Being creative is about solving small problems when you are making something new no one has made it before, at least they haven’t made it like you. Should I use this colour next to this one? What about the feel of this texture of wool? Does this thing photobomb the story I am telling here?
In this case, I had dyed the eggs, made the nest and photographed it. These things are done long before the actual workshop because they need to have time to be out in the world to see who would like to come along to the workshop to make them.
But my problem was that I wasn’t sure how I should preserve the eggs. Google gave me a wide variety of answers. I even looked at the Egg Board. However, I kept remembering that Mom had eggs that were decades old and they had not had a hole punched in them.
In high school when we made Ukrainian eggs –we syringed them out with long needles that for years my Dad, a pharmacist, would give the art teacher. Sometimes there would be tears from a student because the egg she had been working on for many classes had burst in this final step. Devastating. I didn’t want this for one of the people in my workshop, plus I don’t know about using syringes if I could even get any (without the previously mentioned pharmacist).
I happened to mention my conundrum to my cousin. I think of her as a loving creative person who knits and arranges flowers but others in Copenhagen would think of as their dentist. She told me what she has done with eggs in the past.
A couple of days later she sent me an Instagram reel of a lovely idea with eggs that had an opening at the top, and were glued together to make a large wreath of sorts with each egg holding water and fresh spring flowers all placed inside a wreath.
Ideas. It is wonderful when ideas are shared and they lead to other ideas.
This reel gave me an idea.
For the pop up last weekend I made some smaller versions. I have to say- I LOVE them! I think that they are SO adorable. And yes omelettes have been on the menu here as a result.
I haven’t had good luck using my glue gun – the last time burning my finger—and now in writing this to you, I can’t even remember what I was making! But in the same storage bag was a low temperature glue gun…I must have gotten that when the children were young. This time I used the “low temperature” one for me, but also because I thought that the empty fragile egg would be better with that. Mostly it worked great. Although a few of the seams broke in transport to the pop up I participated in last Saturday. The rest stayed solidly in place and I couldn’t believe how strong they are even when they are full of water and flowers.
What am I doing about the eggs for the workshop at Bilston? I will let the participants decide. I am leaving mine as they are- they don’t smell, I’ve had them for 4 weeks. Now if we have an earthquake, ( I just knocked on wood) and they fall to the floor and break, I think they will smell. But I’m going to experiment and leave them to harden inside.
I know I’ve just told you about preserving eggs, workshop prep and a pop-up. But really I think this a story about how, when you have someone who gets you, and is herself creative, how it makes us feel so seen.
When someone thinks of you and carries on the conversation and indeed adds to it. Not in a “I know better” or “here, I’ll solve a problem you didn’t ask for help with” way. But more like: “I was thinking of you” or “I know that you have this on your mind and thought you would appreciate this kind of beauty.”
Charlotte and I share an interest in ideas especially about natural materials. We have the same esthetic. I am always inspired by the beauty she creates in the world.
Here is the link to the reel that Charlotte sent along. I don’t know if this woman is the originator of this idea, but she shows it so well here:
If you are interested in making these natural dyed eggs and learning to make a woven wreath like this one with a technique that I believe to be original, please check this out and come to join us at Bilston Creek Farm on the Saturday of the Easter long weekend.
Here is the link to the workshop at Bilston Creek Farm if you are interested
I wish you peace on your path today,
Lise-Lotte