Welcome to Eggsoticus - home of unique personalised decorated eggs of all sizes.

THE ART of WASHI

The exotic hand-painted wrapping papers from Japan are called Washi. Their usage goes far back in history to China and Taiwan prior to their arrival in Japan around the thirteenth century. The Japanese are a nation of givers and receivers of gifts for all sorts of occasions, including name days and religious festivals. They are beautifully designed and immaculately wrapped and given with great ceremony.

My interest in Washi started in 1999 when I visited our son and daughter-in-law who were living in Tokyo, I admired some beautifully decorated eggs in a basket and found that Shiralee had created them herself. Fortunately I returned with enough information to start work on my own. After some trial and error I found I could make pretty designs and patterns with these wonderfully versatile papers, glaze and create eggs that were exotic and beautiful. I experimented with all sorts of papers and incorporated decoupage and photography. However, I still find working with Washi paper the most exciting medium.

Buying Washi paper in England is difficult. The large sheets are expensive and hard to find. My first efforts consisted of Origami papers, which work well for small eggs, but can’t cope with the large ostrich eggs which I also wanted to decorate. Shiralee sent me some full sized Washi sheets from Japan and since then I have visited to Tokyo and was taken to one of the exclusive Washi paper warehouses where I was bowled over by the beauty, quality and quantities of these glorious hand painted papers, with their exquisite colourings, designs and soft natural finishes.

As well as using the Washi papers I use reproduction photographs of just about anything! I work with ostrich, goose, duck, chicken and tiny quail’s eggs. Each one is blown, thoroughly cleansed and dried before I insert weights for balance and sound and then seal them. My 'canvasses’ are then ready for decoration. The glazing, or varnishing of each egg takes many individual applications, rubbing down and smoothing during and after the hardening processes. When completed the eggs are virtually indestructible and will retain their colour and glow indefinitely. This art form requires infinite time and patience. The results are worth all the effort as each egg gives the greatest joy and satisfaction both during and after its creation.