Lithuanian Christmas tree features Ursula Astras’ handmade ornaments Although all of our folk art workshops for this year were cancelled due to the Corona virus stay at home orders, Frederik Meijer Gardens was able to open its annual Metro Health Christmas and Holiday Traditions exhibition. Meijer Gardens’ theme this year focuses on the handcrafted symbols of beloved holiday … [Read more...]
Teachers Learn How to Etch Easter Eggs
Lithuanian Educational Council of the US teachers take Folk Art Classes at Camp Dainava Donatas Astras conducted Egg Decorating workshops for the Lithuanian Educational Council of the US at Camp Dainava in August 2019. During Sendraugiu Week at Camp Dainava, which included families, seniors and teachers, Don taught the seniors and teachers, how to etch Easter eggs. The teachers, … [Read more...]
Ateitininkai Make Straw Ornaments
Summer 2017 Workshop at Franciscan Guest House at Kennebunk Monika Sabalis of the Ateitis Foundation invited Don and Kathy Astras to participate in the Ateitininku Sendraugiu Savaite to make straw ornaments at the Franciscan Guest House in Kennebunk, Maine. In their workshop on August 9, 2017, Don and Kathy taught how to make these beautiful, Lithuanian straw Christmas ornaments. In … [Read more...]
Campers Create Straw and Egg Art at Dainava
Celebrate Christmas and Easter Traditions: Šiaudinukai and Margučiai Imsre Sabaliunas-Bruzgiene, Viktoras Juska and Donatas Astras taught 64 of the older boys and girls (12 to 16 year-olds) how to make straw Christmas ornaments and etch Easter eggs at Camp Dainava. In preparation the night before, Imsre, Vic and Don tidied up the classroom and added plastic tablecloths and … [Read more...]
Easter Egg Decorating Workshop at Balzekas Museum March 25, 2017
Learn Traditional Lithuanian Easter Egg Decorating (Margučiai) Please join us at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture for a Traditional Lithuanian Easter Egg Decorating Workshop to learn the ancient art of etching eggs or margučiai. This annual workshop had been conducted by Ursula Astras for 37 years. Now the Astras family returns to show the secrets of one of … [Read more...]