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Pysanky For Ukraine
#32. Double Wedding Circle Pysanka - Irene Johnston - Thursday July 23rd - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
$0.00
Workshop Summary:
Have you ever drawn a circle without actually drawing a circle? This workshop explores the enchanting Double Wedding Circle Pysanky, inspired by the iconic quilt pattern symbolizing eternal love and commitment. The design is a beautiful blend of the Double Wedding Ring motif and the Tree of Life—both rich with meaning, representing unity, growth, and the endless cycles of life.
You’ll learn how to create these captivating circles using techniques inspired by Jane Pollak and YouTube lessons from Crystal Potthoff of “Prayerful Arts.” We’ll dive into the history behind the motifs, from ancient symbolism to their 20th-century revival in wedding quilts, and explore how the Tree of Life and interlocking rings beautifully intertwine on the surface of a pysanka.
In this hands-on class, you’ll:
- Receive an introduction to the Double Ring quilt pattern and its history
- Use watercolour pencils and guided steps to create the iconic arcs and circles
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Additional patterns and designs are added to the Participant’s individual Pysanky to continue with the Double Wedding Circle motif.
- Add your own colours, patterns, and finishing touches with plenty of inspiration from sample designs and a PowerPoint guide
- Reveal your finished pysanka with a heat gun, celebrating your unique take on these meaningful symbols
Let your imagination run wild as you explore a non-traditional style that celebrates love, life, and artistry. Open to all skill levels—no experience required!
Materials Provided:
- White chicken eggs with basic divisions
- Watercolour pencils to draw connecting lines
- Dyes for colouring
- Beeswax (for class use)
- PowerPoint presentation and printed handouts with sample patterns and inspiration
- Heat gun for finishing your pysanka
Please Bring:
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One or two thicker tipped electric kistky - medium or heavy is probably best to get the hang of this technique.
- Extra eggs if you'd like
- Beeswax
Maximum 25 students
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Open to all skill levels
Workshop Fee: $40 CAD per person
Please bring $40 CAD in cash, placed in an envelope with your name and the instructor’s name written on it, to the start of class.
About Irene:
Irene uses her Ukrainian heritage for creative inspiration. HerPysanky are influenced not only by traditional designs of ancient Ukrainian mystical and Christian symbolism but alsopatterns from nature and more modern motifs from the Diaspora.Each design is hand-drawn with melted beeswax which creates a one-of-a-kind piece and the attention to the smallest detail is what makes Irene’s ornate patterned Pysanky unique. Using Aniline dyes creates the layers of colours.
Although Irene enjoys many creative pursuits, like creative writing and storytelling, her true passion is Pysanky. She has been a Vendor at several Ukrainian festivals (Ottawa, Mississauga, Scarborough, Toronto, Oshawa, Oakville) and, with her daughter Melanie, was an Artisan at one of North America’s largest handmade craft markets - the One Of A Kind Craft Show in Toronto in 2023 and 2024. Most recently in July 2025, they travelled to the Vegreville Pysanka Festival in Alberta where Irene’s displays of Pysanky won 1stand 2nd prizes in the Pysanka Writing Contest.
Besides the wax resist method of writing her Pysanky, Irene’s mastery of the art also includes other techniques, such as, sgrafitto, etched, carved, engraved, silk dyed and chiyogami wrapped.Her family has been creating Pysanky for five generations, and Irene is proud to continue the artistic legacy andaims to share her Ukrainian heritage with everyone to keep the ancient art of creating Pysanky alive and thriving.