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One of the biggest issues I had when I first got chickens was where to put the eggs. You may remember there was a bit of a debate about whether I needed to keep them in the fridge or not. I said no, the fella said yes. My no is based on scientific research. The fella’s yes is based on The Ick. As in, Ick … you HAVE to keep eggs in the fridge. The ick factor is only trumped by the Ack. I Acked at his Ick.
Funny thing is, when we first got the chickens I promised I’d keep the eggs in the fridge because anything else grossed him out. I lied. I knew the time would come that the eggs would be on the counter. And sure enough …
I got my way. The eggs are out of the fridge proudly displayed in a vintage wire egg basket. I can’t even begin to tell you how much easier it is to whip an egg at someone who angers me. They’re right there, ready to load in an instant.
Which by the way is the only reason I wanted the eggs to be out of the fridge in the first place. Not so I could easily whip them at anyone who criticized my dirty baseboards, but because I wanted to be able to use my wire egg basket and frankly it didn’t fit in the fridge.
I, like most people, am a sucker for packaging. You can take a cruddy, old, chewed up piece of gum and if you display it nice enough people will cherish it like a family heirloom. Or at the very least a 50% off Ben & Jerry’s ice cream coupon. Who doesn’t cherish those?
I wanted my eggs to look as beautiful as possible and for me … that was on the counter in a vintage egg basket.
So I started to think of ways to make an equally attractive display for eggs for everyone. One that would work for people who keep their eggs on the counter or in the fridge.
It had to be easy and it had to be cheap because I’m easy and cheap. Hey. Wait … Nevermind.
This is what I came up with.
Materials and cost breakdown
Piece of worn wood – 5″ x 12″ apx.
2 cupboard handles ($2 – $10 depending on what handles you use) I used Ikea Sätta handles and Ikea Metrik handles.
1 ½” hole saw or spade bit ($8 – $16 depending on quality)
drill
Steps
1. Get yourself some wood. The size you use will dictate how many eggs it will hold. I just used scrap wood I found around the house.
I cut my wood to 5″ x 12″. This size will hold 7 eggs.
2. Mark where you want to drill your holes. I marked exact 1 ½” circles in a staggered pattern.
3. Cut your holes with your hole saw or spade drill bit. If you bought a cheap hole saw by hole #5 you’ll be cursing it and its dull teeth. Then you will have a snack to feel better and calm down before starting to drill again.
4. Attach the cupboard handles to the bottom of the board. This will require you drill a hole through the top of the board so you can insert the screws. If you don’t want to see the screws from the top of your board, use a countersinking bit to countersink the screws. Then fill the holes with a mix of sawdust from your drilling and Carpenter’s Glue. Proportions don’t matter. Just mix a whack of it all together until it forms a paste and shove it in the holes.
Once the fill has dried, lightly sand it to smooth it out and if you’re using a painted wood board, repaint the top to further camouflage your holes. Wow. ”To further camouflage your holes” That sounded very formal and official didn’t it? I talk good.
If you want a sort of farmy, rustic chic look use sleek metal handles with barnboard like I did in the first photo. If you want a more contemporary, clean look use straight cut wood. A slice of a spruce 1 x 6 will do the trick.
And you could go nuts with the painting. Doesn’t have to be white you know. Pink, orange, blue, black and white polkadot. Whatever.
I swear to you, the fun doesn’t end there. Since making these wood doohickeys I’ve realized they’re the most versatile, weird little things I’ve ever made. I use them for EVERYTHING.
Case in point … those extra Christmas balls you have that you’re completely sick of putting in bowls around the house?
Ta Da.
Need a cute little way to serve appetizers or snacks?
Ta Da.
These sized holes also are the perfect fit for … tea lights.
Ta Da.
No picture. You’re just gonna have to trust me on this one.
So. It’s true. If you run out and make one of these things to keep or give away for Christmas you’ll be giving the gift of a Rustic/Modern eggholder/ornament displayer/snack server/tealight holder. Uh huh.
All for the low, low price of between $2.50 and $10.
And after giving this you’re sure to be met with squeals of joy. There won’t be an ack or an ick around. Promise.
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princesslala
Okay that is CUTE.
It’s a beautiful mind, Karen.
Karen
Thank you ma’am. Hope things are good in your styling world. ~ karen!
Diane
Holy shit. You are BRILLIANT !
Cassie
Besides the “ick” factor, is there any reason to put eggs in the fridge? How long can they stay out? I know I could google this, but I’m sure others have asked.. (if they have and you answered, just don’t leave my post up here)
Karen
Cassie – Eggs only need to be refrigerated of they’re commercial North American eggs. The reason for this is commercial eggs have the “bloom” washed off of them. When a hen lays an egg it has a thin film on it that prevents oxygen or any bad stuff from permeating the shell of the egg. So if you have backyard eggs that have not been washed … you don’t need to refrigerate them. (although some people do because they’re frightened of an unrefrigerated egg). ~ karen
Cassie
That is NOT the answer I expected! So..
#1. build a coop
#2. Get some chickens
#3. build the egg/ornament/tealight holder and use it for EGGS!!
Better yet, screw the first two, I’ll put my pretty ukranian easter eggs in it!
Nancyeileen
Fantastic!
So gol’ darn talented and creative, you are
SK Farm Girl
Seven? Why seven? Just curious!!! Tres cool idea! Hmmmm . . . if I make the holes a tad bit smaller this would be a great way to display my glass eyes!
Karen
That’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard. I like it. 7 because it was a good size for the wood. For 12 it would just need to be wider so the eggs could fit side by side. 7 was a better looking size of board. And since my eggs come whenever, (not in a dozen) it doesn’t matter to me. ~ k!
AnnW
You are so funny! I can get the wood, but I have no idea how to make the holes. That will be my 2013 project.
Karen
AnnW – You just need one of the two drill bits I suggest. The hole saw cuts a hole into the wood. You just attach it to the end of your drill like any other drill bit. ~ karen!
ev
Beautiful candelabras! Oh, and the holey wood things are clever, too!
Valerie
Karen, You are just brilliant! But I am sure that you already knew that! What a great idea! Since I am a gardener, I can see some little small clay pots in those 7 holes with some cute plants! I love this idea you came up with – You are fabulous! ~ Val ~
Brenda J. M
Way to think outside the egg-carton Karen ! I love this idea and yep… someone had to say it.
Cheers,
Five Monkeys and a Chick
I love cool and practical!!
Mary Werner
This is really the best thing since sliced bread! Looks great, multitasks, cheap, handmade, useful and so easy to change the look for any decor. You are a Egg Einstein!!!! Now about the glass eyeballs—just have to know more.
Maureen
How flippin’ cute is that? If you can find a way to get me more counter space to display my eggs, I’ll make one of those!
marilyn
thats awesome
Erin Hall {i can craft that}
i love your balls karen. this persuaded me to do this for next year. Space in my fridge is at a premium so a fancy display thing isnt practical. BUt i could use for balls and if i ever entertained, Ever, for serving.
Good Job, as my 2 year old would say.
Erin
JebberA
Golly, you are brilliant.
Kathy
Pinning. Genius!
Nicola Cunha
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas! I’m going to use this for all the visuals in your post! (eggs, decor, cone thingys)
Jody
That is such a cool idea. And speaking of cool….did you ever get a new frig? To not keep your eggs in.
Ann
The bloom naturally goes away on eggs after 7-10 days. So I would not keep them out of the frig for very long. We keep a big surplus on hand starting in the fall so that when the chicks slow down their egg production we don’t run out. So I just go ahead and keep all mine in the frig. Plus counter space here is at a premium and I need it for other things. Such as about a million pieces of clutter!!
Patti
This is brilliant!I love it! You`re ridiculously brilliant!
Pat
You are soooooo clever. Not only clever but practical. Or, as my husband just stated….F….ing genius! He is now plotting how to make these as he has the hole saw and….
qtpuh2tme
Inspiring! Form AND Function…my kinda DIY!
Jake
If the eggs are not washed, what about the, you know, poopy ones. Those in the picture do not look like the eggs I get from my neighbours hobby farm. He is not averse to a little crap, me, yes I am.
Karen
Jake – My eggs don’t normally have poop on them. The odd time a piece of straw of a feather is stuck to them but not poop normally. If they have poop on them, then yes, you need to wash them and keep them in the fridge. Some people will just wipe them with a dry paper towel, but if it’s poop I’d wash and keep in the fridge. ~ karen!
Dawna Jones
Great idea Karen!
http://www.dawnajonesdesign.com/
Auntiepatch
Great idea!
dana gault
This is beautiful, Karen. I especially love the rustic wood paired with the sleek handles–my favorite decorating style, and your whole house is a beautiful example of that. But I have to ask, how on earth did you get the chickens to lay the eggs exactly in the holes??? Those girls got talent!
Nancy Blue Moon
Good one Dana..I’d like to see a video of that!! lol
Jeannie B.
Really a clever idea Karen! I don’t know how many times I’ve taken eggs out of the fridge, put them on the counter and by the time I’ve closed the fridge door, they’ve started to roll towards the edge. So, I end up trying to block the little devils with whatever is closeby to “corrall” them. I think I’ll make one of these little egg holders. Thanks for the idea.
Nancy Blue Moon
Brilliant My Dear..as always..I think you should get a patent for this one before we open some catalog and see someone else is making gazillions from selling them..just saying..
mimiindublin
Sorry to say this in December, but I can see this with ice cream cones in it!
Thanks Karen, I’m off to eye-up some pieces of wood, though “around the house” would not be a good starting place here!
Shauna
Once again, you find the brilliance in the most simplest of tasks. Are you sure you didn’t invent the post-it?
Ruth
BAM! Cute!
carey
dammit, don’t you ever get sick and tired of being a genius? and are your chickens really laying that many eggs? (ha, of course they are!) mine have been on strike for. EVER!
Evalyn
Why is it that I’m thinking: shot glasses? Must be the Holiday Season.
rev59@shaw.ca
I just love this!
Toronto Boy
I think this idea is eggcellent!
I can see myself using this to distribute shots of liquor to my pallys or as a display item! Nice job!
Sue
This would look totally cute on the counter in the spring if you used eggshells as seedling starters as I’ve seen folks do, just put them in this little tray in a warm sunny spot…
Natika33
Wow! A perfect example of how genius can be super simple sometimes.
While I’m here (and since I won’t be tomorrow as I’ll be heading out on vacation), I’d like to also take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Have a great one!
Karen
Thank you Natika! See you back here in January, I guess.
~ karen
jessica
too cool for words!
Karen
Thanks Jessica! ~ karen
Sara
Cute! I was skeptical at first, but I like it! And all I could hear in my head by the end of this post was: “This thing is a Thneed. A Thneed’s a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need!”
Carla
Freakin’ brilliant!!!!
Karen
Thank you ma’am! I must admit I even impressed myself with this one, LOL. Could be another year before I come up with something to impress myself again.
~ karen
andrea meyers
perfect gift for my sis-in-law that likes me enough to share her backyard eggs with me! this gift will allow her to get past her husbands ick factor, so she too, can leave them on the counter!
kelliblue
now that is pluckin fabulous! Pinned!
So you said these are good for tealights…how do you keep them from falling through the holes?
you obv. don’t have to wait a year to come up with something that impresses the snot out of the rest of us!
Karen
kelliblue – The tea lights don’t sit all the way down into the holes. Only halfway or so in the one board for some reason and close to 7/8ths of the way down in the other. Strange. The tea lights is actually the least beautiful way to use these things. You’d be amazed at how these stands can make useless junk look GREAT. ~ karen!
evie
i’ve seen something similar in the movie Gosford Park (though bigger) and have wanted to make something similar ever since. this is awesome.
Anna
Love this idea! My aunt has chickens that lay many eggs, much like your little ones, this is perfect for her! Thank you!!!!
Feral Turtle
What a cute idea! Love it for the snacks. Cheers.
Kimberly
Love this!!! I may have to make one. I think I’d number it bc I need some way to tell my older eggs apart…Room temp eggs=great for homemade mayo!!!
Karen
Thanks Kimberly! I absolutely love the one I made out of barn board. It’s beautiful. ~ karen!
Dee
This is brilliant. I was wondering if the handel/foot height had additional clearance so if you were to make a set in decending sizes if they could stack to make an Egg-celant display for a farmers market space? Any thoughts?
Karen
Dee – These particular handles are all the same depth. Even if you get larger handles, they’re still the same distance from handle to cupboard (or egg holder in this case). You could use a number of things for legs though. I just liked the look of these handles. Copper tubing cut to length as legs would be beautiful. Just buy a length of copper tube at the hardware store along with the little thingamabob for cutting it. I forget what they’re called. It’s just a little tool that has a blade that you run around and around the tube, tightening it as you go. That way you could cut the tubing to 2″, 4″, 6″ for 3 sets of legs at varying heights. Hmm. Now I wanna make another one with copper tubing legs. Good luck. ~ karen!
Wendy
When I lived in the Mojave Desert, the first time I went to the local store, there was egg cartons sitting in the middle of the store, huge pile of them. I was stunned to see eggs sitting out of the refrigerator section. Once they are refrigerated, they must remain that way. I don’t know how long they can sit outside refrigeration, but I used mine within a couple days.
Karen
Hi Wendy – They can be without refrigeration for a couple of months actually! Commercial eggs need to be refrigerated because they’ve been washed. Chickens create a “bloom” over the shell the minute they lay the egg. It acts like a film and barrier. When the eggs are washed, this protective bloom is washed away. In fact the bloom does a much better job of protecting the egg from bacteria than washing it and refrigerating it. But … the North American way (by law) is to wash the eggs and (because their natural barrier from bacteria is now gone) refrigerate. ~ karen!