Eggsperiments don't always work!

Easter is right around the corner… yes folks – it’s that time of year when egg artists around the world (myself included) get put their glitter and glue and work feverishly to produce fancy eggs for everyone to enjoy.  For me – that not only includes putting together the IEAG (International Egg Art Guild) quarterly magazine, but working to increase my stock of saleable eggs.

I have a problem though, and it maybe one that every artist shares (comment if you agree). I get bored!  I like to design and experiment, not do the same thing over and over.  That means I haven’t settled into one style of egg art –but play around with everything.  My show tables are definitely an eclectic mix of it all.  For that matter – so are the stores!

Lately, I experimented with a new kind of colored egg kit that I found at the local Michael’s store. It had beautiful 14K gold glazed eggs in amazing colors.  So – I thought – why not.  Bought the kit and ran home to try it.

 

Now the kit showed gorgeous eggs in solid colors of gold, green, violet, pink and blue, all with the incredible gold sheen.  I followed the directions exactly.  Did I get what was advertised?  Take a look……LOL.

 The solid color just would not apply evenly to the egg shell, so I ended up being creative and did a kind of sponge painting on them.  While pretty, not eggsactly what I anticipated.  

Does that mean I stopped… nope. I broke out the washi paper, inks and egg wraps and went to work…. After all – I have a table and store to fill.  

Anyone in the Rockford Illinois area can come see me this weekend (March 29 & 30, 2014) at the Rockford Egg Show and Sale.  Held in the Midway Village  & Museum (6799 Guilford, Rockford, IL), the show features some of the best Midwest egg artists displaying and selling their eggs, as well as suppliers selling miniatures and art supplies.  A great place to spend an afternoon, the show is open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Stop in and say hello.  

 For directions – here is the link to the museum ( http://www.midwayvillage.com/wordpress/event-registration/?ee=6 )

Tell me what you are creating special for the holiday season!

Glitter Glitter Everywhere

All glitter is not created equal.  That’s what I have discovered lately.  In the course of creating my Christmas Holiday ornaments for this year (yes folks, I did say Christmas!), 

Winter Egg Ornament

I have been glittering my little heart out.  After all – what’s not to love about a glittering egg ornament twirling on your holiday tree – right?

White Glitter with Gold Accents

There is clear glitter, big glitter, colored glitter and glue-glitter. In addition, there is big, regular, small, fine, ultra fine and ultra ultra fine.  There is white glitter that is enhanced with slight color enhancements so that even though it goes on and looks white or clear, it sparkles with gold, green and blue accents. 

Then there’s also vintage glass glitter that is larger, hard to find and available in only a few colors like copper and aqua. (I got mine from Martha Stewart YEARS ago!)  And the colors - - ARGGGHHHHH !     How do I choose?

Velvet Glitter on Eggs

During my last trip to the Eastern Ohio Egg Art Show I picked up some new “velvet” glitter. OMG – I am in love.  It is nothing like my regular old glitter and creates this beautiful velvet look to my egg ornaments. 

  

But can I simply ignore my old standbys while I use this special glitter and the glue needed for that velvety look – or do I mix it up and use both?  I’m SOOOO confused.

Colored Velvet Glitter

I have learned a trick however that allows you to glitter something and not have the glitter fall off.  After gluing and glittering your item, let it dry completely, brush off any extra then apply a second layer of glue or some Mod Podge over the entire item. It will seal your glitter in and keep it from attaching itself to everything and everyone in the area.  Try it and let me know what you think.

In the meantime – I’m going back to my craft room to make more glittering creations.  Have a craft sale coming up and I think these sparkly beauties will be a hit!

Remember - there's only 76 days left til Christmas!

Dani

Eggs Eggs Everywhere and not a one to eat!

It's getting close to that holiday that makes every Egg Artist's heart go pitter patter.... Easter.  Now that's not to say that egg decorating is only for Easter... oh no - it's an all year round passion that includes conventions, shows, clubs and even an international guild.  That's right folks - Egg Art is EVERYWHERE!!!

What can you do with an egg?  (you ask innocently)  Anything you want - it just takes a bit of imagination.  There's the traditional egg decorations like Pysanky; incredible jeweled eggs inspired by Fabrege; carved eggs; beaded eggs; jeweled eggs; dyed eggs; painted eggs; eggs that are open with dioramas inside (like the old sugar eggs); eggs that are made into jewel boxes; you name it - you can do it to an egg.

Even Steampunk is making it's way into the egg art world.  Diane and I are having a back and forth exploration of the world of steampunk - as many of you have noticed.  This is my latest try.  I elaborated on it a bit, as Steampunk to the artists of the Guild (of which I am now 2nd Vice President and Newsletter editor!) and the rest of the world can mean 2 different things. I toned down a bit, added a little bling bling (because everyone loves some sparkly) and came up with this ornament just in time for the holiday.  (warning- obnoxious self promotion occurring now) They will soon be on my Etsy and Store Envy sites - links on this page - along with all my other springtime creations available for quick sale now in time for Easter! (phwww that's over with - on to the rest of the article!).

From Ostridge to Finch and everything in between, eggs are everywhere.  The White House receives one from every state, created by artists across the country, and holds a ceremony where they are put on display just in time for Easter.  So.. what does my house look like right about now?   You REALLY don't want to know - but I can show you the display on my desk!

So - what are you doing with your eggs for Easter.  By the way - you can make a really great custard with all the innerds after blowing out all those eggshells!

by Dani

Mardi Gras Decorated Egg

Another Holiday - OH MY!

It’s just the beginning of 2013 and already the year seems to be passing so fast.  One holiday season is over and another is just around the corner.  Hard to believe that Mardi Gras is Feb 12, Valentine’s Day is Feb 14^th and Easter I coming up fast.  So many artsy things to make and soooo little time!

I thought I’d start with Mardi Gras this week and work my way through – so be prepared people!  I LOVE Mardi Gras.  Now keep in mind that I’m located in the cold northern state of Wisconsin and have never actually been down to New Orleans for this great celebration but I love it all the same.  The colors, costumes and parades, not to mention the stories and traditions just boggle my brain.  This means, of course, that I need to come up with cool things to make and do.

First, I’d like to share with you this really great egg. Originally purchased from Gerry Meyer, I was fascinated with her combination of beads, glitter and decoupage to decorate it – so had to make some myself.  I think it expresses the fun and spirit of the celebration and is the highlight of my Easter Egg tree.  (More of my Easter Eggs, including this one, can be found in the Etsy store or in the ATA Girl Store.)

Another great tradition is the throwing of beads.  This is a fun project for anyone to make and enjoy.  Simply find some colorful beads and some ribbon.  String the beads on the ribbon and tie a bow with the ends.  You now have Mardi Gras beads you can wear and display!

Great food is also a tradition at Mardi Gras which is also “fat Tuesday” before the start of Lent.  King Cakes, for example, are made of a cinnamon filled dough in the shape of a hollow circle. The cake is topped with glaze and then sprinkled with  purple (representing Justice), Green (representing Faith) and Yellow (representing Power) colored sugar.  Somewhere inside a King Cake is baked a plastic baby. Tradition dictates that whoever finds the baby holds next year’s party.  A great recipe for this can be found at:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mardi-gras-king-cake/.

More holiday goodies to come – stay tuned!

Egg Dioramas: The Traditional Holiday Ornament

I know it's been awhile - but i thought I'd ramp things up again with a little lesson on Eggs.  With the holiday season fast approaching - my fingers are flying and the creative juices are flowing as I work on getting my Winter egg collection going.  What - you may ask - could I possibly make from eggs that would be appropriate for the winter holidays?  Well - read on my friends and bask in my artistic endeavors (ok - just a bit overdone - but it's late LOL )

I've taught many classes for young and old alike during the months up to the Christmas holidays and every time my students are just amazed at what they've created in just a few hours.  Now that doesn't include all the prep work I've done for them before hand - but you get my drift.  I usually stick to duck and goose eggs as they seem to be the perfect height for hanging.

I love the look of winter scenes with birds and deer running through them. While I often use red birds that resemble cardinals, I've taken to coordinating my bird and outside designs and have expanded my selection to purple and blue. The birds scene here actually match the color of the poinsettia I've added to the outside of the egg. 

 

 

 And of course, blue birds look best with silver accents. 

I've also played with larger eggs.  This ostridge egg, for example, is one I taught last year at the Ohio Egg Artist show and turned out really well.  This one also has 2 matching goose egg ornaments so it makes a great combination.  

These diorama eggs are probably some of my favorites to make as I love the glittery, icy look to them.  

I've placed some of these egg ornaments in our ATA girl store as well as in the Etsy store. Stop by and take a look. If you have any questions - just give me a shout.  It's never too late to plan for the holidays.

Not Just for Breakfast Anymore... Egg Art

I'd like to take a little bit of your time to introduce you to one of my favorite art forms - Egg Art.  Not just your typical egg dyeing that you normally do around the spring holidays - Egg Art encompasses many different styles.  Egg decorating has been around for centuries, and many of those early techniques and traditions are continued today by artists around the world. Just about anything you can imagine can be done to an egg.

The International Egg Art Guild (IEAG) website (http://www.eggartguild.org/) is a great place to start learning about the different forms of Egg Art.  More than twenty-five years ago Kit Stansbury put the wheels in motion to form a society where artists could discuss, share and exchange ideas, and promote egg decorating as an art form.  Now, with membership in the guild worldwide, they have created a flourishing Masters Program to help anyone wishing to improve their artistry and technique. The artform is flourishing, and nowhere is this better experienced than at an Egg Art Show.

All around the world, egg artists and suppliers gather at a show to hold classes and display their individual art to any who wish to see.  The IEAG website has a list of the shows held each year.  There is no better place to experience all the various types of Egg Art than at one of these shows.  Suppliers are available as well, providing a hands-on opportunity for visitors to purchase kits, miniatures, eggs and tools.  Many Egg Artists also display and sell their work at local art shows and shops.  

With the invention of the internet - Eggs have gone viral.  A search on the words Egg Art on Google recently pulled up over 72,000 hits.  Searching on the words Pysanky (a wax resist method), Carl Fabergè, Ostridge Eggs, Emu Eggs, Rhea Eggs, Carved eggs, etc will bring up lists of suppliers, artists from around the world, and general information.  One such artist is Lorrie Popow, a Master Egg Artist who has recently placed her training sessions on Youtube for everyone to enjoy. 

 Lorrie is definitely one of our finest ATA Girls, and we are proud to be able to place the link to her videos on our sight for everyone to experience.