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Retired teacher eggshells at Christmas decorations

By Diep Phan   December 16, 2020 | 04:33 am PT
Nguyen Thanh Tam, a 70-year-old retired teacher in HCMC has built up a vast collection of Christmas decorations made entirely of eggshells.
Over 10 years of hobbyist experience of eggshell craft, Tams collection has swelled to more than 1,000 items.Besides teaching, during this week, the old teacher has been busy researching and crafting Christmas ornaments such as Santa Claus figures, reindeers, sleighs and snowmen... for the forthcoming Christmas holiday.

Over the past 10 years, eggshell hobbyist Tam's collection has swelled to more than 1,000 items, including Santa Claus figures, reindeer, sleighs and snowmen.
Before getting down to business, Tam had to examine the shapes and details closely. I did not only reference images but read many documents about Christmas to equip myself with more relevant knowledge, he said.

Before getting down to business, Tam has to closely examine the shape and detail of each egg. "I also read up on Christmas to equip myself with more relevant knowledge," he said.
Tam usually utilizes chicken, duck and quail eggs for his works. He blows them first then let them dry in the sun so that they could last longer.

Tam typically utilizes chicken, duck, and quail eggs. He blows out their contents first before drying them in the sun to harden.
The retired teacher said: I prefer eggshell to plastic because handling fragile and delicate eggshell requires patience and meticulousness. For this very reason, it could add more value to the products.

The retired teacher said: "I prefer it to plastic because handling fragile and delicate eggshell requires patience and meticulousness. For this very reason, it could add more value to the product."
Tam also has to use other materials to create several details for Santa Claus such as glasses, beard, belt... He is holding in his hand a glass frame made of a thin zinc wire.

Tam also has to use other materials to decorate his Santa Claus, including thin zinc wire glasses, a beard, and belt.
It took him more than 5 intensive working hours to give birth to Santa Claus. Father Christmas has legs made from clay and lead for gravity, cotton beard and felt mustache...As the Covid-19 situation is still very complicated this Christmas, I decide to attach a protective face shield cut out from a water bottle for my Santa, Tam explained the odd appearance of Santa Claus.

It took him more than five intensive working hours to "give birth to" his Santa Claus. Father Christmas has legs made of clay and lead for gravity, a cotton beard, and felt mustache.
"With Covid-19 dominating Christmas, I decided to attach a protective face shield cut out from a water bottle to my Santa," Tam explained.
The sleigh is made of a huge duck egg.

The sleigh is made of a huge duck egg.
The reindeers are made of quail eggs. Tam uses lemon juice to wash off dark spots for better coloring.

Reindeers are made of quail eggs. Tam used lemon juice to remove dark spots for better coloring.
Everyone can do this DYI craft since all are made of easy-to-find materials. Except for eggshells, to complete the work, we have to think of using other things that are readily available at home. That would help nurture imagination, especially for children, Tam said.

"Everyone can enjoy this DIY craft since all materials are easy to find. Except for eggshells, we have to think of using other things readily available at home. That would help nurture imagination, especially for children," Tam commented.
When Christmas is over, Tam will continue to work on water buffalo figures for Year of the Ox. He does not sell his works but just considers this a favorite pastime of his.I would like to spread the spirit to many people. Parents with children, children with their peers could do such activities together to train mindfulness and patience instead of watching tvs or phones, he said.

When Christmas is over, Tam plans to create water buffalo figures for the Year of the Ox. Though he does not sell his works, he considers their creation a favorite pastime.
"I would like to spread the spirit of joy to as many people as possible. Parents with children, or children with their peers could enjoy such activities together to learn mindfulness and patience instead of watching TV or spending time on the phone," he said.
 
 
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