The Hafford branch of the Lakeland Regional Library held a Ukrainian Easter egg (pysanky) decorating workshop after school for children aged five to 11 years. Classes began March 6 and were held weekly until Easter. Students worked week by week, step by step under the guidance of librarian Carol Herman, who is also an experienced pysanka designer.

Six youth were in attendance March 28 to work on their “eggs in progress”. The elementary students used a white wax crayon to draw patterns on the raw eggs before dying them beautiful colours. They also applied stickers before placing them in dye and later removed them to reveal shaped colourful spots.

The older youth used the kitska to mark their imaginative but symbolic pattern onto the raw eggs. The kitska is a unique needle-like instrument used to apply heated wax onto the surface of the egg. A pattern is drawn on each time the egg is placed in dye, this is how the series of colourful lines and pictures evolve.

Carol Herman has the natural ability to instruct students of all ages. She is able to earn her students’ respect and in turn release each child’s artistic ability.

Students were able to take home their finished products in time for Easter.