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Wear Gloves

3/19/2017

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While working on Drapanki, the scratch method, residue of dye can get on your hands and be removed from the shell; thus an un-even appearance.
 Find a simple cotton glove at a dollar store.  Wash the glove occasionally to keep it clean. 
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Me Working on a Goose Egg with Glove
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My Student Using a Glove-Optional
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Setting Up for a Class

8/12/2016

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I find it practical to set up for a class in "stations" that are in order of the process, and easier for discussing each step.    Taking photos every time you teach is a big help as reference, for the next time you teach. 
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Organizing Spaces for "First Time Pysanky Teachers"

2/28/2016

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I have taught classes as large as 27 and as small as 5.  But whether large or small, it is important to a new student's  to create a climate conducive to a rich and rewarding pysanky experience.  
If you are a 'new' pysanky teacher, here are some tips for creating a great
First Time Experience for you and for your students, space-wise.
​SPACES ORGANIZATION: Dye work space, Student work space,
Teacher group& individual instruction space, Outdoor Airing space for spray varnish, Refreshments space. 
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Teacher Tip-Demo for Showing How to Add Patterns to the Egg Shell

7/24/2014

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I EXPLAIN TO THE CLASS THAT ADDING THE PATTERN ONTO THE EGG SHELL  IS NOT "ROCKET SCIENCE"!  
THE PATTERN IS REPEATED IN EACH QUADRANT. 
Using a large demonstration egg is most helpful for the visual learner.  
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LOOK AT THE PHOTO OF ME ABOVE. I AM USING A DRY MARKER SHOWING HOW TO REPEAT THE PATTERN ONTO EACH QUADRANT. ASK IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS!
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THE "STAR PATTERN" IS USED IN THE BEGINNER CLASS. THIS IMAGE SHOWS ADDITIONAL LINES AND A MOTIF IS ADDED TO EACH QUADRANT.
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A SIMPLE EXAMPLE TO ADD SMALL LINES AROUND THE STAR.
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THIS STUDENT IS BEGINNING TO PLAN A PATTERN ONTO A WORKSHEET. SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO PLAN, OTHERS PREFER TO GO STRAIGHT ONTO THE SHELL.
beginner_worksheets.pdf
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Finishing Off an Egg at the End

7/24/2014

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 #1 Removing the wax with a cut piece cloth, which hospitals or throw away; these are good because they have a bite to the weave and pick up the wax.
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 #2 Remove any pencil line with a white eraser. 
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 #3    Look at the white wolves teeth pattern-do you see some black bits? I scrape those away with a blade. 
 

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#4   You can see a red dot under the letter "e".  I used a black marker to cover it. 

PictureI use these pens to touch up colors on an egg. Staedtler 318 Lumocolor Pen Permanent Fine 0.6mm Assorted Ref 318WP8












​Small uneven areas of the dye can sometimes be corrected with permanent markers. That the level of success can depend on the color in question, so experiment a little before doing it on your prize egg. Black markers are most useful (if your egg ends in black) for running around the white edge of the hole left behind after emptying the egg. 

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FISKARS FINGER BLADE Look for it in the scrapbook section of Michaels.
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I scratched the star into the egg at the end; using a Fiskars finger blade. 
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 Will I Varnish the goose egg?  I did not, but left it as is;  it already has a nice bees wax patina.
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Teacher Tip-Options for Removing Wax

5/4/2014

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There may be students who enjoy melting off the wax at the end of the process, while other would prefer another method.  This post is for you, the teacher to decide what methods you will have available. 

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EMBOSSING  GUN
  •  1 or 2 embossing guns seem to work nicely. When students are ready to remove  wax, send them to a table for a quick demonstration. The embossing  guns are nothing more than embossing tools that you can find in any paper crafting section of Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.  Look for 50% off coupons to get a good deal. 
  • Place the egg on a napkin in a small basket, and wipe it as the wax melts.   
  • or  lay the egg on a paper towel, cloth or tissue in a foil pie plate to absorb the wax.

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CARDBOARD COFFEE HOLDERS can be most useful when removing wax with a hair dryer or heat gun.  Line each section with a paper towel, coffee filter, etc., to absorb the wax. 

PictureThanks to Tetyana Solotska for the photo and idea
HEAT GUN SET UP 
I found this clever idea on social media.  The teacher of this pysanky class in Japan is not allowed to use any candle power, no flames allowed, during  class.  Instead she mounts a heat gun and is able to have students remove wax safely. 
  • You could instead of this mount, use a drying board to rest the egg on so your fingers don't get hot or damaged. 

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TOASTER OVEN
Pre-heat oven to 200-º or toaster oven
to 180 º
Place  finished pysanky into a silicone muffin pan. 
Time the eggs for 10 minutes, no longer. 
The wax collects in the bottom, and when it cools, you can just pop the excess wax out! 
You can also place a circle of paper toweling or a circle of coffee filter, in the bottom of each muffin space to absorb the wax (paper does not burn at low temperatures). 
Finally, remove and wipe each pysanky with a clean soft tissue, if a lot of wax remains, repeat the process.

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HAIR DRYER
What may be the safest way to remove  wax when teaching children, is a simple hair dryer.  When students are ready to remove  wax, send them to a table with 1 0r 2 hair dryers, for a quick demonstration.  Place the egg in a basket, on a coffee filter; the child may have a better control when removing wax. 

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ALCOHOL JEWELERS LAMP

Some recommend a small alcohol jewelers lamp. No soot and the adjustable flame is really low and hot. Safer than an open candle.  It is also useful when working out doors in spite of any wind. 

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Tea lites don't get hot enough for heating a kistka or removing wax from the egg.
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NO TAPERS! too long...

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Use short stubs only, while writing and removing the wax. 

CANDLES
Some classes provide candles for the students.  Others ask the students to bring a candle and holder; inevitably, they bring a taper(too long) or tea lite(not hot enough).  Be sure your students bring a candle stub. 
  • Pure beeswax candles would be optimum, because it doesn't  produce soot.  But they are expensive.   
  • Church Candles- churches may be generous and let you have their candle remnants.  These are often a higher content of beeswax along with the paraffin wax, are a good size for manipulating the kistka and the egg; and they are slower burning. 
PictureThis is like an old dish cloth.
When teaching I  use candles to remove wax. But more important is that I give each person a cut piece of cloth that has some "bite" to it; like in the picture. I feel that paper towels, TP, only pushes the wax around and does not lift it, so wax is left behind on the egg.   

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SCORCHED EGG
For a scorched egg a bottle of Goo Gon and a q-tip can remove the mark.  Try to demonstrate that the candle flame is adjacent to the egg; and the egg is not placed in the flame.  

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Setting Up Pysanky Classes 

4/5/2014

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Recently on social media someone asked “How do you get the word out about your pysanky classes? I have mostly sent emails to homeschool groups that I or friends have been part of. Is it worthwhile to advertise in community papers?”  

Established Art/Craft Schools/Studios
     There are established art and craft schools, where professionals and amatures, both teach and take classes.  These classes can be for a longer period of several days/sessions.  Many times there is a link for teaching on the website, that will address your questions. 

     One spring, when I was visiting New England, I  started looking for craft schools.  I found an interesting place and did a cold call, bringing along a basket of my eggs.  The director was kind enough to see me and hired me for that summer.  It was a 3 day course, that included a stipend, travel expenses, lodging, meals and a lab assistant-who worked the open lab in the evenings.
     The following year, I was contacted by another prominent school, which had seen that I was on staff at the New England school the previous summer.  They contacted me by email and hired me (for three seasons). In this case I didn’t have to promote myself, as they found me online. I volunteered for the school’s opening day season launching,  demonstrating egg writing, hoping to recruit students for the  summer session. 
Benefits:  these venues do their own advertising, enroll students online, you are under contract, so get paid; some pay for travel expenses, with an open lab run by an assistant. Because classes are longer students get to work on several eggs, which brings out a high level of enthusiasm and creativity. 

Community Art Schools/Centers
     Go online and search community art centers within 30 miles of where you live.  These smaller schools have fine art classes all year round.  Often there is a link for teaching on the website.   Contact the director via email.    A follow up telephone call makes a personal touch, asking if they would set up and appointment in person for you to show your craft and discuss teaching a class.
Benefits:  they advertise, enroll students online and collect fees; you often negotiate a stipend for teaching  

Church Groups 
     You may want to hold a class at your own church center; search for an ethnic eastern European church is practical, if this is your first experience.   Many of the members may have written pysanky or remembered a family member, who wrote pysanky, so interest level can be higher. Ask the web master to add the class information to their website.
Benefits:  people have strong interest in tradition 
Library
     Start early-around January, to speak with the head librarian(and bring your eggs) to request a display space for your eggs.   Discuss with them the idea of having a class in the spring.   Create a flier with contact information as hand-outs, to distribute to interested people.  Ask the librarian to add the class information to their website. 
Benefits:  high frequency of visitors to the library, they often have large spaces for holding meetings

Local Museums
     Search for museums within the radius of where you are willing to travel.   Many museums are currently holding family days and are interested in demonstrations or people who are willing to teach all ages.  Contact the curator.  Follow up calls are useful and practical if you haven’t heard back in a while.
Benefits:  enthusiasm is high, interest in history and tradition

Senior Citizen Centers/Retirement Centers
     Meet with the recreational director.  Bring your eggs or even photos of previous classes on your Ipad or tablet.  Ask for assistance in sign-up and collecting fees before the class. 
Benefits:  large spaces for holding meetings, some have art rooms, good interest level
Home School, Scouts, etc.
     My own experience required each child be accompanied by a parent, (as we use flames and aniline dyes). If there is one parent, who is willing to work with you, that person collects the cost of the class fees ahead of time, and keeps you informed of the numbers.  I did not charge that person as they helped me with sign up, etc.
Benefits:  strong interest in tradition 

Clubs
     Recently I taught at a garden club, following their 10 minute meeting for the month.  Ask the web master to add class information to their website.  You can ask for assistance with sign-up and collecting fees.
Benefits:  large groups, good interest level   

Local Media & Internet
     Timing is always important! So search for the arts section in your local newspaper. Make note of who is writing the articles and contact them ahead of the Lenten/Easter season.  Tell them you are teaching a class at one of the venues you have already set up.  Ask them to include all information about the upcoming class (we get a lot of students this way).  Ask if they would like to do a story on your eggs around the holidays.  Frequently they also want to shoot a video for their website, with an accompanying article. 
Benefits:  they advertise your class for you 

Demonstrations
     Demonstrations are a way to get recognized, and may elicit students.     In one case, I spent an evening demonstrating at a popular art center during the “Holiday” gift shop, and display of my eggs.   My class at this center was scheduled for February that year, so I hoped the demo would encourage people to sign up… and it did! 
     I also have demo-ed under the tent of the art school, where I was going to teach that summer; at the largest county fairground in my state. I distributed brochures for the school and my business cards.
Benefits:  attendance was high at the state fair, the arts school was well-known.  

Rain/Snow Dates
Be sure to discuss back up dates in the event of extreme weather changes.  
Ongoing Email List

A most important part of all of your future classes, keep handy with you or make available a sign up email sheet . 

Hold onto them!  With the data you will be able to send out each year an email of information on your classes, etc., which may elicit return customers or  friends of a friend…

email-list-signup-form.pdf
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File Type: pdf
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Drop Pull Method

3/24/2014

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When I teach a class on Lemko Drop-Pull pysanka, I have several ideas for preparation: 
#1.  A pre-divided egg, with a basic "rosette" to begin students' learning 
#2.  Take-home motif handout (included in fee), which the student can use for elaborating the class egg. 
#3.  A paper plate, with penciled-in motifs to practice on, before applying strokes with the stylus to the egg
#4.  A small take-home cardboard stencil of circles (of various sizes), used for tracing onto follow-up eggs.
#5.  Take-home #1 drop-pull stylus, and wax melter with bees wax/tea lite included(this is included in the class fee)
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#1. A pre-divided egg, with a basic "rosette" to launch a student's creativity.
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#2 I made a worksheet with more simplified motifs for beginners.
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#2 Lemko patterns: From the Vera Manko portfolio-link to buying her book.
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#3. I pre-draw some typical motifs in pencil. The students can trace over in wax, and also invent their own patterns on the paper plate.
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#4. I make index card templates for students to use and then take home if they wish.
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#5. Take-home( #1 drop-pull stylus), and wax melter with bees wax/tea lite included(this is included in the class fee). You can also not sell these and just use them for each class. I have a set for this purpose.
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There are many sizes of drop-pull tools but the best for teaching a beginner class is the #1 stylus
It is important to have the students practice first.  There is a rhythm to the strokes:  
  • Heat Stylus Over Candle-try not to use a tea-light, as its heat is low
  • Dip Heated Stylus into Melted Wax-
  • Practice on Paper Plate-Drop...Pull the stroke
  • Finally, Write Onto Egg...repeat the pattern
The first two photos show me demonstrating to the class, how to practice on a paper plate before going onto the egg.  You can see in the third photo, that I have pre-traced two egg shapes in pencil, as practice.  Then students continue to wax over the design and improvise on their own.  The purpose is to establish a comfort level with using the stylus and melted wax, before applying it to the raw egg. 
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As I demo the strokes , I repeat out loud-"Drop…Pull-Drop…Pull", trying to show that there is a rhythm to the strokes.
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A student's creativity is boundless…her own pattern!
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Teacher Tip:  Photograph Each Class

3/24/2014

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My advice is to Photograph Each Class That You Teach.  It is important to always ask your audience if anyone would mind you taking photos during the class. In some cases, you may wish to have a brief 'release form' to be signed.  
 I like to start with a photo of the room set up and individual set up.  It becomes a visual reminder for the next time that you teach, and makes sure that you have all the supplies for that class.   For example, shoot a picture of the dye table, and the individual student place setting 
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The dye table is set up far from the working tables.
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This is a small table set up. Click on the photo to increase the size for viewing.
It is important to always ask your audience if anyone would mind you taking photos during the class.  ​

Create a Collage of the Class Photos

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Teacher Tip: Symbol Charts

10/20/2013

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When teaching a Beginner Class, I distribute a packet of "Pysanky Symbols and Meanings" as a take-away.   I briefly discuss the idea of pysanky being a "talisman" with their traditional symbols.  
Along my pysanky travels on the internet, I came across charts that other teachers use.  I plan to create some of my own for classes this year.  I hope they inspire you too.
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CLASS CHART-PHOTO FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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CLASS CHART-PHOTO FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA- I LIKE THE SIZE OF THIS CHART
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CLASS CHART-OF DROP PULL PATTERNS
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TEACHER USES A TEMPORARY VISUAL AID-WHITE BOARD-Thanks to Tetyana Solotska for the photo and idea
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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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