Watching and experiencing these professionals at work, I cannot help but think of embroidery – perhaps it comes from my pedantic upbringing at the Royal School of Needlework, where technical execution was of the utmost importance. In this context, this is probably as close as I'll get to dancing ballet or playing the violin. Both ballet and classical music, as well as embroidery, have strong traditions that make them elevated and perhaps even unattainable?

It's no secret that Soviet living and its visual aesthetics are close to my heart. I write, research, and interpret them in my work, so this museum visit was a small fulfillment for my soul.

It was a Sunday when we arrived at the museum and realized that we would have the entire museum to ourselves. The ticket itself was old-school, and to my pleasant surprise, the entrance fee for students was only 1.50 euros. What else can you get for euro fifty cents nowadays?