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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Just a Scarf

February 8, 2016

Superman got nothing on meeee...I intoned as I worked on binding off this scarf. It's a tune that's part of K's repertoire and I have no idea what the song actually sounds like since I've only heard her softly murmuring that line periodically. I guess it's by someone named Charlie Puth? I don't feel compelled to look it up, but I like the words. Anyway, I knitted a scarf. It's not, as I had hoped, the longest neck warmer in the universe. It's long enough to loop around my neck twice. I ... Read more

Filed in: knitting • by sanae • 12 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

February 5, 2016

Happy Friday! Have you checked out the Instagram hashtag #2016sve? Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Ute and I were joking that the sneak peeks make us want to steal all of the gifts for ourselves! We're excited that quite a few of you opened an IG account to get into the spirit of sharing the progress. Be forewarned newbies, you'll get hooked! The photos are pouring in, and I've tried to comment on as many as I can, but I'm a slowpoke when it comes to IG -- how do you guys all stay on top of the ... Read more

Filed in: secret valentine exchange • by sanae • 3 Comments

Are You Proud of You?

February 3, 2016

K often runs up to me to show me something she's made: a song, a story, a drawing. "Are you proud of me?" she asks. I ask back, "Are you proud of you?" As someone who grew up needing a lot of external validation and knowing how hard and fickle and endlessly dissatisfying that can be, I do what I can to plant little seeds of self-approval in my little girl. I like to watch her glow, nod, and say, yes, yes I am. I'm so proud of me. I might be naive to think that this will instill a lifelong ... Read more

Filed in: life • by sanae • 26 Comments

McCall 7199 – Asymmetrical Zip Outerwear

February 1, 2016

I think my body might be shrinking. Or not. Maybe I'm not understanding what "moderate stretch knits" are, since I didn't think the fabric I used was crazy stretchy. This is what the envelope image of McCall 7199 view A looks like: This is how it looks on me: I cut the size 12 and made no mods other than making the hem slightly longer to account for my generous torso length (I folded up 3/8" instead of 1"). I actually like the loose fit, but it might have been a good idea to go ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 28 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

January 29, 2016

Happy Friday! I've been noticing that I like to go in cycles when it comes to making things. Right now, I'm feeling a huge resurgence of love for sewing and my sketching/painting is taking a back seat. I had a brief fling with knitting and then my enthusiasm waned, but I can tell that I'll want to go back once the sewing bug eases up a bit. Do you find that? Are you the alternating or concurrent type? I used to think I liked to dabble in a variety of crafts at the same time, but lately I want to ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, watercolor • by sanae • 10 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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