I wasn’t raised in a religious family though when Easter came around, I wouldn’t turn down a chocolate bunny or an opportunity to hunt for boiled and dyed eggs in the garden.
But what I remember most about the holiday was painting eggs, and since my grandmother was an artist, painting eggs was a weeks-long event.
My grandparents lived with us, and every year, a few weeks before Easter, my mother and grandmother would make pinpricks in both ends of 100 eggs. They’d blow on one small hole, and the egg whites and yolks would exit through the other, leaving a hollow shell that would last for… well, for lifetimes, at least.
A week before Easter, they’d set up multiple card tables and folding chairs and watercolors and acrylics and brushes and glazes and all the other supplies needed for an egg-painting extravaganza.
They’d invite the whole neighborhood for a day of creativity and community. People would stop by, chat, paint, and leave with their creations. Not all of the eggs were beautiful, but all of them were precious. Those are some of my fondest memories of Easter.
I’m the keeper of my family’s painted eggs.
I have about 40 of them, a legacy of Easter eggs.
They remind me of my grandparents and parents, my brothers, my friends and their families – the joy of community. These are some of my favorites eggs, and a few of them are older than me! I hope you enjoyed them.
Myths of the Mirror 
What fun! Thanks for sharing some with us, Diana. I too decorated and sometimes painted eggs, with my mother as the main instigator. She made intricately cut, exquisite Christmas ornament eggs. Some with tiny scenes and figurines inside, others were bird nests, or floral or fruit baskets etc. They were decorated with paint and beads and gold cord or braid, decals and decoupage, and velvet with cast metal flowers, birds cherubs, crosses – all kinds of things. The little scenes often had backdrops of cut ovals from old cards and ultra fine pearly glitter for snow.
The collection mostly belongs to me now, though she, and we, gave many to friends and family over the years. She even sold some at Christmas art fairs. Such treasures, and of course we each have our favorites – tiny egg-fuls of precious memories.
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Oh wow, Sheri. I’m so glad you still have some of them. What a treasure. Maybe someday you’ll share them on the blog! Please please please. 🙂 My mom also did cut-outs and little scenes but nothing so intricate or elaborate. They sound utterly gorgeous. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience.
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I usually put a few photos of them on the tree on Facebook or sometimes my riverside blog around winter solstice and Christmas, but I’d never thought of doing a post all about them. Great idea! Hopefully I’ll remember when I unpack them from storage next winter! 🙂
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You’ll remember. They’d make a great solstice or Christmas post.
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It would actually be a great idea to document them with digital photos anyway. Thanks for inspiring me to do so.
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Yep. That was an offshoot of the post. A great idea.
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I don’t know which is my favorite: the eggs themselves or the story behind the eggs (and the way it was told, which only you could do, Diana).
To this day, though most people I know turn their noses up at the smell of vinegar, I always associate it with the excitement and creativity of painting Easter eggs as a young boy with my mom.
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Same here, Erik — vinegar means Easter-egg painting!
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That’s so cool. Not for me, since we didn’t dye eggs, but I love that. Vinegar just reminds me of salad dressing. Lol
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Salad! Also good in a different way.
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Ha ha ha.
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I probably have that reaction to turpentine, Erik, a staple in the home of an oil painter. I love it that vinegar reminds you of painting eggs with your mom. How sweet. And thanks for browsing my egg collection. It’s kind of special that I have a few older than me. 🙂 Great memories. Thanks for dropping by, Erik. Hugs.
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Absolutely stunning, all. Beautiful post, Diana.
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Thanks so much for the kind comment, Jeff. It was my pleasure to pull these out of storage and share a bunch of memories. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Happy Writing!
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You’re most welcome, Diana. Always. The holiday was grand, thank you. Happy weekend!
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How beautiful and amazing. I can remember my mom blowing out Easter Eggs. It’s a huge job. And what a lovely legacy.
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Thanks for the kind comment, Sandra. I remember helping my mom and my cheeks getting sore. Lol. I’m glad you have the same memories of Easter eggs, and hope you had a lovely holiday. Hugs.
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Amazing, Diana! The eggs and the tradition are a wonderful thing.
It is quite special that you have preserved some of these eggs/shells/more delicate than the finest china.
My mother painted Easter Eggs, in the traditional patterns of Poland.
I was in awe of her ability to create such intricate geometric designs, on such a small oval surface.
She used the lost wax w/ dye technique. (batik)
None have been saved.
Thank you for this post and reminding me of some wonderfulness I had almost forgotten!
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I think one of the eggs in my bunch was “batiked,” Resa, (second row left in the gallery). But I’m not sure. I’m so glad that the post brought back memories of your grandmother’s eggs. A few other comments have mentioned the eggs from Eastern European nations – what a lovely tradition. I’m sorry to hear that you don’t have any left, but they sure do break easily. Thanks for the visit, my friend. ❤ ❤ ❤
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xoxoxo
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You are blessed with your memories and these Easter eggs! They are amazing!
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Thanks so much for dropping by, Linda. Those were special events from my childhood that I remember well. I hope you had a beautiful Easter and wish you much lasting joy. ❤
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We did have a lovely Easter! I hope you did as well..:)
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These are beautiful, Diana! And what a legacy and so many fond memories.
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Thank you, Mark. It was one of those annual events that stuck in my mind, and having the eggs to browse brings it all back. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Hope you had a lovely Easter and wish you a beautiful day. 😀
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I love that sentiment, Diana: “Not all of the eggs were beautiful, but all of them were precious.” Hope you made new memories to cherish this Easter…
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We don’t celebrate Easter, Sean, but I do have fond memories of those time. And yes, I have a few messy, blotchy eggs in my collection that my brothers and I made. Those are special too. Thanks for the visit and have a lovely day, my friend. 😀
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No, I don’t celebrate Easter, either, Diana, but I enjoy its secular trappings/customs — colored eggs and jellybeans and chocolate bunnies — as a harbinger of spring, same as I enjoy Christmas for its warm associations with the winter solstice. I enjoy all holidays for the texture they bring to “ordinary, everyday life”!
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Couldn’t have said it better. 🙂
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What a legacy of Easter eggs, Diana! I could visualize the festivity. I hope your grandparents used the egg yokes and white to make lots of cookies and muffins to entertain the neighbors who came to paint the 100 eggs. The 40 eggs you’ve kept are beautiful and precious! Thank you for sharing your legacy with us! ❤
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I don’t recall lots and lots of eggs salad and scrambled eggs, but I’m sure we ate every one (waste not, want not). Lol. Thanks so much for the visit, Miriam. We broke many of the eggs before we started packing them well. I’m so glad I had some to share. Hugs, my friend, and I hope you had a wonderful Easter. ❤
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When I looked at the photos of your eggs, I thought of how delicate they are, Diana! My brother gave me a set of four thin, narrow, and tall ( 1 foot) painted ceramic vases. They’re thinner than egg shells. I broke one when moving it around. Thankfully it was not shattered, so I glued it back with no trace of glue. ❤
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Oh, how cool. Those vases sound gorgeous, and very delicate. I know how that goes. You just wince when you hear that crack! I’m glad you were able to repair it without a trace of glue.
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Repairing the ceramics is tricky. Hubby broke one of my fairies and glued the pieces back but I could see a thick line of glue. 😑😕
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These are so beautiful and put my dyed eggs to shame. In fact when I did this with my kids we only used pink and blue and purple dye. My artistic side did not come out. But oh how I’d like to try this now. These are treasures to pass on to your grandson Diana!
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Yes, do it, Pam. Put the year on it, and one day they’ll be beautiful gifts for your loved ones. ❤ I shared the post with my mom the other day, and she was overjoyed. Thanks for the visit and Happy Creativity!
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What precious, wonderful memories. And those eggs are stunning. Thank you for sharing this legacy with us.
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Thanks for the kind comment, Damyanti. I enjoyed rummaging through the box and remembering those fun days. Have a wonderful week, my friend. 😀
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What an amazing Easter legacy, Diana! Those eggs are works of art. I used to dye eggs with my grandma, but when it came to hiding them, we opted for the plastic ones you filled with candy. I would love to do this again, just need some grandkids!
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Thanks for the visit, Teri. You don’t need grandchildren for these. Lol. I was thinking of doing one myself this year, just to keep the legacy going. And those plastic ones filled with candy… I used to love hunting for those! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and wish you a lovely week!
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Those eggs are amazing! You have some very talented relatives. Makes me feel a bit lazy for just dunking my Easter eggs in a cup of dye and calling it a day….LOL!
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Lol. Dunking in dye is what I did with my kids, Ann. But my family was totally into the painting and having everyone join in. I have good memories of those times. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you had a wonderful Easter. 🙂
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How awesome…thanks for sharing!! All are beautiful and I can’t wrap my head around the intricacy of the artwork!
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Thanks so much for the visit, Kirt. This was a big event at our house and people got real serious about it. Lol. I’m so glad you enjoyed the Easter eggs, and I hope your Easter was filled with joy. 🙂
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Those are so beautiful, and so wonderful that you’ve kept them. One of my favourite memories is helping my gran wrap eggs in onion skin to boil. The shells were so interesting when they were done–kind of like dark marble!
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Oh, that’s cool. I’ve never heard of that, Suzanne. Aren’t grandmothers awesome?! My grandmother liked to use the natural egg color for her eggs, while some painters would completely cover the egg with a color. I have a few blotchy ones that my brothers and I made. Lol. Thanks for the visit and sharing your experience. I hope you had a lovely Easter. ❤
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Yes, lots of good family time. Hope yours was lovely too:-)
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A quiet day of working on a new book trailer. 🙂
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Can’t wait to see it!
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The files are all so big that the internet keeps crashing. Ugh. So going. 😀
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Can you compress them?
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I have to reduce the size of the images. Not hard, just time consuming. The file is about 101 MB as this point. My internet is balking. I should just store in on my laptop until it’s finished. Sigh.
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What fantastic memories, Diana, and what a fantastic event for the neighborhood. I love how creative the painted eggs are, and the fact that you have all those treasures from so many decades, is something to cherish. A beautiful share!
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Thanks for the kind comment, Mae. It was a wonderful community event, started before I was born, so it was a while before I participated. None of these are mine, though I do have a few blobbed messes in my collection. Lol. I hope you had a wonderful Easter. ❤
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What a wonderful idea to have the community share this tradition with your family, Diana. And those eggs – stunning!
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Thanks for the visit, Teri I was pretty young, so my mom and grandmother get all the credit. It was fascinating to be a part of. Many of the eggs didn’t survive, but I love having a few cartons to enjoy to this day. Hope you had a wonderful Easter. Have a great week. 🙂
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What a beautiful legacy, Diana! Thank you for sharing these precious eggs and your memories with us. 🙂
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Yvette. I had fun thinking back on those times – a good reason for hanging onto these keepsakes. I hope you had a lovely holiday. Have a gorgeous week. ❤
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Oh wow, Diana! What fondest memories of your childhood, and the precious Easter creations! Simply beautiful. ❤
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Thanks, Khaya. I do have fond memories of those Easters and the way it was a time of community and celebration even if we didn’t do the religious part. I’m so glad you enjoyed the painted eggs. Hugs. Have a beautiful day. ❤
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Those eggs are so beautiful 😍. Happy Easter!
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Thanks, Tessa. I’m glad you enjoyed them. I hope you had a wonderful Sunday and got to spend some time with the girls. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
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What a glorious legacy, and what a heartwarming memory. Your painted Easter Eggs are just beautiful. This is how you teach children to share and love. -huge hugs-
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I haven’t done this in so long, but it’s made me think about starting up the tradition again. Never too late. 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by. I hope you had a lovely weekend, my friend. Have a wonderful day and Happy Creativity!
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-grin- You are honour bound to keep this tradition alive! Think of all the kids in the family. And all the omelettes you’ll make. 😉
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We only have one grandchild, Tornado Boy. Imagine him with delicate eggs! But it would be fun for the adults too. 🙂
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lol – what a perfect way to get him to slow down. 😀
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I have fond memories of painting eggs. Your collection is a treasure. Happy Easter, Diana.
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Thanks for the visit and the kind comment, Jennie. I hope your Easter was marvelous, and wish you a lovely week ahead. 🙂
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Best to you, Diana! 😍
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I love the idea of a community gathering like this, Diana! It must have taken hours to blow a hundred eggs! I think I’ve mentioned my mom used to do eggery (basically the same premise, except she’d cut doors in the egg and create scenes inside the eggs) and I still have a couple of them- it’s amazing art!
Happy Easter to you and your family ❤
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I love miniatures of all kinds. Can you post some pics?
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Oh do, Jacquie. That would be cool. 🙂
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I second that. 🙂
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I’ll try to do a post about them soon 🙂
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Excellent. Thank you. 🙂
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No pressure. Lol Well, maybe a little. Ha ha.
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We all helped empty those eggs. I remember my cheeks hurting (like blowing up balloons). Ha ha. That’s so cool that your mom made little scenes inside egg shells. I’m so glad you still have those. What a lovely keepsake. Take good care of them. I hope you have a wonderful Easter. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Happy Easter Diana. Thanks for sharing this little part of nostalgia from your family. What a beautiful legacy to have all those eggs and their memories passed down to you. ❤
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Thanks for stopping by, Debby. I like the way heirlooms like these evoke memories. I don’t celebrate Easter, but the holiday is still special to me. I hope you had a lovely Sunday and wish you a beautiful week. Hugs. ❤
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Thank you my friend. Heirlooms indeed! It was a peaceful day, thank you. Happy new week to you too. ❤
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😀
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Thank you 🙏😊
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I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for the visit!
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Wow and Wow, Diana. Simply loved your post on these fantastic Easter Eggs. Brings back memories of grandparents and family and friends. Happy Easter to you and to your family.
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Thank you, Kamal. I’m so glad you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane. I had a lot of fun digging these out and musing over them again. I hope you had a wonderful Sunday full of peace. ❤
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You are always welcome dear Diana. Happy Sunday to you too.
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Wow Diana, no wonder you are so cool! 😍 Thank you for sharing your creative family! 💗
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Ha! Thanks for stopping by, Ka. I’m glad you enjoyed the eggs and the peek into my past. Lol. Wishing you a lovely day, and if you celebrate Easter, Happy Easter! ❤
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