There are several books I can recommend, that will help the beginning egger to get started, or for the veteran egger to possibly move in new directions with our craft. These images lead to Amazon.com pages, where you can read more and purchase them if you like. Here they are, in order of my favorites:

For the accomplished egger, I highly recommend this book Decorating Eggs by Jane Pollak. There are several different projects you can do with eggs, including Hanging Christmas Ornament eggs, of which I have made several batches and given as gifts. They are easy to make, and look wonderful on your tree. Also included in this book is the procedure for making eggshell jewelry. While Ms Pollak makes hers out of goose eggs, I have altered the process a bit to use ostrich eggs for my jewelry. But the basics are the same. Lots of good stuff here.

The books I started with are this series written by the women at the Ukrainian Gift Shop in Roseville Minnesota These have clear directions, drawings, and photographs, and each provide a short history of the symbols and colors used in the art of pysanka. After completing the all the exercises in these books, it naturally lead to design ideas, and a desire to continue in my own direction with this fascinating art.

Ukrainian Easter Eggs and How We Make Them
Author: Anne Kmit, Loretta L. Luciow

Eggs Beautiful
Author: Johanna Luciow

Ukrainian Design Book I
Author: Natalie and Luba Perchyshyn

Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 3
Author: Natalie Perchyshyn

Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 4
Author: Natalie Perchyshyn

So there you are – have at it!

Nan

One of my favorite ways to kill time on the internet is to search for egg stands and displays. I can easily buy standard round footed egg stands of course, and do – as you can see on my website and my eBay listings. But hunting and discovering unusual egg stands is such fun!

Several years ago, I ran across these handmade stands by Phyllis at Ponypeople – Horseshoe Nail Art. Created from (of all things) horseshoe nails! I love these. They are rustic, unusual, they can be bent to fit the egg, and the surface area is minimal so it does not cover too much of the egg. Here is an example on one of my original Trypillian style designs – the Ibex Egg

Other finds include . . .
A ceramic egg dish from Norway. The egg cup indent is offset to display the hand painted flowers.

Another handmade ceramic egg dish, the rich gold and black glazing compliments the golden wheat design beautifully

A twisted hank of seaweed found on the beach at Santa Catalina Island, California – perfect for the fish egg

Grapevine birds nests and little wicker baskets purchased at a crafts store, and added dried foliage.

And this goofy wooden egg cup from Germany. I bought a set of these in several color combination’s – I called them my ‘Mad Hen Cups’

Aint she cute?

I’ve been searching through my images, looking for some eggs that match jewelry so I can show you how the transition happens. Surprisingly, I have very few that apply! Many of the Ukrainian designs are found in picture books of eggs, and my egg posters. But I did find a few examples.

When designing pysanky jewelry I like to keep to the traditional symbols and colors because, well, after all – that’s what makes it Pysanky Jewelry! I try not to deviate at all, as all the colors and symbols have a specific meaning.

I love doing these rectangular pins and they are fairly popular, as I sell out of them almost as fast as I can turn them out. They are compact, measuring about 1-1/2 inches across, with a common design and subtle enough that they can be worn by both men and women. They look best as a lapel pin on a dark suit.

Here are a few more examples of the rectangular pins:

Sometimes the designs are obvious, sometimes they are hiding in a tiny section of the egg. I enjoy finding these little gems and dragging them out into the light by featuring them on a piece of jewelry.

Re-posted from October 31, 2007