Bring back the past by dyeing Easter eggs the way it used to be done — with natural items straight from the kitchen and garden.

  • Hard-boiled eggs or eggshells (see instructions below for how to empty eggshells)

  • Nontoxic, safe food items like blueberries or red cabbage leaves for blue; walnut shells, tea or coffee for tan; red beets for gray. Experiment with what you have on hand.

  • Medium-size saucepans (one per color)

  • Water

  • Vinegar

  • Slotted spoon

  • Strainer

  • Mixing bowls

  • Cooking oil and soft cloth

    WHAT TO DO:

    Pour 1 cup water into a saucepan and add a handful of dye ingredients, such as berries or cut-up fruits and vegetables. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 30 minutes or until the water turns the color you wish. (Note: The eggs will dye in a lighter color than the color in the pan.) Strain the colored water into a small mixing bowl. Add 2 teaspoons of white vinegar to each cup of liquid.

    Add eggs to the natural dyes. Turn eggs occasionally so they dye evenly. (Note: These colors will be subtler than commercial dyes.) Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the dye. Let them air dry. Add a small amount of cooking oil to a soft cloth. Use the cloth to polish the eggs. Refrigerate boiled eggs.

    Drying tip: For a convenient drying rack for blown eggs, set several wood skewers in a chunk of floral foam. Insert skewer through the hole at the bottom of the dyed

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    egg.

    Creating plant designs: Place two or three handfuls of loose yellow onion skins in a saucepan. Cover with water, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 to 30 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons white vinegar. Strain and cool.

    Meanwhile, arrange one or two nontoxic flat leaves, ferns, fresh dill or parsley on boiled eggs or eggshells. Carefully cover the egg with a piece of doubled cheesecloth.

    Gather the cloth snuggly and tie with white string. Wrap several eggs. Set them in the onion dye until dyed the desired reddish-brown shade. Remove from dye. Let dry completely before removing cheesecloth and plants.

    How to empty eggshells: Using a straight pin, poke a small hole at each end of a washed raw egg. Carefully wiggle a toothpick or wood skewer into one of the holes to break the yolk. Place a drinking straw over the hole on top. Blow through the straw, collecting the contents of the egg in a small dish. Rinse out the empty shell and let dry. Store in an empty egg carton.

    Donna Erickson's television series, "Donna's Day," is airing on public television nationwide.