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

Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Book #4: BA-CHAN, THE NINJA GRANDMA!!!!!!

September 6, 2018

Hello, hello! Long time, no blog...the last five months whisked by and I have no excuses for not updating at all. I've been focusing on "being in the moment" and have fully enjoyed immersing myself in spring/summer activities and projects! Now that it's September (my favorite month of the year), I'm feeling that usual surge of energy to get back into action. We did so much this summer: some traveling, a few camps for K, a ton of time with family and friends. And we got a kitten! I've become a ... Read more

Filed in: book • by sanae • 4 Comments

Happy Friday + A Flower Shower

April 6, 2018

Happy Friday! I've been painting a lot lately, experimenting with the many, many watercolor and gouache paints that I have. I'm in between big deadlines right now so I gave myself a break for the entire month of March to basically goof off. These illos aren't for any particular project and it's lovely to just aimlessly sketch. The plan was to simply read and sort of putz around for a month, but then - as per usual -- I found myself making a massive to-do list of sewing, home improvement and ... Read more

Filed in: gouache, illustration, watercolor • by sanae • 2 Comments

Etsy update and whatnot

March 9, 2018

Hello, my friends! Just a little update because my blog is feeling quite neglected these days, so very much like my houseplants. This post is my attempt at a bit of watering and reviving, though I know that I'll need to do some serious pruning and repotting and fertilizing (?) and all the other plant metaphors that I don't know because I'm not much of a gardener. Anyway. I've been meaning to add this little meditative pincushion PDF pattern that I contributed to Making to my etsy shop for ... Read more

Filed in: life • by sanae • 4 Comments

Post Valentine’s Day SVE Update

February 15, 2018

Happy Day-After-Valentine's-Day! I hope you had a love-filled one! I'm still recovering from the flu -- I joked that I look like Botox gone wrong to M and an uncomfortable silence ensued. "You're supposed to disagree," I told him. "You actually look like a really swollen, bruised pumpkin," he answered. He then said that in fact, I appear jaundiced. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking this with my flu-addled brain, but some communication lessons might be in order here. Honesty is not always the ... Read more

Filed in: secret valentine exchange • by sanae • 8 Comments

Happy Friday + SVE plans

January 26, 2018

Happy Friday, friends! I'm guessing that most Secret Valentine Exchange folks are following #2018sve on Instagram and are probably not checking ye olde blog posts much, but thought I'd do a little update. This year my partner lives in the US, so that gives me a little extra time to work on her gift. I've been poring over my fabric stash, trying to find something that feels just right. Above are a few contenders. So pretty aren't they? Are you playing or following along with the SVE ... Read more

Filed in: secret valentine exchange • by sanae • 2 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

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!

#watercolorfun
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Theme by Blog Pixie

© 2025 Sanae Ishida