The Egg and I

My first play in high school was called "The Egg and I." I played Joanie - the boy-crazy younger sister of a family that moves to an egg farm on Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Recently, on a way home from a great visit to Port Townsend, I saw that there is even a road called "Egg and I Lane" off of Highway 20. It made me smile and brought back a memory or two. 

My role as Joanie led to an illustrious high school drama career as a character actor. I never played a leading lady - just the odd ball, goof with a funny accent stage left. When I was a awarded "most dramatic" of my senior class, I was shocked. First of all, I didn't think that anyone knew my name in high school. Secondly, should an award really go to a girl with ripped jean shorts, 16-eye Doc Martens and a slight shade of violet in her hair? 


Although I have grown up a bit now, I still appreciate the brilliant, lovely egg. No better time to celebrate the egg than Easter. The Easter egg represents the renewal and abundance that spring brings.  For my celebration of eggs, I adapted 3 ideas from one of my faves - Martha. Often, making a idea your own sometimes can be as gratifying as the original idea. 


My goal for this craft was to end up with decoration for a centerpiece or something a little larger for my sideboard. The foundation of my idea stated with The Willow Tree. I used an ice bucket as a vase. Floral foam held the willow branches purchased from my local market. 


Eggs Adorned with Paper Cut-Outs and Marbleized Eggs created the ornaments. I chose a blue and white theme to match the colors of my living room. I used white paper cut-out flowers decorated with fine prism glitter for the solid eggs. 


While the instructions for each of these crafts are on the MS website, I can provide you some  tips and tricks that I learned along the way... 

1) Get an egg blower. I don't know anyone that has enough lung capacity to empty 24 eggs. An egg blower can empty one in about 30 seconds. Just be prepared for the instructions in German. 


2) Marbleize eggs last. I tried to dye the solid and marbleized eggs at once. Mistake. The oil use in marbleizing gets everywhere.  


3) Glue ribbon perpendicular. Like Christmas ornaments the eggs like to turn inward. Gluing the ribbon at the top of the egg perpendicular to the design you would like to showcase can help minimize this. 


Happy egg-dyeing everyone!