Imperial Easter Eggs
The Imperial Easter Eggs created by Carl Faberge in the 1880's for the Czar of Russia were actually cast from precious metals, inlaid with enameling and en-crusted with jewels. Each "egg" usually commemorated an event like a royal anniversary or the Czarina's birthday and were presented as gifts throughout the year. The jeweler's exquisite craftsmanship coupled with his unique imagination produced art objects that are now treasured by private collectors and displayed in museums.
The egg form continues to inspire craftsmen who work in materials as diverse as porcelain, crystal, wood, clay, wax and, of course, chocolate and sugar. But the true eggers are those who perpetuate the tradition of working with the real thing. Though they work within the limits of a less exacting- craftsmanship, their results can approach the jeweled appearance and inventiveness of the fabulous Faberge egg.
The egg form continues to inspire craftsmen who work in materials as diverse as porcelain, crystal, wood, clay, wax and, of course, chocolate and sugar. But the true eggers are those who perpetuate the tradition of working with the real thing. Though they work within the limits of a less exacting- craftsmanship, their results can approach the jeweled appearance and inventiveness of the fabulous Faberge egg.
draw a light, straight line next to the rubber band. Use a pencil, glue makes ink run
as you wrap the egg with a ribbon, make sure you cover the blow holes at each end.
an exploded view of the constructed egg shows how the corsage pin will pierce the ribbon and the hole in the top of the egg that was used to blow it.
the process of putting on the molded plastic pearls may be continued using additional rows of rickrack, gimp, or any kind of notion. Strung beads may also be used.
Short straight lines on the paper design indicate where notches have been cut so the print will fit the egg's curvature without buckling when it is pasted down.
Tools and Materials
Eggs decorated in the "Imperial" style can express your most elaborate, elegant, or outrageous ideas. Applique them with ribbons, beads, flowers and pictures, or make them into miniature, three-dimensional set pieces. Whatever your choice of theme, you will need the following materials: clean, unmarred chicken eggs; water-soluble glue; pencils; watercolor paints and a paintbrush; paper towels; rubberbands ( 1/8 inch wide); masking tape; a glass of water; a dish or container lid for holding small amounts of glue; and curved blade manicure scissors.
Over the years, most crafters have accumulated an extensive collection of "egger" paraphernalia - braids, ribbons, notions and costume jewelry materials. Undoubtedly, you will find materials of this kind around your own home, but you may have to make a trip to trimmings and other craft shops before attempting to make eggs like those in the photograph. You will need plastic molded pearls; metallic braid or gimp; ribbon (not more than 1/4 inch wide); a corsage pin; plastic pearl collars (in various sizes); jewelry findings such as stands and bead clasps; and a decorative print from virtually anywhere (gift wrap, greeting cards, sugar packets or old fabrics). There are precut papers, such as German Scrap, made especially for decorative applique purposes. For finishing you will need diamond dust, a transparent glitter that is available in several colors and grades at most craft shops.
Trimming and finishing the Egg
Unlike margutis eggs, which do not need to be hard-boiled or blown, Imperial Easter eggs should be emptied before they are decorated. Follow the blowing method described previously, but enlarge the hole to 1/8 inch by lifting out tiny pieces of shell. When the egg is emptied, rinsed and dried, you can begin.
By stretching the rubberband around the egg from top to bottom you can determine an even center line for the ribbon. Let the band lie flat and trace a pencil line along both edges (figure B), then remove the band. Pour a small amount of glue onto the dish or container lid and, with a toothpick, spread the glue along the marked lines. To wrap the ribbon, start at the bottom and pull tautly but carefully as you circumscribe the curved surface (figure C). Halfway around, stop and let the glue seep into the ribbon and mold itself to the egg. Wipe off any excess glue with a clean, damp paper towel. Butt the ends of the ribbon at the bottom and let dry.
Glue a pearl collar, small side down, to a stand. Set the egg on the stand, tilting it if you wish, and glue it down. To make the crown, stick a corsage pin through a bead clasp, a bead and a small pearl collar (wide end down on the egg) (figure D). Stick the pin through the ribbon on top of the egg. Cut a strip of molded pearls to be glued along each edge of the ribbon. Apply glue with a toothpick to the pearl strips by taping the strip, right side down, to your work surface. Also apply glue to the egg surface to be covered. Leave both until almost dry, then apply a second light coat of glue to the egg. Starting at the bottom, press the strip along the edge of the ribbon and cut at the top where it reaches the crown (figure E). Repeat for the three remaining sides. Using the gluing method, lay the braid next to the pearls.
With a paint brush, spread glue on one surface of the egg and lay the print on it.
Cut notches where the flat paper tends to buckle on the round egg (figure F), then press down the edges until smooth. When the print has dried, you can give
the egg a porcelain-like finish by painting it with a mixture of glue thinned slightly with water. Or, while the glue is still wet, sprinkle diamond dust from a small pill bottle over the egg. Hold the egg over a container when you do this so the dust that falls off can be caught and reused. Tap the egg along the ribbon to shake off excess dust. At first the glue will make the print look milky, but the glue will dry and become translucent. Your egg is finished.
Eggs decorated in the "Imperial" style can express your most elaborate, elegant, or outrageous ideas. Applique them with ribbons, beads, flowers and pictures, or make them into miniature, three-dimensional set pieces. Whatever your choice of theme, you will need the following materials: clean, unmarred chicken eggs; water-soluble glue; pencils; watercolor paints and a paintbrush; paper towels; rubberbands ( 1/8 inch wide); masking tape; a glass of water; a dish or container lid for holding small amounts of glue; and curved blade manicure scissors.
Over the years, most crafters have accumulated an extensive collection of "egger" paraphernalia - braids, ribbons, notions and costume jewelry materials. Undoubtedly, you will find materials of this kind around your own home, but you may have to make a trip to trimmings and other craft shops before attempting to make eggs like those in the photograph. You will need plastic molded pearls; metallic braid or gimp; ribbon (not more than 1/4 inch wide); a corsage pin; plastic pearl collars (in various sizes); jewelry findings such as stands and bead clasps; and a decorative print from virtually anywhere (gift wrap, greeting cards, sugar packets or old fabrics). There are precut papers, such as German Scrap, made especially for decorative applique purposes. For finishing you will need diamond dust, a transparent glitter that is available in several colors and grades at most craft shops.
Trimming and finishing the Egg
Unlike margutis eggs, which do not need to be hard-boiled or blown, Imperial Easter eggs should be emptied before they are decorated. Follow the blowing method described previously, but enlarge the hole to 1/8 inch by lifting out tiny pieces of shell. When the egg is emptied, rinsed and dried, you can begin.
By stretching the rubberband around the egg from top to bottom you can determine an even center line for the ribbon. Let the band lie flat and trace a pencil line along both edges (figure B), then remove the band. Pour a small amount of glue onto the dish or container lid and, with a toothpick, spread the glue along the marked lines. To wrap the ribbon, start at the bottom and pull tautly but carefully as you circumscribe the curved surface (figure C). Halfway around, stop and let the glue seep into the ribbon and mold itself to the egg. Wipe off any excess glue with a clean, damp paper towel. Butt the ends of the ribbon at the bottom and let dry.
Glue a pearl collar, small side down, to a stand. Set the egg on the stand, tilting it if you wish, and glue it down. To make the crown, stick a corsage pin through a bead clasp, a bead and a small pearl collar (wide end down on the egg) (figure D). Stick the pin through the ribbon on top of the egg. Cut a strip of molded pearls to be glued along each edge of the ribbon. Apply glue with a toothpick to the pearl strips by taping the strip, right side down, to your work surface. Also apply glue to the egg surface to be covered. Leave both until almost dry, then apply a second light coat of glue to the egg. Starting at the bottom, press the strip along the edge of the ribbon and cut at the top where it reaches the crown (figure E). Repeat for the three remaining sides. Using the gluing method, lay the braid next to the pearls.
With a paint brush, spread glue on one surface of the egg and lay the print on it.
Cut notches where the flat paper tends to buckle on the round egg (figure F), then press down the edges until smooth. When the print has dried, you can give
the egg a porcelain-like finish by painting it with a mixture of glue thinned slightly with water. Or, while the glue is still wet, sprinkle diamond dust from a small pill bottle over the egg. Hold the egg over a container when you do this so the dust that falls off can be caught and reused. Tap the egg along the ribbon to shake off excess dust. At first the glue will make the print look milky, but the glue will dry and become translucent. Your egg is finished.
The Renaissance Egg, worked by Faberge craftsmen and presented by Alexander III of Russia to his wife, is of milky agate set with mounts of gold, diamonds and rubies. It is said that Carl Faberge kept a hammer expressly for the purpose of destroying any piece whose craftsmanship was not flawless.
Eggs with an Added Dimension
Though ornamented in much the same way, cut eggs are decorated both inside and out. Choose an egg that is fresh and without cracks. With a pencil, draw the opening to be cut. With a small motor tool with a saw blade, the types of openings you can cut are almost unlimited. But a manicure scissors will do a good job if you limit yourself to oval shapes and avoid sharp angles that might tend to break the shell. As you become adept at cutting, you will find that it is possible to cut more than one hole in the same egg.
Holding the egg over a bowl, pierce the shell with the tip of the manicure scissors and cut quickly along the pencil line with small shallow clips. When you have cut the entire opening, empty the egg into the bowl and rinse the inside of the shell. Never blow an egg if you intend to cut it, as blowing makes the shell brittle and susceptible to cracking. It is possible to trim the rough edges of the opening with the scissors, or file them with an emery board, but don't be too fussy as these will be covered by ribbon or braid. Decorate the outside of the egg following the procedures described above. Paint the inside of the shell in watercolor with a design or scene to create a setting. Place a figurine inside the egg, like the bird , and add finishing touches to complete your tableau. You will find that cut eggs are particularly adaptable to a variety of holiday motifs.
Though ornamented in much the same way, cut eggs are decorated both inside and out. Choose an egg that is fresh and without cracks. With a pencil, draw the opening to be cut. With a small motor tool with a saw blade, the types of openings you can cut are almost unlimited. But a manicure scissors will do a good job if you limit yourself to oval shapes and avoid sharp angles that might tend to break the shell. As you become adept at cutting, you will find that it is possible to cut more than one hole in the same egg.
Holding the egg over a bowl, pierce the shell with the tip of the manicure scissors and cut quickly along the pencil line with small shallow clips. When you have cut the entire opening, empty the egg into the bowl and rinse the inside of the shell. Never blow an egg if you intend to cut it, as blowing makes the shell brittle and susceptible to cracking. It is possible to trim the rough edges of the opening with the scissors, or file them with an emery board, but don't be too fussy as these will be covered by ribbon or braid. Decorate the outside of the egg following the procedures described above. Paint the inside of the shell in watercolor with a design or scene to create a setting. Place a figurine inside the egg, like the bird , and add finishing touches to complete your tableau. You will find that cut eggs are particularly adaptable to a variety of holiday motifs.
Pierce the eggshell with a manicure scissor point. Once the cutting gains momentum, do not stop to remove the scissors.
During cutting, the contents of the egg keep the shell moist and prevent chips from flying. The wetness keeps the membrane attached to the shell, strengthening the egg against breakage.
This picture egg was made from a speckled turkey egg. The items inside the egg were glued in, one piece at a time. The ground is dried moss, the fence a miniature plastic cast, and the bird is from a florist's shop.