Easter Egg Workshops with Tjasa Sprague

Celebrate Spring and the Easter season with a rare opportunity to learn a time-honored craft. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will present two Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional workshops on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and again from  12:30 to 2:30 p.m. This Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beautifully-decorated eggs has been passed down for generations. Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague, who will lead the workshop, learned the technique many…… years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother, Maria Krofta. The technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which offer a residue-free shell surface. The Slavic egg is a wax resistant technique which employs aniline dye later in the process. The decorating begins with drawing on the egg with wax, followed by immersion in the dye, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desired. The eggs are uncooked and are “blown” out after the decorating has been completed. These beautiful eggs may be displayed, when stored carefully, for an indefinite number of years. The fee for the workshop is $25 non-member and $20 for members. Children should be at least 12 years of age. Reservations are recommended as workshop size is limited. For more information or reservations, contact Ventfort Hall at 413-637-3206. PRICE: $25 non-member; $20 member