Rita Hill visited Angie Wright to learn some of the finer points of egg decorating. Angie runs an egg decorating business from her duck farm at Oakville, New South Wales. Using a few simple techniques, Angie showed Rita how to make some stylish, low fat gifts for Easter.

Marbling

You can create a marbled effect on an eggshell using quick drying, gloss enamel paint, which comes in a wide range of colours.

You will need:

1 chicken or duck eggshell, blown
1 barbecue skewer
2 elastic bands
1 teaspoon Borax
gloss enamel paint (at least 2 colours)
1 container, deep enough to submerge the egg completely
water
toothpicks

Step by step instructions

1. First blow the egg. Use a pin to make a small hole in each end. Insert the pin into one of the holes and stir to break up the yolk. Wipe the outside of the shell clean. Blow into the hole at the top as hard as you can, and the contents of the shell will be expelled from the hole at the bottom.

2. Fill the container with enough water to submerge the egg. Add the Borax, stir and leave for 5-10 minutes.

3. Wrap an elastic band around the skewer. Push the egg onto the skewer as far as the elastic band, then use a second elastic band to hold it firmly in place.

4. Use toothpicks to add a small amount of paint to the water. Over this base coat, add a second colour. Create a pattern by drawing the toothpick through the water. (Tip: work quickly, before the paint spreads out and disappears.)

5. Dip the egg into the paint/water, twisting it as you go. As the pattern emerges, blow quickly around the top of the egg.

6. Remove from the water immediately and allow to dry.

Egg-in-wrap

1 chicken egg, whole or blown
1 sleeve (available from Angie's Eggs)
boiling water

1. Place the sleeve over the egg.

2. Place on a spoon and lower into boiling water. Leave for about 10 seconds.

3. When the sleeve clings to the egg, remove from the water.

4. Allow to cool. (Note: eggs remain completely edible.)

Further information

Angie's Eggs
3 Mountain View Close
Oakville NSW 2765
Phone: (02) 4577 7441
Fax: (02) 4577 5415

Angie has a range of egg decorating supplies including kits for beginners from $10, egg-in-wrap sleeves in 3 different designs, braids, books and egg stands. Catalogues and mail order available.

Copyright CTC Productions 2002