Eggs-travagant
Eggs
By
Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes
Wonderfully
simple to do and oh so impressive!
You don’t
need a $40 Easter egg decorating kit with pages of instructions
to impress your family and guests this Easter –
achieve sophisticated elegance with colors taken directly
from nature. Simply decorated from a myriad of plants
and flowers, you can create a beautiful range of natural
colors and textures. Try this technique – it’s
simple enough to do with young children.
Ingredients
Gather together
eggs, an enamel or stainless steel pot, vinegar, cheesecloth,
a rubber band, and plant materials such as onionskins,
blueberries, pecan hulls, parsley, beets or dandelions.
Directions
1. To prepare
the dye bath, fill a pot with two or three cups of plant
material. Barely cover it with water (more plant material
produces stronger colors.) Simmer for at least 30 minutes.
Add water and stir as needed. The dyes can be made several
days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Strain
and heat the dye before using it.
2. Use hard-boiled
or blown out eggs. Carefully wash the eggs with soap and
water. Allow them to dry. Wipe the eggs with vinegar.
3. To decorate
the eggs, moisten small leaves and grasses, one at a time.
Press them firmly against the egg. Hold them in place
by wrapping the eggs in a six-inch square of cheesecloth
or nylon pantyhose. Pull the cloth tight against the egg
and secure it with a rubber band. Immerse the egg in a
container of warm dye. Some dyes are stronger than others.
The process may take only a few moments or several hours.
Dyes derived from yellow onionskin, red onionskin, and
blueberries all provide quick results.
4. Unwrap the
eggs, drain, and let them dry upright.
What a magical
and unpredictable process. Each lustrous egg is a unique
surprise. Some of our favorites were the results of happy
accidents. Enjoy discovering!
About
The Author
About
the Authors: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes
are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together:
Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website
that's jam packed with family ideas, visit http://togetherparenting.com/.
info@togetherparenting.com
