Golden Creations

An Age-old Method
Contributor Susan Zizza Maguire created exquisite designs with the pysanky method of Ukrainian egg decorating. She used a kit, available at most crafts stores during spring, to make her own seaworthy version of the ancient art form. The process uses melted beeswax to cover portions of the eggshell in a design of the artist's choosing. The egg is then dipped in various colors of special Ukrainian dye, starting with the lightest shade. More wax is applied between the dying to produce intricate patterns such as a seashell, mermaid, or turtle. For your own Ukrainian Easter egg kit, visit ukrainianegg.com.

A Star-studded Golden Egg
The finder of this shiny egg receives a prize, but making it can be just as rewarding. Stylist Kathy Calnen bought all of her supplies at a crafts store, including light-blue and deep-turquoise sea glass. After painting the egg-shaped form blue, Kathy glued sea glass onto it with a glue gun, leaving a strip around the middle. She then wrapped the egg with raffia and ribbon and glued a small starfish, also available at crafts stores, in the center.

All That Glitters
For ocean-colored eggs that shimmer, Kathy suggests using basic dyes available at grocery stores, along with a little glitter. She chose Paas dye in marine hues for some eggs, but also rubbed Wilton food coloring in rich greens and blues onto the eggshells. After the dye dried, she brushed on colored glitter with glue.

A Tisket, a Tasket, a New Easter Basket
Forget the customary pastel wicker or plastic numbers. Order inexpensive reproductions of Nantucket lightship baskets from nantucketer.com, one of the island's online gift stores, or call 877/222-7658. You can also find baskets at the Christmas Tree Shops, throughout New England; for store locations, visit www.christmastreeshops.com. Or opt for vintage-looking sand pails, available at toys2wish4.com/beachtoys.html. Use raffia to cushion the eggs instead of typical plastic "grass," and decorate these nautical containers with ribbon or shells.