Sugar Craft

Along with doll quilt mania at my house, there's been some fun spring crafting too.  We're making a few more decorations for our egg tree, using this idea from Martha.  (Stay with the video for awhile, she talks about magnets first, then demonstrates the tissue-paper egg craft.)  And with Easter right around the corner, my attention has turned to other 'sweet things' in a more literal sense.  For instance, this hollow sugar egg, the vestige of Victoriana at it's finest, was made over twenty years ago by my dear cousin, Shirley.  She made them on occasion (before her eight children arrived), and when she gave me this, I was completely awe-struck.  Actually, I still am, when every year, I carefully remove it from it's tissue paper wrappings and just stare at it.   These are also called 'panorama eggs' because there's usually a little scene inside, (mine has chicks and bunnies) all made from sugar, and it's entirely edible. (Her mushroom kills me! It's less than an inch tall. )  It's just the most beautiful little thing.  Years ago, her mother, my aunt Bev, passed down the skill and demonstrated the technique in her homey, small kitchen, which seemed simple enough at the time, but I've long forgotten how she did it, exactly.  It's just another one of those lovely arts that's become lost to most of us. (sigh) Which is why this is so special to me I guess.  Obviously I couldn't bear to part with my tiny crystal wonderland, much less eat it.  It's remarkable too, how long this fragile confection has lasted.  Only a little discoloration here and there.  I've kept it carefully wrapped in tissue paper and stored in a zippered basket tote, and bring it out once a year for display. And pray no one drops it.  Or the humidity gets too it.  Or varmints.  Homemade sugar eggs like this used to be more common, but not so much anymore, which is a shame because they are so magical to a child.  (Although, commercially made eggs can still be purchased from specialty shops like Blumchen and possibly, from sweet tooth, see more of her updated pix here.)  Or, I could try and make one from the kits and sugar molds here.  Although time is running out now, so maybe this is something to file away for next year. 

Comments

[Tracy]

What sugar-spun delight...I'm speechless, it all so pretty! Happy Easter to you & yours! Happy Days! :o)

[Tracy]

What sugar-spun delight...I'm speechless, it all so pretty! Happy Easter to you & yours! Happy Days! :o)

[Angela]

My mother would purchase an egg like this for me every year when I was a child. I had almost forgotten them. I never knew anyone made them at home. How very special, even though mine were commercially made, I could never eat them either -- they were just too precious. Thank you for sharing and for reminding me of a piece of springtime past.

[Elisabeth]

Hi Vicki-
I just ordered a few patterns and wanted to ask you an embroidery question. What is the stitch called that is used for the nursery rhyme quilt blocks? And also, do you know of a good online resource that shows how to do embroidery stitches? I know it's a really basic stitch, I'm just a beginner though so I pretty much have only backstitched, cross stitched and done french knots before. I'd also like to do some lettering embroidered on a quilt top and I think that would be the best stitch to use for that too.
Thanks!
Elisabeth
ps The doll quilts are all so adorable!

[Jill]

The was a candy shop in my hometown that made these panorama eggs every Easter. Each year my mom would buy one for each of us. Since we could look forward to getting another one the next year, we nibbled at the ones we received - after marvelling over them for a few weeks, of course!

[Shawn]

These are really not hard to make, funny, I just posted a tutorial today! A few items and you have the WOW effect! I tried to post a lot of of pictures...God Bless your week! Shawn <><

ME: Oh I'm so glad to know that someone is still making these! The tutorial is great, thank you for sharing it.

[JudyC]

I have one of those! Made with an old school friend and her mom about 30 years ago I think maybe more...I was about 15? maybe. It's pale yellow with green icing ripples and has the neatest bunny scene inside. My mom has it and displays it every year. They are amazing. It would be something fun to try and make again at this point. Thanks for the links!

[Rona]

Okay, now I have satisfied my sugar tooth.

[Pieces]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that stores these eggs for years. Mine was sent to my son when he was a toddler--he is 13 now. I still get it out every year and wonder if this is the last time. The colors are fading and looking very antique-like now.

[fanchon68]

Beautiful egg !!!

Happy Easter for you et God bless you !

[Kuky]

Wow people made these at home?! That's amazing! And wow your cousin had 8 kids?! ;)

[Betty]

What a delightful bit of sugar whimsy! I remember as a child peeking inside one of those eggs and it was purely magical. Happy Easter to you dear Vicki.

[Gypsy Purple-Chamara]

May you and your family have a blessed and happy Easter

[Darcy]

Magical is the perfect word to describe this egg! Happy Easter!

[Gayla]

Such a pretty egg. My friend made me one years ago. A lavendar beauty... I live in an area that is troubled by ants, so.... couldn't ever keep one... I love yours.

[biscuitbear]

Wow, this was made 20 years ago? Incredible! It's gorgeous and so intricate - can't imagine ever being able to make one!

[JudyC]

Vicki...I got my egg from my mom and thought you might like to pop over and take a peek at my blog to see it. It wasn't as I remembered at all...prettier!

Thanks for showing yours and reminding me about mine!

[Alicia P.]

Gorgeous. My mom made four of these and gave them to each of us yesterday and they are just fantastic. She, too, had made them twenty years ago, but we definitely don't have those anymore, so this was great.

[Amber]

I remember other kids having these when I was a kid and I remember thinking that they were So Weird. Like, really pretty, but kind of clumsy, because they were made of sugar. And then, too pretty to eat, but made of edibles? And then, edible, but too pretty to eat, and also, just plain sugar and would they even be good to eat?

BUT, I'm glad for the memories, I hadn't thought of them in ages. Now I look at them completely differently and think maybe they are kind of cool.

[Roxanne]

My mother used to make these for us about 30 years ago. Beautiful!

[Linda]

When I was a young girl (that makes it sound so long ago, doesn't it?) my favorite part of Easter was the panaromic sugar egg we'd get each year from a little candy shop in Lloyd Center in Portland (gee, I wish I could remember the name.) Every year now I tell myself I'm going to start making them (because the handmade ones are best of course.) This year it seemed just too much with a two-year-old helping, but I am optimistic for next year. Thanks for the link to the pans!

[rebekka]

Wow....that just really took me back. I had forgotten, entirely, about them. I am so glad you reminded me how precious they are!