The Blue Birds have been making the Easter baskets since they formed in 1924. In the 1930's, they made the baskets out of whatever materials they had available at the time and each basket was different. The Blue Birds dyed and decorated 1,500 dozen real eggs until the US entered World War II (1941-1945) when they stopped because of food rations for the war.
After WW II they started the egg dying again but in 1989 on the advice of an attorney they quit dying real eggs because they were concerned about food safety. Since that time they started using fragile bisque or ceramic eggs that they hand paint today.
It takes about four hours to make each basket and it takes training and practice to be able to do them. The handles have to be covered in paper, then an edge has to be put on the rim. Layers of tissues have to be glued around the basket and puffed. All of this takes time to learn and practice.
The Easter baskets cost $15.00 and a set of six handpainted eggs cost $10.00 plus tax. They are sold at the following vendors:
- Berings, 6102 Westheimer, 713-785-6400
- Berings (Weslayan Plaza), 3900 Bissonnet, 713-665-0500
- Briargrove Pharmacy, 6435 San Felipe, 713-782-5704
- Gorman Cleaners, 8901 Katy Cleaners, 713-468-4333
- Leibman's, 14529 Memorial Drive, 281-300-7012
- Rice Food Market, 2020 Fountainview, 713-783-8203
- Texas Children's Hospital Gift Shops, 832-824-2259, Main Campus and West Houston Campus
After all of this the volunteers will have earned $30,000, which is donated to the Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children's Hospital.
Take ABC13 with you!
Download our free apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices
