last year around this time I had so much fun playing with natural dyes and eggs using some leftover dye for fabrics too (there are photos and examples here)…
it was an exciting process and the eggs turned out so beautifully we did not have the heart to eat them all…
so we tucked a carton of eggs marked *2013* in the very back of our fridge (actually I did the egg tucking 😉 Mr Magpie knows by now to proceed with caution with an eye out for unexpected things in the fridge like homemade gelli plates and such not intended for eating)…
over time these hard boiled eggs will completely dry out and become “permanent” egg decos …
I got the idea to petrify eggs back in 2000 … last year I found a couple of those cartoons of eggs that were stashed out of sight on top of a tall cupboard in my art room…
I had heard that you could leave fresh eggs out undisturbed and over time they would dry up and could then be used for crafting …
I did try the natural plant and dye technique on the thirteen year old eggs above last year and it worked nicely when I weighted them down in the dye bath …
I am joining Elizabeth and Bleubeard to wish you a Happy T Day…
“When arguing with a stone an egg is always wrong.” ~African Proverb
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Brilliant. Patty. I love this idea. I’m bookmarking this for future reference if that’s all right. Julie Ann xxx
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They make such a beautiful Easter decoration Patty! xxx
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Hello Miss Patty, you do make the most beautiful Easter eggs I’ve ever seen, I loooooove all the natural elements you use, thanks for sharing them again, have a wonderful week, ((( BIG HUGS)))..
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Just brilliant Patty! FANTASTIC EGGS ! I did similiar natural dyed eggs about 25 years ago ( with teas and red beet juice) ..made that three seasons or so…but they didn’t never turn out sooo beautiful and how nice all ist decorated!
Beautiful!
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I do recall these from your posts. I adore them! They are the most beautiful eggs I’ve ever seen! Thank you for the daffodils, too! Spring! We’re getting there, here, and believe we’re turning the corner. 🙂 xo
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I’ve seen you do this before, and I’ve always been in awe. Mr. M must know someone, because where I shop, I asked for the excess onion skins, and they told me they weren’t allowed to give them out/away. Other stores package their onions in mesh bags. I’ve been saving mine, but I bet they never turn out as good as yours. You are a true inspiration.
Thanks for sharing this project for T today.
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Patty ,my dear, how fantastic that you can actually ,save fresh eggs out for years, and they will only dry up, and not rotten. I would have thought the last. And oh your eggs are such perfect little art works, both from nature and from your doings. I love the ferns and leaves you used, and the beautiful colours you acchieved, you have the loveliest spring decorations ,as I think they can easily saty out after Easter in those lovely colours.
Spring hugs and kiss-
Love,Dorthe
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the designs on your eggs are lovely. i didn’t realize you could keep boiled eggs like that. we always ate ours, but ours were never as pretty as these. yours are all definitely keepers 🙂
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I’ve kept a lot of science experiments in my fridge for years (not necessarily by intention) but never eggs for art! These are always so beautiful. When we dye eggs with our friends, Rick tends to dye his unboiled so he can use them for omelettes. A novel idea and rarely do they break. I’m a hardboiled girl! But I’ve never done eggs like these! They’re simply lovely.
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I just love your gorgeous eggs Patty!!! And I always come away from a post learning something new from you too. I had no idea you could petrify eggs!! For certain I’d have to put a BIG label if I left any in the fridge :):) Happy T day to you!
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Interesting. I would have thought they would rot if left to sit out. The dye technique is beautiful. Have a great week. Tammy
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Very interesting. I did not know any of this about eggs, I mean the petrify part, I too always thought they would rot and stink..
Thanks for sharing this and for stopping by this week.
Happy T-day, oh and I do like your cuppa too!
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Once again you amaze me with your beautiful creations. I’m even more amazed that you can remember eggs you tucked away so long ago, and that they just petrify. Who knew?
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oh those eggs are beautiful! not sure I would have the nerve to try ‘petrified’ eggs though…lol! happy T day…eggs-traodinary!
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Your Easter eggs look amazing. I especially love the ones with the imprint of the leaves. Very beautiful…
Happy T day
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Brilliant results. I didn’t know you could petrify eggs like that – very interesting.
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These are wonderful eggs and great photos again.
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Beautiful eggs. Like most everyone else, I had no idea eggs would just dry up over time. Haven’t dyed eggs in years but that may have to change.
Darla
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I love how you did your eggs. Fabulous!!! I didn’t know they would dry up and you could keep them. Fun idea!! Thanks for sharing that tidbit 🙂 ~Sophia
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I love this time of year and everyones unique perspectives on egg dying. I am happy to sit by and watch the parade of eggs as they go by for egg dying holds little to no interest for me. I am attracted to the natural ones you have provided here. They have a timeless quality about them.
Have a terrific day!!
~Dawn
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Wow 🙂 I did not know you could keep eggs like that! I learn something new every T day 🙂
I love the images transferred to the eggs–very pretty 🙂
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Very interesting post 🙂 I didn’t know you could keep eggs for so long. Your ‘art eggs’ are beautiful ! Enjoy your week, Shirleyx
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Seriously?? I had no idea you could petrify eggs like that. I suppose I’d try it and someone would come along, knock them down before the process was over and we’d smell rotten eggs for a year, ha! These are soooo pretty Patty!
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ohhh I did not know this about eggs!! I just always thought they got rotten:):)
These eggs look gorgeous by the way…..
I have petrified wood from Death Valley ,,,,now I will have to stash some eggs somewhere and in 10 years hope that they are not covered in mold:):)
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Your eggs are truly gorgeous! I had no idea that you could save/petrify hard cooked eggs. I made some Psyansky eggs years ago using fresh eggs that eventually dried out.
The forsythia and daffodils say spring to me! Lovely mug you are showing today, too!
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Your eggs are exquisite Patty. I didn’t know that about eggs. It’s lots easier than ‘blowing’ them.
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These eggs are so pretty, do you display them in glass bowls later? I think it is amusing that you have warning messages and that Mr. Magpie occasionally finds art in the fridge.
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Happy T-Day!
I can understand why you won’t eat those eggs! They turned out great! Beautiful! Good thing you have warning notes on things you keep for a LONG time. : )
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I tried leaving a comment earlier but my ipad and your site don’t like each other for some reason. I had said that my hubby would throw a fit if I had eggs hidden away for 13 years trying to petrify them. I’d have to hide them super well and then I’d likely forget that they even existed. 🙂
Your results are certainly beautiful!
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They look very lovely with the soft colours and the natur patterns on it. Its an old technique we use in Germany too. Too beautiful to eat. But its a silly idea to wait so long until you can decorate it.
Dear Greetings
Sabine
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You ARE a good egg!!!!
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Hello Patty! Beautiful eggs!! I had no idea you could do this with eggs, I bet a lot of people don’t know that. The designs on them are wonderful and I like calm colors of them too. Lovely photos as always!! Thanks for visiting me today, so good to see you again this week!
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Love learning something every day, never knew you could do that, and such pretty colors, nature not koolaid like. xox
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ha amazing patty…..13 yo eggs. who’
d have think..they look wonderful….
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I love your eggs, the patterns are so beautiful. I would never have thought of letting them just dry out! Hugs, Valerie
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These are delightful Patty x
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Wonderful results. Who would have thought that an egg could last so long.
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Well I’ve learned something new today. I had no clue that you could dry out eggs. Good thing Mr.Magpie knows not to try to eat anything suspicious – can you imagine the smell whilst those eggs were drying?
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