Psyanky

[ShadowHM]

Hi

A week ago I had the great good luck to be asked to be a volunteer helper in the classroom of one of my sons. Another mother was going to teach the class of 10 year olds how to make Psyanky.

I was amazed. This is not hard to do. It is, like any art form, hard to do well, but the basics were downright easy.

I was moved to purchase the makings (the scribing tools or kiska, the beeswax and the dyes) and "A Kid's Guide to Ukrainian Easter Eggs". I figured that chances were that anything that could be covered in a child's guide was something I actually could manage. :P Grand total bill, including the book, for 10 people to work at a time was $60.

The procedure is covered here. We used candles, not any fancy electricity generated tools, to warm up the kiskas. The results were surprisingly good. They were nowhere near the spectacularly detailed work here, but they were certainly creditable.

I invited all the children near our cottage to attend, and most brought their mothers/grandmothers with them to give it a try. (The fathers/grandfathers stood outside, drank beer and kibitzed while my husband cut wood. :D ) Best results came from the teenagers, surprise, surprise. They were more adventurous and had more control than the younger children. We had such a good time that I just had to post to tell you all about it.

This was not rocket science. It was a fun afternoon for a group of complete neophytes. I am sure we could get better results next time, but the point is that no experience was required to have a good time and produce something creditable. The youngest participant was 5 and he needed help from his Mom. My seven year old did two eggs by himself.

I know many of you have families, and finding an activity that can engage across generations is never an easy thing to accomplish for a family gathering. This one really filled the ticket.

Now....I have to do some investigating. The boys think that emu eggs would be fun to try, to get a bigger palette for the art work. Maybe that farmer up the road from the cottage would part with some unfertilized eggs for less than a small fortune apiece?

[Bam-Bam]

Thanks for sharing this. My wife actually stumbled onto something similar for the few eggs she dyed with our oldest daughter (3). She used crayon (which is basically wax) to write both our daughter's names onto some of the eggs before she dipped the eggs into the dye. It worked, but I can see how melted wax would work much better.

One quick question: Why do the instructions refer to using an uncooked egg? I can understand using an empty eggshell, but why an uncooked egg. Normally what we do in the U.S. for eggs is to boil them first--at least that's how I have always done it.

Thanks again Shadow--I will have to share this with my wife, with the phrase, "See, there are some benefits for you from all this gaming and forum browsing I do."

[Pete]

Hi,

I invited all the children near our cottage to attend, and most brought their mothers/grandmothers with them to give it a try. (The fathers/grandfathers stood outside, drank beer and kibitzed while my husband cut wood. )

That made me smile. I'm glad that "neighborhood" is still alive and well where people give it a chance.

--Pete

[Doc]

Sounds like a grand time.

I participated in a yearly tradition, The Cool Hand Luke Easter Movie Showing and The Eating of Fifty Hard Boiled Eggs. Did not make 50, but, that's ok. Had a few folks over, many many many eggs eaten.

Phew!!

[ShadowHM]

Originally posted by Bam-Bam@Apr 12 2004, 03:08 PM
One quick question: Why do the instructions refer to using an uncooked egg? I can understand using an empty eggshell, but why an uncooked egg. Normally what we do in the U.S. for eggs is to boil them first--at least that's how I have always done it.

The egg of preference (I am so grateful to that Mom who taught the class - I asked that question) will be uncooked and preferably bought directly from a farmer.

If you use a boiled egg, eventually the innards will rot and smell spectacularly awful.

The raw egg does have to be blown out eventually. This is done by puncturing the ends with a push pin and blowing on one of the holes. You could also use a veterinarian's syringe to suck out the contents after making the two punctures.

If you empty the egg first, it is much more fragile for holding and scribing on it. (imagine those 7-year-old hands at work....) Further, it will float in the dye instead of sinking, and will need to be pushed down. If you empty the egg later, you risk breaking your wonderful creation. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

Apparently, ALL eggs sold commercially have been washed with some form of diluted chemical solution. This solution can make the wax less likely to adhere to the shell, so that is why a direct purchase from a farmer is more desirable, if you can. Also, even the oils from your skin can do this, so thorough hand washing before commencing is advised.

There was one twist that I had not anticipated. I did phone a farmer local to my cottage and request unwashed eggs. I had not anticipated that her free-range chickens would, naturally, have brown shells instead of white ones. So, instead of a bright white outline to our designs, we got a bronzed look instead. Once we adjusted our thinking, we decided it was more attractive anyway. :P

[ShadowHM]

Originally posted by Pete@Apr 12 2004, 04:19 PM
I'm glad that "neighborhood" is still alive and well where people give it a chance.

--Pete

There is something primal and comforting about watching someone else work, isn't there? Hubby was working in a very desultory way. He just wanted to be 'doing' something other than out-and-out hanging out and drinking.

But, yes, just plain hanging out with the neighbours is always a good thing, and somehow the memory of those relaxed moments makes all the little peccadillo's we suffer now and again so much more easily forgiven when they happen. ;-)

[Sirian]

I actually happen to know of a Ukrainian Egg artist. She's married to a fellow with whom I've gamed and conversed, who still has some of my strategy writings up on his game site. I'm sure she would welcome inquiries. She might be able to help you or direct you to more resources.

Ginny Barkman's egg page

She's a fellow Canadian, so that may also help you relate with her, Shadow.

Thanks for sharing this.


- Sirian

[Doc]

This is right up my wife's alley. I have lots of chickens, all of whom lay nice brown eggs. I am thinking that she would just love to do something like this. She is artsy fartsy type.

Some of those eggs are downright beautiful really.

Thank you Shadow for sharing.

[Bam-Bam]

Thanks again.

Luckily, I have a source of eggs. My grandfather still has about a dozen chickens on his farm. I have to be careful when I ask him for eggs--he'll send me home with three or five dozen!

[ShadowHM]

Thank You, Sirian

Ginny certainly has explored some interesting ideas with eggs. The naturally dyed eggs will be a fun avenue to explore. (I can pull in nature studies to the project by getting the kids to pick out the vegetation motifs they want to include.)

Her site also showed me that it will not likely be possible to really make use of emu eggs, despite the presence of a farm up the road that raises them. Dark green is not going to work for us, methinks. :unsure:

It is really too bad she is so far away. Dropping by to check out her eggs would be akin to a visit to an art gallery.