Born in Prague, Czech Republic, Daniela Sipkova first experienced traditional Easter egg decorating as a child during Easter. Under the guidance of her grandmother she learned the basics of the craft and practiced it as a seasonal hobby.
As a young adult, she studied foreign languages and international business, hoping to work for the foreign services of the Czechoslovak Communist government. After Daniela’s uncle and aunt escaped to Switzerland as political refugees however, she was unable to pass the required political clearance for a government job and started working as a receptionist in a hotel in downtown Prague.
In 1980 Daniela and her mother fled Czechoslovakia and settled in West Germany. Since Daniela spoke five foreign languages she worked as a freelance translator and interpreter. In 1982, while working in an automotive trade show as an interpreter in Frankfurt, Germany, she met Patrick Mahoney, who was seeking merchandise for his auto parts stores in Portland, Oregon. He not only found his new products for his stores, but also a wife. They were married in spring of 1983.
In the United States Daniela returned to traditional egg decorating at Easter time and soon developed the craft into a full time business. Over the years Daniela participated in hundreds of art/craft shows and ethnic festivals nationwide. She also developed educational programs on Czech and Slovak heritage preservation and became a resident artist for Young Audiences of Oregon and Washington and the Portland Regional Arts & Culture Council. Daniela is known for organizing large scale egg decorating events for children and is able to decorate 1000 eggs with 1000 children in four hours…..
Daniela also published three children’s activity books: Czech Republic, Czech, Moravian and Slovak costumes paper dolls and Czech, Moravian and Slovak costumes coloring book.
Daniela’s daughter Teresa followed in her mother’s footsteps teaching egg decorating in schools and libraries with her mother . Teresa now lives in New York and is enrolled in the Columbia University Master’s program of journalism.
Daniela’s son, although autistic, also learned how to decorate eggs. Teresa and Patrick represent the fourth generation of this remarkable family, devoted to preserving and sharing a dynamic folk tradition.
Using the engraving technique of egg decorating, Daniela has gravitated over the past twenty eight years from traditional designs inspired by the Czech and Slovak traditions to novelty designs, such as bridges, lighthouses and even the Statue of Liberty that are used as hanging ornaments and sold nationwide in museums, galleries and specialty gift stores.
Daniela holds two degrees from Portland State University: an undergraduate degree in Marketing and a graduate degree in Social Work (MSW).
