ABOUT V

And I'm the Russian Martha Stewart.

Growing up in former Soviet Union and East Germany, arts and crafts were part of my daily routine, not so much as a hobby but as an essential set of skills. From an early age, I learned how to knit, crochet, sew, bake, make homemade jams — and yes, create beautiful things out of nothing.

Cut to: It's 1999 and I've arrived in New Rochelle, New York to study at an all-Women's College, on a scholarship. Why is that worth mentioning? Because that's the Christmas when my old-country skills came in handy: On a whim, my Best Friend and I got asked to help out with some Christmas Trees on campus. (More like half a dozen of 6-ft artificial giants!) My inner Martha Stewart came to the rescue —and the rest is history!

In all my years of traveling all over the country, I've brought my wrapping know-how with me. Be it volunteering to wrap Christmas gifts for a Los Angeles non-profit working with kids experiencing homelessness or getting hired by a small business to wrap holiday gifts for their corporate clients, my mad skills come along. However, no matter the job, my favorite part remains the same: Watching people's faces light up when they receive one of my beautifully wrapped gifts!