Making Pysanki

Around easter time, I get the urge to haul out the Pysanki supplies and subject friends, family and aquaintances to the joy of wax resist egg dying. This year, I finally remembered to get photos of the process so I can inflict it on everyone!
First - you need the right tools. Empty egg shells, permanent pysanki dyes (this year's colors of choice: truquoise, scarlet and yellow), protection for your table (like my ugly and cheap blue table cloth), and a kitska - a metal drawing tool that holds the wax. Here you can see it being heated over a flame - that allows the wax to flow freely.








Next - plan your design. Pencils are helpful. Rubber bands can help give you nice straight lines.









Now for the wax resist process. Anything you put wax on will stay the color it is now.
White:









Then you dye it - light colors first.
Blue:












And add more wax and dye again.
Red:









If your colors are close in value, you can sometimes get them to dye combination colors. This year we managed a nice purple:









Finally, Melt off the wax and polish the egg. Be careful not to burn anything!
Isn't it beautiful?