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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Happy Friday + Randomness

February 26, 2016

Happy Friday! I'm heading into the weekend sneezing up a storm due to the bountiful pollen floating in the air. If I could ask for the moon, I would implore the allergy gods to please leave me alone. On the flip side, the blooms are breathtaking, and I love the scent that the cusp of spring brings. So fresh! Unlike the flowering beauty everywhere, I'm looking and feeling pretty rough, my friends. If I could ask for the moon, I would also inquire after some peace and calm. My book is coming ... Read more

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

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

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

Mishmash of Thoughts on 2015 + Happy 2016!

December 31, 2015

  2015 is about to end, and I'm full of nostalgia already. This has been a year of so many magnificent firsts -- I've mentioned them relentlessly at this point, so I will spare you the replay. Will 2016 top the surreal awesomeness that was this year? I can't wait to find out. The rose illustration you see up there is one of my favorites that I've done in the last 12 months. It's a departure from my usual style, with more dimension and a botanical painting vibe. I want to do a ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, life, watercolor • by sanae • 16 Comments

2015 RECAP: Sewing for K

December 28, 2015

Good morning! I hope you all had a restful and celebratory Christmas, and perhaps you too are now looking back upon all the happenings of 2015. It's been a big year for me: one book launched, another completed. I inadvertently started something that could be considered a side business. My little family of three had highs and lows, but the good times outweighed the bad. I hadn't been quite prepared for the emotional turbulence that was part of this year, but in hindsight it stretched and pulled ... Read more

Filed in: gouache, illustration, ink, sewing, sewing for K, watercolor • by sanae • 12 Comments

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I just realized that this week marks 10 years sinc I just realized that this week marks 10 years since my first craft book Sewing Happiness was published. I’ve sewn literally thousands of garments and other textile projects in the last decade! I included a Sashiko primer in the book, and I’m delighted that this humble Japanese embroidery practice has stood the test of time - if anything, I’ve noticed that there’s an ever growing enthusiasm for hand stitching. Fun news: I’ll be teaching a virtual Sashiko workshop for @tatterbluelibrary on Thursday, April 30th at noon ET. Link in profile! Would love to see you there! 💙💙💙💙💙
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