Egg symbolism for me is based purely on Nature and this season of emergence, rebirth, and wholeness. For a few years now, I've been wanting to try out this technique of using silk ties to dye eggs. Last night the planets must have been perfectly aligned, because I had everything needed to finally get going.
I might have done a few things differently than the link up there. I used raw white eggs, wrapped them snugly like a gift with pieces of wet silk -- right side in, wound them with thread to create contact everywhere, then more winding with the interfacing from the ties like a mummy, simmered for 25 minutes in water to cover plus a quarter cup of white vinegar. I let them cool before unwrapping and coated with olive oil for shine. That's it. No cracks in the eggs so they'll keep indefinitely. They're not edible though as I'm sure none of this silk was eco-dyed. The silk itself doesn't seem to have lost much, if any, color so my silk stash was upgraded overnight.
It was pretty fun. Oh, and I also experimented with making a bundle of cotton and silk rolled together. The pattern transferred well but there's no reason, really, to do any more.
Have a lovely colorful day, no matter what season you're in!
That is the most amazing thing - I learn something every time I come here! I can't believe it is so simple and such lovely results. I am a VIP - very impressed person!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Robyn, hey thanks! It is so very simple, the hardest part is collecting the ties!
DeleteMe, too, me, too!!! Wow! Thanks.
DeleteThanks, Chris -- fun stuff!
DeleteAmazing! I love how you showed each egg on it's silk! Too cool..........
ReplyDeleteHi Sara -- thank you!
DeleteFanatastic results!!! Plus you found beautifully patterned ties to use. I too, like how you featured each egg on its own tie. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeannie -- which ties work well is pure chance. The ones I thought would come out really dark came out light, etc. But that's the fun!
DeleteGreat results.......and yes they look so lovely laid on the orig ties too.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you use food colouring.........the colour absorbs thru and into the egg? Ive never done it myself and assume using food colouring, eggs could be eaten anyway if you wanted?
Im imagining rainbow patterned boiled eggs within those shells of yours lol
Hope your lady bees are snug and warm...........last week we had lots of super hot days and this week, much of the Uk has snow!
Crazy.............
Hi Lyn --thanks, I've never tried plain food coloring, I've just used the prepackaged egg dyes or vegetables like onion, cabbage, etc. I think you might have to crackle the eggshell a bit so it'd go inside. You have snow, too! Crazy is right.
Deletethese are quite beautiful. such special eggs.
ReplyDeleteTammie Lee, thanks so much!
Deleteoh i saw that link and am wanting to try it too. glad you posted this. i will remove the contents first though. i have lots of silk ties already taken apart. you got such great results. i'll have to wait awhile because i'm minus an oven right now. new one will be delivered next week.
ReplyDeleteDeanna, surprising how fast 2 years went by since I first saw that post -- a new oven makes it worth the wait, for sure!
DeleteThanks for the link! I LOVE the patterns you were able to get, especially the black/white/yellow one. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteKatie, you're welcome -- that is my favorite one, too, it really transferred beautifully!
DeleteThis seems like magic to me! I'm trying to convince my brother-in-law to let my sister do this when he retires. So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJo -- well yeah about the magic!! ;-) I could imagine it being quite entertaining if they were ties that you were actually familiar with or had even worn.
Deletewow, these are incredible...i can't believe it is that easy and beautiful. have to book mark this for sure. thank you
ReplyDeleteHenrietta, thanks -- yes, very easy. You'll have to make some!
Deletewait, wait, wait!~!! You wrapped those eggs in neckties, then boiled them in dye and vinegar?!!! For real?
ReplyDeleteHi Dee -- yes, they were wrapped and boiled in water and vinegar, no dye! Cool, huh?
Deleteamazing...what a wonder!
ReplyDeleteCindy, thanks -- this might be fun to do with your students....
DeleteAh-Maz-Ing!!! Wow! The gold (yellow) and black one looks like eyes :)
ReplyDeleteI like seeing them sitting on their ties. Thanks for sharing this.
Nancy, thanks -- I know, it does, doesn't it? That is my favorite one! The red one has eyes, too.
DeleteWow! So cool...
ReplyDeleteAmazing...
I am sending you wishes for a most joyful weekend.
Filled with family, food and love.
<3
Hi Marie, thanks, it was fun. I may make more with one of my girls -- and I wish you the very same!! :-))
DeleteOh those are gorgeous! I have some really wild ties I could try it with.
ReplyDeleteDeb, you're ready to go then! That was the hold-up for me, I just kept forgetting to look for ties at the thrift stores. But wow, there were a lot to choose from.
DeleteWow, what amazing results.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful weekend.xxx
Trish, thank you. And I wish you a wonderful weekend, too, filled with all good things! ;-))
ReplyDeleteOOoh Peggy, these are so beautiful. I dont have any silk ties (but will be on the lookout for them now!!). I am wondering if the indian sari silks will work. I might have a play later.
ReplyDeleteJust LOVE these little eggs. They look so beautiful and it sounds so easy to do!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Have a lovely Easter Peggy.
Jacky xox
Thanks, Jacky -- the saris should work just fine, I will be interested in the outcome if you try this with them. It is so very easy and they are so very beautiful, you're right! Happy Easter to you, Jacky.
DeleteWow!! That is spectacular!! Thanks for the idea : )
ReplyDeletemybloomnart, try it, you'll like it! ;-))
DeleteI have heard about using silk mens' ties to transfer colour - but have never tried it. Using this technique for Easter eggs is so wonderful. I hope I can remember for next year.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog.
Hi Judy, well it took me two years to remember! ;-)) Thanks, I love your blog, too.
Deletei saw this done on pinterest and have been wanting to give it a try...but yours turned out so much better than any others i've seen before because of your brilliant idea of wrapping them with thread and such so tightly! and now, thanks to your adventures, i'm not afraid of using my silk ties...i've been hoarding them for their beauty and was afraid they'd be ruined if i sacrificed them to dye eggs... woohoo!
ReplyDeleteHi Joe, I'd seen it done all ways, too, and wrapping it tightly seemed to make sense. I only used a little square of silk on each egg and the silk looks fine after the dyeing process so it can be used again. I just ironed all the squares the other day, maybe a touch faded is all, if that.
ReplyDeleteI just re-posted this one on my Face book page to share. It's such a gift!
ReplyDelete