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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Happy Thanksgiving

November 26, 2015

Just a little note to wish you and all your loved ones a spectacular Thanksgiving! We'll have our usual unconventional movie + Chinese food Thanksgiving of ultra low stress. Since I won't need to slave over the stove, I'll be using the extra time to sew a recital dress for K, work on the annual Advent calendar (see previous ones here and here and here) and finish up the next Furoku (it might be a day or two late...). I have so many thanks to give. Too many, really, and I think I'll leave it ... Read more

Filed in: gouache, illustration, life, watercolor • by sanae • Leave a Comment

Happy Friday + Randomness

November 20, 2015

You know, it's been a pretty tough couple of months for me. I have a built-in Pollyanna functionality, so I do find the silver lining in most situations, but these last two months nearly did me in. With illnesses and financial/career issues and things falling apart one after another, October and November may very well rank up there in the top 2 worst months of 2015. Two days ago, as I administered Benadryl to alleviate the humongous hives that mysteriously appeared all over K's body (and her ... Read more

Filed in: life • by sanae • 12 Comments

Things That Make You Go Calmmmmm

November 18, 2015

It's not even Thanksgiving yet and I'm already beset by the holiday fatigue. Retailers are streaming jolly tunes about Santa and snow everywhere I turn, and I find myself scouring online sources for gift ideas and feeling overwhelmed by the choices. Luckily, I've been reading all of your comments from the giveaway to amp up my mindfulness cultivation toolbox. Knitting kept cropping up so I took up my needles for the first time in years even though I'm a self-proclaimed non-knitter. It's ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, life, watercolor • by sanae • 15 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

Happy Friday + Randomness + Giveaway {CLOSED}

November 13, 2015

Happy Friday! Since there was no school on Veteran's Day this past Wednesday, K and I headed to the Japanese Garden to meet up with some friends. It was so beautiful and serene. I almost felt like I should whisper and suppress my coughs. The autumnal leaves boldly accented the lush green landscape. Red, gold, persimmon (there were actual persimmons too). The koi fish gathered under the small bridges. Many were autumnal in color too, but the one that caught my eye was indigo, of ... Read more

Filed in: giveaway • by sanae •

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I’ve been spending less time around here — the I’ve been spending less time around here — the landscape has been feeling dark and murky and I wish I had a magical luminous flower like this bunny to light the way…#procreatewatercolorfun
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