Calling all Card Collectors

I just updated my pysanky postcard collection and am looking to trade or purchase missing items. I have uploaded photos of over 70 postcards (listed in 19 sections), and am missing a few to complete the respective series. This collection includes the following publishers:

• O. Kindrachuk, Madeira Park, BC
• Museum of Canadian Civilization, Hull, QC
• Surma Book and Music, New York, NY
• Ukrainian Gift Shop, Minneapolis, MN
• Ukrainian Institute for Education, Munich
• Vegreville Floral Boutique, Vegreville, AB

I hope you enjoy looking at these photos and that you will be inspired to update your own collection. The postcards missing from my collection and those available to trade are listed at the end of each section. Unless otherwise noted, all my postcards are new.
 
1. “SERIES III” (a set of 4 design cards)

Publisher – Surma, New York, N. Y.

Year – 1967

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 13648-C and 13649-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on lime green background

Missing from my collection – 2 of the 4 postcards. I'm not sure of the numbers of the 2 missing cards (I have 13648-C and 13649-C)




1967. Surma. SERIES III. #13648-C

1967. Surma. SERIES III. #13649-C

2.  “SERIES IV” (a set of 5 design cards)

Publisher – Surma Book and Music Co., New York

Year – MCMLXIX (1969)

Size – 9” x 6” (23 cm x 15 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 42771-C to 42775-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on purple background





1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42771-C



1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42772-C

1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42773-C




1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42774-C

1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42775-C

3. Series 1 (a set of 4 cards)

Publisher – O. Kindrachuk, Madeira Park, B.C.

Year – 1969

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Traditional Ukrainian hand decorated Easter Eggs

Postcards are numbered – 47162-C to 47165-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on dark background; cards have attractive scalloped edges

Available to trade –47163-C (corner of postcard is bent); 47165-C (glue residue on reverse); 47162-C 

1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47162-C



1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47163-C



1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47164-C



1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47165-C





4. “SERIES I” (a set of 4 design cards)

Publisher – Surma, New York, N.Y.

Year – MCMLXXIII (1973)

Size – 9” x 6” (23 cm x 15 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 30339-E to 30342-E

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on blue background. I have an identical card to 30342-E that is numbered 17289-C and is slightly smaller at 8.5" x 6" (21.5 cm x 15 cm)




1973. Surma.  SERIES I. #30339-E

1973. Surma. SERIES I. #30340-E

1973. Surma. SERIES I. #30341-E



1973. Surma SERIES I. #30342-E

5. “Series II” (a set of 5 design cards)

Publisher – Surma Book and Music Co., New York

Year – MCMLXXIV (1974)

Size – 9” x 6” (23 cm x 15 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 34373-C to 34377-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on yellow-gold  background







1974. Surma. Series II. #34373-C







1974. Surma. Series II. #34374-C



1974. Surma. Series II. #34375-C



1974. Surma. Series II. #34376-C



1974. Surma. Series II. #34377-C

6. Series 1

Publisher – Surma Book and Music Store

Year – 1974

Postcards are numbered – one of the cards in the series is numbered 17191-C

Visual cues – postcard 17191-C has 6 pysanky photographed on blue background

(I found this image at http://www.artukraine.com/egg/postcard2.htm)

Missing from my collection – all cards

http://www.artukraine.com/egg/postcard2.htm

7. Pysanky Jewellery

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1978

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian “Pysanky“ Jewellery. Ukrainian Easter Eggs are delicately cut and shaped, then specially treated to prevent shells from breaking and finally set into beautiful jewellery mounting to enhance the intricate designs of the original Pysanky

Visual cues – pysanky designed by Ken J. Kinkiewich; photo by Con Boland




1978. Vegreville. Pysanky Jewellery

8. A set of 6 cards

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1978

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – “Pysanky” Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Intricately designed eggs, symbolic of life resurrected, are written in a traditional process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 1 to 6

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on linen background; photo by Con Boland

Missing from my collection – #6

Available to trade – #1, #2 and #5 (there is glue residue on the back and an ink mark on the face)




1978. Vegreville. #1

1978. Vegreville. #2

1978. Vegreville. #3

1978. Vegreville. #4

1978. Vegreville. #5

9. A set of 6 cards

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1981

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – “Pysanky” Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Intricately designed eggs, symbolic of life resurrected, written in a traditional process passed down through generations are exquisitely displayed on authentically embroidered linen.

Postcards are numbered – 1 to 6

Missing from my collection – #1 to #5

Available to trade – #6




1981. Vegreville. #6

10. Series 2

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1981

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – “Pysanky” Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Intricately designed eggs, symbolic of life resurrected, written in a traditional process passed down through generations are exquisitely displayed on authentically embroidered linen.

Postcards are numbered – 1 to 14

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on embroidered linen

Available to trade – #3, #6, #7 (glue residue on reverse)




1981. Vegreville. #1 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #2 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #3 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #4 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #5 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #6 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #7 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #8 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #9 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #10 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #11 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #12 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #13 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #14 of 14

11. SERIES 1 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 217 East Hennepin, Minneapolis, Minn., M. Procai, L. Perchyshyn, J. Luciow

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down throgh generations.

Postcards are numbered – possibly C-004 to C-009

Visual cues – Interestingly, the only card that I have C-006 depicts the same photo as 471018 listed in Section 12 below. Note the unique address of the publisher

Missing from my collection – C-004, C-005, C-007, C-008 and C-009

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #C006 front





Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #C006 back

12. SERIES 1 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn.

55418-3787

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 471017 to 471022

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on white linen; cards have a white border

Available to trade – 471017 to 471022





Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471017

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471018 front

Ukrainian Gift Shop SERIES 1. #471018 back

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471019




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471020





Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471021




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471022

13. SERIES 2 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn. , 55418-3787

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 471073 to 471078

Visual cues – postcards have a white border

Available to trade – 471073 to 471078



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471073



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471074



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471075



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471076



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471077



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471078

14. SERIES 3 – a set of 7 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn. , 55418-3787

Year – not shown

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasure of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 801122 to 801128

Visual cues – each card has a slightly different description (for example, 801122 and 801124 describe Trypilian Style – Neolithic Era, and others have discriminate use of the word “treasure” in singular or plural; 801124 is photographed on a red background, and the others on a yellow background; 801128 names M. Procai, L. Perchyshyn and J. Luciow

Available to trade – 801124 to 801127




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801122



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801123

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801124




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801125



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801126



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801127



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801128

15. SERIES 4 – a set of 6

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn., 55418

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs decorated by Luba Perchyshyn. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 101 to 106

Visual cues – single pysanka photographed on green (101 and 102), red (103 and 105), and blue (104 and 106) background (discriminate pysanky displayed on egg stand in 102, 103, 105 and 106)

Available to trade – #103 to #106



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #101

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #102

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #103



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #104



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #105



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #106

16. SERIES 5 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn. , 55418

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs decorated by Luba Perchyshyn. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 107 to 112

Visual cues – single pysanka photographed with large-scale “shadow/reflective effect”

Missing from my collection – 107, 108, 109, 110, and 112

Available to trade – 111



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 5. #111

17. Canadian Museum of Civilization

Publisher – Musée canadien des civilisations, 100, rue Laurier, C.P. 3100, succursale B, Hull (Québec) Canada J8X 4H2 / Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier Street, P.O. Box 3100, Station B, Hull, Quebec, Canada J8X 4H2

Size – 6.75” x 5”(17 cm x 13 cm)

Description on reverse – Ouefs de Pâques ukrainiens. Collection du Musée canadien des civilisations. / Ukrainian Easter eggs from the Canadian Museum of Civilization collection



Canadian Museum of Civilization

18. World’s Largest Pysanka

Publisher – Vegreville Chamber of Commerce

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – World’s Largest Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg) an Engineering Marvel, Located at Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. it was erected in honour of the Alberta R.C.M.P. 100th Anniversary (1874 – 1974). It spectacularly contrives to combine the ancient traditions of one of Alberta’s largest ethnic groups with architectural and geometrical developments that represent “break-throughs” in modern science, thus linking heritage and progress.  Dimensions: Length 25.7 ft. Width 18.3 ft. Height 31 ft. Weight 5000 lbs. Rotates with the wind

Visual cues – monument photographed  by Holiday Photo, Vegreville, Alberta



Vegreville Chamber of Commerce

19. Artistic Representation

Publisher – Український Інститут освітньої політики / Ukrainian Institute for Education, Inc., Zeppelinsstr. 67, 8 München 80

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – Великодні побашання переслідуваного автора з України / Easter Greetings from Ukraine by a Persecuted Artist

 

Whew! What a lot of numbers to post! If you find any errors or anomalies, please let me know.

Saving the World with Pysanky at Surrey Museum

On Saturday, August 17, 2013 I had the pleasure of joining my colleagues from Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franko (Richmond) and Ukrainian Dulcimer Ensemble (Surrey) at the invitation of Surrey Museum in Cloverdale for its "Discovery Saturday" event celebrating Ukrainian spirit. Program coordinator, Sandra Borger, Public Program Specialist and her capable volunteers showcased a colourful and interactive display of pysanky, music, culture, cuisine, and hands-on activities that enabled patrons to learn about Ukrainian culture and the history of Ukrainian immigrants in the area.

If you're wondering about the huge globe in the forefront of my pysanky display, it's my newest prop to illustrate that as long as pysanky are being made evil shall not prevail over good in the world.

Saving the world one pysanka at a time . . . .

Ethnic clothing from various regions of Ukraine had a prominent display in the lobby.

Shirley Kaspar welcomes a museum patron to the display

Gladys Andreas and her talented troupe performed classic and popular tunes on guitar, dulcimer and accordian.

Ukrainian Dulcimer Ensemble

Ukrainian Community Society displayed books from its collection of classic and contemporary literature, history, culture and art. library.

Val Shevchuk of Ukrainian Community Society

A demonstration of the technique of pysanky is always a popular draw.

Joan Ivanka Brander of Baba's Beeswax

Here is a photo from the Richmond Review on August 21, 2013 taken by Boaz Joseph.

Richmond Review, August 21, 2013

This drop-in activity attracted an enthusiastic audience of all ages. Thank you to everyone for your interest.





 

Superheros Unleashed

BCIT's invitation to staff was to hone super powers and discover new ones as inner superheros were unleashed! This was for the All-Staff Professional Development Day on June 13, 2013.

I was thrilled to meet many of my colleagues and share my passion for pysanky with them. Especially the therapeutic, relaxing, and stress-free aspect that make them so addictive. What a perfect way to spend a work-day!

After delivering the workshop I was humbled to learn that so many of the participants were featured in the fabulous Hidden Passions exhibit showcasing the artistic works of faculty and staff.

For me, the best part of the day was meeting new friends and putting faces to names.  Thanks, BCIT, for investing in our well-being!  Please enjoy these photos.

Sharing Stories

I love pysanky! And would love to hear your stories.

Pysanka by Paul shared a photo of his gorgeous pysanky:

Pysanka by Paul, Edmonton, AB

Tammy shared this with me:

Here are some pics of our projects. We really enjoy pysanky. I am going to take my supplies into my sons grade three class just before Easter so they can try it.

I love the simplicity of the designs, and seeing them brings heart-warming thoughts knowing that they were made by the hands of children. The colors are so vibrant! What a lovely tradition to share with family and friends.

Lou shared this story with me:

I have a soon to be 9-year old making strides in making Pysanky.  I think he does pretty well, considering he first tried his hand 2-years ago and can only work on them when with me.  His soon to be 6-year old brother has announced he will make eggs when he turns 7.  We will see.  He is not the same temperament as his brother. 

I thought this was such an adorable story.  That single word—“announced”—evoked such a cheerful image and brought a smile to my face!  How wonderful to have 2 boys to share this tradition with.  And WOW!  Look at these designs he made one and two years ago!

Here's an email I received from James:

My wife and I made our very first pysanky last year - it was awesome and we cant wait to do it again.  Here's a photo of our first effort.

 

These are gorgeous!  The colors are so bright.  I hope there'll be more coming.

If you think that egg decorating is just for Easter, think again!

People can't stop talking about how amazing a pysanka party is!  

Since 1991 I have coordinated workshops and parties for kids of all ages.  Over the years I collected party ideas and together with my expertise compiled it all in a new book called Pysanka Power! Birthday Party Ideas and Planner.

This book is full of ideas and resources to make your pysanka-themed party a smashing (no pun intended) success.  It's easy, fun and affordable.

Chapters include invitations, decorations, games, cake, snacks, favors, planner and more. Pysanky is fun for a birthday party or any time of year.  If you think that egg decorating is just for Easter, think again!

Just in time for Easter

Happy New Year! Have you broken your new year resolution yet?  I haven't.  Because when I can no longer diet, I simply dye it--and end up with something beautiful to show for it.  I luv pysanky!  And I can't stop talking about how fun it is!

"Pysanka Party" an illustration in watercolour and felt by Marcia Moroz, 2012.

Just in time for Easter, Baba's Beeswax has published its Spring 2013 Newsletter.  Topics include the correct pronunciation of that "hard to say word until you understand its origins and meaning" and beeswax info.

Easter is early this year.  Got to get busy making pysanky.  Happy Egging!