Easter Eggcellence

There are numerous ways to crack an egg I’m told and for this analogy alone I am truly grateful as I have left my Easter preparations a little late this year.

Celebrating Easter is as unique and personal to the individual as it is festive or sacred to a particular country.

From elaborate bonfires in parts of Northwestern Europe where ‘Easter Fires’ chase way the darkness of winter symbolising the victory of Spring over Winter to the traditional ‘Pot Throwing’ from windows on the Greek Island of Corfu. Religious or relaxing, Easter has many interpretations.

Here in the southern hemisphere we celebrate an Autumnal Easter marked by earlier sunsets, cooler temperatures and the noticeable scattering of deciduous leaves.

Seasons aside however, the beauty of an Australian Easter is in the myriad of amalgamated traditions we share across this vast continent.

Each Easter, directed by a fun yet fiercely sentimental Danish matriarch we decorate a sculptural branch with ornamental eggs and colourful clusters of feathers for the centre of our dining area.

There will always be fresh Hot Cross Buns, an Easter egg hunt, chocolate Bilbys and gathered family to share a meal but I am looking for something fast, festive and fresh to dress our dining table this year.

And hand made Easter placemats it is…

Using either burlap (gorgeous but pricey), old plain bed sheets / pillowcases or my ‘go to’ fabric when on a budget: canvas drop sheets from your local Hardware store, follow these easy steps to create your very own Easter themed place mats.

Source an Easter themed motif on the internet i.e. bunny, egg, chicken.

Print silhouette to maximum size on A4 paper then trace using baking paper.

Transfer motif from baking paper to plain cardboard then proceed to cut with razor blade or scissors the INSIDE of your Easter shape thus creating your stencil.

Next cut out rectangles from your plain fabric using an existing placemat as template or measure a rectangle of approx 42cm x 32cm

In a well ventilated and protected area place stencil over plain fabric rectangles and with spray paint in your colour of choice fill shape in using quick short bursts.

Metallic, black, pink or blue choose colour according to your theme.

Allow to dry thoroughly.

Don’t be a chicken this Easter, mix age old traditions with modern moments and stamp your authentic style on this versatile holiday.

Happy Easter to you all! x