Happy Friday! I may have mentioned this before, but in my family we had this sacred tradition: on the morning of New Year's Day, my mom would plop a few pairs of new underwear on all the kids' beds, and the three Ishida offspring knew that it was mandatory to don one of them to bed the first night of the year. Just to clarify, the new undergarments are worn on the first evening of the year, and not on New Year's Eve. I have no idea if this is a traditional Japanese thing, or if it's some weird ... Read more
2016 Secret Valentine Exchange!!
It's happening: the 3rd annual Secret Valentine Exchange!! Ute and I are teaming up as per usual, and we're thrilled to be hosting this unique and all-around creative event. Based on the Scandinavian Secret Santa tradition called Julklapp, our first SVE brought 40 participants together and last year we had a whopping 100+ participants! Essentially, you sign up and Ute and I assign Secret Valentines (we're part of the gift exchange fun too). We'll send you the info about the person for whom ... Read more
The New Year’s Day Puffer
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
Mishmash of Thoughts on 2015 + Happy 2016!
2015 is about to end, and I'm full of nostalgia already. This has been a year of so many magnificent firsts -- I've mentioned them relentlessly at this point, so I will spare you the replay. Will 2016 top the surreal awesomeness that was this year? I can't wait to find out. The rose illustration you see up there is one of my favorites that I've done in the last 12 months. It's a departure from my usual style, with more dimension and a botanical painting vibe. I want to do a ... Read more
2015 RECAP: Sewing for K
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