Maybe it's a little early to discuss Easter eggs...

[Jane in NC]

but I just ran across this article on the use of natural dyes. It should have occurred to me that beets would produce a much more beautiful red than fake dye!

 

Secondly, it is never too early to consider ordering your Pysanky supplies! No, I am not the owner (or related to the owner) of the Ukranian Gift Shop (here)--just a satisfied customer. You can learn more about Pysanky at their website.

 

Jane

[In The Great White North]

We have done the onion skins (start saving them now) and they work well. Boil the onion skins the night before and let them set overnight. We put a small leaf on the egg, held in place with thread, and boil the eggs in the onion skins.

 

I've tried beets and blueberries, with vinegar, but the color didn't stick. YMMV

Edited February 25, 2010 by In The Great White North

[Orthodox6]

Thank you for the article link. I'll study it for more ideas.

 

Any time that I have used beets, the eggs turn out brown-purple. No red at all !

 

We make our pysanky knock-offs using this product:

http://www.egg-in-wrap.com/egginwrap.asp

[ProudGrandma]

I've tried beets and blueberries, with vinegar, but the color didn't stick. YMMV

 

bummer...

[JillZ]

but I just ran across this article on the use of natural dyes. It should have occurred to me that beets would produce a much more beautiful red than fake dye!

 

 

Those are beautiful eggs! But I do want to point out that there is no such thing as "fake dye." Dyes are made from certain types of molecules, whether they occur in a beet or occur in a bottle of food coloring. The chemistry works exactly the same.

[Orthodox6]

Poster was using the term in the sense that most people do, people who dislike the use of "artificial colours" (as in "food colouring"). We all call such dyes "fake colours" to indicate our disdain. Doesn't relate to our knowledge of the chemical process ! :)

 

Those are beautiful eggs! But I do want to point out that there is no such thing as "fake dye." Dyes are made from certain types of molecules, whether they occur in a beet or occur in a bottle of food coloring. The chemistry works exactly the same.