An Egg Carton Revisited

Springtime reminds me of several anecdotes from my childhood. One of my earliest memories is linked to the Easter Season, which involved sitting at the kitchen table to watch my mother cautiously puncture both ends of raw eggs with a sharp needle, perforating them just enough to allow the contents to be blown out, without cracking or destroying the shells! After emptying each one, she would set them safely back into the carton from which they came.

Before this whole process began, she had already been shopping and gathered her simple and inexpensive craft supplies from the local Dime Store (a store very much like our current Dollar Stores, but most items were no more than ten cents!) Her supplies consisted of a basic water color set, a few toothpicks, glue, scissors, and a couple of extra, empty, gray cardboard egg cartons.

The first step involved cutting out the empty carton's individual depressions, or craters, where the eggs had once nestled. These pieces were set aside to be used later for hats and pedestals-like stands. With everything in readiness, the project was about to begin, and I could hardly wait!

I would sit almost motionless, spellbound, practically afraid to breathe, as I watched mother repeatedly and fastidiously dip her tiny brush and toothpicks into the tin of paints, transforming each fragile, hollow shell into a delicate and whimsical face. There were blondes, brunettes, and redheads with blue eyes, brown eyes, and hazel! Even a few freckled-faces! How I loved watching her little eggshell creations emerge! This activity made Easter egg hunting pale in significance.

During the paint-drying process, she cleverly designed and decorated hats and stands, concocted from the carton craters she had cut and set aside earlier. After all of the faces and hairdos were thoroughly dry, she would gently, but securely, glue each delicate face into one of the awaiting cardboard stands. This added the effect of a little collar to each one. Then, to top them off, she would glue on a little hat for their crowning glory!

How I wish I would have preserved some of these charming, hand-made heirlooms to share with my family as a legacy from their Nana Erwin-Furrh.