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How to Prepare Your Vinyl Tape Measure

3/17/2017

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I work on goose, turkey and chicken eggs.  Measuring is important and I do enjoy measuring out a design, motif, or pattern.  I exclusively use a narrow vinyl tape measure.  
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Measuring Divisions on an Egg Shell

1/21/2014

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PictureClick on All Photos for Links to Buying
 Egg Decorating Templates -  An easy way to divide an egg into equal sections, and for making perfect circles-16 different sizes in the package. 

PictureYou can find the flexible tape measure in Walmart
I use a vinyl retractable tape measure for all of my pysanky.  I prefer measuring in millimeters and centimeters.

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The top left hand corner of this plastic circle template is divided up into degrees, and can be used for marking the divisions on an egg.  You then use a rubber band to draw the lines from point to point to achieve straight lines.
PictureClick on Photo for Link to Buying
A lathe is used for dividing an egg. From a recommendation on social media, a good beginner lathe is a plastic one; especially as it is a lower price point to other lathes on the market.  



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Lathe and Lathe Table for Beginners

1/20/2014

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Please Note: I do not sell lathes or lathe tables.  You can buy here: 
https://www.bestpysanky.com/products/craft-decorating-plastic-craft-lathe

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A lathe is used for dividing an egg. From a recommendation on social media, a good beginner lathe is a plastic one; especially as it is a lower price point to other lathes on the market.  
                                                                                          Available at www.pysankyusa.com


  • Rotates objects for easy decorating on all sides
  • Holds a variety of eggs horizontally or vertically
  • Adjustable to many size eggs
  • Foam padded jaws hold objects securely but gently
  • Perfect tool for precise striping and banding
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Gene's Lathe Table works together with the plastic lathe.
Having placed an egg in the lathe, lay a pencil on the lathe table to draw straight lines every time... with practice!  

·  Formica  top with rounded edges and PVC tube legs.  Approx. 3” height
·  Only available at www.pysankyusa.com

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Mark's photo demonstrates his use of both the plastic lathe and lathe table.

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Wolves Teeth Pattern-Traditional

7/14/2013

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Wolves Teeth denote loyalty and wisdom.  It is one of my favorite patterns to write on an egg. This symbol had such a strong talismanic belief that amulets were given to both children and adults to help teething and prevent toothache. 
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Blue Mechanical Pencil-Links for Purchase

7/10/2013

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In a prior post I wrote about the benefits of using a non-photo blue pencil-no smudging. Each of these images is linked with the online shop where you can purchase each product.  Remember that you will have to remove the black lead from the mechanical pencil and replace them with the blue leads. 

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PictureYukika (in photo above) uses blue pencil to draw out her eggs!

Yukika saw my blog post and is now using the blue pencil leads; she posted recently, 

“Thank you for noticing the blue lines…I love using blue lead with the mechanical pencil. It doesn't smudge and I now have no smudgy hands which happens with using the traditional graphite pencils!”  


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Using a Non-Photo Blue Pencil Instead of Standard Graphite for Measuring Out a Design 

6/30/2013

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 I found a penciling tip on www.learnpysanky.com: 
"Oksana recommends using a non-repro blue pencil, available at most art shops (and many business supply stores). It stays on well without smudging, and comes off easily in the final stages of cleaning off the wax."
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#1 Pilot Color Eno Soft Blue 0.7
#2 Pentel Blue 0.5
#3 Staedtler Non-Photo Blue Pencil

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Leads used in each mechanical pencil. 

Recommedations
I started with using #3 the Staedtler Non-Photo Blue pencil and recommend having a good pencil sharpener on hand.  It does not smudge and is erasable with a white eraser.    However I prefer, The Pentel Blue 0.5  is the better lead, longer lasting, harder (rarely breaks) and best of all it's 0.5 my preferred size. The shade of blue is darker than the standard non-repro blue so it requires a lighter touch. 

The Pilot Color ENO Soft Blue 0.7 is the perfect shade of blue, but it is much softer (it easily and often breaks) and only comes in a 0.7 size. 

So the choice is yours - 0.7 / softer but great colour, or 0.5 / harder and a little dark.  
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Eternity Bands-Meanders, Waves, Lines or Ribbons

6/18/2013

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MY ETERNITY BANDS ARE A STANDARD 5mm Wide, on all my chicken and goose eggs.
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Eternity Bands  and other dividing elements on pysanky are composed of meanders, waves, lines or ribbons. These eternal line motifs are most popular due to an interesting legend: the meander on a pysanka has no beginning and no end and thus an evil spirit, which happens to enter a house and land on the egg, is trapped forever and will never bother the residents again! Meanders symbolize harmony, motion, infinity and immortality. Lines and ribbons represent the thread of life or   eternity. Waves stand for wealth, because it was rain that ensured good crops.

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Click on image to make larger

3 Part Video Clips on Eternity Bands

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How to Measure a Star Motif

6/10/2013

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Complex Patterns to Print Out

12/5/2012

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Complex Patterns to Print Out  Here are nine separate complex patterns you can use on an egg.  You can click on the image
to print it out. 
 When you print the page out you can see that the complex image is made up of repeated small images, transcribed onto an individual square.  I recommend that you use a large size egg to for complex patterns.  
First measure out the surface of the egg into squares(begin from a center band). Select one of the  patterns, then look for the one square motif,  that keeps getting repeated. Practice on a piece of graph paper or measure out four squares to practice your pattern before you draw it out on the egg. Do not be fooled into thinking these patterns are too difficult.   It is simply “one square” repeated onto the     square pre-measured out on you egg. Look for another example in this blog for the "Double Wedding Ring" pattern. 



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 Vinyl Retractable Tape Measure

12/5/2012

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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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