Learn to Make Ukrainian Eggs

Ukrainian egg decorating, called pysanky, is a beautiful and creative spring tradition.  Laura Heiman has been teaching this art for years and invites you to come and learn it too.  The name comes from the verb to write, as you use a stylus (called a kistka) to write with wax on the egg shell. The process is similar to batik.  

 

Layers of dye and wax are added until you have a fully decorated egg.  Starting with the lightest color, usually white, you cover everything you want to remain white with wax using the stylus.  Then, you dye the egg, usually yellow. Wherever there is wax, the yellow dye will not be able to penetrate. This preserves the white part of the design under the wax. On your yellow egg, you mark with wax all the parts of the design that you want to remain yellow. Then dye it in the next dye bath, going in progressively darker colors, and adding more wax. In the end, you will have an egg with a great deal of wax on it - if black is your finishing color, you will end up with a virtually black egg. Then you melt away the wax, revealing the colors that were protected underneath. This results in a brilliantly colored and often very intricately designed egg.

 

Just Food Co-op is offering three sessions of egg decorating, one for beginning adults, ages 14 and up; one for adults who have done this before and would like to learn more advanced techniques; and one for children ages 7-13.

 

Ukrainian Egg Decorating for Adults (14 and up)

Saturday, March 20, 1-4p.m. in the Just Food Community Room, 516 Water St S.

Cost: $20/$18 owners. Please register and pre-pay by phone or with a cashier.
Learn how to create beautiful eggs using the traditional hot wax and dye method of pysanky, Ukrainian egg decoration. Participants will take home at least three finished eggs! It's easy to learn and lots of fun to do. Taught by Laura Heiman who has been decorating Ukrainian eggs for more than 25 years. Seating is limited and pre-registration and payment is required, so call today!

sans-serif" color="black">Advanced Ukrainian Egg Decorating for Adults (14 and up)

Helvetica, sans-serif" color="black">Saturday, March 27, 1-4p.m. in the Just Food Community Room, 516 Water St S.

Cost: $20/$18 owners. Please register and pre-pay by phone or with a cashier.

This class is for those who have done pysanky before or who take Ukrainian Egg Decorating for Adults above.
If you have done pysanky before or take the class for adults the week before, you are welcome to sign up for this advanced class. Laura Heiman will increase your knowledge and skill of the art and introduce several new techniques.

Helvetica, sans-serif" color="black">Ukrainian Egg Decorating for Kids (7-13)

Helvetica, sans-serif" color="black">Monday, March 29, 9a.m.-12p.m. in the Just Food Community Room, 516 Water St S.