(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 12, 2009 ) Orlando, FL - The American Emu Association (AEA) announced today that it would be sponsoring emu egg-carving classes as a part of the Accredited Emu Producer (AEP) Classes being held in conjunction with the American Emu Association National Convention, held at the Hawthorn Suites-Orlando Airport Hotel, Orlando, FL this July. “You do not have to be a member of AEA to take a class,” said I. Michael Eppley, AEA president. “We hope that local egg artists will take the opportunity to sign up also.”
Emu eggs have three main layers of color. The dark green outer covering covering varies from hunter green to almost black. The middle color is a teal green, the inside a bright white. The teal is actually as many as 7 subtle layers of color, each about the thickness of a sheet of paper. Egg carvers utilize these different layers of color to add texture and depth to their artwork. The natural colors of the shell make even a simple design dramatic.
Florida natives, Marsha Hastings and Joan Beck, will be teaching the egg carving classes on Thursday, July 16th. The 4-hour classes are scheduled for 8:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Pre-registration is required. The classes are reasonably priced at $50.00. “We are offering the egg carving one day prior to the start of the convention for the benefit of our members so they don’t miss speakers,” said Eppley.
Students will bring their own Dremel tool with flex shaft attachment and two towels to the class. “Using a flex shaft is much easier on the hand than trying to carve with just the Dremel tool,” said Eppley, who has taken the class at past conventions. Burrs and masks will be supplied. Learning on a Dremel first before investing in a high-speed drill is sensible. “High speed drills are faster than Dremel,” says Eppley, “but the burrs used are the same and what you learn in the class can be applied to working with the high-speed drills.”
