Margaret's Creations: It's All About The Eggs

I strive to be in balance within myself and with everything in my world. (All That Is) that is my primary goal, and, I believe that is my primary purpose as well. For if I am in balance, then that which is around me has the opportunity to be in balance as well. For me, listening to Spirit, creating things with my hands and expressing myself through sound, keep me in balance.

The things that I create go in many directions, from fine art, jewelry, working with glass, to felting and, of course, the eggs! My favorite quote is: "The important thing is to work in a state of mind that approaches prayer" Henri Matisse. I use that quote often and it is a sentiment that I firmly believe. For many years now, I have been creating art with a spiritual theme that is imbued with prayer and intention.

Duck egg with Amethyst cluster

How I started making eggs:

Eight years or so ago I started experimenting with decorating eggs. I had been inspired by an exhibit at the Portland Art Museum that featured some Faberge eggs from the Hess family collection. The gift shop was festooned with hanging egg ornaments that attracted my attention. The eggs were lightweight glass ornaments that had been hand painted in China and were VERY expensive. On closer inspection I realized that they were very crudely painted and in the words of crafters everywhere.....I said "I can do better than this". The first eggs were pretty, ornamental and a little bit Easter-like. The eggs were blown, sanded, then painted with flowers and lattice designs in pastel colors with a pretty ribbon loop on the top to hang it with. I was pretty pleased with myself and with the results.

My daughter came for a visit shortly after I started my exploration with decorative eggs and I proudly showed her what I was doing. She liked them but said...."Mom, you've got to crack them".....Hmmmmmmmmmmm. How do you make a decorative egg and then crack it? So more experimentation with so-so results and then...one day I picked up a Drummel tool and drilled a big opening in the front of the egg. Revelation!!! The egg was a vessel that could contain anything. At that point Spirit was definitely guiding the process. For years now it has been "all about the eggs". The final result is an egg that looks like it is in the process of hatching jewelry. I like to think it is a metaphor for breaking through the shell or barriers around us in order for the light and beauty within us to shine out.

Duck egg with Tangerine Quartz

So, for the last 8 years I have been producing what I call "Goddess Eggs". I try and use eggs from organic free range birds, but some of the eggs come from sources that I have no idea, like ostrich and quail eggs. But the duck, goose and chicken eggs are all locally sourced and I am sure they come from happy birds. I even have a source for some exotic eggs like pheasant, and peahen (peacock) from a friend who raises them.

Most of the shells I use start out as fresh eggs that must be blown, cleaned, sanded and then painted. The eggs are then put together in a "Medicine way" as a sacred object. this means that they are smudged and every step of their creation is done with prayer and intention. I even sing into them and to them as I work on them. It is a very meditational practice.

What goes into an egg:

I constantly collect things to go into the eggs and have been gifted often by people who give me things for the eggs. Things that range from items collected from sacred sites all over the world, healing or blessed water and totem energies. At this point I have a huge inventory of "energies" for the eggs.

All the eggs the following: Lavender for sweetness (bridal lavender), rose petals of beauty (valentine roses), white copal for protection, purification, consecration and frankincense & myrrh for spirituality. A piece of corn for creativity (Green Corn Ceremony), mustard seed for faith, snake skin for transformation and heron medicine for balance and ability to see through illusion. A piece of Magnetite stone for grounding and integration of subtle energies. After that, each egg receives an affirmation, something special at the very center and finally, a prayer, in the form of a tobacco prayer. At this point the egg is sealed and set with gemstones or crystals (sometimes both) and rhinestones.

Each egg is given a number and a certificate. The certificate lists all the energies that went into the egg and the final prayer. The egg is a vessel of creation. A promise from the divine creative source that life continues with all its diversity, abundance and beauty. Each egg holds prayers of health, balance, peace, love, prosperity and transformation. It holds a vibration that is intended to facilitate connection to your highest expression of self. Each one is unique inside and out and is just waiting for the right person to claim it. It is fun to see where they go and who is drawn to specific ones.

The egg as a vessel
Custom Eggs:

Many times during the last eight years I have been asked to create eggs for special occasions. Sometimes as a gift for someone's wedding, a new baby, to mark a significant event or birthday. Many, many eggs have been created for people, especially women, to mark their 50th, 60th, or 65th birthday. I call these "Eldership" eggs and they are a great honor to produce. Eggs have also been used to hold ashes, pet and people. I have created memory eggs, containing baby teeth, locks of hair, pictures and many other little memory mementos all sealed up in a beautiful bejeweled egg. If a custom egg is something you might be interested in, please contact me at margaretjoyce@me.com

Guinea egg with Peridot

Some custom eggs are ordered by people for themselves. The process for a custom egg is a little different. I do a series of readings and then create the egg according to the information I receive. These eggs, and the regular eggs that I do, are all intended to be tools for transformation. Through the years I have come to trust the process as I have so many affirmations of their effect. It's Earth Magic!

If a custom egg is something you might be interested in, please contact me at margaretjoyce@me.com

The some eggs are available on ETSY.. and...Drumroll please.........my NEW WEBSITE IS COMING!!! It will have the eggs and all my other art too. It is almost done and ready to go.

If you are in the Portland, Oregon area, they are available at Celestial Awakenings, 7831 S. E. Stark
If you are in the Sebastopol, California area, they will soon be (again)at Milk and Honey on Main St.

Blessings of Light, Love and Laughter
Margaret Joyce
Grandmother Crystal Heart