Dying Eggs

Well. We have chickens so...we have lots of eggs. And we eat lots of eggs. And come Easter, we dye lots of eggs. Eggs eggs eggs.

These photos are actually from last year. Our eggs are green and brown so they made sort of interesting hues when dyed with the standard 6-colored 99-cent Paas egg dying kit.



Kind of softer more interesting shades I think. Which is fun. So if you are looking to mix it up a bit this year...try dying brown eggs instead.

I am thinking we might try some home-made dyes this year... Red cabbage? Onions?



And I am thinking we might even skip candy altogether this year. Is that horrible? Not that I'm opposed to sugar or anything...it just doesn't hold any meaning for me on Easter and we always buy too much. I am starting to think more about why we do the things we do on Holidays and how much of it is just because that is the way we did things growing up and how much is because it actually holds meaning for us. I love family traditions, especially ones that enrich the feelings and meanings surrounding special Holidays but I am realizing that as a mom, that can sometimes mean a lot of stress and busying about instead of focusing on what really matters to us. So I guess that's what I am trying to figure out.

What matters to us?

Chocolate bunnies? Maybe. Easter egg hunt? So fun for the kids. But one in our back yard (as opposed to many over several days) will probably suffice. Ham and cheesy potatoes and bunny cake? Could we celebrate without those? Would we want to? Jelly beans...I can live without them. Unless they are pear and Jelly Bellies.

What about you? What do you do to make Easter special for your family?

Felted Necklace

As I mentioned...my daughter's birthday falls on Easter this year. I am not totally sure how exactly I am going to combine the two yet-- Bunny Birthday Cake? Gifts inside eggs? Easter treats for gifts?

However it shakes out, I thought I better get busy doing a few things for the big day. This afternoon during nap time I made this little felted bead necklace. I thought about doing a little tutorial, but really...you don't need me to explain how to thread beads onto string.

What you will want to know is where to get felted beads. I used a combination of beads I made myself using a wet felting technique, and bought beads found here. I had planned to buy felted balls for a Christmas garland this past one, but it turns out I wasn't the only one with that bright idea and they sold out before I got around to buying them. So when they finally came back into stock recently, I snatched up a good mix (have a few more projects planned). At any rate... the size I used for the necklace are 1cm.

Also, I used a doll makers needle to thread the beads. Its basically just a fatter needle with a big eye, which works well with sturdier thread. And when I had threaded all my beads, I just tied the ends in a knot...nothing fancy to fasten it (after making sure the length would fit over her head first).

I love simple projects like this where the the colors are really the star. Natural fibers are great that way, because they accept dye so well...the possibilities to create whatever you envision are endless.

I can't wait to put this in her Birthday/Easter basket/gift!