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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Faux Fur Infinity Scarf + Giveaway [CLOSED]

January 11, 2016

  Well now. Ute and I are simply blown away by the enthusiastic response to the Secret Valentine Exchange!! It's been so enthusiastic that my server crashed a number of times last week. It's true that I have a wimpy, tiny server, but still. I also think there's something problematic about multiple people trying to fill out the form simultaneously, but that's an uneducated guess on my part. We're approaching 130 sign-ups!! If you were one of the folks who couldn't access the form to ... Read more

Filed in: giveaway, sewing, sewing for K • by sanae •

The New Year’s Day Puffer

January 4, 2016

Good morning! Over the years we've perfected the last-minute micro-vacation, and this past weekend we drove out of Seattle to a small mountain town called Cle Elum. I snagged the last room at the Snowcap Lodge (aka Best Western), and though K declared that it was no Comfort Inn, we thoroughly reveled in the rare experience of snow everywhere. It was beautiful up there - frigid but serene.  But I'm not here to regale you about our budget trip just outside of the city. Do you see it?? A ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 21 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

Sewing Little Things

November 16, 2015

K made me a tote bag! We discovered a while ago that my attempts of teaching her sewing was not an enriching experience for either of us, so she's been taking an after school class taught by Little Hands Creations. Brilliant move if I do say so myself. At first K was dubious about the class, but now she's officially hooked. She told me that she chose this fabric because I "don't like color." I love it! I thought it was interesting that they taught her to add the straps without finishing ... Read more

Filed in: sewing • by sanae • 6 Comments

Monday Outfit: Faux Fur Vest

November 9, 2015

Good Morning! We had a bustling weekend filled with celebrations and Ultimate Frisbee (in the rain! K called Uncle midway to avoid getting sick again). I also stole away for a few hours to luxuriate in some crafting, and remembered my minimalist sewing plans. The warm zip vest seemed like a practical item to tackle for these days with rapidly cooling temperatures, but I couldn't get myself worked up into a frenzy of excitement about sewing with batting. As I waded through my stash of fabrics, ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 8 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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