Dyeing fabric with nasty chemical dyes isn't good for you or the planet. This video shows you how you can create beautiful fabrics by simply dyeing with discarded onion skins.

Camera Setup Camera: https://amzn.to/3Yu5gB2
Tripod: https://amzn.to/3Suz7VS
Soft box light: https://amzn.to/3yoVipL
Mic: https://amzn.to/3A9d3dc

Alum: https://amzn.to/4dONv3t
Soda Ash: https://amzn.to/3SRELlg

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Have you ever tried natural dyeing? How did it go? What natural materials should I dye with next?
Comment below.

Music and sound effect by Epidemic Sound. Start your free trial here: https://share.epidemicsound.com/su21ps

This video is not sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something I'll receive a small commission.

About Victoria: I'm Victoria Close, designer, maker and teacher of jewellery, accessories and crafts based in Shimokitazawa in Tokyo. I'm a long-time Tokyo dweller (over 25 years) with a passion for mottainai (the regret of waste when something still has life left in it), vintage thrifting and any kind of craft. This channel is all about my love of crafts, both Japanese and non-Japanese, traditional and modern, vintage shopping, free finds, my atelier and tiny shop as well as my life in Japan. I’d love to see you at my studio in Shimokitazawa soon. 

Grab your hammer and your flowers! What?!

This project is a great way to collect botanical memories from your travels without the worry of getting caught up with customs for bringing back organic materials from overseas. Also a great way to capture memories from special event floral arrangements.

I’d love to see you at a class at my studio in Shimokitazawa soon.

CLASSES: https://www.bikudesigns.com/workshops.html
SHOP IN PERSON: Visit the studio in Tokyo https://www.bikudesigns.com/welcome-to-studio-biku.html SHOP ONLINE https://www.bikudesigns.com/

WHAT YOU NEED
Clothing item or fabric made from 100% natural materials (silk, cotton, linen)
A hammer
Kitchen towels
A range of garden flowers/ flowers from a bouquet

More gel printing crafts to reduce your stack of 'failed' gel prints.
Let me show you a few simple ideas of how to start using your prints so they don’t end up in the recycling. This week I'm making a room divider wall hanging mobile. Beginner level!

There are more Gel Printing Project videos coming up in this series very soon, so make sure you’re subscribed to the newsletter and my YouTube channel to get the alerts when they go live.

IN-PERSON CLASSES
I’d love to see you at a class at my studio in Shimokitazawa soon.

Gel printing classes HERE
Visit the studio shop in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
Shop kimono jewellery online

SUPPLIES LIST
PLEASE NOTE:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Decoupage glue: https://amzn.to/3S1SPbC
Large circle paper punch (similar): https://amzn.to/461BVPQ
Sashiko thread: https://amzn.to/4bJG9x1
Silicone mat: https://amzn.to/3LkEbZd
Wooden hoop: https://amzn.to/3WjRaQW

Gel printing supplies list is HERE

I feel like I've tried it all at this point. Journalling felt more stressful than helpful, visual journalling a burden and Morning Pages felt like a chore.
Even though my job is very creative, the creative itch is still there. In Japanese 'Uzu uzu' (the onomatopaeic way of explaining the anticipatory itch of wanting to do something) best describes how I feel when I get stuck in the day-to-day of my business or take a holiday with no creative outlets. I've been this way since forever, and I now recognise the signs. This year I'm going to do something about it... Join me?

What is The Creative Calm Challenge?
Creativity for creativity's sake is what I've been missing lately, allowing myself the time to try new things, experiment and get into the creative flow to see where it goes. The Creative Calm Challenge is a way to unleash your own creativity by taking a few minutes to create something new, unexpected and have FUN! Something outside of what you regularly do or create.

Why did you start the challenge?
My whole job relies on finding the next creative idea. I have lots of those...so many in fact that sometimes it's hard to know which direction to go in! This challenge will help my brain slow down, make sense of the day ahead and will serve as a transition from home to work life. It will also be so much fun getting my hands dirty and thinking about nothing other than the work in front of me.

Who's the challenge for?
You don't have to be a 'Creative' to be creative. Anyone can pick up a pen and doodle, write some meaningful words to express your feelings or take a photograph.
Anyone can join in this challenge, regardless of your chosen media or job. You could create paintings, prints, drawings, illustrations, lithographs, film, music, sculptures, short stories, poems, wearable art, clothing, embroidery...anything you want to have a go at that is a bit of a departure from what you usually do.

How often do I need to create?
In this challenge there's no prompt for each day...that can get overwhelming fast (and we don't want anyone feeling left behind). Create as often as you want, for as long as you want...your rules. Buuuuut, setting aside a time and space to create will have more impact on how you feel in the long run. The more often you take a few creative moments, the more calm and relaxed you'll feel. Pinky promise.

Join me over on Instagram @bikudesigns and share your creative activities by tagging #CreativeCalmChallenge
Some ideas of things to share:

• Work in progress shots
• A line up of today's materials
• A detail shot of something
• Your work space
• A photo of you working on something
• Your favourite (tool, material, paintbrush, fabric, paper)
• Mess/ organised space
• Before/ After
• Sketchbook flip-through

Good luck and enjoy your calmly creative moments,
Victoria x

If you're a flower lover in Tokyo, head to Hanegi Koen mid-late February to view the more than 650 'Ume' trees in bloom. The scent is incredible and if you're lucky, you'll be able to catch the bustling Plum Festival with food, drinks and plants for sale. Unfortunately, this has been cancelled in recent years due to Covid-19, but hopefully it will return soon.

The plum grove is located on a small hillside on the Umegaoka side of the park. To be honest, we only go to that side of the park in Spring to see the blossoms, the rest of the year the kids are playing in the mud park and maze on the opposite side. This park is a firm family favourite with lots to do for the kids, food trucks at the weekend and a small shop selling icecreams, sweets, park equipment and coffee.

If you're into walking, walk from Shimokitazawa central to Shin Daita station via the new developments Tefu and Bonus Track, then along to Umegaoka Station. The walk takes around 30 minutes. On the way back, why not pop into Shirohige's Cream Puff Factory and munch on a Tottoro cream puff?

ACCESS:
Umegaoka Station, Odakyu Line: 13 mins from Shinjuku
Higashi Matsubara Station, Inokashira Line: 8 mins from Shibuya

EQUIPMENT/ PREPARATION
Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees C

Large bowl for dry ingredients
Small bowl for wet ingredients
Lemon squeezer
Measuring jug
Strainer
Butter knife or other non-sharp knife

INGREDIENTS
Dry
200g graham flour
300g whole wheat flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Wet
400ml milk
Juice of one lemon
2 tsp honey

1. Mix the two kinds of flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda in the large bowl.

Add your extra ingredients and flavours at this point. You could add dried herbs, spices, raisins, dried figs, nuts, seeds...ANYTHING you like!

2. Juice one lemon and add to 400ml of milk to make butter milk. Mix until the mil thickens.
Add the honey and mix.
Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients bit by bit, mixing with a knife.
The consistency of the dough will be surprisingly wet and sticky! If it's runny, add some more flour until it turn sticky.

3. Line a baking tray with grease-proof paper or a silicone mat if you have one (I'm using up my Costco bulk buy and then switching to silicone).
Wet your hands and shape into a ball.

4. Wet a sharp knife and make a deep cross into the top of the dough.
Bake for 40 mins at 200 degrees C.

NOTE: I've tried this recipe with a mix of rye, strong white flour and wholemeal and other combos too. As long as you have 500g of dry flour ingredients, it should work.
Here are some breads I've tried and LOVED:
Rosemary
Basil
Sesame
Chia Seed
Raisin
Fig

I'd love to know how you get on with the recipe, so please share your bakes on social media using the hashtag ＃bikubread and tag me anywhere @bikudesigns. I promise I'll try to share you to my stories.