blown away...

Having worked in the world of commercial illustration for a period of time, I am always interested in where the illustrations I see come from, whether in books, magazines or advertisements. I always wonder if it's an illustrator I know or worked with. Yesterday morning was my usual Saturday morning routine of sitting at my daughter's dancing school for 2 hours (aka, magazine catch-up time)  I was reading the June Martha Stewart Living when I came across this and could not believe my eyes. This is the sewing illustration work of Miyuki Sakai and it is amazing!!

The tarts are real, the plates are stitched. She uses a simple machine and her straight stitch. That's all. Isn't is unbelievable? I have never seen anything like this before.
I was so inspired, I tried to make some cards, ala Miyuki Sakai. Had some duds, here were the 2 that made it through:

used the new Studio Calico for these cards..

Not really the same -clearly, I need more practice - sewing in a circle is hard. But I sewed and made stuff, right? I will definitely keep working on this...

Today I should be working on my next photo assignment, a macro photo, but what I really feel like doing is scouting a new landscape photo place. Turns out my photo work from last week didn't make the cut and I'm feeling the need to prove myself. I'd love to go back to Asbury but it's a lovely day here in the Northeast and it  will be filled with people. Can't do tomorrow because I have a full day at work, Tuesday is ICFF day (International Contemporary Furniture Fair). (Which, by the way, conveniently runs at the same time as the National Stationery Show.) Wednesday is my class. Guess I better go somewhere and do something!