Pysanky Easter Egg Making Class

Pysanky (a.k.a. Ukrainian Easter Eggs) are decorated eggs created by the written-wax batik method and utilizing traditional folk motifs and designs.

This class, appropriate for ages 12 through adult, will be held on Sunday, April 6 from 10 am to 12 pm. In this class, students will learn how to draw on a plain white chicken egg with a special pen and melted wax, and then dye the egg with special dyes.  The drawing and dyeing are repeated several times as each layer of the design is applied until the egg is finished.

The students will receive an egg to work on and will share the pens and dyes.  They will also receive a short history of Pysanky, instructions with an explanation of the process, motifs and pictures for design inspiration, and an explanation of finishing and caring for the completed egg.

Our teacher, Hanka Robertson, was born in Slovenia and, as a child, learned to make Pysanky from her mother who was born and grew up in the former Czechoslovakia where making Pysanky every Eastertime was a family tradition.  Making Pysanky became Hanka’s tradition too.

In addition to making and teaching Pysanky, Hanka designs and teaches just about every variety of embroidery there is, as well as beading.  “A day spent without a needle in hand is missing something.”