Nat

I got a little birthday surprise this year — stickers featuring my cats. 🐈 Of course, I had to put them on my sewing machine. Now my sewing machine has a little bit of company while I work. It’s such a small thing, but I love how a familiar tool can become a little more personal with something like this. A tiny glimpse of my atelier today. Nat

Shiokara is a traditional Japanese seafood dish made by fermenting squid with salt. It has a rich, savory flavor and is often enjoyed in small portions with rice or as a snack with a drink. To be honest, I have never been a big fan of the shiokara sold in stores. It is often a little too salty and fishy for my taste. But my mother-in-law's homemade shiokara is completely different. I have always loved hers. When we could get very fresh good squids, she used to make a fresh batch for our...

Back in June, I published a blog post about making an A5 notebook cover using a clear vinyl pouch from a 100-yen shop. (You can read it here.) For the past few years, I've been using an A5 notebook as both my planner and my idea journal. Whenever I attend a seminar or watch YouTube videos to learn something new, I keep this notebook beside me to take notes. Having everything in one notebook has been incredibly convenient. Thinking back, my planner journey began when I was in junior high...