Ukrainian Design Book I

Ukrainian Design Book I

This is the first book of a series of previously unpublished patterns for the reader to recreate and enjoy. By breaking down the design to its simplest form, you will discover that you can create very complicated and magnificent patterns. As we describe each egg from beginning pencil lines to the final dye bath, the symbolism and color meanings will also be explained.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A Valued Folk Reference
When I was in “art school” both undergrad and master’s I recall long talks about “folk art” by teachers who really made no folk art, and to some extent seemed not only distant from it but above it. And then too heard talks by art historians who made clearly no art at all. Meanwhile in my life I was discovering the craft in the area of West Virginia I lived, learning how to make many things from thumb pianos to eggs, to corn husk dolls and apple dolls, from tatting to lace, batik, candle making, to crocheting hats and assimilating who people were, and where I was, into concrete making and doing, especially in food. I loved it.

An excellent child’s life happily including the making of Ukrianian eggs, pysanky. If you do not know the form just look on-line a minute. It will amaze you, if you see it in person you will be more amazed. It is said within the Ukrainian people as long as a pysanka is being made the world will never end, so at least for the last few weeks I’ve returned to the technique to make the eggs I loved as a child.

From the perspective of my fine art teachers folk art took on a kind of craft kitsch. But I, living in people still making in WVa, tended to find the dividing line around money. I still do, as I see the craft and making disappearing with newspapers and other artifacts of American life that I value. Time is constrained, people are on-line too much, making requires funds, plus the drive to create has shifted away I think from things like this. Worrisome. What people maintained from homelands, made in their lives still seems to survive though in food. At least we have that. I think the secret we miss is teaching the young traditions like this and then sharing it with others. It is something you can do with a modest investment, this book can help you set it up and you gain a wonderful sense of the doing, of accomplishment and beauty plus share something from other cultures. I find this the real way to become culturally aware. Make the crafts, adapt it to yourself.

This said, this book introduces pysanky, a technique of decorating an egg through a wax resist and dye process that always reminds me of batik. It is a wonderful resource as I no longer live in West Virginia or near any makers of this art and cannot see nor ask them a makers questions. The net is providing visual resource -say through You Tube, but I do prefer a book. I like to read, re-read, look, consider, share in book form. I found the text remarkably useful. I’ve had the book at least 20 years. My mother bought me this one as a wedding present. Just today reading more carefully I learned a new thing. Use an extra orange dye bath to rinse the eggs between color applications. Some colors are hard to apply after other colors. I had sort of come to that realization making the eggs but this confirmed it. Another tip that helped me, how to go back to a white background with a bleach rinse. You usually end in black. Now I know how to do something different.

The book does detail diagrammatic instructions on how to make traditional eggs.Very easy to follow. I do not do these, actually, because I am trained in art and as divergent a person as it gets, but I appreciate this none the less for what it is preserving and passing along of this cultural tradition. Ukrainian eggs mark births, weddings, times in life. They hold a kind of symbolic meaning, insight into a people and into the values they hold. This book presents this very simply, with an instructive purpose.

I started making these at 8. I taught myself for the most part watching some ladies at the mall in my hometown. In that way the beeswax and the process adapted into an Appalachian, me, and her relationship to making, design, to life and what we do passing our days. This spring break returning to read this was lovely. I’ve ordered from the shop recently that produced this book and these designs, you get excellent supplies, prompt, high quality. I got twelve goose eggs there. Delightful to decorate. I wish them many many more years. A great resource. The shop must be a wonder to see. Do not hesitate to get this.

5 Stars Brilliant!
As someone who’s been doing Ukrainian egg decorating for only a few months, I found this book delightful. However, if you’ve not used this technique before and hope to learn from this book, my suggestion is to take a class, or at the very least watch a video. The methods described in this book are precise and well written, but there’s nothing like seeing it done. This book contains lovely, inspirational photos and clear step-by-step instructions for how to replicate the designs. An excellent book for anyone who loves to decorate eggs.

4 Stars Good for beginner if…
This book, along with an initial read of the instructions on [...] is all I needed to get started. I purchased this book through All Things Ukrainian as part of a kit that included dyes, kistkas, egg blower, and this book. I found the instructions to be easy to follow and I feel successful although I’d never even seen this art form in person before. After the description on how to do each design, there are brief descriptions of the symbolism and colors used in each design. A few designs are bleached; where you start with colors and end with a bleach dip, leaving a background of white (if you’re using a white egg). I wouldn’t say there is much inspiration in the book, but clear instructions on traditional patterns. I chose to start with the traditional and hope to move to more personal expressions later. I am very pleased with the patterns in this book.

4 Stars good patterns, but you’ll need more than this
If you are a beginner to the art of pysanky, as I am, this book will not be enough to get you started. It gives brief directions and gets straight to the patterns, which are after all the point of this book. The cover has color photos of all the egg designs presented in the book, the inside cover has black-and-white pictures of the sides of the eggs; the pages of the book contain only black and white line drawings of the patterns. The patterns are given step-by-step with a line drawing for each step, but as a beginner I still find some of them a bit confusing. However, they are lovely designs and for more experienced decorators (which I hope to be very soon) I’m sure the patterns and instructions are adequate. Throughout the book, where a certain pattern is used, its symbolism is briefly explained. So, if you are a beginner, get a good starter book - I am finding Jane Pollak’s Decorating Eggs to be an excellent learning and inspiration resource.

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Ukrainian Easter Eggs and How We Make Them

Ukrainian Easter Eggs and How We Make Them

A colorful book about pysanky showing hundreds of designs never before published. Symbolism, traditions and techniques are discussed in detail. Over 250 eggs are photographed in color. Soft cover-perfect bound.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Still the best!
This book has been around a long time (both hardcover and paperback), but is still the best overview of the craft of pysanky. It is balanced, comprehensive, and very well illustrated. And it is *extremely* practical. My only caution: the book is published by a supplier (Ukrainian Gift Shop), and the “dye tricks” in the book only work with *their* dyes! Still, the book is outstanding, and one of the best values for pysanky artists and fans!

5 Stars This is the book for beginners!
If you want to make Ukrainian Easter eggs for all your life, you must have this book. Since 1984, it has been a companion. In a delightfull writing, the authors introduce the reader to the culture, the tradition and the craft of the Ukrainian Easter. The book is full of beautiful pictures which are a source of ideas. There are also many drawings of the symbols depicted in the eggs. From page 55 to 59, there are the essential instructions to begin with this art. There are no secret to be learned: just follow the directions. From that simple egg, you will progress every year. There other examples of eggs to be done. Enjoy this very spiritual and healing craft. Enjoy the opportunity to know this distant culture. (And forgive my “bad” English writing…)

5 Stars This is the book for beginners
If yo want to make ukrainian Easter eggs for all your life, you must have this book. Since 1984, it has been a companion. In a delightfull writing, the authors introduce the reader to the culture, to the tradition and to the craft of Ukrainian Easter.Beautiful pictures illustrate the book, which is also full of the symbols depicted in the eggs.From page 55 to 59, you learn how to make a simple Easter egg. There is no secret: just follow the directions. From this egg, I started and have been progressing every year. There are may others eggs to be done. Enjoy this unique and soul’s healing craft. (Reader: be sorry for my “bad” english…)

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Forever Christmas Heartsong Novella Collection

Forever Christmas Heartsong Novella Collection

Kristianna Harrington always dreamed of a Christmas wedding. But after two broken engagements, she’s content to forget romance and run her Christmas shop in Jingle Bells, Arkansas. She thinks her biggest fear is making it down the aisle as maid of honor in her best friend’s Christmas wedding, with at least one ex-fianc

The Wild West Pop Up Book

The Wild West Pop Up Book

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Need to return the book
I returned the book as the book arrived so broken.It doesn’t look new at all,the pages almost failing.It cost me 38 AU to return it.The post fee is too expensive same as to buy a new book.Next time I will not return it. It is really sad that received a broken book.

3 Stars The West is Wild
As a passionate collector of animated books, I review this sort of book from a selection of different criteria. The aesthetic, sophistication and demagogic value are a few of the more important considerations. The Wild West is a fun animated book of good quality. The aesthetic of illustrations are a little naive and the content needs some reinforcement. The input from the reader is high and meets the expectations of such an ambitious publication.

5 Stars A whole pop-up town!
I am blown by the pop-up town in this book. I have yet to see the other included “props” included in this book but I am sure they would be perfect, too. The gun with holster is just too much fun. There are some text also referring to this era. Awesome!

5 Stars Not your typical pop-up
This is not your typical pop-up. This book comes with plenty of detached 3D items like coach, train, wagon, horse, etc. These interact great with the huge spread in the center of the book which is a pop-up old west town complete with saloon, hotel, sheriff etc. Full of facts and loaded with additional items this is fun for young and old alike.

2 Stars An almost Pop-Up book
The book was disapointing as a Pop-Up Book. It had very few Pop-Ups and the ones it had were very simple. I would almost call it a play book because it had a town and figures to use with it. The information it gave was good. But again I was disipointed by the Pop-Ups.

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Antique Gift Shop Vol 7 v 7

Antique Gift Shop Vol 7 v 7

Right after Chan-Young gets out of jail, his older brother, Han-Young, gets killed in a car accident. He finds out Han-Young has been living with a young woman-and she doesn’t seem fazed by his brother’s death. Angry Chan-Young tries to kick her out of his brother’s house, but she’s very protective of the house-especially one room she seems intent on keeping off-limits to everyone. What exactly is in that room? And who is this woman?

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Design and Launch an Online Gift Business in a Week Clickstarts

Design and Launch an Online Gift Business in a Week Clickstarts

In just seven days, creative entrepreneurs learn. the ins and outs of designing a fully functional. online gift shop, from web design to order fulfillment,. and more. Offering expert insight and. unique ideas, this hands-on guide provides gift. enthusiasts with a profitable platform to sell. their goods and reach customers by the millions!

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Eggs Beautiful How to Make Ukrainian Easter Eggs

Eggs Beautiful How to Make Ukrainian Easter Eggs

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Excellent introduction to traditional techniques
This concise book gives you very detailed, easy-to-follow directions for making traditional Ukranian Easter eggs. The directions are the most explicit and detailed of any book I’ve come across. Plus, there’s plenty of info on traditional designs and their meanings. Not as many full color illustrations as some books…but a lot more detailed instructions and explanation of design components than most.

4 Stars Wonderful Pysanky instructional
As an artist I found this book most helpful. Not only are several designs given with full, step by step instructions, several traditional symbols are shown helping the artist to create their own designs without abandoning the traditional feel.

I did find the book a bit dated, several helpful tools are now available that are not discussed in the book. Also, I would have liked to see more “tricks and tips” - these are practically essential to someone just starting out.

All in all, however, I enjoyed the book and use the designs often.

5 Stars What a great book!
This book has great step-by-step instructions for beginners and many helpful tips for the experienced egg designer. It has lots of pictures of Ukrainian Eggs to inspire your creativity. It also has patterns and detailed examples on how to make different designs. It contains many, many samples of designs. I found this book very helpful for my entire family - young and old. The instructions are simple, the examples are plentiful, and illustrations are fantastic. It aslo includes the history and legends of this ancient custom.

5 Stars Eggs Beautiful - by You!
When I read Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco and saw the illustrations of eggs, supposedly dyed by the children in the book, I snorted and said, “No way. Those eggs have to be painted!” But then I found a pysanky kit in a catalog and tried it for myself. Eggs Beautiful was a tremendous help! The authors’ step-by-step instructions make it easy to produce beautiful eggs on the first try. Their information on the history of pysanky and the meanings of the traditional designs and colors, made the eggs I’ve done over the past couple of years all the more meaningful. Anyone contemplating taking up pysanky as a hobby should definitely buy this book. It was one of the first I purchased when I started. A definite plus for any craft book collection!

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Plastic Canvas Celebration Gifts

Plastic Canvas Celebration Gifts

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars excellent book
This book is great for the new crafter or the experienced crafter. I loved the pictures and the easy to follow illustrations.

5 Stars Excellent book
This book is great for the new crafter or the experienced crafter. I loved the pictures and the easy to follow illustrations.

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Eggs Beautiful How To Make Ukrainian Easter Eggs

Eggs Beautiful How To Make Ukrainian Easter Eggs

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Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 3

Ukrainian Easter Egg Design Book 3

24 stunning pysanky with step by step instructions. More basic designs. Symbolism. 6-page color removable insert.

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