Tootie, a Hammond artist, had carved an owl on the delicate shell. Her carved and etched emu eggs are restricted to the natural colors found in the four layers of the shell: dark forest green, turquoise, ivory, and a sheer, almost transparent white. She transforms the shells into works of art; her heirloom-quality barrettes, brooches, and intricate miniature scenes are collector’s items.

Carving the eggs

The procedure for carving an emu egg is tedious, as the artist must be very careful not to break through the different layers. Lots of patience, thought and time goes into each individually carved egg.

The first step is to drain the egg. Tootie carefully pierces a small hole, inserts a drinking straw, forces out the contents, and lets the shell dry for several days. She then draws a pattern with a soft, chalk-type pencil. Her inspiration comes from nature, flowers and animals. With a Dremel tool, a rotary drill not quite as fine as a dentist drill, she carves the design into the first, second and third layers using different grinding and cutting bits. The fourth layer, .005 of an inch thick, is very fragile, and she carves it only if she’s making barrettes or items that will be backed with fiberglass. The detail finish work is done with an Exacto knife. After the different layers are sanded and polished, the result is a three- or four-color carving.

Raising emus

Tootie became an egg shell artist by default. In 1989, her husband, Harry, retired from his job as a fireman and decided to go into the emu business. At that time, emus were billed as America’s new red meat. Connoisseurs attested the birds tasted like filet mignon. The red meat was 97 percent fat-free, had more vitamin E and iron than beef, and was lower in cholesterol and higher in protein than chicken. Each mature bird yielded approximately 30 pounds of meat that needed no chemical additives or preservatives. Emus were a nutritionist’s dream.

In addition, every part of the bird could be sold. Feathers accented unique fashion designs. Polished toe nails were used in jewelry pieces. Each bird had eight square feet of supple, durable leather hide of reptilian appearance, used as a fashion accent on boots, belts, luggage and accessories. Eggs could be sold for $20 each. A 14- to 16-month-old bird yielded 24 pounds of fat; the resulting 10 gallons of oil sold for $7 or $8 each. Emu oil was said to relieve arthritis, muscle soreness and joint stiffness. The oil is added to body moisturizers, cosmetics, shampoos and conditioners; it is usually listed as kalaya oil, the aborigine name for emu.

How could a farmer go wrong? Emu raisers were enthusiastic, and ranches proliferated in the Florida Parishes. Getting started in the emu-raising business was difficult, but the Calmeses finally got over the initial learning stage. At the height of their operation, they had 100 birds. The market struggled, but never really developed or reached its potential. After six or seven years, the farms began to shut down. Presently, the Calmeses are down to eight birds.

Eggs as art

Tootie saw a photo of a carved egg in a magazine and decided to try her hand at it. Aborigines had been doing this for centuries. In the United States, the first eggs sported the names of emu ranches and were given away as souvenirs. Later, etched with the names and dates of brides and grooms, they became popular wedding gifts.

Although no longer in the emu-raising business, Tootie has found her artistic niche. Her award-winning emu eggs are on display at art and craft shows, the Hammond Regional Art Center and the Art on Columbia shop in Covington. A talented painter, Tootie is a former president of the Hammond Art Guild and a member of the Hammond Regional Arts Center. She is active in the artistic life of the parish.

I confess, I couldn’t resist. I ordered emu eggs for my grandchildren’s Easter treat. What better keepsake than a delicate carving of their name on a turquoise-green oval encircled with a wreath of miniature rosebuds?

Tootie Calmes can be reached at (985) 345-5750; 21176 Dummyline Road, Hammond, LA 70401.

Copyright 2003-2006, M&L Publishing, all rights reserved.