Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Try It Tuesday~Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs)

Hi!
I'm going to attempt to give you an idea of how these beautiful Ukrainian Easter Eggs are created.  The ones I'm sharing with you were created over 20 years ago.  We were raising Ostrich, Emu and Rhea birds and I had friends with ducks and geese, so I had eggs.  A friend invited me to a class and I was hooked~
I could usually create two a day and still have supper on the table :). 

The best way to start something new is, buy the kit !!!!

The kit came with the dyes, the tool (kistka or stylus) and beeswax.  It also has some
 easy patterns for the eggs.
You will also need white vinegar, no.2 pencil, candle, varnish and drying rack (hubby made mine).

Drying rack along with an Egg Lathe.  The Egg Lathe is a device used to draw perfect horizontal lines around the egg.  This was a very useful tool when I started learning this craft.

Pure beeswax is the only type of wax used with the egg dying process.  The candle is used when you take the wax off, to reveal the designs on the egg.  It really is like opening a present!!

When I first started creating the Ukrainian Ester Eggs, I couldn't start an egg with a pattern, so that is why I have several books of patterns.  As I kept creating I was able to come up with my own designs.  I have listed below the steps in creating an Ukrainian Easter Egg.  Take in consideration the dye has been prepared ( different jars for each color) and beeswax and kistka is ready.

1. Blow the yoke out of the egg. Wash and let it come to room temperature. (You can do them the traditional way and not blow out the yoke.)
2. Place pencil lines, on the egg, dividing it into sections.
3. Apply beeswax to the basic lines.
4. Draw another pattern and then dip in the dye.  Using light color of dye first.
5. Continue the process until the egg is covered with wax.
6. Hold the egg over a candle and the wax will melt off reveling the egg.
The more you practice the better you will get.
7. Rub with varnish and place on the drying rack.
 I would do this at night so the eggs would have a good 8 hours to dry.


These are Rhea eggs~

These are duck, turkey and goose eggs~
Start out using chicken eggs and then look for a source for goose eggs.  They are bigger and give you more space to design with.

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I'm thinking of gearing up and doing this craft again ~
I'll keep you posted!!!
Thanks for stopping by!!!

4 comments:

  1. Wow! These are beautiful! Is there anything you can't do??? Totally amazing.

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  2. WOW WOW WOW!!! Those are absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! They are STUNNING!!!!!!!!!

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  3. WOW! Absolutely gorgeous!!! I've always wanted to try making these.

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  4. Wow Connie! These are amazing! I have some from my grandma but would never attempt to try it myself!

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