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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Mini Biscotti with Chocolate Bits and Marcona Almonds

November 12, 2012

Happy Veteran's Day! I have been sick all weekend, but am slowly recovering. K has the day off today, so I wanted to share these darling little treats before we head out the door for the aquarium. I have Mark Bittman's original How to Cook Everything, and used the basic biscotti recipe, then threw in 1/2 a cup of chopped marcona almonds and 3/4 cup of mini chocolate chips (left over from this). The online version of the recipe is a little different from the book in that it omits the step ... Read more

Filed in: cooking • by sanae • Leave a Comment

Happy Friday + Hooded Capelet + Grey Almost Skinnies

November 9, 2012

Happy Friday! First, the hooded capelet. Guess which book the pattern is from? My fave, of course. I have miles and miles of this wool plaid fabric and will probably make a jacket with this as well. I actually modified bits of this pattern. Instead of snaps, I used buttons because buttons are always cuter. I also did away with the tab at the neck. I made it, but it looked odd to me so off it went. Did you know that these capelets/ponchos are all the rage in the first grade right now? Alright, ... Read more

Filed in: sewing • by sanae • 4 Comments

Advent Calendar Roundup

November 8, 2012

Around this time last year, I was puttering around a fabric store making plans for the holidays when I got a phone call from one of my clients. While I stood surrounded by mid-weight cotton, my very very part-time job suddenly transformed into a very very full-time job. Sadly, I had no idea how to balance 80-hour work weeks with family commitments and we had the most neglected holiday season ever...thankfully the job ended after 6 months. Now that I have returned to a somewhat more balanced ... Read more

Filed in: crafts, illustration • by sanae • Leave a Comment

Counting Beads

November 7, 2012

The other day K and I went to a beads store, and this pretty stone caught my eye (on sale!). The brass Japanese seed beads seemed like a natural fit, and a few minutes later I had a necklace. I might have discovered a new hobby...   ... Read more

Filed in: crafts • by sanae • 3 Comments

Chai – Chai – Chai

November 6, 2012

I made some chai... The summer I turned twelve, my parents took me and my brothers to India and though it was so long ago, I still have visceral memories of Delhi: the energy, the overwhelming people, the infusion to the senses, the colors...but most of all I remember hazy mornings by the train station or walking along crowded streets with sonorous chants of "Chai, chai, chai" from seemingly every direction. I had quite a few of those little clay cups that were unceremoniously tossed to ... Read more

Filed in: cooking • by sanae • 2 Comments

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So so thrilled that my book SHIBUI: THE JAPANESE A So so thrilled that my book SHIBUI: THE JAPANESE ART OF FINDING BEAUTY IN AGING is now available in Dutch and German! And it’s currently getting translated into several more languages - surreal! Please share with all your Dutch- and German-reading friends 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡 #shibuibook
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