Unique Holiday Gift Idea: Pysanka Power! Birthday Party Ideas & Planner

Is there a birthday coming up in the new year? This booklet will make a unique stocking stuffer.

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 ]

Friends' eyes will sparkle when they discover the magic of making pysanky at a birthday party. This book is full of ideas and resources to make a pysanka-themed party a smashing (no pun intended) success. Table of contents includes invitations, decorations, games, cake, snacks, favors, planner and more. Full color. Soft cover (12pp).

The perfect partner to our Pysanky Party Kits. If you think that egg decorating is just for Easter, THINK AGAIN!

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.

Resource 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/

Seasonal Greetings from Guy Kistka - September Autumnal Equinox

Our playful mascot, Guy Kistka, loves the first day of fall and the crunching sound as he runs through the leaves! The team of pysanky experts at Baba’s Beeswax love the autumnal equinox with its explosion of yellow, orange and red—which also happen to be three basic colours of pysanky dyes! Thanksgiving and Halloween will carry us through the season and all the woodland creatures will start storing up for the long haul of winter.

See his greeting here: 

Autumnal Equinox

What do you love about fall? What special traditions do you have?

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/

Our YouTube Channel

For pysanky kits, supplies and books published by Baba’s Beeswax, Discover the Magic of pysanky at our website http://www.babasbeeswax.com

The Perfect Christmas Present for the Pysanka Lover: About the Pysanka - It Is Written! A Bibliography by Joan Brander

If you’re wondering which pysanka book to give as a Christmas present this year, this bibliography has an extensive list of resources. It’s one you’ll surely want to add to your own collection, so you may need to buy 2!

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 valuable resource is authored by our very own Joan Brander, and we were proud and honoured to publish it for her.

It is a unique compilation of more than 250 books, periodicals and audiovisual titles. When Joan discovered that she could not find a published bibliography on pysanky she set about to write her own. The result is "About the Pysanka—It Is Written! A Bibliography by Joan Brander". Chapters include pysanky books, children’s books, newsletters, articles, audio-visual, chronological index and author index. The book also includes 72 colour plates.

The publishing and cataloguing of this first of-its-kind book garnered a place for "pysanky" in the bibliography class of the Library of Congress headings - a precedent setting development.

Just a note that the digital and eBook versions have 38 more colour plates than does the print version.

Bibliography previewed on Pysanka Power Video Clips

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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Hidden Passions - an exhibit of artists at the British Columbia Institiute of Technology

We've had a busy few weeks lately including Joan's interview with radio producer/host Paulette “Pawlina” MacQuarrie of Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio on August 26th (transcript to follow), a pysanka workshop at Richmond World Festival on September 1st (more photos to follow), and Joan's exhibit of pysanky featured at Hidden Passions with her colleagues at the British Columbia Institute of Technology on September 7th (photos herewith). 

Joan and her pysanky display

Close-up of Joan's pysanky

the British Columbia Institute of Technology

Enjoy these and stay tuned for more updates.

The Perfect Christmas Stocking Stuffer for Kids: Pysanky on Paper - An Activity Book for Children

Get an early start on picking up stocking stuffers for your kids and grandkids. This activity book accompanied by a new box of crayons will keep them engaged in the wonder of pysanky. We found the bee’s knees of beeswax crayons here together with a recipe to make your own https://craftwhack.com/whats-the-deal-with-beeswax-crayons/

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 was the first of several children’s books authored by our very own Joan Brander back in 1997 at a time when she had a very young son of her own, and was inspired by the numerous pysanky workshops she conducted in elementary schools. The activity book is going into its fourth printing and has stood the test of time.

Pysanky on Paper - An Activity Book for Children introduces the art of colorful Ukrainian pysanky eggs to children aged 2 to 12. The activities in the book teach symbolism, coloring, drawing, reading, writing, math and science through pysanky. It also includes activities, stories, puzzles, games, art projects and a bibliography.

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.

Children’s 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.linkedin.com/company/baba-s-beeswax/

Christmas Shopping for Kids and Teachers: My First Pysanka - Symbols my Baba taught me

Are you an early-bird Christmas shopper? If so, be the first to grab this newly-published book for the cherished children or grandchildren in your life. And don’t forget a token of appreciation for teachers, as this book is for them too! From toddlers to teachers—this book engages in the wonder of pysanky and their symbols.

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 YouTubehttps://youtu.be/4-Uenn4kz8E ]

The author, our very own Joan Brander, has created more than just another colouring page. Her first of-its-kind book demystifies the symbolism of pysanky with a rich array of over 70 large-format drawings (hand drawn with no stock photos used), symbols grouped into easy to understand categories, simple and uncomplicated drawings, and pages that can be mounted as teaching aids in classrooms. This book was created to complement other resources used by educators.

Kids are fascinated with pysanky and the symbols they can write on a fragile egg. Pysanky images in other children’s books are too complicated. Joan has used simple designs to balance the motor skills of children, especially if they enjoy the technique of pysanky. This book rocks it.

How about adding a box of crayons? Do you think that beeswax crayons are the bee’s knees? Like the ones here https://craftwhack.com/whats-the-deal-with-beeswax-crayons/ (they also have a recipe to make your own!).

We think that My First Pysanka - Symbols my Baba taught me is an eggs-cellent and unique resource to buy for a gift or add to your own collection. If you have any questions about it, please ask us.

Children’s Book previewed on Pysanka Power Video Clips

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/

Seasonal Greetings from Guy Kistka – September Back to School

New teachers, new friends, new shoes, new notebooks, and sometimes, a new school. Just a few things that mean back to school. Our playful mascot reminds us to slow down in school zones as excited kids head back to school.

See his animated greeting here: 

Photo - September Long Weekend

For the team of pysanky experts at Baba’s Beeswax back to school means the end of summer vacation and getting pysanky supplies and teaching aids ready for ordering. From beeswax and dyes to books and workshops we have everything you and your teacher need to make beautiful pysanky the traditional way.

We have been partners in education with teachers and schools since 1991! What does back to school mean for your family?

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/

Our YouTube Channel

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

http://www.babasbeeswax.com

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.

Follow us:

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

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

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:

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

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

###

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!