March 13, 2013

Ukrainian / Pysanky Egg Dyeing

Ukrainian - Pysanky Eggs
It's that time of year again. Time to order dyes or kits, though I still have last year's dyes jarred in a box in the garage. When more people are going to be coming to our home to do eggs, I get some fresh dye, otherwise just use the stored dye. 

I saw an article in a 1973 National Geographic Magazine on Ukrainian eggs, and wanted to do them. Since I knew how to do Batik textile art, I understood the process, but didn't know special tools existed. As is typical of me, I just jump in and do things. I got beeswax and melted it in a metal measuring cup and stood over the stove painting the wax on eggs. And the only dyes I new of were the typical grocery store Paas (?- I think that's what it is) dyes. Monte joined in the process when we were dating.


Monte almost 40 years ago waxing an egg for resisting the dye - batik style egg designing

Years ago, group of young couples Travis brought to dye eggs
Soon after we were married I found the traditional kistka tools and special dyes. For years now we've been ordering supplies from the same store, and have bought kits for wedding presents. We've also bought a lot of extra tools and leave the dyes out for about a month and have had many people around our dining table decorating eggs. One couple, years ago so looked forward to it they started designing eggs months beforehand. When they moved away they bought their own kit and have done it every year.


Though electric kistkas exist, it's traditionally done by heating the metal funnel of the kistka over a candle till the beeswax is melted. It does not run out until it touches the egg. It's a wax-resist process, starting from lightest and getting progressively darker. You initially wax over everything you want white and put egg in yellow, once dry, you wax over what you want to stay yellow, and so on. When done you hold the egg to the side of the candle and wipe the melting wax off with a paper towel. The eggs are raw and they dry out over time.



Egg carton of our Ukrainian dyed eggs
This picture is just one of the three cartons that got done several years ago. That was a very productive and artistic weekend of eggs - Travis had several couples come and stay several days to dye eggs (and enjoy just hanging out, of coarse). Dawson has friends come too. Everyone loves it!

I cap the canning jars of dye and repack the box. I store them along with the old silver spoons, candles and candle-holders, box of tools, instructions and pictures, and then the vinyl tablecloth. It can be pulled out anytime. Every year I say I'm going to do it for Christmas ornaments - but I haven't yet.

Several years ago Monte made a shelf for the eggs to better display than the hanging wire baskets I've always kept them in. The company I order the dyes and tools from, the Ukrainian Gift Shop, has a variety of stands for the eggs. So I got a bunch of the cheap clear plastic stands. Monte is going to make a shelf unit for each of the kids too.




 




Having done these for years, I never varnished them and finally did a few years ago. It's a final step I've always skipped. So some of the varnished ones are older and already faded. These dyes are toxic, so no eating of the eggs, but are not run-proof, so make sure the varnish is not water-base. We nailed three nails every so often in boards to support the eggs and I use my gloved hands to rub the oil-base varnish on the eggs. (The stands could be used in the oven on low temp for helping melt the beeswax off. I've not tried this - but a book I have shows it.)

3-legged nail 'stands' for holding varnished dyed eggs
More people around our dining table Ukrainian egg dying

Dawson waxing his egg for dye resist

More people enjoying creativity and our home's hospitality

Shared with: The Homestead Barn Hop, The Chicken Chick

6 comments:

Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick said...

Just beautiful eggs..........that sure does take talent.....Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!


Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino

The Chicken Chick

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

Teresa said...

Your Ukranian Easter Eggs are absolutely gorgeous! I wish I had such talent. Unfortunately, I'd be like the guy reading the Where's Waldo book . . . that is so hilarious!

Unknown said...

I was poking around to see if there was a reproduction of that 1973 article you mentioned from National Geographic. I remember it too! It started me on the path of egg decorating every year since then. By now I don't use the batik method with wax and dyes. Instead, I draw directly on the egg and color it with markers or with watercolor. You can see some of my eggs here: http://www.johnd.com/artist/eggs.html
Cheers! John D

Unknown said...

I was poking around
to see if there was a reproduction
of that 1973 article you mentioned
from National Geographic.
I remember it too!
It started me on the path
of egg decorating every year since then.

By now I don't use
the batik method with wax and dyes.
Instead, I draw directly on the egg
with black fineline sharpies
and color it with markers
or with watercolor.

You can see some of my eggs here:
http://www.johnd.com/artist/eggs.html
or on my Facebook
www.facebook.com/johndeckert

Cheers!
John D

Karey Swan said...

John, Your eggs are wonderful. I like the marker idea and am going to do it!

Even tho it's past Easter, we've got 2 family's coming tomorrow to do eggs - our son Dawson has invited them, wanting to expose them to our home atmosphere. So he's taking charge of pulling out the egg dye box from the garage and setting it all up and bringing eggs. I'm in charge of a meal.

And John, we have a mutual friend - artist Melinda Morrison.

Karey Swan said...

And too, John, did you find the 1973 article?

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