Join us for a playful and hands-on workshop exploring traditional Chinese lacquer (大漆) through the contemporary technique of floating lacquer.

Date & Time:
Sunday 28 June 14:30–17:00

Location:
Yi Crafts Studio, 60 Neasden Lane, London, NW10 2UW

In this session, you will learn how to drip lacquer onto water, create delicate marbled patterns, and transfer them onto paper, bookmarks, and fabric scrunchies. The process is experimental, visually beautiful, and meditative — no prior experience is needed, just your curiosity and creativity.

The workshop will begin with a brief introduction to the history of Chinese lacquer, its cultural significance, and a variety of traditional lacquer techniques. You will also have the chance to learn more about the material qualities of lacquer and how this ancient craft continues to inspire contemporary making today.

During the hands-on session, you will first practise freely on paper before creating your own lacquered bookmarks and scrunchies. Each participant will be able to make:

* Unlimited paper practice pieces

* 8 floating lacquer bookmarks

* 2 jade-style tassels for the bookmarks

* 2 floating lacquer scrunchies

This is a rare opportunity to experience the beauty of Chinese lacquer up close and take home your own handmade floating lacquer creations.

Approximate Timings:

14:30–15:00 — Introduction to Chinese Lacquer

Gathering time, followed by a 20-minute introduction to Chinese lacquer, its history, cultural significance, and traditional techniques, with 5 minutes for questions.

15:00–16:00 — Floating Lacquer Demonstration & Hands-on Practice

The instructor will demonstrate the floating lacquer process. Participants will then create their own paper practice pieces and bookmarks.

16:00–16:30 — Floating Lacquer Scrunchie Making

The instructor will demonstrate how to create floating lacquer patterns on scrunchies. Participants will then make their own scrunchies.

16:30–17:00 — Chinese Lacquer Documentary Screening

The session will end with a short documentary screening about Chinese lacquer.

All materials are prepared for you — just bring yourself and your creativity.

What is Chinese Lacquer?

Chinese lacquer is a natural material derived from the sap of the lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum). For thousands of years, it has been used in China as a durable, protective, and decorative coating for furniture, musical instruments, vessels, and artworks.

Across different historical periods, lacquer developed a wide range of distinctive styles and techniques, including inlay, carving, polishing, painting, and layered surface treatments. Today, lacquer remains a rich and evolving tradition that continues to inspire artists, craftspeople, and designers.

About the Workshop Leader:

This workshop will be led by Luyin Cao (@luyincao), a visual artist and sculptor, as well as a certified professional lacquer artist in China. Based between China and London, Luyin holds degrees from the China Academy of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL. Her practice combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary artistic language, focusing on themes of nature, feminism, labour, perception, and embodied experience.

In this workshop, she will draw on her own lacquer practice and professional training to introduce participants to Chinese lacquer — an ancient and distinctive material — through the playful and experimental process of floating lacquer. Participants will experience the material up close and explore some of its possibilities within contemporary creative practice.

Allergy Awareness:

Chinese lacquer contains urushiol, a natural substance that may cause allergic reactions through direct skin contact. Gloves will be provided during the workshop to minimise exposure.

Participants with known sensitivities — especially those allergic to mango, which also contains urushiol — should exercise caution.

Please note: once fully dried and cured, lacquer is completely safe to touch. It becomes smooth, durable, and even food-safe.

Solvent Usage

A small amount of turpentine and orange oil will be used during the workshop. Please let us know in advance if you are sensitive to strong scents or solvents.

What to Wear:

Floating lacquer can get a little messy. While it does not usually stain clothes heavily, sleeves and cuffs are most at risk, and dried lacquer is very difficult to remove.

We recommend wearing old clothes and shoes, or bringing sleeve covers and an apron, so you can create freely and comfortably.

📍 ESEA Community Centre
🗓 13 June 2026
⏰ 11:30 – 13:30

Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival through a relaxing hands-on workshop exploring traditional Chinese knotting and braided bracelet-making techniques. Participants will learn a selection of classic Chinese knot styles, including friendship knots, flat knots, and decorative braided patterns, while creating their own colourful “Five-Coloured Rope” bracelet inspired by Duanwu Festival traditions.

Using a variety of threads, beads, and charms, each participant will design and make personalised bracelets to take home. The workshop is open to beginners and welcomes anyone interested in craft, cultural traditions, and slow making.

All materials will be provided.

A seasonal makers market hosted by the museum, featuring independent artists, craftspeople, folk-inspired design, textiles, ceramics, prints, vintage objects, and locally made goods. The event celebrates everyday creativity, traditional craft culture, and community gathering through a curated selection of stalls and activities.

Date
Saturday 13 June 2026

Time
10am - 4pm

Where
The Hive
Museum of the Home - 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA

Price
Free, with optional donation

An outdoor market celebrating urban gardening, independent makers, and sustainable living in the heart of Canary Wharf. The fair brings together plants, handmade crafts, food stalls, lifestyle brands, and creative workshops, creating a vibrant community space where nature and city life meet.

Qingming Spring Gathering

A Qingming Festival Gathering with Kites, Qingtuan & Picnic

Date: 5th of April
Time: 11:30- 13:30/13:30-17:30
Location: Yi Crafts & Gladstone Park
Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival that marks the arrival of spring. While it is commonly associated with remembrance and paying respect to ancestors, Qingming is also a time for treading the green — going outdoors to enjoy the season, fly kites, and share seasonal foods.

This gathering invites participants to experience Qingming through a gentle spring ritual of making, eating, and being outdoors together. The day begins with two hands-on workshops that happen simultaneously: kite making and qingtuan (traditional green rice dumplings) making. Participants will learn about the cultural background of these traditions, create their own kites and prepare qingtuan to share.

In the afternoon, the group will take a short walk to a nearby park for a relaxed spring picnic, where everyone is invited to fly their kites, share food, and enjoy the changing season together. Through simple acts of craft, food, and outdoor play, the event offers a way to reconnect with seasonal rhythms and explore the communal and celebratory side of Qingming. 

Traditional Chinese Kite Making Workshop
传统纸鸢工作坊

Let your creativity take flight with a tradition that has soared for over 2,000 years.
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to make and decorate a traditional Chinese swallow kite (纸鸢 zhǐyuān), a classic design that has been loved for generations across China. Guided step by step, participants will assemble their own kite and personalise it with colours and patterns.
The swallow-shaped kite is a symbol of spring, freedom and renewal. During the Qingming Festival, flying kites is a long-standing tradition believed to send away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
By the end of the session, you will have your own handmade kite ready to fly during our Qingming outdoor activities later in the day.

Time: 11:30 - 13:30 
Ticket Price: £48 (20% VAT)

Traditional Qingtuan Cookery Class
青团手工制作坊

Join us for a hands-on cookery workshop where you’ll learn how to make qingtuan, a traditional Chinese spring treat enjoyed during the Qingming Festival. Known for their soft, chewy texture and vibrant green colour, qingtuan are made with glutinous rice flour and mugwort, and are a beloved seasonal snack that celebrates the arrival of spring.

In this relaxed and beginner-friendly session, we’ll introduce the cultural story behind qingtuan and guide you step by step through the process of shaping and filling the dumplings. Each participant will make 6 qingtuan, which you can enjoy during the picnic later in the day or take home to share.

Time: 11:30 - 13:30 
Ticket Price: £36 (20% VAT)

Spring Picnic Gathering
踏青野餐

In the afternoon, we will take a gentle walk to the park for a relaxed Qingming spring picnic. Picnic food will be provided, and participants are also warmly welcome to bring a small dish to share if they wish. Together we will enjoy spring food, relax on the grass, and celebrate the arrival of spring in good company.

Activities :
2 pm: Picnic + Kite Flying
3 pm: Grass Battle Game
4 pm: Kicking Jianzi; Chinese Jump Rope; Tug of war
5 pm: Bawang Bian Folk Dance

Time: 14:30 - 17:30 
Picnic Ticket price: £15 
Package Ticket: Buy Picnic with Kite Workshop (£60)
Package Ticket: Buy Picnic with Qingtuan Workshop (£48)

Join us at the Pitt Rivers Museum for a hands-on embroidery workshop inspired by the Museum's remarkable collection of Bai ethnic minority aprons from Yunnan, China. These aprons, rich with colour and symbolism, carry stories of daily life, family and celebration.

In this workshop, you will:

• Learn basic Bai embroidery techniques

• Explore the cultural meaning behind traditional motifs

• Stitch your own Bai flower or butterfly design

• Create a heartfelt handmade piece just in time for Mother's Day (15 March)

This workshop is led by Yiran Duan, a Bai artist and cultural practitioner from Yunnan, China. Yiran is the founder of Yi Crafts, a UK-based platform dedicated to preserving and sharing traditional craftsmanship from China's ethnic minority communities. Through workshops, exhibitions and collaborations with museums and festivals, Yi Crafts connects global audiences with living heritage, storytelling and hands-on making.

Suitable for beginners; all materials provided.

Saturday 14 March, 10.00 - 13.00 OR 14.00 - 17.00
Tickets: £85 (Members £68)
Tickets: £85 Book here
Members: £68 Book here

Yi Crafts at 「Start-Up: Start Here」
Market Stall at the British Library

Start-Up: Start Here
Yi Crafts will be joining Start-Up: Start Here at the British Library with a special market stall celebrating contemporary Chinese craft and making traditions.

Hosted as part of the British Library’s business and creative programme, Start-Up: Start Here brings together emerging brands, independent makers and creative entrepreneurs. We’re excited to share our work in this dynamic setting — where craft meets enterprise, storytelling and cultural exchange.

Meet the founder and talk about craft, culture and creative entrepreneurship

Yi Crafts focuses on bridging heritage and contemporary life — making traditional craft accessible, meaningful and adaptable for today’s audiences. Our participation in this event reflects our commitment to building sustainable creative practices and supporting independent cultural production.

📍 Location: British Library

🎟️ Event details & tickets available via Eventbrite

We look forward to meeting you there.

Yi Crafts is pleased to share that our founder Yiran has been invited to speak at Dimensions: Women in Crafts, a public event hosted by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

The event brings together artists, curators, and practitioners to explore how women shape, sustain, and reimagine contemporary Chinese craft across studios, communities, and generations. It reflects on women’s roles in the transmission of craft knowledge, cultural memory, and the evolving language of making today.

At the event, Yiran will share Yi Crafts’ practice and perspective on working with women artisans, contemporary interpretations of traditional techniques, and the role of craft in building cultural continuity and community-led futures.

Dimensions: Women in Crafts offers an important platform for dialogue around gender, craft, and heritage, and we are honoured to be part of this conversation at the V&A.

Event details:
Date：
Saturday, 28 February 2026
10：30 – 12：30

Location：
Hochhauser Auditorium，
V&A South Kensington，Cromwell Road，London, SW7 2RL
Dimensions: Women in Crafts

Year of Horse arrives on the Peninsula - a vibrant Chinese New Year celebration filled with colour, culture and creativity. Expect live performances, workshops, DJs and flavours from across East and Southeast Asia, plus a special Henan heritage exhibition at Firepit Art Gallery & Studio.

Here’s what’s happening across the day:

Performances
Don't miss the energy and vibrancy with a series of powerful live performances. From the spectacle of the Dragon and Lion Dances to all-day DJ sets, each moment brings rhythm, movement and celebration to the Peninsula.

Woodblock Printing
Discover the beauty of traditional Chinese block printing in this creative workshop. Experiment with inks, motifs and techniques inspired by heritage patterns to create your own Year of the Horse print to take home. 
When: 12:00pm – 12:45pm; 1:00pm – 1:45pm; 2:00pm – 2:45pm;   3:00pm – 3:45pm; 4:00pm – 4:45pm
Where: Long Table Room, Design District Coworking

Paper Cutting
Try your hand at paper cutting - a delicate art form symbolising luck and happiness. Create your own festive designs to take home or display during the celebrations.
When: 12:00pm – 12:45pm; 1:00pm – 1:45pm; 2:00pm – 2:45pm; 3:00pm – 3:45pm; 4:00pm – 4:45pm
Where: Long Table Room, Design District Coworking

The Eternal Market
Back by popular demand, Eastern Margins returns with a curated market of East and Southeast Asian food, arts & crafts, and community traders. Discover independent makers, artists and designers showcasing handcrafted pieces, prints, ceramics and one-of-a-kind finds.

When: 12pm – 5pm

Where: Design District

Warm Crafts, Handmade Gifts & Holiday Magic

Date: 14th of Dec
Time: 11:00-17:00
Venue: The Ecology Pavilion Mile End Park, 125 Grove Rd., Bow, London E3 5RP

This holiday season, yicrafts will be bringing a touch of hand-stitched magic to the Christmas Market 🎄
We’ll be showcasing a delightful selection of handmade pieces, seasonal crafts, and small gift items — all designed and crafted with love. Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas present or just want to enjoy the festive atmosphere, come visit our stall, say hi, and bring a little handmade warmth home.

What You’ll Find

• Limited edition Christmas decorations🎄

• Cute & practical small gifts perfect for the holidays✨

• Traditional Bai Fabric Jewellery 💎

• Delicate Clothes

A calming 2 hour workshop blending gentle flow yoga, yoga nidra, and mindfulness meditation. We will awaken the senses, release tension, and invite deep relaxation, with optional tea and quiet conversation to close. Leave feeling grounded, open, and restored.

About this event

Join us for a hands-on stitching and textile workshop inspired by the mythical creatures of the ancient Chinese text Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas) and the rich traditions of Chinese ethnic minority dress.
Led by Yiran Duan, founder of Yi Crafts handcrafts studio and the costume designer and stylist of upcoming theatre show Mountains and Seas – Song of Today 山海 · 今日之歌 *, this session invites participants to explore hand-stitching techniques rooted in folk textile traditions, while creating their own unique mythological beings.
Drawing inspiration from intricate embroidery, bold patterns, and symbolic motifs found in traditional attire across cultures such as the Miao, Yi, and Bai, we will bring to life new hybrid creatures that express both personal mythologies and collective imaginations.
This workshop is suitable for all levels — from beginners to experienced stitchers. All materials will be provided, but you're welcome to bring fabric scraps, trims, or personal objects you'd like to incorporate.

We look forward to creating with you!

Date: 26th of Oct
Time: 14:00-16:00
Venue: 60 Neasden Ln, Neasden, London NW10 2UW

Date: Sunday, October 12, 2025
Location: Rich Mi, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road London E1 6LA
Event: MOON FEST 2025

About MOON FEST

MOON FEST is an annual multi-arts celebration bringing together East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) creatives from across the UK. Each year, artists, makers, and performers gather to share their talents in craft, cuisine, performance, film, and design — creating a vibrant, inclusive space for cultural exchange and community connection.

Since its debut at Arnolfini in 2022, MOON FEST has grown into one of Bristol’s most anticipated cultural events, featured by BBC Bristol, Points West, Bristol Live, and The Bristol Magazine. With every edition, the festival continues to showcase the creativity and diversity of ESEA voices through art, storytelling, and collaboration.

Yicrafts at MOON FEST

This year, Yicrafts is delighted to join MOON FEST 2025 with a vibrant stall showcasing the rich traditions of Southwest China.

Discover our curated collection of:
- Handcrafted jewelry – unique designs inspired by ethnic heritage and nature.
- Ethnic clothing – beautifully made pieces from minority communities of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.
- Traditional crafts – textiles, embroidery, and handmade art celebrating the stories and craftsmanship of the region.

Each item tells a story — of mountain villages, ancient weaving traditions, and the artistry passed down through generations.
Come explore, connect, and celebrate culture with us under the moonlight at MOON FEST 2025.

Whether you’re a long-time supporter or new to our work, we can’t wait to share this special day with you and the amazing MOON FEST community.

✨ Come celebrate art, culture, and connection under the moonlight!

🎑 Mid-Autumn Moon Gathering at Yi Crafts Studio
📅 October 4th | 🕕 Time: 2:00pm - 6:30pm | 📍60 Neasden lane, London, NW10 2UW

Join us for a special Mid-Autumn celebration under the glow of the moon — through story, song, and tradition.

🌙 Part I: Moonlight Workshop Afternoon (2:00–4:00 PM)

✨ Moonlight Calligraphy Workshop
Learn the elegant art of Chinese brush calligraphy as we write meaningful moon-themed characters in a peaceful, mindful setting.

🕯️ Mooncake Candle Painting
Create your own adorable mooncake-shaped candles using natural soy wax and festive moulds — the perfect handmade keepsake.

🍵 Tea & Mooncake Tasting 2-6:30pm

• Handmade mooncakes from Lotus Realm

  Osmanthus Oolong Tea from HereThe

  Yunnan Tea from Brut TeaYunnan tea tasting to sip and savour throughout the afternoon.

🎥 Part II: Moonlight Screening & Song (4:30–6:30 PM)

🌕 Film Screening: The Moonlight Street
We will be screening The Moonlight Street, a poetic short documentary about Zhang Shuxian, a blind folk musician plays Sanxian (three string) whose life is intimately woven with the moonlight and music. Set in Dali, Yunnan, this film captures the soul of Bai culture through the eyes and voice of a man who has never seen the moon, yet knows it more deeply than most. His melodies echo memories, longing, and deep reverence for tradition — a perfect reflection for this harvest season of reunion and reflection.

🎤 Bai Folk Song Sharing
We’ll also teach a beautiful and rarely shared Bai song: "White Moon, White Sister" — a love song to the moon, steeped in Bai mythology and heart. No experience needed — just bring your voice and curiosity!

✨ Yunnan Tea and Yunnan mooncakes will be served.
✨ All ages welcome.

We’re excited to invite you to the Community Care Retreat 2025, hosted by Sesame Organisation (formerly EVR) in collaboration with the Museum of the Home — and we’re thrilled to be a part of it!

This day-long retreat celebrates ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) heritages while centering mental wellbeing, community care, and cultural joy. Expect a rich programme of workshops, thoughtful conversations, a vibrant market of ESEA-owned small businesses, delicious food, raffle prizes, and more — all in the warm and welcoming surroundings of the Museum of the Home.

Everyone is welcome.

In the studio

12:00-14:00: Stop by Makan Malaysia’s catering table to claim your plate of food, included in every ticket

ALL DAY: Stroll through a bustling market and take your pick of the food, drink, desserts, crafts, trinkets, jewellery, clothing, home decor, stationery, ceramics, skincare, and more

ALL DAY: Take a seat and pick up a brush at Chong and Soh’s calligraphy station, then mosey on over to Xinyu’s nail bar to give your fingers a fresh new look.

In the garden

12:00-15:00: Four Winds Mahjong will be joining us to lead some teaching and free play. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or licensed pro, come prepared to challenge a friend

11:00-15:30: Enter our raffle for just £2 per entry. Winners announced at the end of the event! 

ALL DAY: A stunning playlist of ESEA tunes will form the perfect soundtrack for lots of mingling and meeting new friends

In the learning pavilion

These exclusive exciting workshops are first come first serve! Be first at the door to secure a lucky spot.

• 11:30-13:00: Make your own bamboo woven fan with Yi Crafts!

• 13:30-14:30: Cook up a yummy sesame-themed storm with Lahpet’s head chef, Min!

• 14:45-15:30: Customise your own printed notebook with Kamipaper!

Yi Crafts Workshops at Lingerings: Material-led Practices
Presented by it's a local collective • London Design Festival 2025

Yi Crafts is excited to host two hands-on craft workshops as part of Lingerings, exploring the beauty and memory held in materials. Join us for:

▪ Bamboo Coaster Weaving Workshop

Date & Time: Saturday 20 September, 17:00–18:00
Location: It’s a Local Collective, 107 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1DP

Description: Dive into the art of bamboo weaving. Learn how to prepare bamboo strips, master the aesthetics of interlaced weaving, and craft your own bamboo coaster. This workshop offers not just craft, but a meditative rhythm of hands and material.
Capacity: Max 12 guests
Price: £30 (includes £5 entry to the Open House + a complimentary HEYTEA drink)

▪ Chinese Knot Workshop

Join Yi Crafts for a hands-on Chinese Knot workshop as part of the Lingerings Open House by It’s a Local Collective and London Design Festival.

Date & Time: 20 September, 15:00 - 16:30
Location: It’s a Local Collective, 107 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1DP

In this workshop, you’ll learn the craft of traditional Chinese knotting, exploring the symbolism behind knots, and trying your hand at creating your own piece. Perfect for beginners or anyone curious about craft and material memory.

Capacity: Max 12 guests
Price: £40 (includes £5 entry to the Open House + a complimentary HEYTEA drink)

We explore TIME through cameraless photography & textile making — two quiet gestures in response to intangible heritage.

TearSlaly is delighted to hold two workshops with YI Crafts on next Sunday July 27 all about sensing and holding time.

We see intangible cultural heritage as something that carries time through gesture, ritual, and craft.

In this spirit, we respond with camera-less photography and textile-based practices, inviting you into two distinct yet connected explorations of time:

🌿Workshop 1｜13:00–14:30

Experience cameraless photography technique lumen print - using everyday materials with @xinyue_txy capturing fleeting traces that resist being fixed.

🧵Workshop 2｜14:30–16:00

Inspired by the unfixed images from the first session, we’ll turn to textiles with @only gingersworld — working with natural dye, embroidery, and collage to preserve ephemeral moments in fiber.

One is about sensing time, the other about holding it. Together, they form a quiet dialogue — one brief, one enduring.

Join both for the full experience — or just come for one you like.

🪡 All materials provided. No prior experience needed. Limited spaces available.