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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Good-bye Little Girl Room

July 25, 2016

Poor M pulled a muscle in his back on Friday, so we figured teepee camping was probably not the best idea. Since the camp site is so close and the rate was on the economical side, we didn't feel too guilty about canceling and had a quiet, at-home fête of three. But K had been looking forward to the teepee and was a bit bummed out (I suspect what she really wanted was the s'mores). Partly to assuage her and partly because we've been talking about it forever, K and I hit IKEA to finally update ... Read more

Filed in: life, sewing • by sanae • 16 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

July 22, 2016

Happy Friday! While we were in Michigan with M's family a couple of weeks ago, my mother-in-law quietly handed me a box while I was reading and nodding off on their cottage deck. It was from her mother, my grandmother-in-law as it were, who passed away last September. "Sanae," her elegant handwritten script had labeled the plain Kraft paper box. Inside was a meticulously folded origami box. And inside of that, beautiful shibori-dyed fabric. Ronia Marie is a textile artist based ... Read more

Filed in: life • by sanae • 14 Comments

Potential Birthday Tops for a 10-Year-Old

July 20, 2016

July is teeming with birthdays in our cozy circle of family and friends, and it feels like we're celebrating every other day. But the two that matter the most in our household are coming up this weekend and next. This Saturday is M's special day and we've got a teepee booked. He loves those teepees, and I hope we can slumber without any moose scares. And then the following Saturday, K turns 10!!! A while ago, I found this amazing silk fabric with pink horses and nothing was going to stop me ... Read more

Filed in: sewing • by sanae • 21 Comments

Endless Summer Tunics

July 18, 2016

Good morning! Looky here -- I sewed something! In fact, I sewed two somethings: This is the Endless Summer Tunic pattern by A Verb For Keeping Warm (have you seen the IG feed? Stunning). How is it that I didn't know about this pattern? I made the grey linen one first -- complete with pockets -- and used the same fabric as this top for the yoke facing and pocket linings. I should mention that I've long since donated that polka dot button down because I felt sloppy and frumpola in it ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 32 Comments

FOUR YEARS!!! (+ a giveaway bundle) [CLOSED]

July 15, 2016

Well, well, well. If you traverse all the way back to the beginning of this little online notebook/sketchbook of mine, you will see that I started to record my thoughts and projects on July 16, 2012. Which means that tomorrow, this blog turns 4 years old. FOUR. I powered through the clumsiness of the newborn stage filled to bursting with love, uncertainty and awkwardness. Then I dug my heels in for the toddler phase and touch-and-go twos. Finally, I observed with somewhat flagging energy and a ... Read more

Filed in: giveaway • by sanae •

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Giveaway time, my friends! So, 2026 is starting ou Giveaway time, my friends! So, 2026 is starting out in a very exciting way. My latest book, SHIBUI: THE JAPANESE ART OF FINDING BEAUTY IN AGING, is already in its second print run — deepest thanks to every person who purchased a copy, then got more copies to give as gifts!! Speaking of gifts, I have a little giveaway today that’s different from my usual kind. Shibui is available in audio format (a first for me!) read by the talented @edelynokano, and I have SIX free Spotify codes. Please note that you do need a Spotify account to utilize the code. Interested? 

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment below. Any comment would be lovely but if you have an audiobook recommendation, I’m all ears! No pun intended. I’ll leave the giveaway open until Friday, January 30th and will DM the winners shortly after. Good luck!🍀 @sasquatchbooks #shibui
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