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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

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 •

I am now a minimalist traveler

July 12, 2016

We made it back in one piece! After a soul-nourishing and relaxing week in Michigan, our flight back to Seattle was mysteriously canceled so we had to scramble to Chicago via rental car to make our connecting flight because all the airlines were booked solid (or so I was told). We cut it super close, but cruised through Illinois toll booths, security checks and grumpy child syndrome with surprising ease. Actually, the grumpy child syndrome was non-existent because K was a champ. She hardly ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, life, watercolor • by sanae • 8 Comments

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SHIBUI: THE JAPANESE ART OF FINDING BEAUTY IN AGIN SHIBUI: THE JAPANESE ART OF FINDING BEAUTY IN AGING won an award! Thank you, @nautilusbookawards — what an honor! 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡 @sasquatchbooks
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