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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Secret Valentine Exchange Updates + Valentines Download

January 22, 2014

Ute and I are thrilled with the response we've gotten from the Secret Valentine Exchange! We have 39 participants (quite the international group, I might add), and the creative energy is palpable! Ute and I told each other that if we got close to 10 people, we'd be totally happy, so the turnout is above and beyond expectations. Huzzah! So, just a few updates and housekeeping info in response to inquiries and things we realized we didn't mention: 1. If you received a partner information ... Read more

Filed in: Community, download • by sanae • 8 Comments

Kind of Reeling Over Here…

January 21, 2014

Well...how shall I start this? I've been sitting on this unexpected turn of events for so long, it stopped feeling real a good while ago. Friends, I am publishing a book. There. I wrote it. It feels a tiny bit more real. I bet you think it's going to be a sewing book, but nope. Even better. I am going to be writing and illustrating my very own children's book!!!! When I was a kid, and had to go through the usual rigmarole of answering the question, "What do you want to be when you ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, life • by sanae • 97 Comments

Monday Outfit: Roots – An Origami-Inspired Dress

January 20, 2014

Good morning! Apparently all of Seattle was caught up in football fever yesterday, but I managed to spend the entire day blissfully unaware of this fact (I actually asked someone late in the day, "Is it the Superbowl?" and he looked at me like I was insane. Not a sports fan, I'm afraid...). Instead, I was working on creating this here post, having a grand old time. Let's talk about the Monday outfit, shall we? Heidi of Elegance and Elephants contacted me a few weeks ago and oh-so-generously ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 67 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

January 17, 2014

Happy Friday! Above is documentation of K's first kiss, planted on her lips circa Halloween 2007. Frog boy is one of her best friends, and they still play together all the time. A couple of days ago, after getting her braces, K had a few thoughts on smooching: Mama, it's hard to pucker with my braces...I'm gonna have to cut back on kissing. +++ Mama, kissing in front of other people is so gross. Ewwww. When I get married, I'm going to have a giant curtain that drops down when it's ... Read more

Filed in: Community, life • by sanae • 4 Comments

Sewing for Me: Vogue 8511

January 16, 2014

So I initially planned on ranting about what an absolute failure this dress was. Then M saw me in it, and made googly eyes, and when I hear words like "Wow, that looks like something from Mad Men!"...Well, I had to revise my plan. It has a lot going for it, this Vogue 8511 dress. I like the grey. Of course I do. It has a bit of shimmer, and could potentially rise to a party occasion if paired with some sparkly accessories. The fabric is maybe some kind of suiting? There's a good amount of ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 27 Comments

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I’ve been swimming in nostalgia these past few day I’ve been swimming in nostalgia these past few days, wading through my blog and Pinterest board of the clothes I made for K, who is not so little anymore. what a wild, fun time that was! Remember the old school days of sewing blogs?? I’m back in deadline mode for a number of projects so sewing will have to be put on hold (though maybe I’ll get lucky and sneak in some stitching time). I’m also putting Instagram on hold for the summer, as I do every year. I’ll be back in September with some exciting updates! Have a lovely season, my friends! 💙💙💙💙💙💙
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