Sewing Happiness: A Year of Simple Projects for Living Well (Sanae Ishida Sews) Paperback – Illustrated, April 19, 2016

If you want a straight forward instructional sewing book, there are others. This book is a story of healing by taking care of yourself and finding joy in sewing. I completely related to this story, although I have the opposite thyroid issue, Hashimoto’s disease. (HypOthyroidism as opposed to HypErthyroidism and Graves’ disease.) I know exactly how it feels to be so tired, you physically ache and feeling so frustrated that you often find yourself angry. Periods of stress causes autoimmune flares and sewing is so calming, it’s hard to think about other things when I’m working on something. I too have changed my lifestyle to accommodate my thyroid issues but I found I needed an outlet and sewing is it.I loved reading this story and I love the uncomplicated design of the projects included in the book. The fact that the author made them this way feels like a parallel to her simplified life and healthier way of being. Loved it!

I love this book.:) It is an unusual combination of an artist's personal story and a sewing book, and yet that combination works beautifully. It's hard to describe what category I would put this book into. I love the projects, because although they are not difficult, they are also not what you might find in other sewing books. They have the author's well-developed creative touch, and each project was chosen for a personal reason by this writer, as you will see when you read her story and see what she chose to include. I plan to make several of them. The fabrics chosen for the projects also reflect the artist and provide some guidance in making a more sophisticated product.One brilliant aspect of this book was Not to include patterns, but instead to encourage the readers to follow the directions, which are all just fine, and to draft their own patterns. I don't usually think of sewing books as works of art, but I think this one is. Buy one for yourself, and also for a friend.Theres a lot of soul in this sewing book!

Very inspiring story of overcoming life struggles gracefully combined with lovely projects. Loved style and photography.

To condense many pages into two sentences: former corporate striver loses health, job, and almost family. Slowing down, eating right, exercising, realigning priorities, and sewing save the day.It's not that I don't care about the author's life story but ... okay, I don't care. She seems nice, though. Her daughter is very cute. I'm here for the sewing.Now, I've been sewing clothes for 50 years. What does this book have to teach me? Answer: some fun, quick projects. I have made three origami pillows (fabulous results) and one infinity scarf (directions could have been streamlined for clarity). Most of the projects and their clean lines appeal to me and I will certainly make more. Four stars for the sewing part of the book.Minus one star for the autobiography. It felt like an angle to differentiate this book from others. Not necessary.Looking forward to Sanae Ishida's next sewing book.

Sewing Happiness is a sweet collection of projects— some that are a different take on familiar standbys and some that are completely new. For those who’ve never sewn without a pattern, it’s a gentle intro to drafting your own. For the time-challenged, it’s an invitation to sit down and enjoy some mindful sewing. For those who love to give handmade gifts, it’s a great little resource. It’s also pretty to look at and a pleasure to read.This book is also a lovely testament to the power that very simple creative acts can have in our lives, and to the capacity that making things can have to help us push past difficult moments. Out of personal sharing comes some great little life lessons. Very nicely done!

This an inspiring and delightful combination of wisdom, instructive practicality, and good humor. I have been sewing, off and on, for over 60 years; but I still found helpful tips and encouragement within the book's (virtual) pages. Well done, Ms. Ishida, and thank you! ❤

Love this sweet little sewing book. The pattern for the origami pillows would be worth the cost of the book alone. However her story is a blessing to read. I haven’t seen anything for a long while, and this has brought me a gift I hadn’t expected. Simple, easy to follow, and magnificent in its simplicity. Wish I could post my photos for the origami pillows— they are fabulous and so easy!

I enjoyed the book, but wasn’t inspired to sew any of the projects. The author focuses on her background and influences so much that it is more of an autobiography that a sewing book. The instructions are clear and whilst there is nothing actually wrong with them, they are totally uninspiring, very simple and masculine. I can see how it would appeal to beginner sewers, but I was disappointed and wouldn’t recommend it.