The Perfect Christmas Gift: Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 4

Do you start thinking of pysanky or start writing them just after Christmas? We thought so, so are recommending something inspirational. A book such as this one is perfect as a gift for yourself or for someone you know.

Check out this link to our Pysanka Power Video Clip published on our Baba's Beeswax YouTube Channel for a book preview that flips through the pages:

[ click here to go to our Pysanka Power Video Clip on YouTube ]

Natalie Perchyshyn authored her fourth book in a series of Ukrainian Easter egg design books for people who want to improve their current skills. This one is her first of those to be done in full colour. A soft cover treasure trove of 120 pages, it's printed in the customary style of 24 pysanka designs from beginner to advanced.

It features 3 goose egg designs, 3 trypillian designs, and a terrific variety of 18 eye-catching traditional designs all created by the publisher's founder, Luba Perchyshyn.

We think it’s an eggs-cellent source of information to buy on its own or to add to your collection. If you have any questions about it, please ask us.

Design Book previewed on Pysanka Power Video Clips

We were proud and honoured to feature this book in About the Pysanka: It Is Written! A Bibliography by Joan Brander (Joan Brander. Richmond, BC: Baba's Beeswax, 2007. ISBN 9781897253144).

Visit our website for pysanky kits, supplies, this book, eBooks, and other books published by Baba’s Beeswax: http://www.babasbeeswax.com 

If you like what you see, comment below. If you don't please let us know how we can make improvements. We value all feedback.

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Free Printable Pysanky Activity Sheets

Did you know that we have free printable Activity Sheets in pdf book format for anyone to use? Click on this link to go to our website to download Pysanky 4 Fun : A Collection of Trilingual Activities 4 Kids.  This teaching aid created by Joan Brander compiles various trilingual activity sheets into one compact publication. These Activity Sheets were previously downloaded or ordered individually since 1997! Teachers can photocopy them for classroom use to enhance and enliven instruction on pysanky. Activities include:

• Symbols and Their Meanings (English)
• On s’amuse avec Pysanky (French)
• Pihsahnkih dlya Zadovolennya (Ukrainian)
• Pysanky Party
• Scrambled Pysanky Egg Words
• What would Guy Kistka say?
• Crossword Puzzle

Pysanky 4 Fun : A Collection of Trilingual Activities 4 Kids

If you’re looking for pysanky symbols, consider My First Pysanka: Symbols my Baba taught me—a collection of 70+ traditional designs to discover on pysanky Ukrainian Easter eggs. 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 for children to colour and educators to display as teaching aids. More info about this book here (80pp).

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

Visit our website for pysanky kits, supplies, this book, eBooks, and other books published by Baba’s Beeswax: http://www.babasbeeswax.com 

If you like what you see, comment below. If you don't please let us know how we can make improvements. We value all feedback.

Follow us:

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Gift Ideas for Christmas: Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 3

Whether for yourself or someone else on your Christmas Gift List, this is one book you’ll be glad Santa thought of!

Check out this link to our Pysanka Power Video Clip published on our Baba's Beeswax YouTube Channel for a book preview that flips through the pages:

[ click here to go to our Pysanka Power Video Clip on YouTube ]

This is the third in a series of Ukrainian Easter egg design books which has been newly revised and reprinted.  The author Natalie Perchyshyn has included step-by-step instructions for 24 stunning designs from beginner to advanced in 6 chapters covering topics of Getting Started, Tools and Materials, Basic Divisions in Pencil, The Process and Helpful Information, Step-by-Step Designs, Glossary and Symbolism. The book is soft cover, very colourful, and comprises 110 pages.

We think it is an eggs-cellent source of information to buy on its own or to add to your collection.  If you have any questions about it, please ask us.

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Design Book previewed on Pysanka Power Video Clips

We were proud and honoured to feature this book in About the Pysanka : It Is Written! A Bibliography by Joan Brander (Joan Brander. Richmond, BC: Baba's Beeswax, 2007. ISBN 9781897253144).

http://www.babasbeeswax.com/AboutTheBook.htm

Visit our website for pysanky kits, supplies, this book, eBooks, and other books published by Baba’s Beeswax: http://www.babasbeeswax.com 

If you like what you see, comment below. If you don't please let us know how we can make improvements. We value all feedback.

Follow us:

https://www.facebook.com/BabasBeeswax/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Finish your Christmas Shopping Early: Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 2

Know someone who’s nuts about pysanky? Whether you’re looking for a Christmas present or stocking stuffer, here’s a book you might want to consider for that person (even if that person is you).

Check out this link to our Pysanka Power Video Clip published on our Baba's Beeswax YouTube Channel for a book preview that flips through the pages:

[ click here to go to our Pysanka Power Video Clip on YouTube ]

Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 2 is the second in a series intended for people who want to learn how to decorate pysanky, and for people who want to improve their current skills. Complete step-by-step instructions are given by its authors Luba Perchyshyn, Johanna Luciow and Natalie Perchyshyn, for 24 traditional and original designs.

A soft cover treasure trove of 90 pages with colour plates of different views. First published in 1986, this book has had several subsequent printings which proves its worthiness. Its Table of Contents also includes Working Area, Essential Materials, Optional Materials, Basic Pencil Division, and Finishing the Eggs.

We think that Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 2 is an eggs-cellent source of information to buy on its own or to add to your collection. If you have any questions about it, please ask us.

Design Book previewed on Pysanka Power Video Clips

We were proud and honoured to feature this book in About the Pysanka : It Is Written! A Bibliography by Joan Brander (Joan Brander. Richmond, BC: Baba's Beeswax, 2007. ISBN 9781897253144).

http://www.babasbeeswax.com/AboutTheBook.htm

Visit our website for pysanky kits, supplies, this book, eBooks, and other books published by Baba’s Beeswax: http://www.babasbeeswax.com 

If you like what you see, comment below. If you don't please let us know how we can make improvements. We value all feedback.

Follow us:

https://www.facebook.com/BabasBeeswax/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Keep Calm and Shop Early: Ukrainian Design Book 1

Starting in August, we're going to showcase a pysanka book every month, heading up to the busiest shopping season of the year.

Who doesn’t want a nice new pysanka design book, especially for Christmas? Whether there’s a beginner or seasoned pysanka creator you have in mind, this is a book you'll surely want to add to your list, and a great one to start with.

Check out this link to our Pysanka Power Video Clip published on our Baba's Beeswax YouTube Channel for a book preview that flips through the pages:

[ click here to go to Pysanka Power Video Clip on YouTube ]

Ukrainian Design Book 1 is the first of a series of previously unpublished patterns to recreate and enjoy. By breaking the design down to its simplest form, the authors Natalie Perchyshyn, Luba Perchyshyn, Johanna Luciow and Ann Kmit have made it easy to create very complicated and magnificent patterns. The eggs are described from beginning pencil lines to the final dye bath, with brief explanations of symbolism and colour meanings.

A soft cover treasure trove of 101 pages with 24 pysanka designs from beginner to advanced, its Table of Contents also includes Working Area, Essential Materials, Optional Materials, Basic Pencil Division, and Finishing the Eggs.

Since there are 6 design books in this series to date, if you don’t have any of them, we think it’s a good idea to buy this one first. Then, years down the road, when you can’t remember which series number you have, you can always remember how many books you have! Then you can buy the next sequential number with some confidence.

We think that Ukrainian Design Book 1 is an eggs-cellent source of information to buy on its own or to add to your collection. If you have any questions about it, please ask us.

Design Book previewed on Pysanka Power Video Clips 

We were proud and honoured to feature this book in About the Pysanka : It Is Written! A Bibliography by Joan Brander (Joan Brander. Richmond, BC: Baba's Beeswax, 2007. ISBN 9781897253144).

Visit our website for pysanky kits, supplies, this book, eBooks, and other books published by Baba’s Beeswax: http://www.babasbeeswax.com

If you like what you see, comment below. If you don't please let us know how we can make improvements. We value all feedback. 

Follow us:
https://www.facebook.com/BabasBeeswax/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/iluvpysanky/albums
https://www.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Seasonal Greetings from Guy Kistka – August Long Weekend

We’re heading into the middle of the summer season and looking forward to the August long weekend.

It can’t be all work and no fun! Taking a break from writing pysanky in the summer months, our playful mascot Guy Kistka dons his shades and goes to a secluded beach to chill where the only sounds are gentle waves and cawing seagulls.

See his animated greeting here:  

Click here to see his animated greeting onYouTube: 

Photo - the end of summer

The civic holiday in August of each year is called many things in many regions. It’s Regatta Day in Newfoundland, Terry Fox day in MB, Saskatchewan Day in SK, British Columbia Day in BC, Natal Day in Nova Scotia and PEI, Simcoe Day in Toronto, New Brunswick Day in NB, Colonel By Day in Ottawa, Heritage Day in AB, Joseph Brant Day in Burlington, ON, and Benjamin Vaughan Day in the City of Vaughan, ON. What’s it called in your region?

If you like what you see, comment below. If you don't please let us know how we can make improvements. We value all feedback.

Follow us:

https://www.facebook.com/BabasBeeswax/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/iluvpysanky/albums

https://www.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Visit our website for pysanky kits, supplies and books published by Baba’s Beeswax:

http://www.babasbeeswax.com

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.

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

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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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! 

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!

With Family and Friends

February started with our first long weekend of the year, the much-appreciated Family Day statutory holiday today, February 12^th. 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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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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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.

Priceless

Thanks to a reliable admirer in Ontario, 31.39 grams of 99.99% pure silver is on a long journey to a very revered place in my pysanka collection. I'm so excited to be the recipient of the Traditional Ukrainian Pysanka coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint (2016). The coin is a first, but regrettably, the mintage was only 4000.

Royal Canadian Mint 150664

 The colourful egg-shaped pattern of a pysanka is one of the most beloved forms of traditional Ukrainian folk art. I am proud to be included in the 10% of Canada's population who are of Ukrainian heritage and celebrating our 125th Anniversary of settlement from coast to coast to coast.

The breathtaking design was created by Canadian artist Ann C. Morash (reverse) and Susanna Blunt (obverse). It captures intricate beauty with its rich symbolic meaning and colours: yellow for youth and purity; red for the joy and passion in life; green for hope and renewal; and black suggesting the darkest time before dawn.

At the top and bottom of the egg are large flowers which symbolize love, goodwill and the beauty of nature. These are framed by bands of waves that speak of water's life-giving properties. Beneath the waves at the top are stylized depictions of the sun and stars, which symbolize life, fortune and growth. A reinterpretation of these also appear in the centre, where they alternate with evergreen boughs that represent eternal health and youth. When combined, the colours and motifs result in a design that is open to many interpretations, but that is nonetheless a vibrant celebration of a full and colourful life.

Not only is Canada celebrating the 125^th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement, but also Baba's Beeswax is turning 25. We're celebrating with lots of events, offers and gifts in the coming year.

The current state of the Canadian dollar may be weak, but this $20 silver egg-shaped pysanka coin is priceless!

Get a Free Workshop with Volunteer Hours

Sometimes you have to snoop around to find free things! Baba's Beeswax is looking for people of all ages who are fun-loving with a sense of humour to participate in the July 1st Canada Day Salmon Festival Parade with them. This is a great opportunity for high school and international students to earn volunteer hours at a non-charitable event while at the same time start off the summer with a blast. Of course you would have to know a little bit about pysanky in order to participate—and that is where the free workshop comes in! Everything provided.

Celebrating the year of the sheep in 2015

Whether celebrating the year of the sheep, ram or goat, according to the Chinese zodiac it's Spring Festival / Lunar New Year time. The festivities start today and last to February 7, 2016. Isn’t this the cutest ram written by Aaron as we celebrated BC Family Day making pysanky in my studio on February 8, 2015? Very creative work Aaron. Whether it symbolizes the Chinese year of the sheep or the Ukrainian pysanka ram symbol for leadership, victory, and joy, I hope your pysanka brings you a year filled with happiness, good fortune, and egg-cellent grades in school.

As for me, I feel doubly lucky in 2015 as a Capricorn, and luvin' my goat symbol. Baaaaa . . . . .

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Loves Pysanky

. . . . at least that's what he told me!


With Prime Minister Stephen Harper at BCIT Motive Power Centre of Excellence

2014 Doors Open – This is what Canada is all about!

It's been a busy summer.  Just a week following the European Festival, we opened our studio, gallery, and library to the public in celebration of Richmond's Doors Open event.

The weekend started with an opening ceremony at London Farm heritage house. My sister was visiting from Toronto. She loves antiques and has her own heritage house in the Ottawa Valley, so she was especially interested in this historical venue.

The weather was glorious that weekend, and the next 2 days were a flurry of activity. Guests were welcomed to a festive expanse of balloons, and my Save the World with Pysanky display. The kids in our neighbourhood had cookies, muffins and lemonade for our visitors.  

The tour started upstairs in the gallery of pysanky, followed by the opportunity to look at the expanse of books catalogued in About the Pysanka—It Is Written!  A cozy corner was set up for reading children's stories.

Many visitors were interested in watching the video, Pysanka: The Ukrainian Easter Egg. The next display to look at was How to Make Pysanky and learn how to empty eggs at the kitchen sink.

Fortunately the weather was sunny and the display expanded to include both levels of our home. Downstairs, children could take a photo in our cut-out pysanka in the garden, interact with mascots Patsy Pysanka and Guy Kistka in the yard, or colour some pysanky pictures inside.

There were puzzles set out for the pysanky timid and for those who wanted to relax.

Tom enjoyed demonstrating pysanky until it was time to facilitate the free workshops.

Everyone loved making pysanky! A group of ladies arrived to celebrate Lou's birthday.  An East Asian woman (sorry, I forgot her name) enjoyed applying traditional Indian patterns to her egg. Another some zen motifs. Everyone was very creative. Ruth arrived with two of her four daughters and was taking her pysanky back to Israel. She commented with a heart-warming "this is what Canada is all about"!

The weekend was dedicated to peace and justice in Ukraine with donations going to CNEWA. Thank you to everyone for your donations.

See more photos of the event on my Flicker Album 2014 Doors Open here.

Pysanky at 17th Annual European Festival



Tom at EuroFest

Tom and I welcomed my sister from Toronto to attend the 17th Annual European Festival with us at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Over two glorious sunny days thousands of people visited our Pysanka Pavilion of displays, demonstrations, and workshops. According to an ancient legend, as long as pysanky are being made evil shall not prevail over good in the world. The pavilion, which is always a big hit at this festival, was dedicated to peace and justice in Ukraine, and a gift of a decorated egg was given to anyone who made a donation to CNEWA to help in that cause. We enjoyed a well-deserved post-event rest in the beer gardens with entertainment and music.

See more photos on my Flickr Album here.

2014 Richmond Arts Awards

On May 6, 2014, the best artists, actors, and musicians in Richmond were recognized in several categories at the 2014 Arts Awards. I was honoured to attend the 6th Annual Awards Ceremony as a finalist in the category of Arts Education. The City of Richmond is passionate about supporting and recognizing the artistic achievements and contributions to the cultural community. The Ceremony was held in the Council Chambers at City Hall with His Worship Mayor Malcom Brodie presiding.

Award Certificate

Three finalists were selected in six categories including business and arts, volunteerism, cultural leadership, artistic innovation, arts education, and youth arts. I was so pleased and honoured to be included with the likes of The Arts Connection and Debbie Tobin for this award. The Arts Education Award recognizes an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far reaching and Eve Edmonds, editor of The Richmond News, announced the winner, The Arts Connection. My nomination was made by my friend, Marcia Moroz, who herself steadfastly promotes art and culture in the community.

These photo were taken by Elsa Rojas Marquez, office manager at Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franko. Elsa and her partner Jose Gimenez were one of several entertainers who performed that evening.

Announcing the finalists

Following the awards, Marcia, Tom, and I mingled with the other nominees and award winners at the Post-Ceremony Reception, chatted with Mayor Brodie and councilors, and reacquainted with other community leaders and volunteers.

Joan and Rosa