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WORKSHOP: Ukrainian Easter Eggs (“Pysanky”)
March 24, 2009
Almost 30 participants attended this workshop. Over the course of 3-4 hours, they mixed their dyes, reviewed patterns, drew the designs on their eggs, then applied multiple layers of wax and dye to create these very individual eggs. Although about half the people in the class had seen the eggs before, no one had actually done it – everyone was a beginner. It’s hard to believe when you see these eggs!
How were these made? Traditional Ukrainian Easter Eggs, also known as “psyanky,” are created with a wax resist technique. The desired design is drawn on an egg with beeswax melted in a tool called a “kistka.” The waxed egg is dyed in a light colored dye -- the wax prevents the dye from coloring the egg. More wax is applied to the egg and it is put into another dye color. This is done multiple times with different colors of dye. The pattern is finally revealed when all the wax is melted off. If you have done batik, the technique is similar, but more intricate.
— GET the pre-workshop notice for required materials
— GET the
workshop handouts on symbolism, color, patterns, local and web resources
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Corte
Madera Women’s Improvement Club
PO Box 486, Corte Madera, CA 94976 • email: info@cmwomensclub.org