Tell us a little about your hobby.  

Each spring I enjoy creating Ukrainian Easter eggs, known as pysanky. This 2,000-year-old artform involves hand-decorating eggs using a batik method of writing designs on the egg with beeswax and progressively dying the egg from lightest colors to darkest. Once the design has been completed, the egg is emptied, the wax is removed and the egg can be sealed with a protective coating, allowing it to be kept long term. They’re traditionally displayed around the home or given as gifts, both of which I love to do.

When did this hobby start for you?

My mother is 100% Ukrainian, and this tradition has been part of our family for generations. I think I was 8 or 9 when I made my first egg and would make them sporadically over the years if my mom was working on hers. In 2016 I got back into making eggs each spring and have loved connecting with my heritage in this way, challenging myself with new designs and helping my kids try it out too. My 4-year-old made his first egg this year, which was so special for me.

What’s something this hobby provides you that applies to your job?

More than anything, this hobby reminds me to stay flexible. I almost always start with a vision in mind for the design or colors I’ll use. But a misdrawn line, wonky dye or suggestion from an observer may lead me down a new path. Some of my favorite eggs are the ones where those changes mid-process led to a better result than I originally planned.

The same can be true for projects, solutions or strategies at work. Your first idea may be good, but often when you take time to build on it – whether through collaboration, finding data or soliciting feedback – the better it becomes. 

Tell us a tip or fun fact about your hobby.

Pysanky can be made from eggs of all sizes, from tiny hummingbird eggs to large ostrich eggs, and different symbols used in egg designs have traditionally been associated with certain meanings. For example, a deer symbolizes wealth or prosperity, a tree symbolizes growth and flowers symbolize wisdom.