• Home
  • Shop
  • Illustration Portfolio
  • My Books
  • About

Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

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

Stay Curious

June 20, 2016

A little behind the scenes of one of the projects I worked on over the weekend. A dear friend of mine commissioned me for an illustration to give to her colleague, and I loved trying out different lettering styles. The colleague's catchphrase is "stay curious," which is a brilliant one. I have two more illustrations, another quick translation assignment (this time I'm learning all about the art of sushi plating and presentation -- so, so cool), and a craft tutorial all due pronto so I am ... Read more

Filed in: black and white, illustration, watercolor • by sanae • 4 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

June 17, 2016

Happy Friday! With thoughts of the upcoming Father's Day lingering in my brain, I dug up a watercolor painting I did of a seahorse a while back (daddy seahorses give birth to baby seahorses -- hundreds of them at a time!). I also remembered that male penguins keep unhatched eggs nice and toasty while the mama penguins forage for food. I love that, though I can't help but think the female penguins are getting the short end of the deal here given the harsh climate they have to ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, watercolor • by sanae • 4 Comments

Happy Friday + Radomness

May 13, 2016

Happy Friday! I'm going strong with Me-Made-May, though I do combine handmade items with the few store-bought clothes I still own. Here's a round up of week 2-ish: Day 6: Renfrew Bamboo Top (worn with RTW yoga pants) Day 7: Black Simplicity 2365 Tunic + Black Gingers Day 8: Moss Green Linen Jacket (I wore the same outfit but with me-made jeans) + Indigo Gingers Day 9: Self-drafted knit dress (shown above - this was yet another prototype for the dress included in my book and the ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, life, watercolor • by sanae • 3 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

May 6, 2016

  Happy Friday! I've been a bit obsessed with this new series of illustrations I created for the Art Walk at Drygoods (I'm typing this before the actual event so I don't know if anyone will end up showing up, but just having the chance to participate was awesome. Thank you, Keli!). Over the years of experimenting with different kinds of illustrations, I've decided that painting anthropomorphic animals is at the top of the favorites list. I mean, a foxy seamstress, a wise quilter, a ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, life, watercolor • by sanae • 7 Comments

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address below to get blog posts delivered to your in-box. I'll occasionally include fun digital goodies!

Order My New Book of Illustrated Essays!

Order My Newest Kids’ Book!!

Order My Latest Sewing Book!!

Archives

Categories

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
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 · Theme by Blog Pixie

© 2026 Sanae Ishida