Sunday, April 12, 2009

Natural Dyed Easter Eggs


There are so many lovely ways to dye Easter eggs! I love the natural look of these eggs that I found at long ago on a website that no longer exists. I took a walk around my garden and found a few crocus and dwarf iris blooms and also cut some fronds of Italian parsley.  Then I collected all the red and yellow onion skins I could find. You can see the pattern of the parsley leaf in the egg above.


I held the bits of flower or parsley in place on each egg and carefully placed onion skins around each one. I wasn't too careful to make sure the entire egg was covered with onion skin. Then I wrapped each 'package' with cut sections of old nylon panty hose and tied them with kitchen string. (Next time I will use white muslin or cheese cloth as the color from the stockings dyed onto the eggs too).

Then, I filled a large pan with water, just to cover the eggs, added a large splash of vinegar (maybe 1/4 cup) to the pot to help the colors set.  The water was brought to a boil, then lowered.  I simmered them in the water for about 15-20 minutes.  I removed them from the hot water and put them into a bowl of ice water for about 5 minutes.  Then I removed the wrapping.


I was delighted with the results!  Each member of the family will have a small glass basket of eggs at their place setting today!

17 comments:

  1. Very pretty! They came out so nice and your table with look beautiful with each of the glass baskets!

    Happy Easter, Susan, to you and your family!

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  2. I've been wanting to try that -- perhaps next year.

    Happy Easter

    Martha

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  3. How clever, Susan. And they look lovely in the glass baskets.

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  4. Really cool eggs Susan! I remember my grandmother telling me the things they used to use to dye eggs in the "old days". Onion skins was one of them! I'd love to try these too.

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  5. We are so funny in trying out similar things:) Yours worked much better! They are glorious!
    I tried the silk tie ones.. turns out they were faux silk ties..My eggs stayed the same:(

    Happy Easter!

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  6. Very pretty Susan! I love how you put them in glass baskets to incorporate them in your table setting.

    Happy Easter, Susan, to you and your family!

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  7. How fun it is to come back and catch up reading your wonderful posts! I loved each and every one...the devilish chicks (too cute), the birthday cake (sounds like a wonderful cake for a birthday tradition) and these beautiful eggs. How perfectly creative and you are right...they have such a natural look. I love how they displayed for easter dinner in those cute baskets as well.
    Wishing you and your family belated Easter greetings.

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  8. Susan, I love the look of your eggs ~ I remember Sunset Magazine doing something very similar when I was a newlywed (long time ago!) I've never tried it this way, but you've provided great inspiration, and beautifully photographed, as always.

    Thank you, and I hope you and your (growing family) :) are enjoying a wonderful Easter celebration. xo~m.

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  9. Very lovely, Susan, I've been away and its so nice to come back at Easter time to see all the pretty and creative ideas!

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  10. Susan - they turned out beautiful, I love your little glass baskets! Wht a great way to decorate your place settings!

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  11. Happy Easter, Susan ... They eggs are gorgeous ... I love the earthiness and natural look of your eggs.

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  12. Your Easter eggs are beautiful, Susan, and what a lovely gift for your family. I love the subtle earth tones.

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  13. Savouring Time in the Kitchen,

    Happy Easter,

    Marjorie.

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  14. What a beautiful effect you achieved on those Easter eggs. One of these days I'll remember to try that technique.

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  15. They look beautiful..what an interesting technique. Your table looks so pretty..hats off to you! :)

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