Eileen Tokita was born in Idaho, grew up in Seattle and attended the University of Washington. She started singing professionally while in college but gave up her career at her husband’s insistence shortly after they married. The marriage did not last.

Tokita, 72, has made her home in Hawaii since 1990. She’s known as “the Egg Lady” for her skill at creating jeweled Faberge-style eggs, and for the classes where she shares her knowledge. Tokita’s next class is Saturday. For more information email eileentokita@gmail.com.

How did you get started working with eggs, designing cigar box purses and “blinging out” accessories like checkbook covers?

When my husband decided that I was going to stay at home, he said “find a hobby.” I searched for a couple of years and then I met two Air Force wives who did this and they taught me everything I needed to know. That was 1974. I’ve been doing eggs ever since. I was coming here to teach classes in the ’80s and then moved here.

What are the biggest and smallest eggs you use?

The ostrich egg is the largest egg in the world. The smallest I’ve worked with are finch eggs, which are not even the size of my little-finger nail. Duck, goose and rhea are the most common. I also use chicken and quail.

What would you like people to know about what you do?

Some people consider it a “craft,” but taking a common egg and transforming it into a treasured keepsake is an art, not a craft. The whole process can be very healing, and it isn’t as difficult as you might think.

Getting completely away from the art of eggs, who is the most interesting person you’ve met?

Bruce Lee. We both went to the University of Washington. He was such a deep-thinking human being. He was constantly philosophizing (and) probing the meaning of things. He never made small talk.

If a genie gave you a wish, what would you wish for?

To be a singer. I miss it so much. That’s my first love.

You’re Japanese-American. Your family was interned in Idaho. Do you follow the issue of internment and its aftermath?

I think we returned to Seattle when I was 6 months old so I don’t remember the camp at all. My parents had some hard times when they were transitioning back to Seattle but in general they tried to tell us positive things about the camp. In 1988 I was told I didn’t qualify for the reparation payment, and my mother didn’t push her own claim.

Reach John Berger at jberger@staradvertiser.com.