Although I'm an artistic person, when the lockdown started, I realised I had run out of art supplies. I wanted to make a card and had no colours at home," says Kandivali-based software engineer Purvi Rathod, who also runs a home boutique called Thumri. While she had learnt the art of dyeing in Kutch before starting her business, she knew the process was difficult to replicate at home. As stepping out was not an option, Rathod turned to her kitchen and garden for inspiration. "I spoke to my Kutch-based artisans who told me I could use kitchen waste and alkaline substances at home to create basic colours. So, out came the leaves, onion peels, hibiscus and tea bags," adds the 32-year-old who has been sharing her colour experiments on Instagram.

If you have been wondering what to do with that faded old scarf, or want to paint but don't have colours, Rathod has some tips for you.