Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

Tea eggs - hard boiled eggs cracked and soaked in spiced tea and soya sauce  stteping liquid.  Easter eggs , also called  Paschal eggs , are  decorated   eggs  that are usually used as gifts on the occasion of  Easter .  The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs wrapped in colourful  foil , hand-carved wooden eggs, or plastic eggs filled with  confectionery  such as  chocolate . Although eggs, in general, were a traditional symbol of fertility and rebirth,    Christians also  say Easter eggs symbolize the  empty tomb  of  Jesus , from which Jesus  resurrected . http://discovergreece.info/the-greek-tradition-of-the-red-easter-eggs/ In addition, one ancient tradition was the staining of Easter eggs with the colour red "in memory of the  blood of Christ , shed as at that time of his crucifixion."    T...

Tea eggs  It is actually Good Friday here as I write this , but I did make these tea eggs last night when it was still Thursday. These are not as colourful and shiny as Easter eggs from the shops, but I really love their simplicity, and the subtle colours of the "cracked" patterns. And they taste good!  Here is a recipe - please note all quantities are approximate!  1. Boil eggs slowly until they are hard boiled . Cool the eggs and when they are cool, crack the shells using the back of a teaspoon. Leave the cracked shells on the eggs.  2. Prepare the steeping liquid. For every three cups of water, add about a tablespoon of  dark soya sauce, and 2 tablespoons of black tea leaves ( you can use tea bags - this would probably be the equivalent of 8 tea bags?) . To add favour, I add some cinnamon, lemon or orange rind and 2-3 star anise. You could also add a pinch of salt,but I think the soya sauce is quite salty enough. Bring the steeping liquid to the ...

With Easter and Anzac Day making the next weekend a five day holiday, it is a great opportunity for  a family "get together ". We will have a house full of relatives, so we are all looking for a special time with my mother, niece and her partner and of course our own children and grandchildren. How cute is this Easter card made by our grandson? My mother has been with us for a week, and has been very busy making "Easter" eggs - aren't they beautiful ?  And  we have both been making felted eggs as the photo shows. I have also just finished some little art dolls ... This little serene green goddess symbolises the peace I wish everyone for Easter... If you celebrate Easter, best wishes for a blessed and happy Easter and  I hope Anzac Day is a special day for all Australians.

These extraordinary Easter Eggs have  so  much to recommend them -  handmade, non-fattening, safe for children, quick and cheap to produce, lots of leftover bits and pieces are used. I have really enjoyed making these and I was so happy with the finished products. These eggs start with a plastic filler, with a bell inside to make them "rattle", and then  they are covered with wool roving and wrapped with woollen yarn. The wrapped " egg" is then wet felted and  surface embroidered for decoration. Here are the raw materials Little fillable plastic egg shapes from a bargain shop ( 8 for $2)  Little bells (leftover from Christmas projects ) This packet  is one I bought today - not exactly what I used before but as they were  25 for $2 ....)   Scraps of wool roving ( leftover from other felting projects) Scraps of woollen yarn.( leftover from knitting and crochet projects)   Lengths of embroidery thread , also leftover fr...