Tuesday Tips for pysanky — removing beeswax

What’s your learning style? is it listening (we have a podcast), is it watching (we have a YouTube channel), is it doing (we have a tutorial), is it online (we have digital resources), or is it reading (we have unique publications). Learning pysanky is easy, fun and affordable. Continuing in our series we have Tips and Troubleshooting for eggs, beeswax, kistka, dyes, candles, pencil guidelines, removing beeswax, emptying your eggs, varnishing your pysanky, using a drying board, displaying your pysanky and more . . . .

Although the “candle method” of removing beeswax is popular, it can easily leave unsightly carbon on your pysanky. Instead, use the “oven method” with a drying board to remove beeswax.

Our team has you covered. You can trust the experts at Baba’s Beeswax. Our Mission is to provide you with everything you need to make beautiful pysanky the traditional way from pysanky supplies and kits to workshops and books. Our Vision is 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!

 

#BabasBeeswax #TuesdayTipsAndTroubleshooting #PysankySupplies

Eggs Beautiful

A colorful display of dozens of pysanky is presented in our inspirational Eggs Beautiful Collection of face masks, apparel (more than just T-shirt), gifts and novelty items for your home or office (greeting cards, mugs, etc.). Like the colorful display of pysanky, you’ll be as vibrant as the poppy wearing apparel in this Collection. The unique design is also featured on a variety of gifts and novelty items.

See the collection here.

©Joan Brander #CafePress #pysanky #UkrainianEasterEgg #BabasBeeswax #JoanBrander

A pysanka poem worth sharing

A pysanka poem worth sharing. This one shared by my late mother, who was an avid follower of publications by Redeemer's Voice Press. I recall my mother’s bedside reading of anything published by Redeemer’s Voice Press, Yorkton, SK. She shared this poem by George Perejda, CSSR published in an Easter edition of a periodical. Note the double entendre of dyeing and dying. I’ve had to type very carefully and avoid spell-check for this one.

Pysanka—A Writing

What a lesson is the pysanka,

fragile holy scripture,

faithful writing of the people of God:

the egg and the ego

the shell and the self

the egg-sample and the egg-sistence

—the coloring and the colorfulness

that dying in Christ give to my meaningfulness.

The mystery of the egg—the mystery of the ego.

Resurrection: rising from the dyeing,

rising from the baptism, in Christ’s colors;

the living waters that transform

and give my life such colorfulness,

so that with Paul I can break out

of the shell of self (or ego) and say:

I live now, not I or ego, but Christ

lives in me.

And I live in Christ,

dyed in His vivid colors,

which gives so much more meaning to my ego, to the egg of my self.

So—egg me on, O Bard

Dye and Try me!

Color me with krasa:

with red and green and blue and yellow

and orange and purple.

Make evident your designs upon me!

Make me an egg-sample of your Good News,

of your living and dying,

so that I can bear witness

and be your apostle, proclaiming

by my egg-sistence:

“Come, follow me!

Be imitators of me, be images of me,

as I am of Christ.

Learn of me, of my egg-sample,

as I have learned of Christ

the fulfillment of living and dying

colorfully in Christ!”

Amen.

#PysankaPoems #pysanky #UkrainianEasterEgg #BabasBeeswax #JoanBrander

Ask us anything about pysanky — technique

Ask us anything about pysanky—tools, technique, tradition and more . . . . To share our knowledge, our team of experts draws on not only our heritage, but also over 30 years teaching pysanky to all ages and levels of experience since 1991. Today's dialogue is on on technique.

Question —What happens if I touch the wick of the candle with my kistka?

Answer – The wick is where soot from the candle is deposited. Soot from the wick will get into the tip of your kistka  and possibly clog it. The kistka may then need to be cleaned out. See more in this short video in the Pysanky How To's and DIY playlist on YouTube here https://youtu.be/uu31FTeDo9I

We believe that pysanky is a fun activity. We embrace “Panya Pysanka”, our cool, hip, and whimsical mascot character who follows us on social media to help promote pysanky.

#PanyaPysanka #AskUsAnything #JoanBrander #BabasBeeswax

The Ostrigooschick Family

In this play on words, ostrich, goose, chicken and baby bobwhite quail eggs are transformed into pysanky in our whimsical Ostrigooschick Pysanky Family Collection of face masks, apparel (more than just T-shirt), gifts and novelty items for your home or office (greeting cards, mugs, etc.). Spend your family time like the Ostrigooschick Pysanky Family and be transformed wearing apparel in this Collection. The unique design is also featured on a variety of gifts and novelty items.

See the collection here.

© Joan Brander #CafePress #pysanky #UkrainianEasterEgg #BabasBeeswax #JoanBrander

Our Tuesday Tip for pencil guidelines

What’s your style of learning? is it listening (we have a podcast), is it watching (we have a YouTube channel), is it doing (we have a tutorial), is it online (we have digital resources), or is it reading (we have unique publications). We’ve been doing all this and more since 1991 and this year we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary! Learning pysanky is easy, fun and affordable. Continuing in our FB series we have Tips and Troubleshooting for eggs, beeswax, kistka, dyes, candles, pencil guidelines, removing beeswax, emptying your eggs, varnishing your pysanky, using a drying board, displaying your pysanky and more . . . .

Use a pencil with a very hard lead such as a #2 or #3 to mark basic guidelines on your egg.

Listen to these and other tips in Episode 5 of our podcast here.

Our team has you covered. You can trust the experts at Baba’s Beeswax. Our Mission is to provide you with everything you need to make beautiful pysanky the traditional way from pysanky supplies and kits to workshops and books. Our Vision is 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!

 

#BabasBeeswax #TuesdayTipsAndTroubleshooting #PysankySupplies

Baba's Pysanky

Baba's gorgeous pysanky displayed in a beautiful wooden bowl is featured in our inspirational Baba's Pysanky Collection of face masks, apparel (more than just T-shirt), gifts and novelty items for your home or office (greeting cards, mugs, etc.). Like Baba’s gorgeous eggs, you’ll look beautiful wearing apparel in this Collection, and you’ll treasure the unique gifts and novelty items.

https://www.cafepress.ca/babaspysankyboutique/17219737

© Joan Brander #CafePress #pysanky #UkrainianEasterEgg #BabasBeeswax #JoanBrander

Seasonal Greetings from Guy Kistka — Happy Hannukkah

Our whimsical mascot Guy Kistka joins friends as they bring light, joy, and warmth to homes and communities as Hanukkah is celebrated with lighting of the menorah, singing songs, and playing dreidel. Like the team of pysanky experts at Baba’s Beeswax, he enjoys seconds (maybe thirds, too) of those delicious potato latkes!

We wish you a festival of lights . . . . sparkling with fun and lit up with smiles.

Share this video from our YouTube Channel / Playlist Fun Stuff: https://youtu.be/-d4pqH5iimM

Visit our website to discover the magic of pysanky kits, supplies and 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/
http://iluvpysanky.blogspot.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/iluvpysanky/albums
https://www.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Friday Funnies

Today is Friday and who couldn’t use a little pysanka humour to start off the weekend? Credit for this one goes to ©Maria Scrivan  April 2018

#PysankaHumour

Ask us anything about pysanky—tools

Ask us anything about pysanky—tools, technique, tradition and more . . . . To share our knowledge, our team of experts draws on not only our heritage, but also over 30 years teaching pysanky to all ages and levels of experience since 1991. Today's dialogue is on on tools.

Question — Why is pure beeswax used for pysanky?

Answer – Other wax, such as paraffin, cracks easily whereas pure beeswax provides a solid seal. Baba's Beeswax sells only pure beeswax without any additives.

We believe that pysanky is a fun activity. We embrace “Panya Pysanka”, our cool, hip, and whimsical mascot character who follows us on social media to help promote pysanky.

#PanyaPysanka #AskUsAnything #JoanBrander #BabasBeeswax

Our Tuesday Tip for Candles

What’s your style of learning? is it listening (we have a podcast), is it watching (we have a YouTube channel), is it doing (we have a tutorial), is it online (we have digital resources), or is it reading (we have unique publications). Learning pysanky is easy, fun and affordable. Continuing in our FB series we have Tips and Troubleshooting for eggs, beeswax, kistka, dyes, candles, pencil guidelines, removing beeswax, emptying your eggs, varnishing your pysanky, using a drying board, displaying your pysanky and more . . . .

Today’s tip is on candles. We recommend using long-burning candles—many types burn too quickly. Tea lights are not the best as they don’t produce enough heat to melt the beeswax to a high enough temperature.

Our team has you covered. You can trust the experts at Baba’s Beeswax. Our Mission is to provide you with everything you need to make beautiful pysanky the traditional way from pysanky supplies and kits to workshops and books. Our Vision is 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!

 

#BabasBeeswax #TuesdayTipsAndTroubleshooting #PysankySupplies

A Symphony of Pysanky

A musical tribute to pysanky is featured in our playful Symphony of Pysanky Collection of face masks, apparel (more than just T-shirt), gifts and novelty items for your home or office (greeting cards, mugs, etc.). Like the keys on a piano, you’ll never be out of tune and you’ll always be in harmony.

https://www.cafepress.ca/babaspysankyboutique/17219727

© Joan Brander #CafePress #pysanky #UkrainianEasterEgg #BabasBeeswax #JoanBrander

Ask us anything about pysanky—technique

Ask us anything about pysanky—tools, technique, tradition and more . . . . To share our knowledge, our team of experts draws on not only our heritage, but also over 30 years teaching pysanky to all ages and levels of experience since 1991. Today's dialogue is on on technique.

Question — What happens if I press down too hard with a kistka while writing on an egg?

Answer — It's likely that the tip of the kistka will be blocked, with no space for the beeswax to flow out. 

We believe that pysanky is a fun activity. We embrace “Panya Pysanka”, our cool, hip, and whimsical mascot character who follows us on social media to help promote pysanky.

#PanyaPysanka #AskUsAnything #JoanBrander #BabasBeeswax

Take a look. Read a book! Snowflake Eggs – How to Make Christmas Ornaments the Batik Way

Looking to make unique ornaments to adorn your Christmas decorations? Then this is the book for you: Snowflake Eggs — How to Make Christmas Ornaments the Batik Way by Joan Brander.

Chapters include:

❄️The Technique of Batik

❄️Tools and Supplies Required to Make Snowflake Eggs

❄️Using Candles Safely

❄️How to Empty an Egg

❄️How to Use a Kistka / Stylus / Tjanting

❄️Easy Step-by-Step Instructions

❄️How to Add Findings

❄️Snowflake Designs for Eggs

❄️Custom Snowflake Template (included with book).

Did you know that snowflakes have only six sides? The one of-a-kind custom Snowflake Template is used to make a basic six-sided snowflake shape with ease.

We believe that writing pysanky is fun

and have embraced "Panya Pysanka", our cool, hip, and whimsical mascot character who follows us on social media to help promote pysanky!

Our Tuesday Tip for pysanky essentials — beeswax, kistka and dyes

What’s your learning style? is it listening (we have a podcast), is it watching (we have a YouTube channel), is it doing (we have a tutorial), is it online (we have digital resources), or is it reading (we have unique publications). We’ve been doing all this and more since 1991 and this year we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary! Learning pysanky is easy, fun and affordable. Continuing in our FB series we have Tips and Troubleshooting for eggs, beeswax, kistka, dyes, candles, pencil guidelines, removing beeswax, emptying your eggs, varnishing your pysanky, using a drying board, displaying your pysanky and more . . . .

Here’s a glimpse into the trio of beeswax, kistka, and dyes: use only pure beeswax with no additives, keep the kiska tip perpendicular to the egg when writing, and keep your dyes for many years by storing them in airtight jars. Now you've got everything you need to make beautiful pysanky the traditional way.

Listen to these and other tips in our podcast here.

Our team has you covered. You can trust the experts at Baba’s Beeswax. Our Mission is to provide you with everything you need to make beautiful pysanky the traditional way from pysanky supplies and kits to workshops and books. Our Vision is 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!

#BabasBeeswax #TuesdayTipsAndTroubleshooting #PysankySupplies

The Magic of Pysanky

Discover the magic of pysanky in our Magic of Pysanky Collection of face masks, apparel (more than just T-shirt), gifts and novelty items for your home or office (greeting cards, mugs, etc.). Like the warmth and light of a candle flame, you’ll embrace wearing the apparel in this Collection. The unique design is also featured on a variety of gifts and novelty items.

https://www.cafepress.ca/babaspysankyboutique/17220818

© Joan Brander #CafePress #pysanky #UkrainianEasterEgg #BabasBeeswax #JoanBrander

A pysanka poem worth sharing

A pysanka poem worth sharing. Once Upon a Pysanka . . . . some literary works for Sunday reading. This poem, My Babushka’s Pysanky, by Jennifer Weigel was gleaned in 2013 from her website and reappears on her Crazy Chaotic Black Sheep blog.

My Babushka's Pysanky

Babushka, my grandmother, smiled a wide smile as she sat at the kitchen table.  Jars of bright colors peeked over old newspaper.  She patted the chair beside her and I sat down.  A basket of eggs sat in the middle of the table, along with a candle, a small pot and some sticks.  “When I was a girl, my mother taught me how to make pysanky,” she said.

“What are pysanky, Babushka?”

“Pysanky are Ukrainian Easter eggs.  We make pysanky for good luck and because it is tradition,” she said.  “Each spring we make them, just as our mothers and grandmothers did before us, and their mothers and grandmothers before them.”

Babushka held out a basket with some of the eggs she had finished.  They were very detailed with many lines and bright colors.  Some had animals on them, like birds, horses, sheep and deer.  Several others had flowers and plants.

“In pysanky, there are many symbols.  Every line means something,” said Babushka.

She handed me an egg with lines circling it.  “Lines that go around an egg make a circle.  Circles do not start or stop.  They can stand for cycles that repeat, like the seasons.”  I spun the egg in my hand and looked at the circles that the lines made.

“What about the animals?” I asked, pointing to an egg with a horse on it.

“Different animals mean different things,” Babushka said.  “Horses, sheep and cows are drawn onto eggs to bring farmers good luck.  Farmers may rub these eggs on the foreheads of their animals to make them strong and healthy!”

Babushka gave me an egg with a fish on it.  “Fish stand for good luck and good fortune.  Many stories are told where fish helped people find their way.”

“What about this one?” I asked, looking at an egg covered in triangles.

“That is a forty triangles pattern.  The triangles represent different parts of life, such as childhood, work, being a mother, and traveling.  Each triangle stands for part of a person’s life without actually showing it.”  Babushka smiled.  “The forty triangles pysanky are used for wedding gifts.”

Babushka had made so many!  Each one was a little different from the rest.  “Why do you make so many pysanky, Babushka?” I asked.

“An old legend says that as long as people make pysanky, there will be good in the world.  When we make pysanky, evil will be kept away.  But if there are few or no pysanky made, evil will be strong and bad things would happen all over the world.”

“Babushka...” I asked, “Can I come help you make pysanky next spring?”

“You certainly can, Little One,” said Babushka.  “You certainly can.

We believe that writing pysanky is fun

and have embraced "Panya Pysanka", our cool, hip, and whimsical mascot character who follows us on social media to help promote pysanky!

Friday Funnies

Today is Friday and who couldn’t use a little pysanka humour to start off the weekend? Credit for this one goes to ©Nate Fakes 2015

 

#PysankaHumour

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day or Veterans Day is recognized on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to recall all those have served in the nation’s defence. 

The team of pysanky experts at Baba’s Beeswax will take time out today to attend a Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph in our community. Our playful mascot, Guy Kistka, takes time out from his usual pranks and antics, to stop during a 21 gun salute to pay respect to those who have fallen. Lest we forget.

Click here to see his animated greeting on YouTube.

Visit our website to discover the magic of pysanky kits, supplies and 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/

http://iluvpysanky.blogspot.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/iluvpysanky/albums
https://www.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Ask us anything about pysanky—tradition and symbolism

Ask us anything about pysanky—tools, technique, tradition and more . . . . To share our knowledge, our team of experts draws on not only our heritage, but also over 30 years teaching pysanky to all ages and levels of experience since 1991. Today's dialogue is on on tradition and symbollism.

Question — What is the traditional Ukrainian pysanka symbol for christianity? 

Answer – Fish. 

For more on traditional symbols, check out our Book Preview of My First Pysanka—Symbols my Baba taught me by pysanky expert Joan Brander on our YouTube Channel Playlist.

We believe that pysanky is a fun activity. We embrace “Panya Pysanka”, our cool, hip, and whimsical mascot character who follows us on social media to help promote pysanky.

#PanyaPysanka #AskUsAnything #JoanBrander #BabasBeeswax