Crazy Busy!! Craft Show #1 Tomorrow

Most of you know already, but in case you didn't, tomorrow is my first of three craft shows this month! Each show will get larger and larger. Tomorrow's craft show has 20 vendors. Next week's has 30 and the final week's show has over 50 vendors selling crafts!

All these shows will be Spring themed. I hope my eggs will be well received at each show. I worry about being prepared and making enough sales to not be disappointed with the time I put in on preparation.

I have three different kinds of eggs for this show. First, I have the traditional scratched eggs you have seen on here countless times. Also, I have wax "drop and pull" eggs made by my mother. Finally, I have a new technique. Eggs dyed with a plant or flower pressed against the shell. The effect is that on a pressed look with surrounding color. I will post photos of them soon. In addition, I have cards and earrings to sell.

The cards I hope to make a big hit with. I have 24 now, maybe 30 before the day is over. Earrings did not do so well last show, but I am confident I will have some interested buyers tomorrow. Rob made several pairs of earrings, and he does a much better job than me. :)

My main concern about the craft show is not having enough items, but rather, having everything I need. For example, I do not have my containers organized yet. As a result I do not have all my price signs together. The ribbon and scissors are missing and the wire for making cards into ornaments is not where it should be.

It is all a matter of gathering together. I am a good gatherer, but I also want to craft a few last minute items tonight. Looks like I will have to "hire" Rob to do some gathering work for me. I'll have to pay him in quiche... though he made all the quiche :P

Wish me luck tomorrow! I'll be sure to update! Hopefully with pictures! Oh... better remember the camera!

New Day and New Eggs

I found that if I blog more often, I think I will feel better about my progress in my Etsy shop regardless of a drop in expected sales. I more designs I come up with the happier I am. I no longer am just repeating the 3 dozen or so designs I have been doing for years, but now in addition I am trying new styles to scratch.

Recently I scratched this cute blue bird about to fly off a branch. I was so pleased with him, I am now trying to find new bird designs I can use to attempt to place on an egg.

I have so far five colors ready to dye. It's Red, True Blue, Patina, Lilac, and Golden Wheat. I hope to do a Mushroom or something else as well in the near future!

Good news! I have over 30 dozen eggs in my possession! I bought about 35 dozen in the grocery store this week because of a wonderful sale they were having! Now, We are at quiche count 4 and will be making more this weekend I hope.

I will have to post again with some quiche recipes were have been using and pictures of the quiche we made. It's a yummy perk to egg scratching!

New Eggs and Big Ideas

Easter is coming quicker and quicker. Any egg crafter will tell you that the preparation for Easter is harder and stranger than any other holiday. Most people are excited for the coming of Spring and the end of the hectic Christmas season. Several crafters are settling into an easy paced routine but most are not over exerting themselves.

Not the egg crafter! This is our Christmas! Now is the time for new colors, new designs, different techniques, and producing many many eggs! Now is the high productivity mode where one design should be made in several colors and it couldn't hurt to make the design in the same color a few times as well.

I and so many of egg crafters are busy bees right now, balancing life, the coming of spring, lets not forget Spring Cleaning, and the constant production of Easter eggs.

I have been working on some new colors and designs lately. I hope to break out some "Golden Wheat" eggs today (I took the day day of to study for an exam, clean, and etch several eggs!) and then a new color, perhaps "Mushroom."

Here are some of my newly added creations:

This is my M.C. Escher egg! The fishes fit together up and down just like one of M.C. Escher's works of art. I have a lot of fun making this egg, and it always seems to go on a duck egg better than a smaller chicken egg.









This is my geometric egg I made up while at a show. I hope to make it in blue and purple before the Easter season flies by.




Now that I feel the need to make new designs for my shop I am not sure what designs would be best received. I find so many people like flowers, but the traditional designs also draw a steady crowd.

I wonder if people would want to see more modern designs like dog faces, scenes, and other more modern designs that are rarely seen on egg art.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a new design? A new color? Maybe you would want to see a different flower, like a hyacinth or Bleeding Hearts. I appreciate all comments and feedback to help me branch out more and more during this Spring Easter preparation!

As always, thanks for reading!

Easter is Coming!!! New Poll!!

The eggnog drunk, presents ripped open, and Christmas cookies reaching their end, it is time to focus on the next big season.... SPRING!

While the weather thinks about warming up, I am getting ready to thaw out my egg shop, making it brighter and greener! With new pictures, new colors, and new designs, Etched Easter eggs will be ready for people to buy to give to loved ones as Spring takes the limelight.

New colors for the shop will be Raspberry, Plum, Dark Forest, Pink, Patina, and so much more.

What colors would you like to see in my shop?? What egg colors would be more interesting for you?

I hope to have more pastel colors in the shop as well as a lighter, whiter background combination. Feedback from followers would be greatly appreciated!

HOW TO BLOW OUT AN EGG!

HELLO!

I know I haven't updated in a long time. I started school and will be even more busy than I already am! However, based on the fact I am part of a craft show this Sunday in Pittsburgh, I wanted to write a little bit about egg etching in general.

I thought I would use this entry to give the basics of how to start the process of etching an egg. Where best to begin than to explain how to blow out an egg!?!

In your arsenal you will need:
- A straight pin
- a round file
- an egg pump (this is optional and I will explain both how to blow out an egg with and without the pump)
** there are several types of pumps - for these directions I'll will be using THIS
- a chicken egg without bumps or cracks
- bowl

Blowing out an egg WITHOUT a pump:

1. Alright, now that you have your egg and your supplies, take the egg in your hand. Using the pin poke a hole at the tip of the egg and well as the bottom so you have holes directly above one one another. Be first but DO NOT have a death hold on your egg!

2. Once you have these two holes you will want to make them larger, that's where the round file come in. Line up the tip of the file with the pinhole. Rub the file back and forth between your fingers to file the hole larger until it is the size of the file's width.

3. Repeat this process with the other hole.

4. Now make sure you cleaned your egg so you won't get sick with this step! put your lips on the egg and blow hard (EYES CLOSED) and get the contents out! You may save the contents to make scrambled eggs or bake.cook with immediately if you desire.

5. Run some water (trickling from the faucet) into the egg... shake... and blow out to clean out remaining yolk.

6. Let your egg dry before moving on to using your egg in crafts!

BLOWING OUT WITH A PUMP:

1. You will repeat steps 1-3 from the above directions!

4. using the pump place the circular rubber on the egg with the hoel lined up with your filed hole.Insert the metal pin of the pump into the hole.

5. Holding pump firmly against the egg and holding the egg firmly in palm of hand, pump the handle of the egg pump to empty the contents.
** NOTE ** Sometime the yolk is harder to pump out. Be patient and keep pumping!

6. Run some water (trickling from the faucet) into the egg... shake... and blow out to clean out remaining yolk.

7. Let your egg dry before moving on to using your egg in crafts!

If you have any questions or comments about this process please comment!!!

Here are some great articles to read please!!!!


Racial Profiling in Law Enforcement:
great article to read and learn something new!!!

Free Local Advertising in Pittsburgh (WELL ANYWHERE)
great for anyone who wants to increase shop traffic and sales without spending a lot or anything!

European Egg Art: Pysanky Vs. Lithuanian Etched Eggs
awesome article if you want to understand a little bit more about the art I do and it's differences from psyanky egg art!


Please check them out and write your comments here or after the articles!! thanks!

Selling on Etsy

HELLO!!

Im a law student in Pittsburgh PA... while studying and surviving law school I also work on Lithuanian eggs that I sell on ETSY!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/teener1416

please check out my store... im trying to promote the crafts my family and I do.

Selling Eastern European (Lithuanian) scratched eggs, and other crafts.

Look at my items, I hope you enjoy them.
I hand select, empty, dye, freehand draw, and scratch these eggs.
Egg types range from small bantam chicken eggs up to goose eggs.

YES! every egg is real and hollow!
These are not wooden eggs.
They have been dyed then etched with a blade.
The technique is very old and a part of my Lithuanian heritage.

My family and I are extremely connected to our roots and engage in many of the traditions and crafts connected with our culture.
Not only do I etch eggs, but I learned how to make Lithuanian straw ornaments and my sister and mother make them on a regular basis to sell as well.

I hope you enjoy looking and shopping on my site and will contact me with any question you have about this almost lost art!

I ALSO DO CUSTOM ORDERS... JUST CONTACT ME WITH YOUR REQUEST AND IDEAS!!

Have a great day!

My email is teener1416@hotmail.com