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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Happy Friday + Randomness

February 19, 2016

Happy Friday! We're into the third week without a car, and I have to admit that my legs are pretty sore. Still, I'm loving all the exercise we're getting and although everything takes longer and requires more planning without a car, it also forces us to slow down and live moment by moment. I'm stopping to smell the roses and flowers, if you will. That's a quick watercolor sketch I made a while back. I really really like it. You might be able to see a small water splotch on one of the leaves, ... Read more

Filed in: black and white, illustration, life • by sanae • 2 Comments

SVE Loveliness

February 17, 2016

There are a few gifts still en route, but the vast majority of Secret Valentine Exchange presents have reached their destinations! Do let us know at secret.valentine.exchange[at]gmail.com if you're still waiting and we'll do our best to sort things out if you haven't been contacted already. Every year is fantastic, but with the active engagement on Instagram, this year has been especially exciting!! Here I am wearing my AMAZING knitted hat from Sonja. According to the info I sussed out from ... Read more

Filed in: secret valentine exchange • by sanae • 20 Comments

The Girl in Red (A Valentine’s Dress)

February 15, 2016

Good morning! It's mid-winter break right now, so K and I are hanging out and relaxing today and tomorrow. Since we're in vacation mode, the pace is slower around here and I'm posting a little later than usual... I made K this little red number for Valentine's Day. I don't know why, but I tend to avoid the color red -- maybe it's because it's my mom's favorite color and I OD'd on it growing up. It's a great hue on K, though, and I should make more outfits in this color. I'm not sure how ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 10 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

February 12, 2016

Our little black 2001 Honda Civic died nine days ago. RIP. It chugged along with so few complaints and problems for almost a decade (we bought it used), but it expired ignobly by overheating repeatedly, becoming unfixable. It had seen better days, sure, but it never felt precious -- not once did I feel the need to admonish clumsy hands attached to kid bodies for spilling a few morsels/drops of eats and drinks and we gave muddy shoes little thought. It was a no big deal kind of vehicle. Car ... Read more

Filed in: life, secret valentine exchange • by sanae • 8 Comments

Valentine’s Round-Up

February 10, 2016

The other day, I was talking to a friend who needed a last minute Valentine's card for her kids' classes and I suggested my printables. I tried to search on this here blog and realized how terribly disorganized my categories are. Must do something to rectify that. In the meantime, what with V-day coming up, I figured I could at least round-up the printables I've created. I'd completely forgotten about the word search one! Bookmarks seem to be my go-to; at least there's a variety...If you too ... Read more

Filed in: download • by sanae • 5 Comments

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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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