Stories
At TVORÝ Atelier, we create pieces inspired by raw nature and human experiences. We preserve memories and stories in timeless forms.
Please enjoy the personal stories that inspire our creations.
QIRIM Stories
Story #4
We loved to travel to Crimea with my parents in early to mid-fall. It was known as the “golden season” in terms of weather—not too hot and not as crowded as in the summer.
We often stayed in Evpatoria, spent some time in Sudak, and traveled to Novy Svit, with its unbelievably beautiful nature—mountains and sea all in one.
I especially remember Ai-Petri Mountain, where there was horse riding, including for kids. I must have been around 7 or 8 years old when I rode a horse there. That moment was so exciting for me that horses became my favorite animal.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos from that time, but I do have others from later trips around Ukraine, where my family and I visited places to ride and simply connect with these beautiful animals. And photos of parents with such a stunning mountains and Swallow’s Nest castle behind them.
I hope that one day I can ride again—on top of Ai-Petri Mountain, surrounded by beautiful horses.
- Karina
Story #3
We usually traveled to Crimea in the summertime with my family. During our time there, my sister, my mom, and I would collect flat rocks we found along the beach. It felt like a special connection between us—a kind of “girls’ team.”
When we painted the rocks, we would sit very close to the sea, and behind us there were beautiful horses. The nature was stunning, and those moments felt so cozy and warm.
In Crimea, we usually painted sea-themed images. But in 2025, I recreated those childhood memories and decided to paint the Carpathian Mountains of Bukovel—the place where I spent my last vacation with friends before the full-scale war began on February 24, 2022.
That time feels like it belonged to another life—full of joy, happiness, glühwein, and meaningful conversations with friends.
- Hanna
IInstagram @ann.kolomietsss
Story #2
My best memories of Crimea are its beauty—the mountains, the sea, and the hikes.
I spent a lot of time hiking there. During my university years, I went about 5–6 times a year, usually on short 3–4 day trips. When I had more time, I would take longer routes lasting 5–7 days.
Since childhood, Crimea for me began with trips to the sea with my parents, and later it turned into hiking in the mountains—alone, with friends, and with family. I feel like I explored almost every place you could go… and even some places you weren’t supposed to.
The attached photos are from the Crimean Nature Reserve. Before that, we had visited the Grand Canyon and swam in the Baths of Youth. Officially, you’re not allowed to enter the reserve, but… we did. We came across entire herds of deer. From there, we planned to continue toward Roman-Kosh and then descend, but security stopped us. They said that Yanukovych (former president of Ukraine who was russian position) was resting somewhere in that area, so no one was allowed through.
In the end, my friend and I descended through a saddle—I no longer remember its name—and continued down toward the coast.
There were so many stories like that. One of them is about a three-day trek I did from the Angarsk Pass to Sudak: through Demerdzhi, the Dzhur-Dzhur and Dzhurla waterfalls, then under Karabi. One night we even camped near wild boars. After that, I lost the trail, found a descent toward Zelenogorye, went down there, and from there continued to the coast and through Novy Svet to Sudak. That entire intense journey took just three days.
There were countless routes like this in Crimea: the Southern Coast, Chatyr-Dag, Karabi. We would drive up to the meteorological station and stay there for a while, doing radial hikes. There were also the bays of the Sea of Azov near Kerch, trips into Crimea via the Arabat Spit from Henichesk, and the coastline from Yevpatoria down to Sevastopol, along with many other places.
I miss Crimea deeply—and all of those places.
- Vsevolod
Instagram @vsevolodmyr
Story #1
When you travel, there is a kind of mind game that happens. The very first experience with a place becomes so deeply rooted in your memory that all the beautiful landscapes you see afterward seem to layer on top of it. You begin to compare everything — the places, the food, the atmosphere — to that first, unforgettable impression.
For me, it often happens with nature. The breathtaking views of the South of France, the hills of California, or any mountain landscape sometimes remind me of Crimea, Ukraine — where I spent parts of my childhood. Even though I understand that each landscape is unique, there is still a quiet nostalgia for that first beautiful connection with raw mountain nature.
And then, there are the people — the native Crimean Tatars families who welcomed us one summer. They treated us with such kindness and warmth, and I still remember the taste of fresh figs from their garden and the homemade fig jam I tried for the first time. Those memories are not just delicious — they are bright, vivid, and unforgettable.