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Storing Manual Tools

11/28/2012

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Storing Manual Tools  This is an ice cube tray for water bottles.  Search for them at yard sales, charity shops and dollar stores.   
I see it useful for holding manual kistkas, drop-pull tools and Sorbian feathers,  etc.

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Fashion

11/27/2012

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Fashion     Ukrainian “ethnic motifs” that inspire contemporary fashion designers. 

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Why I Like to Work on Raw Eggs

11/27/2012

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Why I Like to Work on Raw Eggs 
They Sink in the Dye Better! 
I only work on raw eggs.  As you can see in the photo, the egg sinks to the bottom of the dye.  I do not have to hold the egg down in the dye.  So I get a strong even color, with no marks left on the egg.  Some artists hold the egg down the(floating) blown egg with an inverted shot glass or other methods.  This can  distress the wax, smudging it or even removing  XX Fine lines.  It can leave you distressed, lol!

I generally apply one coat of varnish, let it cure for 24 hours, and then drain the egg.  I apply a second coat or more. 
I have been experimenting with leaving the egg un-blown for smaller eggs, like chicken and turkey.  But have not done so with goose eggs.  Please see my blog on Un-Blown eggs.



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Storing Dyes

11/18/2012

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Storing Dyes   Dyes  stored  in an air-tight container or sealed glass jar, housed in a cool dry place, should last for a couple of seasons, therefore the container which you chose is important. 
​ Please click on each image for more info! 
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Storage Container for Organizing and Keeping Pysanky Safe

11/16/2012

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Measures 12-1/2 x 12-1/2 by 14 inches
Snapware 60621 Snap-N-Stack
  3-Layer Ornament Box with Dividers I have two of these containers which I use for my completed pysanky.  I purchased them at Lowes, but have seen the box at other craft stores, especially during the holidays (and on "sale" immediately after the holidays). Home Depot stocks it at the holidays.
      3 stackable tray with 3-inch and 4-inch adjustable dividers
      Sturdy clear-plastic design; simple snapping mechanism
      Lid with generous loop handle for convenient portability

 

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Erase or Not Erase?...that is the question

11/15/2012

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PictureZEBRA Mechanical Pencils-It comes with a white eraser!
Erase or Not Erase?...that is the question
Everyone has an opinion on whether to erase or not erase when measuring out an egg. Some people are against erasing of any sort. When I am working on measuring out an intricate pattern, it is inevitable that I will need to erase.  Many designs are difficult  to measure out perfectly.  So  I do erase, but am careful to use a white eraser only. 
             Never Use a Pink Eraser!
I never have a problem with dye not covering an erased bit...Ever!
When I teach a class, one of the supplies that I give to a student is a new measuring tape and a mechanical pencil with white eraser.   Below is an assortment of erasers that are good to use.  I made a link for each one to a web site.

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To Glove or Not to Glove...that is the Question!

11/15/2012

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To Glove or Not to Glove...that is the
Question!

Wearing a cotton glove while writing a pysanka is a personal choice.  I am not giving advice, but suggest that you try it out and see if it works for you. 
I use one glove for holding the egg,  while working on a large eggs, such as a goose egg.  This insulates my hand from the already waxed areas.  Without it the wax can smear if hands are warm and frequently touching the egg;this is especially so when I am using X Fine points, such fine lines can be easily smudged. 
I buy single pairs of gloves at a Dollar store.   When finished with the egg, I pop the gloves into the laundry and re-use.

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A BEGINNER STUDENT EXPERIMENTS USING A GLOVE WHILE WRITING
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 Wax Reservoir Extender

11/14/2012

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 Wax Reservoir Extender    I use spaghetti wax which fits nicely into the Wax Reservoir Extender.  This can take a few minutes to fill.  The extender comes with a cleaning wire(see photo) that can be used to eliminate any air bubbles in the cartridge.  You can write up to 4-6 times longer using the extender.
Be sure that you leave the unit to really heat up before you begin writing. 
It fits nicely into the WAXARTSUPPLY kistka and even the
EGG-CESSORIES model kistka.

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Displaying Pysanky Photos on a Digital Frame

11/12/2012

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Displaying Pysanky Photos on a Digital
Frame
   I met a pysanky artist, at my Ukrainian Center bazaar, who created a slide show of her work using a digital frame.   My first instinct was that the frame would be useful for my pysanky classes, to demonstrate a processes or to show past class photos, or show my own pysanky. 
In the photo to the left,  I am demonstrating at an art school open house.   Several people stopped to watch my demo and many watched the digital slide show, which were slides of a previous class of 17 held at this center.  
What frame should I buy?  I researched "digital frames" by going to stores like Target, Best Buy, Walmart, etc., to look at  frame sizes on the market. I opened boxes, I read the descriptions, and  finally chose a 10.1" HP, which stores up to 1250 photos, that was within my price range.  If you find any frame size smaller, it is too difficult to see  details in photos. 
Be sure to buy a frame that allows you to insert a memory card and memory stick!   This will enable you to fix up your images in Photoshop and then move them to the frame via a memory stick.  Also look for a frame that has a USB port connector, so that you can upload photos directly from your laptop or Ipad.  The smaller models don't have the port cable. 
Organizing Photos   You can organize photos into folders for different slide shows.  You can adjust the speed, transitions, etc, just like with any computer slide show.
Down-side  My digital frame only works by pugging it in to an outlet, it does not work on batteries.  So I always carry an extension cord,  in case I am not set up close to an outlet.

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Dye Flaws: How to Get Rid of Tiny Unwanted Spots in a Design

11/10/2012

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Look at the star motifs and you will see black specks or spots that I don't want to leave on the egg.  This can ocassionally happen, especially on the white spaces. 

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Click on image


I like to use a Fiskar Finger Tip Craft Knife.  Before I varnish the egg, I inspect it for marks.  I remove the undesirable specks by gently scratching them off with the blade.  Some artist recommend bleach or Ivory soap or simple green applied with a Q-tip.  I feel more confident using the  scratch method,  as I won't inadvertently disturb the integrity of the surrounding dyes (rather than using any kind of liquid, even in minute amounts).  

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    On occasion I share images that come from other sources and do my best to provided artist credit and a link to them whenever possible. Should you use an image I've re-posted from another source, then please follow the "Terms of Use" from that image's creator/owner and give credit to the image's  originator.

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    by Maggie 

    I am of Ukrainian and Polish ancestry, 2nd generation American, who grew up in an ethnic household and neighborhood in Passaic, NJ.   Keeping with tradition, I learned to write pysanky as a young girl and continue to work on my passion for pysanky.  I teach classes and demonstrate the art year-round.

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