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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Investing in Quality

June 13, 2016

Good morning! I've always appreciated the finer things in life -- some might call it "expensive taste" ("some" is actually my husband). But I also have a cheapskate side, or maybe it's this sense that I don't actually deserve certain high quality items yet. One of those someday-when-I-feel-deserving items is linen bedding. We have a small closet at the edge of our upstairs landing where I keep all our sheets and pillowcases, but most of them are from Target. I'm pretty sure that the fiber ... Read more

Filed in: life, sewing • by sanae • 30 Comments

Monday Outfit: Puperita Colleen Dress

May 2, 2016

Good morning!! It's good to be back! I have to warn you, though. I'm jumping the gun because the husband is still murmuring about adding another security measure or two, but I decided I just needed to get back into the blogging groove or I would lose all motivation and this little space would die a quiet, unacknowledged death. There's a small chance that the blog will go down again, but I think it's safe to proceed with caution. Later this week, I'll do a roundup of some fun things going on ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 9 Comments

Monday Outfit! The Spring Thea Dress

April 4, 2016

K must be reading this blog, because after I posted about the dearth of kid-sewing around here, she began to pepper me with requests for handmade clothes. As luck would have it, Mel commented on that post and introduced me to Blaverry (I'm salivating over Mel's denim Decklyn jacket, by the way). K and I browsed through the site and she chose the Thea Dress. "Make it tight, Mama," she instructed. She's really into tight clothes. I branched out and used a floral print knit. Isn't it ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 15 Comments

McCall’s 7251 in Black + White Knit

March 30, 2016

As I tossed on my new top, set up the tripod to take these photos and wrestled my out-of-control hair into a braid, I had a major realization: I am at ease in my body. I don't say this lightly because...well, until now I've NEVER been at ease in my body. I won't belabor the point, but when I finally got over all the excuses I built up and sewed my first pair of Ginger Jeans earlier this year (I'm wearing them in these pix -- they're my favorite pair of jeans ever), something shifted. I'm ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 18 Comments

WIP + Lamenting the Lack of Tween Sewing

March 28, 2016

I remember this same feeling last year as I prepared for the book launch of Little K. Full of anticipation and bursting with ideas, terribly intent on creating elaborate behind-the-scenes blog posts and the whole shebang. But all I have for you today is a work-in-progress shot, making it look ever-so-slightly less mundane with some shallow depth of field photography of a cool print fabric and even cooler pair of Gingher shears. Easter was a big success, though we had to delay the egg ... Read more

Filed in: sewing • by sanae • 10 Comments

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Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your loved ones! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your loved ones! I’m spending time with family in the Midwest and there is much to be grateful for, not the least of which is the slower pace this week. Sending big hugs to you! 🧡🧡🧡🧡 Incidentally, this ikebana floral arrangement is one of the illustrations that didn’t make it into my book SHIBUI — I painted a lot of extra illos!

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