important part of national culture and of old Russian tradition.

In my work I use various technics of processing of birch bark - weaving, carving, stamping, I paint the boxes, and for carved toys I use Siberian cedar. At numerous exhibitions I take part in, I like very much to show to adults and children process of my work and to tell about history and features of Russian folk-art.

Yours truly,
Nikolay Makhrov