Thursday 24 May 2018

Inside Baba's Beeswax - what's in a name?

Does our whimsical family business name bring a smile to your face? Next week on May 31st we’re marking our 27th year of inspiring customers such as you with our pysanky supplies, kits, workshops and books. Our name originated with memories of Baba, on whose knee and child’s hand in hers we learned the magic of pysanky, and the word beeswax because of its significance to the technique of making Ukrainian eggs. We’re proud of our prairie origins and solid Canadian roots.

At that time in 1991 we considered other less colourful names such as Ukrainian Egg Emporium, Pysanka Treasures, Timeless Pysanky, Eggs ‘n’ Dyes, Dyes ‘n’ Eggs, Pysanka Collections, Timeless Treasures, and Pysanka Art Creations. We think we made the right choice with Baba’s Beeswax.

Baba's Beeswax celebrating 27 years since 1991
since 1991
Along with reminiscing, it’s also a good time to reinforce our promises. We’re proud to have continually fulfilled our vision: to inspire and encourage beginners, experts, and anyone interested in Ukrainian egg decorating to discover the magic of one of the great traditions of all time—PYSANKY! and our mission: from pysanky supplies and kits to workshops and books, we have everything you need to make beautiful pysanky the traditional way because learning pysanky is easy, fun and affordable.

Find out for yourself. Follow the buzzz and let us know what you think of our name—how you remember it—and what inspires you. We’d love to hear from you via comments on this blog post or a Like on Facebook @BabasBeeswax

Tuesday 27 March 2018

Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Joan Brander, 604-275-8169, joan@babasbeeswax.com

From toddlers to teachers—engaging in the wonder of pysanky and their symbols is an educational opportunity

VANCOUVER, BC — March 1, 2018 —  More than just another colouring page. A first of-its-kind book demystifies the symbolism of pysanky with a rich array of large-format drawings. These can be coloured by children or mounted in classrooms as teaching aids.

In My First Pysanka: Symbols my Baba taught me, ($9.95 Baba’s Beeswax, March 2018) author Joan Brander draws on not only her Ukrainian culture and heritage but also on her experience promoting pysanky to teachers and children. She shares traditional pysanky symbols that were passed down through the generations learned as a child from her grandmother whom she called “Baba”.

·                  Over 70 hand-drawn images
·                  No stock photos are used
·                  Symbols are grouped into categories
·                  Drawings are simple and uncomplicated
·                  Pages can be mounted as teaching aids
·                  Avoids pitfalls of low resolution online images

Kids are fascinated with pysanky and the symbols they can write on a fragile egg. But they need simple designs to balance the skills they need for the technique. In response to the growing interest in Ukrainian Easter eggs and the need for teaching aids, I created this book to complement other resources used by educators. Images in other colouring books or available online are too complicated for children.

Joan Brander has partnered with teachers and schools since 1991 by giving workshops and demonstrations to kids of all ages and levels of experience. Her range of publications and teaching aids include a bibliography, children’s activity book, videos, powerpoint, pamphlets, newsletter, and eBooks.

My First Pysanka: Symbols my Baba taught me ($9.95, 80 pages, 8-1/2” x 11”, paperback, ISBN 978-1-897253-48-9) is available online at BabasBeeswax.com, at Ukrainian book stores, or by calling 604-275-8169.
Baba’s Beeswax has everything from books and resources to kits and supplies for making pysanky Ukrainian Easter eggs the traditional way with beeswax and dyes. For more information please visit www.babasbeeswax.com
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Tuesday 20 March 2018

When is Easter?

Today was the spring (aka vernal) equinox which occurred in the northern hemisphere this morning at 9:15 am PST. For those of you interested in the moon phases, the next full moon will be Saturday, March 31st. 
In AD 325 the First Council of Nicaea, a council of Christian bishops convened in the Bithynian city of Nicaea by the Roman Emperor Constantine I, established that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox.
Do the math: Easter Sunday will be on April 1, 2018! And just to let you know, Baba's Beeswax processes all orders the day we receive them. 
You still have time to write pysanky! 

Monday 19 February 2018

Spring Break Workshops at Ukrainian Centre (March 2018)

Doesn't this look delicious? Wondering what perohy and holubsi have to do with pysanky?

Ukrainian soul food — perohy, holubsi, stuffed chicken breasts with mushroom sauce, and lemon meringue pie
The Ukrainian Centre on Francis Road in Richmond (close to the Vancouver Int'l Airport and minutes from downtown by Skytrain) is the venue for upcoming pysanky workshops, and we went to their monthly "Friday Night Supper" to enjoy some soul food and promote the event. Our neighbours, their kids, and friends joined us.

Here's Aaron demonstrating the technique and taking registration.

Demonstrating pysanky at the Ukrainian hall
Here's a poster with details to share. Or download one here.
See you there!

Monday 12 February 2018

With Family and Friends

February started with our first long weekend of the year, the much-appreciated Family Day statutory holiday today, February 12th. That marked our eventful annual Family Day workshops in our pysanky studio conducted by Joan Brander where the love of the artform was shared by all. Our perennial attendees were there, along with the added cultural infusion of students from China and Brazil who were amazed with our tradition. We think they’ll be back practicing for Spring and Easter. Look how proud they are of their creations!





  
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Thursday 25 January 2018

The World Needs more Pysanky

Due to technical issues, it's been a while since we've posted on this blog.Thanks to GOOGLE we've got our blog back! 
Our first order of business (after saying a belated Happy New Year) is to announce our first Workshops of the year.
BC Family Day Pysanky Workshops


The world needs more pysanky.  Ancient legend says that "as long as pysanky are made, evil shall not prevail over good in the world". Learn how to make traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs with beeswax and dyes.

Link to a whimsical video clip announcing my annual spring workshops
With a few simple tools and the proper instruction, anyone from 5 to 95 can learn to make a beautiful pysanka the traditional way. This is a great activity to do with your family and friends. What is so unique about my workshops?  I have been teaching pysanky since 1991 and over the years have amassed many, many teaching aids (samples, models, posters, etc.) handouts and best of all—empty eggshells—so that at the end of the workshop everyone takes home a pysanka that will last forever!
  • includes inspiring video, folk history and culture, traditional legends, teaching aids, clear and concise instructions, one-on-one attention, unique hands-on technique
  • February 10, 2018 – 9:30 am to 12:00 noon or 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
    February 11, 2018 – 9:30 am to 12:00 noon or 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
    February 12, 2018 –2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • all materials supplied
  • gift bag and certificate also provided
  • opportunity to see one of-a-kind Gallery and Library
  • pre-registration required 604-275-8169
  • all workshops at Baba's Beeswax Pysanka Studio, Richmond, BC
Download a Poster to share.
Making pysanky has never been so easy, fun or affordable!

Your pysanky team at BabasBeeswax.com is glad to be back online.


  
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Sunday 7 February 2016

Be my Valentine and Receive a Dozen Roses

Baba's Beeswax is turning 25 and is celebrating with a dozen free roses to everyone who attends our Valentine's Workshops.  We love giving away free things. These gorgeous 40 cm roses are freshly-picked in Kenya and are just waiting to open up in a vase. We have red, pink, orange and white. They're so gorgeous—it will be hard to decide which colour to choose. What better way to celebrate our birthday!

See workshop details here.