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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

SVE Prep

January 27, 2016

I'm "shopping" through my stash, looking for Secret Valentine Exchange inspiration. My partner, like me, favors blues and neutrals and linens, so I've got an abundance of choices. Ute has already completed and shipped her gift!! Isn't she amazing? By the way, if you haven't been following Ute on Instagram, it's a must. She takes breathtaking photos of nature and her projects are impeccably made and presented. I often gasp at the beauty she creates. Totally inspired, I'm plotting and ... Read more

Filed in: secret valentine exchange • by sanae • 10 Comments

Gingers in Indigo and a Shakespearean Valley Top

January 25, 2016

So my right calf is slightly bigger than my left calf. These are the things you learn when you make your own clothes. I'm on a sewing roll, and I pumped out not only my second pair of Ginger skinnies, but also the Cali Faye Valley Blouse. It was a good week. Look at me, trying to mix things up with some props: Yes. A little cornball. You can't help but imagine muzak accompanying this. Shall we start with what I'm calling my Shakespearean Valley top? It looks pretty awesome on ... Read more

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

Happy Friday + Cleanse

January 22, 2016

Happy Friday! Yesterday, I met up with a good friend for coffee and received this mouth-watering book as a gift. The Food Lover's Cleanse by Sara Dickerman -- a chef turned food writer -- is exactly what I need right now. I can't wait to dive in! Although I didn't indulge that much in junk food during the holidays, I was under the weather much of the time, and my body is feeling a little run down and in need of a reboot. It's a stunning book with photography by Michael Graydon and Nicole ... Read more

Filed in: health, life • by sanae • 3 Comments

Merchant & Mills Rapid Repair Kit Giveaway! [CLOSED]

January 20, 2016

One of my favorite things to do during the book process was prop shopping. I love me some good props. Being the way that I am, however, let's just say that I didn't hold back and now I have a mountain of charming, photogenic items taking up a whole lotta space in my basement. Luckily, most of them are very small. Like this tiny Merchant & Mills Rapid Repair Kit. "FIRST AID FOR CLOTHES", it promises, and this approximately 3.25" wide x 2.75" high metal box contains teeny scissors, ... Read more

Filed in: giveaway • by sanae •

Ginger Jeans of My Own

January 18, 2016

"What are you doing?" he asked me. It was the pounding that caused him to poke his head into the room -- he looked confused and slightly alarmed. I stood there with the hammer poised a few inches above an overturned cast iron skillet. "Making jeans," I replied. And whacked a rivet into place. I made jeans. JEANS. !!!!! These Gingers Skinny Jeans took me just shy of a year to complete from the initial muslin, mostly because I was stymied by the idea of altering the pattern. ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 45 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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