Pysanky Eggs

My friend Jenn graciously invited us over last week-while the boys were at basketball camp near her house--to learn how to make Pysanky eggs. I know she will explain it much better when she posts about it, but in an eggshell, these are beautifully decorated and dyed Easter eggs which originated in the Ukraine.

A few days before we had our workshop, Jenn's son Gregory shared his favorite Pysanky picture books with us. The only one we already knew was Rechenka's Eggs. We enjoyed the other books so much that they're going to go on our wishlist.

When you think hot wax, candles, raw eggs and children, "fun relaxing day" is not what pops into your head, but that's exactly what it was. As the little kids created chaos at our feet and all over the downstairs, Jenn clearly explained the steps to make a pysanka. First she drew a design on a raw egg and showed us how to heat a kitska in the candle flame so we could write over the lines with melted bees' wax.

Gregory and Charles had fun just swirling the bees' wax on the eggs and then dying them.

Cecilia wanted a lot of help with her egg--using a kitska is the same skill as using a pencil and Cecilia lacks confidence--so Jenn and I stepped in to help when she asked.

Maria was entranced by the pysanky. She made several eggs, some with traditional designs and some of her own design.

While some kids ran off to play, Maria patiently wrote on her eggs, moved them in and out of the dyes, and asked questions. At the end of our day she stayed behind to learn how to remove the wax and reveal the artwork hiding beneath. Jenn even let her bring some supplies home to show Bill and the twins how to make them.

Best of all, we had so much fun with our friends, we are planning a second pysanky art day before we move.