I can see why Sally got hooked. She's been doing Ukrainian Easter egg dying, or Pysanky, off and on since 1969. Her eggs are incredible and technique impeccable. At left are some of her and Mary's masterpieces. These aren't some sucky third-rate Easter eggs, no sir!
 
 

Sally prefers hollowing eggs before applying the dyes, although some crafters hollow their eggs after decoration, so that the eggs sink into the dye. 

Melted beeswax is drawn on the egg using a kistka, a pen-like tool with a reservoir and small tip. Being the pro, Sally had a wide range of tip thicknesses and even had a couple electric ones, capable of very fine wax application. 

The egg is dyed a light color, dried, then more wax is applied to any areas that one wants to keep that particular color. The process is repeated using progressively darker colors, building up lots of layers and colors. When finished, the wax is melted with a candle and rubbed into the surface of the egg. Other Pysanky techniques include bleaching dye from the egg and using varnish to gloss and seal the egg. Goose and ostrich eggs can also be used. 

By the time Karen and I arrrived, Sally had already mixed the dyes. There was a full spectrum there, including black. These are special high-intensity chemical powdered dyes that are mixed with boiling water and vinegar.

Eggs needed hollowing, so I got busy putting a hole in the end of each egg using a Dremel drill. A light touch is key here, as I discovered after cracking several shells. Sally then demonstrated the little needle-and-pump egg goo extraction device (left) that made short work of emptying the eggs. I was somewhat relieved that modern technology has freed us from the queasy concept of blowing yolks by mouth! 

As for design, Sally had plenty of inspiration lying around, including a book of folk art, Jane Pollack's book "Decorating Eggs", and some Pysanky postcards. You can see one of Sally's fabulous poppy designs in mid-process below. She had a couple of dragon line drawings that she was thinking about adapting to the egg. How cool is that? 

I saw a couple of quasi-Navajo designs that got me into a swirly mood, and I just jumped in, freeforming. After a semi-successful mosaic session a few weeks before, I knew to not think too much about the design. Indeed, my first egg, done without preplanning, was my best of the day. Who knew white, green, yellow and black was my new favorite color combo?

Wax application is tricky; again, a light touch is what it's all about. I was unable to get a uniform, thin line, so I just worked the blobs into my design. My own personal Pysanky design symbology was the same on all my eggs: blobs=made by a novice. Oh well. I'm definitely intrigued enough to give it a go again. Maybe this time, solo!

That's me with Swirly Egg, Karen with Black and White Tribally Egg, and Sally with Poppy Egg.

Web Sites on Pysanky/Ukrainian Easter Eggs
www2.uwindsor.ca/~hlynka/pysanka.html
This page, maintained by Dr. Myron Hlynka, offers copious web link sto other Pysanky sites.

How to Make Ukrainian Easter Eggs
www.learnpysanky.com
This web site will tell you everything you need to know about the basics of making Pysanky. Pages include list of suppliers and other resources, explanation of symbology, and design templates.

Ukrainian Egg-Cessories: Supplies for Pysanky Easter Eggs
www.ukrainianegg.com
Supplies, links, downloadable pictures. Supplies offered include an egg-blowing apparatus that works with a vacuum cleaner!

Ukrainian Gift Shop
http://www.ukrainiangiftshop.com
(612) 788-2545
This is where Sally gets all her supplies, including "Luba's Ukrainian Easter Egg Decorating Kit"

Decorating Eggs : Exquisite Designs With Wax & Dye
Pollak, Jane. Sterling Publications (Hardcover), August 1996.
The modern Pysanky crafter's bible.