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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Nani IRO Water Window Wiksten

June 24, 2014

Riding high on the success of my nani IRO Mountain View dress, I threw myself into an idea I had for another gorgeous piece of nani IRO I got from Miss Matatabi. Yes, that is an exposed zipper. And no, it did not go well. In fact, I can't even show you close-ups because pretty much everything went wrong with this top. This is, I believe, what is called a botch job. But first, is this not the most soothing, neutralicious palette? I just can't get enough of it. It's called Water Window Wata ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 26 Comments

Monday Outfit: Ye Old Halter Dress

June 23, 2014

Good morning! Due to our road trip and other vital things (like sewing clothes for myself), there's still no sewing for K happening, but it occurred to me that she's been wearing this halter dress I made several years ago a lot lately and that I've never posted it here. If you saw my nani IRO post last week, you might have noticed a very similar muslin, and it was inspired in part by this dress. The pattern is from this book, and I vaguely remember sewing this before she started ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for K • by sanae • 18 Comments

Happy Friday + Randomness

June 20, 2014

Happy Friday! Today is the first day of summer vacation, and I thought this illustration I painted evoked that sense of anticipation. I can't believe it -- second grade is done! ********************************************* K: "You know what my gift is, Mommy?" Me: "What?" K: "I can sense guilt - I can always tell when you're lying." Me: "Me?? I never lie!" K: "Oh yes you do...your eyes twinkle when you're lying and your face looks puffy when you feel guilty." ++++ K: "Mama, you ... Read more

Filed in: illustration, life, watercolor • by sanae • 4 Comments

nani IRO month: Mountain View Dress

June 19, 2014

Oh, how I love nani IRO....I was lucky enough to be included in the nani IRO month tour hosted by the finest purveyor of Japanese fabric herself, Frances of Miss Matatabi. I adore Frances. She's hilarious and sweet and the speediest shipper of beautiful textiles. If I lived in Tokyo, I know that we'd be hanging out together all the time, drinking matcha lattes and gushing over fabric. I look pretty intense up there, don't I? I feel like I should be holding a sword or some type of weapon. That ... Read more

Filed in: sewing, sewing for me • by sanae • 58 Comments

Street Style Sketches

June 18, 2014

Keepin' it snappy today as K just informed me that I'm supposed to be making her an outfit for her and a friend for "twin day". I guess it's part of spirit week at her school and it strikes me as an odd theme (I worry that some kids will be excluded), but it is what it is. I have exactly one hour to do this, and I'm racking my brains for the easiest possible pattern. Anyway, as an incorrigible creature of habit, I frequent coffee shops daily to write in my journal. One of my favorite things ... Read more

Filed in: gouache, illustration, watercolor • by sanae • 10 Comments

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I just realized that this week marks 10 years sinc I just realized that this week marks 10 years since my first craft book Sewing Happiness was published. I’ve sewn literally thousands of garments and other textile projects in the last decade! I included a Sashiko primer in the book, and I’m delighted that this humble Japanese embroidery practice has stood the test of time - if anything, I’ve noticed that there’s an ever growing enthusiasm for hand stitching. Fun news: I’ll be teaching a virtual Sashiko workshop for @tatterbluelibrary on Thursday, April 30th at noon ET. Link in profile! Would love to see you there! 💙💙💙💙💙
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