Link: Enchanted Hen Productions Ostrich Eggshell Jewelry

Yes, I am excited.  This is the first batch since moving to the Land of Enchantment, and it’s a good feeling to be settled in my studio and producing again.

It’s always interesting to see the final results as opposed to the work-in-progress.  The pieces might start out kind of uninteresting, until I get the final coat of finish on them, adding depth and bringing out the colors.  My fave result was with the simple design of the Trypillian Spiral earrings which were fairly cool looking in production but the black on brick contrast was much more dramatic when finished.

And then there are the Ukrainian designs with their warm reds and golds – they’re so pretty, I’ll post a picture here.

And this is just the first batch!  I still have a ton of work ahead of me and more new designs, but it does please me to get the first group out.

So I better get back to it!

Oh, first a Heads-Up  for those of you that are not on my email list yet:  There is a 25% discount for my subscribers through the end of March.  Sign up for my Enchanted Hen Newsletter (located to your right, on the sidebar) to get the coupon code.

Allright, I’m really going back to work now . . .

Nan

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?