FAQ
Egg Art
What are these made from?
These are real eggshells. Typically, they are goose eggs, but I also use some chicken, ostrich, and other eggs.
How do you carve an eggshell? Isn’t that impossible?
No. These are cut with a specialty high-speed drill. This drill goes at faster speeds than most dental drills, and uses dental drill bits.
I’m afraid I might break it. How sturdy are these eggs?
Very sturdy actually. You must realize, a goose weighs several pounds, and it sits on it just as a chicken would. And think about how much an ostrich weighs! The shape of an egg is actually a very strong shape, and because of this, the eggs are naturally much sturdier than you might think.
Here’s a statement from someone who has one of my eggs:
“Mine arrived from you with nary a blemish AND I have since packed it and MOVED and it arrived here safely as well.”
As I told her, I’ve had a 10 year old boy put one on his wrist and swing it around, dropped one 3 feet, and had one riding in my car cupholder for months, even through a minor fender bender. All are fine. And I’ve shipped just about as far as I legally can without a single problem.
Where do you get your eggs from?
I order them from a goose farm in South Dakota.
How do you get the inside of the egg out?
Honestly, I don’t. The goose farm sends them to me already emptied and sanitized to kill any bacteria or viruses. But the way the process works is called “blowing” an egg, because in the past, there would be a hole at each end, and you put your mouth on one end and blow, and the contents come out the other end. Now it’s done with tools and there’s only one hole, but the process works in much the same way.
Do you do custom pieces?
Of course! What are you interested in? I can do carved eggs, jewelry boxes that hold rings or other types of small jewelry, diorama eggs (display a scene on the inside of the egg), painted and decorated, wedding cake toppers, and many other items. If you have something special in mind, please email me at lisa at ldbolton dot com.
I live outside of the US. Can I purchase one of your pieces?
Sorry, not at this time. Governments like to keep a close eye on certain things that come into or leave the country. These things include plants, food, and animal products. While these eggs have been treated and sanitized, it’s a little trickier trying to convince the government that they aren’t going to cause an outbreak of avian flu. If this changes, it will be noted here. Until then, we apologize for our inability to ship to your country.
Book Sculptures
What are these made from?
Books. I use a variety of books, but I prefer to work with ones that have maybe been a little abused or discarded. That way, they have served their purpose, and get to have a new life.
I find it appalling that you would destroy a book! How can you justify this?
I’ve spent almost 15 years (off and on) as a writer, and my entire life as a voracious reader. But that being said, I don’t believe that the power of a book necessarily lies in the printed ink on paper. Take Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for example. I believe that Shakespeare himself would argue that if there is any success to it, it’s when it has been translated and presented by accomplished actors. This doesn’t mean that I plan on cutting up rare, signed first editions, or that the Gutenberg Bible would face my X-acto knife. But the power isn’t in the ink or a sheet of paper.
What tools do you use?
I use an X-acto knife, scissors, and matte medium.
Are these popup books?
No. Even though they look like popup books, these are meant to remain open.
