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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

SLOOOOOOW

April 30, 2025

Hello. We’re heading into May, and I am on the brink of finalizing some projects. But I am so slow, my friends. So, so slow.

I snapped this photo of my kindred spirit, and I watched it take its sweet old time for several minutes. “What’s the rush, love?” It seemed to telepathically mind meld with me. What’s the rush, indeed? One of the benefits of getting older is realizing that so few things are urgent and important.

There’s that quote I see on mugs and tea towels and cafe walls: nature does not hurry yet everything is accomplished. Well-played, Lao Tzu (assuming the attribution is correct). Cal Newport’s latest book, Slow Productivity, also emphasizes going at a “natural pace” to get more meaningful things done without burnout. Big, big fan of Cal.

My natural pace is ultra molasses-esque these days, and I’m okay with that. Somehow deadlines are met, meals are cooked and consumed, the needs of my resident overlord (aka my pet cat) are tended to. I suspect, however, that these blog updates may continue to be sporadic as I complete my next two books — more on those in the near future. For my projects, I have to keep mum forever. If I let it, it can be quite maddening. But again, what’s the rush? 

This isn’t really related, but one of K’s dorm friends signs off the evening with “Great night, honey.” I think that’s so much more charming than your standard “good night.” Maybe I’ll adopt “Great day, honey” in lieu of “hello.” What do you think? Too saccharine? Too weird? Or perhaps it works better as an alternative to goodbye.

Either way, let me start with you: Great day, honey.

 

 

 

Filed in: life • by sanae • 4 Comments

Comments

  1. Pam

    April 30, 2025 at 3:32 pm

    Love that quote Sanae! …and one I think I need to roll around in my mind for a while. Serendipitous me thinks.
    Thank you and great day back at you honey. 🙂

    Reply
    • sanae

      May 2, 2025 at 7:50 am

      😘😘

      Reply
  2. Jaclynn

    May 12, 2025 at 6:33 pm

    Hi Sanae,

    I wanted to drop you a note to thank you so much for your book Sewing Love. It was exactly what I was looking for at this point in my sewing, and revolutionized the way I look at clothes. I got it last fall and was completely engrossed, and made some of my favorite and most-often-worn clothes in my closet.

    Now, I am entering the second trimester of my first pregnancy, and after feeling uninspired by the maternity clothes at the thrift store and online, I am adjusting my slopers, browsing and editing your shirt designs, and coming up with some fantastic, unique-to-me tops that will serve me through maternity and beyond! Thank you for empowering me to forge my own sartorial adventures!

    Sincerely, Jaclynn

    Reply
    • sanae

      May 14, 2025 at 7:59 am

      Thank you for your wonderful note, Jaclynn! What a joy to read – it’s exactly what I had hoped the book would be for sewing enthusiasts!

      Reply

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Thinking of all the Mama Bear-ish wonders out ther Thinking of all the Mama Bear-ish wonders out there, giving so much to surrounding creatures big and small. I often feel like that little prickly hedgehog inadequately but heartily offering up a single stem of gratitude. So much love for mothers and maternal figures everywhere! 💕💕💕💕#happymothersday
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