Pysanky Eggs

[Pippe]

I pulled out an old Easter box today and found my Pysanky egg decorating kit. I haven't made any for years but was thinking I might this year. Does any one else make them?


pippe

[RobertaD]

I've never heard of Pysanky eggs what are they?

Roberta

[BuddyBeanieBaby]

What is a Pysanky Egg??????

[Pippe]

Pysanky eggs are a tradition Ukrainian craft. They are eggs alternately dip dyed and drawn on with a stylus with beeswax using tradition designs with religious or agricultural synbols. The colors go from light to dark and with each dip and drawing become very intricate and beautiful. After the last dip in dye, the egg is held over a candle flame and the wax melted to seal the egg & protect the design. It is wiped and polished. Some take hours to make but can can be preserved to last for years. Sometimes you see them at crafts fairs.

Here are some web sites:

www.learnpysanky.com

www.cs.unc.edu/~yakowenk/pysanky/

I also saw some for sale on E-bay.

Pippe

[BuddyBeanieBaby]

Thanks Pippe...Now I know what they are...I have one of these that a friend gave to me years ago...they are so nice and unique...Thanks for sharing...

[Pippe]

You are welcome. Well good night! Try to get some sleep Theresa.

Pippe

[ewriggs]

Originally Posted by Pippe

I pulled out an old Easter box today and found my Pysanky egg decorating kit. I haven't made any for years but was thinking I might this year. Does any one else make them?
pippe

Hi Pippe -

I'm Russian Orthodox, and I used to make Pysanky nearly every year! I order my supplies from All Things Ukrainian in NC. Last year I sat 6 of my GKs down and taught them to make them. They are all excited about it, and want to do it again this year, but I'm kinda wiped out from fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis flares, and we may have to postpone until next year. I'm considering getting an ostrich egg and working on that. I used to be pretty good. I'll have to get some of my old ones out and take some pics of them.

One of the men at another Orthodox Church in town makes them all year round. His are simply gorgeous!

I usually use goose eggs because they are harder to break - and are larger, so kids' fingers don't have as much of a problem with them.

Do you have some pictures you can post of your work?

Cheerio!
Elizabeth

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~ Easter eggs symbolize the Resurrection and a promise of eternal life. Legend has it that as long as pysanky are decorated, goodness will prevail over evil throughout the world. ~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[Pippe]

Thank you for the web site, Elizabeth. I will have to check it out.


No, unfortunately, I no longer have any of the eggs I made. We have moved too many times since the last time I made them so I gave them away & I didn't take pictures. If I do, this time I will take pictures.

I used just regular white hens eggs. Over the years I have seen some incredible work. Several years ago I met a Russian couple & she did the very fine painting on eggs and nesting dolls and wooden pins. They weren't pysanky but really spectacular.

I need to see if the dyes are still good & maybe replenish what I need. I usually made them with the traditional designs but one I made a white lily on one side and wrote peace in different languages around it.

Do you still have some - any pictures?

I can relate on the fibro, I have had it for years. Take care-

Pippe

[HAPPY6]

Hi Pippe---never heard about these eggs. Very interesting--thanks for sharing.

[hemlynne]

WOW! I have never heard of them either but looked at the links you posted, Pippe and they are beautiful! How do you pronounce the name? Is it "pie sang kee" ?