Pysanky (Ukrainian Eggs)
Pysanky is the art of batiking eggs. It came from the Ukraine in Russia (the eggs are also called Ukrainian eggs). It is both very easy and very difficult to do; difficult to make an egg which looks good to you but easy to make one that other people find impressive. It takes anywhere from an hour to several hours to do an egg, and it's best to do them in multiples.You need egg dyes and fresh eggs (not boiled and not washed with soap or anything that could remove the natural oils from the eggshell), beeswax and a kitska. A kitska looks like a tiny copper funnel on the end of a stick. You get the kitska hot (usually with a candle flame) and then scoop some of the beeswax into the funnel. Then you write on the egg on all the places you want to stay white. Dip the egg in the lightest dye (usually yellow). Write on the egg on all the places that you want to stay yellow. Dip in the next color. The last color you dip in is black. Then you melt the wax off the egg. Et voila!
After that you can blow the egg, or you can just put it away for a couple of years until the insides dry up. Be sure that you are careful where you put them, though. I had a bit of an accident in my dormitory with a three month old egg. Phew!
Here are some sites that relate to pysanky and eggcraft:
- A bit of history, two styles of pysanky and some addresses for supplies.
- Some pictures of eggs and links
- Some pictures, a bit of history.
- Lovely set of instructions on how to do pysanky.
- Info about her book, some pictures, a bit of history.
- A bit of history.
- Pictures and links.
- Some rather eggs-pensive pysanky for sale. Gorgeous pictures.
- Dyes, kitskas, wax, eggs, findings, stands and books for sale.
- Links to various egg sites.
- A few nice links and tidbits, and a really wonderful animated demo of pysanka.
- Lovely, detailed site with lots of designs and instructions on how to make each one.
- How to instructions, list of supplies & symbols.
- How to, history, folk stories, Map of Ukraine
- Some kits for sale, amazing things to do with eggs, a bit pricey.
- Web ring for egg decoration
The Creative Side
- Features the work of several eggcrafters, as well as a mailing list, egg swap, gallery, awards, auction and crafted eggs for sale.
- I just love this catalog. They have hundreds of different gemstones, both faceted and cabbed, at affordable prices, as well as beads and findings of all sorts. There's so much great stuff it's easy to rack up a huge bill, though, so beware. They have a free catalog and email ordering and they take credit cards. What more could you ask for? :)
- Beautiful pictures, lots of opal, sunstones, garnets, rings and unmounted gemstones and "one of the best beer can collections in the world".
- I saw this collection in person almost thirty years ago and I can't remember much about it, but I do remember that it impressed the heck out of me. Slow loading but a very fine collection (duh!)
- Links to lots of places that sell unusual mineral, including fossils.
- Affordable fossils, take credit cards
- Very extensive collection of fossils.
- Rockhounds who love gems and who live in or near North Carolina will want to get in touch with William Miller. His company sounds like a lot of fun.
- Links to stores, gem shows, info on gems, jokes, other.
- Interesting, informative.
- Lovely pictures of birthstone gems with interesting info on each.
- Collection of mineral descriptions, images and specimens. Interesting, but the quality of photographs is pretty poor.
- Lots of good advice and info.
- Dedicated to promoting the lapidary industry.
- Nothing to sell, but lots of tips on how to buy gemstones, gemstone tips and information and lots of beautiful pictures.
- If you love gems check this site out. Gem info, pictures, tips and trade info.
- Sells stone beads, chips, coins and jewelry findings.
- Alexandrite, amber, ametrine, andalucite, coral, aquamarine, beryl, crysoberyl, citrine, cubicz, diamond, emerald, garnet, helidor, iolite, ivory, jade, kunzite, lapis lazuli, morganite, opal, pearls, peridot, ruby, sapphire, spinel, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise, zircon.
- Rough gems, cut gems, jewelry and information on faceting. VISA/MC.
- Gems, jewelry, rough cut, lapidary, books, all kinds of equipment.
- Gemstones, fossils and minerals.
- Gems and findings.
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