Beginner attempts at Pysanky: Ukrainian Egg Decorating Part 1, etching

[@terrymazz9293]

Good day, let me help you. I have 60 years of experience. First I 'd like to say you really can't make a bad looking egg. They are all beautiful in their own way. After cleaning and placing your design with pencil if you wish. The trick to a good flow is to get your kiska extremely hot. This should allow the beeswax sucking up into the vacuum created in the cup of the kiska. If you still prefer dropping wax into the kiska go ahead and wipe the outside of kiska this will greatly reduce clobs. I usually test the flow on a piece of newspaper before moving to the egg. Keep practicing it gets easier. You asked about the darkness of the wax. The wax gets it color from the carbon of the flame. It really doesn't matter if it's light or dark as long as it covers what you want covered. You might want to leave the contents of the egg intact while working. It gives more support to the egg and it is easier to drop the egg for dying. As far as removing the wax you will find it much easier to use lighter fluid. Smells at first but doesn't stick with the egg. Once you varnish your egg and let it dry now is the time to drill your holes and empty your egg. If this is something you think you will regularly do you can purchase a one hole egg blower. I hope I've been able to answer some of your questions. Enjoy your new experience. [e-mail]

[@SandyAllnock1]

Thank you!

[@rosepainting1]

My Ukrainian friend showed me how to use rubber bands on the egg to draw along so your lines are perfect. Easy peasy

[@barbarabass4235]

Many years ago I made Pysanka, did programs and sold them at art fairs. I did use the electric kistka, did all the writing on the raw egg removed the wax, varnished the egg to preserve the color and then drained them with a needle and syringe. I would draw out some of the contents and then induce air into the egg and the contents would flow out. I haven’t made any for years but each Easter I feel the desire to do it again. Never tried the etching. Quite amazing.

[@lechat8533]

600 views and only 100 Likes. It really seems to be very difficult to click the "Thumb Up" and to say "Thank you" to the KZbinr who is sharing her/his knowledge FOR FREE!

[@dianezalusky2944]

Hi Sandy, welcome to pysanka writing. Just a small note. The y is soft as when you say the word is. Not hard like pie. Also singular is a pysanka, many pysanky. Again soft i sound for both y. I have never tried the etching. This is a newer phenomenon. Thanks for sharing, I may give it a try.

[@oheck5570]

I vividly remember that when I was little, my dad took a piece of sturdy stalk from a weed, a small piece of plyable sheet metal, which he rolled into a cone, and then tied onto the stalk with a string. He presented it to my Ukrainian grandmother for her kistka. It worked very well and she used it for years.

[@SandyAllnock1]

Awww 🥰

[@helenjzkkillick4097]

I’ve just been painting in more of the Polish tradition but have really enjoyed your tutorial which you presented very well. In Australia we don’t get white eggs so the use of appropriate colours becomes important. Thanks, I’ll try this next Easter

[@christinemuir8930]

You are amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@melissawesterlund1761]

You can heat your kistka and scoop out the wax too- might be easier than filling with little pieces. It will also cause the wax to turn black which shows up easier. When i write my lines i hold the kistka still and rotate the egg more often than moving the kistka across the egg. Also- the fine point kistka is my absolute favorite one. A cheap solution to the wax- buy a large block of beeswax, melt and pour into mini muffin pans, cool and pop out. This worked really well when i was prepping to have a pysanky class at my church.

[@SandyAllnock1]

Thanks!!!

[@nightangel0515]

Wow! Girrrrrl you have the patience of a saint to tackle this craft. Not only was this interesting to watch but it was peaceful too. Looking forward to the next video.

[@user-qr8qh7ss8f]

Wow...those are beautiful 😍

[@ingridwalter4870]

Labour of Love....

[@bobbiegraham7729]

I have some that are 40 years old. Not blown. And a speedball dip pen works well for the wax. So do wide rubber bands for your beginning lines. Have fun.

[@georgannsmith1827]

Fascinating & beautiful! Looking forward to the next video!!

[@lovestobead]

Oh Sandy! I’ve been wanting to do more of these for a while now! I was introduced to them by a friend from church, her family was originally from Ukraine. After we had colored the eggs we would put them in the oven at a low temp, then we would carefully wipe the wax off with paper towels, the thin layer of wax that was left would protect them. We also didn’t clean the egg out of the shell-if you don’t close the egg up in anything it will dry eventually. I have about a dozen eggs that dried this way without any bad smell! Once again you have inspired me to do some art! Thank you!

[@SandyAllnock1]

Lots of ways to do it-lots of reasons I blew my eggs first 🤣

[@terrymazz9293]

True you do not have to empty the contents of the egg and as long as it doesn't break it will dry up. Two things to be aware of: vanishing the egg closes the pores on the shell so it takes longer for the inside to dry up, secondly be careful where you store your eggs. Don't put them in an inclosed area such as a cabinet. It doesn't take much for them to explode (you'll know when your house smells horrible). I keep mine in a cardboard egg carton. If you want to display them you can use something like a large brandy sniffer. Also, keep them out of direct sunlight over time they will fade.

[@brendajennings5438]

Wow..an art form I've never heard of! Absolutely beautiful. I would love to give this a whirl but moving into a new home so not on the table this Easter but maybe for next year. I have a friend who puts up an Easter egg tree every year. She cuts a Cherry tree branch and lets it blossom in the house hanging full of all of the eggs she made with her mother when she was growing up. It's amazing.TFS

[@wendymarsh2052]

These are absolutely stunning Miss Sandy!

[@rosemarysebolt5475]

I made these eggs back in the 90’s but I never heard about etching eggs. They are beautiful. Thank you for the video.

[@SewWhittle]

You must have the patience of a saint. Kudos!

[@BarryOnness]

What a delightful and timely tutorial! Sandy, you always inspire me. Keep up your good work.

[@brt5273]

Very clever way to blow out the egg!

[@petarutherford8198]

They turned out beautiful Sandy, I can also identify with wanting to throw something across the room, made me laugh, have a great day 😊

[@terryblanchard9765]

The etched eggs are beautiful and magical!! Thank you!

[@katiemclaneak5182]

I couldn’t agree more that that kit is absolutely awesome! I had a roommate several years ago, who taught me how to do Misaki and it is just the most fun interesting frustrating, rewarding craft ever! Might have to break out my Kiska. The etching with toilet bowl cleaner….who knew???

[@SandyAllnock1]

Totally agree! Frustration along with OOOOH fun! There's a 2nd video, be sure to check that out too. I wish egg prices were lower so I could make more this year...phooey bird flu! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2e3c5Ztmp2mftU

[@LynnMathers]

Great work, Sandy! Can’t wait for the next video with coloring. By the way, regarding the ostrich egg I volunteered-I realize now the reason I hadn’t worked with it for all these years is that the surface is so glossy and hard, like ceramic. So I don’t think it would absorb the dye color well. Now I can see that it would be perfect for etching rather than coloring. Had not tried etching before. Thanks for the great introduction to this fascinating hobby!

[@221b-Maker-Street]

The white on white is stunning, Sandy!

[@sherrywoods4630]

Oh, holy smoke! Such patience. I have not seen the etched eggs before. Very elegant. LOL - this is one of your art adventures that I will be content just to watch.

[@serjerin]

Very cool Sandy. Thanks for bringing us along on your journey. Very enjoyable.

[@karenlusby6230]

Long time viewer and even longer time egg artist here! Sincere thank you for this video! For me, art is my impression and expression of the world in whatever materials & mediums catch my eye. A couple of suggestions from someone who has broken many eggs, learn the mantra “It’s just an egg” and make another. Trust your eye and a measuring tape for segmenting. If you find you really like this art form, an electric kistka is wonderful. An aquarium pump works great for gently blowing eggs. Bury unused blown egg contents or dispose in landfills but do not flush down sink to protect plumbing. Finally, I would be very interested in seeing your take on watercoloring on eggs.

[@SandyAllnock1]

I embraced the just an egg perspective quickly! 😂 That got me blowing a whole bunch of eggs at once so I would feel like I had another if I ruined one - it wouldn’t be a lot of work to grab an new egg.

[@NancyLynn]

Wow, never heard of this artform before, Sandy. It's very interesting and your eggs turned out beautiful. I'm not sure I'd have the patience for it though, plus I have arthritic hands and when I do anything intricate, the longer it takes, the more my hands bother me. I'm looking forward to seeing your painted eggs. Thanks for sharing

[@dinav2052]

I think these types of eggs are beautiful.

[@marlenecornwall]

How fun! I have had a set of the wax tools for awhile and my son is a bee keeper! I must get some wax! Thanks Sandy, I have been inspired.

[@Judy9248]

So beautiful and you are a beginner, can't wait for when you master this beautiful art form. TFS

[@dinav2052]

I cant wait for tomorrow's video!! Your etched eggs look great. I need to try this!

[@MultiplicityCrafts]

Very impressive! I have never seen this before. So awesome, Sandy!! Happy Easter to you, also. I look forward to tomorrow's video. ❤️-Maranda

[@carolprice5657]

Love this video ! Seen your eggs on Instagram. So happy you put these videos up. I also just started pysanky eggs in February

[@ednam7]

So beautiful. I will never try it as to many steps and I'm not steady with my hands any more, but I love yours. Thanks for showing us what you did.

[@karenzemko6518]

I've seen pysanka before, but not the etching! So beautiful! I'm looking forward to the colored ones. Never realized there are kits to do this. Must check it out. TFS

[@TRsPlace]

WHAT? Oh my goodness! I've never seen eggs like this. I've seen the colored ones but not just white itched with shine on them. Wow. This will have to go into my saved folder for later. Sigh so much art to do so little time. 💛TR

[@LITTLEsquirrelz]

. ❤️ “ goofball idea “ “ foam thingy! “ ❤️ . . 🌟🌟🌟 I love it! That’s how I talk! 🌟🌟🌟 . AND Beautiful video - I learned so much - thank you SO much for making this video & sharing ❤️ Just subscribed, just found you! ❤️ Yay my day is better because of you!

[@SandyAllnock1]

Aww, welcome! Glad you liked it!

[@ArtesdaTan]

I loved it! Amazing! 👏👏👏👏

[@Kitchensurprise]

Beautiful work.

[@VanmeterFL]

I decided to paint these because of the horrors going on in Ukraine currently. Thank you for sharing this info.

[@SandyAllnock1]

Same here….it’s making me feel somehow closer to them, an art that’s focused on the beauty there… 😢

[@lechatbotte.]

Like a batik for eggs.

[@jeaninegordon7447]

You are so very very talented.

[@madeleine4725]

Amazing 🤩 really beautiful!

[@barbarahill6365]

Years ago, I watched a lady carve the egg shells. She lived out in Arizona and was Julia Robert’s double in some of the movies. Btw you have to protect your lungs. She carved through a sand blasting unit. You can also I guess dremel the egg into pieces and fill them with something, acrylic, plaster mud(usually flakes ) and make it into jewelry

[@SandyAllnock1]

Yes, when I tried to do a drilled egg with my Dremel I noticed all the dust and decided to do this etched one instead. Besides this was way easier lol

[@patriciajd3]

Thank you! Beautiful work! Thanks for the directions for etching! The correct pronunciation is “pissanka”

[@CouzCat]

Cool! My parents neighbours were Ukrainian so my parents had an extensive collection of the traditionally made eggs. This is a really neat spin. I’m not sure that you really need toilet cleaner. Eggs are very soft & in traditional egg dyeing, you use plain old vinegar to soften them so they take the dye better. A lot safer.

[@SandyAllnock1]

Yes, you can use vinegar to do it it just takes longer. There’s also some kind of acid you can buy but… That sounds way too dangerous lol.

[@CouzCat]

@@SandyAllnock1 That’s probably muriatic acid aka hydrochloride acid & that’s way worse: trust me, I’m a chemist/biochemist.

[@deborahreeder2901]

Awesome!

[@kathiegettinger8374]

Amazing!

[@natalieingram244]

When I learned this craft many years ago I found ‘sucking’ the egg out is a very bad idea and I used elastic bands to divide the egg helps in make the first lines more even. I’m horrible at eyeballing. Chuckle.

[@deborahcarr4058]

Wow!

[@Trisha01]

You can use a rubber band to help divide your eggs into segments

[@SandyAllnock1]

👍🏻

[@lindawetzel9581]

You can use rubber bands to create your lines.

[@awenbunny]

I’ve waxed and coloured Pysanky eggs but never seen the etching before.

[@fuzzydragons]

the flower eggs are so pretty 😀 always wanted to try this but my hands are way too shaky to get any kind of straight line lol

[@sacredlimbo]

goes hard

[@carolprice5657]

I use my nail drill

[@barbarahill6365]

I did the same thing, blew out the egg first. I suggest you do the blowing out after you dye the egg. Yes, you have to throw out the egg. I’ve even heard some don’t blow out the egg! If you don’t blow out the egg, it dyes more easily. They tend to float without the inside. Oh, I found you can keep the dye for the next year. It works just fine.

[@SandyAllnock1]

I blew some first ones after but exploded them after all that work so I did that first.

[@LynnMathers]

Hi, Barbara-I kept my dye jars for several years in fact.

[@robertwright5942]

I wonder how the etched egg would look with an led rice light inside.

[@madusonkeeper]

Sometimes I think O have enough scraps that fall out of my cutting dies to do this lol

[@annajavier5712]

Wow that’s impressive I’m wondering if there is anything else other then wax to put in the egg as a blocking agent for the etching. I have done etching on zink plates and we use so many things I’m a add it to my list of things to do. I’ll get back to you if anything works.

[@susiecramer2524]

Sandy, have you ever read Patricia Polacco’s children’s books including references to Pysanky eggs? I used to love to read these books aloud to kids. There is one called Rechenka’s Eggs.

[@SandyAllnock1]

I’ll have to look for it🥰

[@lechat8533]

Thank you, Sandy!! You`re a fountain of artful knowledge and talents. What I don`t understand is, why the heat doesn`t remove the lines to zero. Since these empty eggs are for decoration purposes only, can`t we use simple wax instead of the expensive beeswax?

[@SandyAllnock1]

The wax protects part of the outside of the shell, and the acid in the cleaner eats away at the rest of it. So when the wax is melted off there’s a raised design. Is that clearer?

[@SandyAllnock1]

I have no idea if regular wax would melt in a kitska the same way, it could be that beeswax makes a better line. I’m not really sure. But I don’t think I’ll risk getting candlewax stuck in my kitska.

[@barbarabass4235]

The bees wax melts at a higher temperature giving you more time with liquid wax to draw your lines. Also bees wax turns black in the candle flame. It makes it easier to see the design you have written. When using an electric kistka, they blacken the bees wax cake before you use it. The amount of wax used is minimal, so cost is not an factor.

[@SandyAllnock1]

@@barbarabass4235 thanks! Great info.

[@justcasey6292]

Is "the Works" what folks use when they want to get rid of a dye color to get a good blue?

[@joycemagdalene7950]

Hi Sandy, can the blown outegg liquid be used in cooking?😄 Loved yiur fountain pen Can I know the brand and where to purchase it? The eggs are beautiful, looking forward to the next video. I am transfigured by their beauty. Your explanation was brilliant. Thank you.

[@SandyAllnock1]

Yes I saved some of the egg insides but since I did so many, I didn’t save all of it…high cholesterol 🤣

[@joycemagdalene7950]

Can you recommend a fountain pen,

[@barbarabass4235]

If you drain the eggs after dying, you can’t use the extracted contents because the dyes are chemical, not food grade, and do go through the shell rendering the contents unusable. Yes it is sad to waste food but an egg is a pretty inexpensive canvas for your art.

[@kathleenkroha2063]

You can keep the egg whole it will evaporate

[@melissawesterlund1761]

Occasionally they explode though leaving a very stinky powder residue all over. Happened when i was moving one- the movement must have disturbed gasses inside and pop- rotten smelling egg powder 🤮. I hollow mine after i design, melt, and varnish.

[@lubapatitucci5831]

etching on eggs.........You'd have to be really lucky to get an egg with a thick shell to be able to do etching. I know, I have tried it and I'm Ukrainian. 🥰🇺🇦🥰

[@SandyAllnock1]

I saw it recommended on an ostrich egg I think? I believe those are thicker? That might be why I punched a hole through some of mine 🤣

[@lubapatitucci5831]

@@SandyAllnock1 Ostrich egg are great to etch on great but even harder to get. My mother told me the best eggs to get are the first one layed. No blemishes and no bumps. And they are thick shells. Supermarket eggs are ok but you have to take it to the light to check before you use them. I drove my family crazy but they never said a word about it. I'd blow the egg yolk after I varnished the eggs so not to ruin the design. If you blow it out before you put put the design on it you won't get full coverage of whatever color you put it into.

[@SatisfyingEscapes]

Strange long thing. Was not faster to paint the design with PWA or another white glue and just paint all the white?

[@SandyAllnock1]

Art isn’t about fast. I was following others tutorials and learning.

[@maiai2992]

ok I'm confused why you drumell the egg? Are you not using food colors?

[@SandyAllnock1]

It’s not food color, it’s dyes. You can let a raw egg take years to dry out on its own or just remove the egg.