Ursula spent hundreds of hours creating intricate designs
Ursula specialized in the intricate scratch egg decorating technique, which she had practiced since she was a little girl using natural dyes. In a given year, she would etch up to 10 dozen eggs between New Year’s and Easter – often spending up to four hours on a design.
For 37 years, she taught thousands at workshops
From 1967 through 2004, Ursula and her family have conducted Easter egg decorating workshops teaching thousands at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, where Ursula held the position of Director of Folk Art for many years. They also have taught how to etch these eggs locally in Michigan, as well as locations diverse as Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and California.
Ursula Astras’ work and exhibitions have been extensively featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Sun Times, the Folklife Center News (Library of Congress), the Grand Rapids Press and the Lithuanian daily, Draugas, and other publications.
View Ursula’s online Lithuanian Easter egg gallery
See examples of Ursula’s Lithuanian Easter egg gallery below.
Learn how to dye and etch Lithuanian designs on your own Easter eggs
If you or your organization are interested in this centuries-old tradition, contact us today for more information about learning from the Astras family how to dye and etch Lithuanian designs on your own Easter eggs. Read more at Folk Art Workshops. Connect with your global culture.