No more night shift - hooray! But my joints are still in recovery mode. So here's an oldie but goodie.
This is my friend Laurie. She makes exquisite Ukrainian eggs. Laurie's not Ukrainian, but she is talented and generous with her knowledge. She will teach anybody who wants to learn how to make them.
She's crafty and hospitable, serving us pysanky students a delicious lunch beforehand.
Everything Laurie makes is pretty
Can you believe we're going to learn how to make these?
The tools - egg, beeswax, and kistka (writing pen)
dyes especially made for pysanky
she demonstrated how to heat the kistka in the candle flame, dip the hot pen into the beeswax, and scoop it up to write on the egg, like a waxy ink.
Both the colors and the designs on a pysanky egg are symbolic. At one time the designs were a form of pagan folk art but later took on Christian meaning. 
You dip the egg in dyes from the lightest to the darkest colors, covering with wax any parts that you want to preserve.
After the final dye bath, with black traditionally being the last color, it's time to melt away the wax.
Carefully holding the egg near the candle flame, you melt the wax and gently wipe it away with a cloth.
"Humpty Dumpty had a great fall..." Yes, my egg broke shortly after I finished it - one of the risks of pysanky which make it so exciting - sort of like an extreme sport...
More of Laurie's artistry
Gorgeous. My friend has been making these eggs for her family for many years. What a gift!
19 comments:
Gorgeous. I remember this post...it's so cool. I'm glad you showed it again.
I was just starting to worry, "Where is JODI!?!"
I can't sleep when my husband is gone. I stay up and stay up and I cannot go to bed. It's tragic.
Get some rest friend!
Thanks for worrying - well, I shouldn't want a pregnant woman to worry. But thank you just the same. I thought about you last week 'cause I remember reading your post about Derrick being away. Not fun.
Oh, and I forgot to ask: Do you become OCD like me, and check the locks 20 times?
hate when my husband is gone. he used to work until late at night and i would stay up until he got home and he would always ask me why i torture myself staying up... uh,duh... can't sleep without you.
but now, dear jodi, you can rest. so rest.
this post is fantastic. seriously one of the neatest things. my friends were missionaries in the ukraine. now they are in croatia.
i'm rambling. tell tale sign that i need sleep. so, i'll go do that. my husband is home and going to bed, so i think i'll be able to sleep. good night dear friend.
These are traditional Czech as well... no, i can't make them. Not this beautiful, although I have dabbled into it. BTW, it seems to me from the photo of your broken egg that you were working with "fresh", uncooked eggs - it helps if you boil them! They don't break so easily. :-) And it's traditional, at least here, because these are gifts to boys and men on Easter Monday... (I don't keep this tradition, because I think it's pagan and stupid - the way it is done - but we do dye eggs sometimes.)
I remember this post! Such lovely eggs!
Glad to hear that you're sleeping again!
I'm with you about sleeping without hubby! I understand, the first 5 years of our marriage he worked nights...it was so hard!
Glad you are feeling better my sweet little friend! And yes, I remembered this post, you picked a good one to show us.
Take care, and so glad things are back to normal.
Was starting to worry as well. Get some sleep, friend. And thanks for re-posting. I remember this from back when I was just starting to get to know you. I remember thinking, "She has cool friends and does cool stuff." And I was right, you know.
Glad to hear from you! I love the pysanky post. I've done this in the past, but not for many years now. I'll have to think about it for this Easter.
she does have cool friends.
ahem.
this is a new-to-me post, so i'm glad you reposted!!! those eggs are increible (that's spanish, not a type just fyi!)
i, too, join the ranks of the ladies who don't sleep well w/out her mate home. mine used to travel weekly, and i just love love love that he's home for bedtime now!! of course, there are a few other things keeping me up these days but that's to be expected at 33 wks! LOL
Misty, I do indeed *ahem* 33 wks! Felicidades!
These are amazing! I would love to have your friend teach me -- does she travel? lol...
It's funny when you don't blog for a few days. . . I miss you! Glad to see you. Oh, with my husband traveling a lot right now, I can certainly sympathize! Sleep suffers.
Those eggs are gorgeous. The artistry amazes me. When our good friends were missionaries in Bulgaria I remember seeing some beautiful photos of eggs that remind me of these. Seeing a demonstration would be wonderful.
{Prayers for your joints}
i love the idea that pysanky is an extreme sport : )
but i don't love that you have rheumatoid arthritis. praying for you...
Your posts are always so colorful and creative! Hope you are feeling better soon, and get the rest you need. Praying for you also.
Oh so pretty! Be well virtual friend...
Fascinating post, so beautiful! I enjoyed my visit so much today..
joycee
Hope you feel better soon!
Love those eggs.
Your friend's eggs are amazing! I tried this once before in an art class. I can appreciate the patience involved and the tiny details in her work. So very beautiful.
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