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Miyuki Sakai Sewing Illustration

I recently came across the June issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine and read the Vive la Tarte article which features yummy pastry AND the work of Miyuki Sakai — my heart jumped out of my chest – gorgeous! I thought these backgrounds were hand drawn with yummy things placed on top (brilliant) but then I read further to discover that these drawings were created using a sewing machine (Oh yes, I kid you not)  and I had to learn more about them. For those without access to this issue, feast your eyes…

Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living

Imagine the patience, skill and overall awesomeness of this artist? Miyuki lives in San Francisco but grew up in Osaka, Japan where she observed her mother making clothes for the family from a very early age. After attending art school in Kyoto, she moved to Tokyo to pursue a freelance career and then relocated to San Francisco where she currently lives and works. Aren’t these deslightful? Now I’m dying make these yummy desserts — this video is a good one to watch if you’d like to make some of your own tarts at home.

(images: martha stewart living)


51 Responses to “Miyuki Sakai Sewing Illustration”

  1. 1 Heather commented:


    What amazing illustrations and layout. The images just jump right off the pages! I hope this ends up as a baking cookbook. The images are just too great to be seen once in a mag.
    Heather´s last [type] ..Summer fun-

  2. 2 MelanieO commented:


    Amazing! Her work is gorgeous and incredible. And don’t get me started on the tarts, I haven’t had breakfast yet!
    MelanieO´s last [type] ..Retro Summer Sale- Circa 50 by Monaluna is 15 Off

  3. 3 Lauren commented:


    oooh, I loved these too! I thought at first they might be done watercolor pencils. I’ve never seen sewing that shows shadows and shading so well. so beautiful and perfect to display such yummy treats on!

  4. 4 Verity commented:


    Wow! This is amazing work and so inspiring! I can definitely relate to the heart jumping out of the chest feeling. So beautiful!

  5. 5 theaxx commented:


    oh goodness! Japanese crafty ladies always produce such magnificent and truly beautiful beautiful work!!! So very inspiring!!!!!

    Thanks for posting about her!! Love iT!!

    thea.
    xx

    (spoonfulzine)

  6. 6 Claire commented:


    this whole book is amazing, from the back grounds to the recipes! I can’t believe they were done on a sewing machine – so beautiful
    Claire´s last [type] ..Alite Monarch Chair

  7. 7 juliette commented:


    oh wow, that is a patience I just don’t have. However, I could sit with that page to my nose for quite a while. Amazing!
    juliette´s last [type] ..Humble Mill Pottery in Seagrove- NC

  8. 8 Holly commented:


    Wow, these are incredible! At first glance, I thought for sure that they were done in colored pencil! I can’t believe the detail that was created with a sewing machine.
    Holly´s last [type] ..Samantha Robinson – Beautiful Handmade Porcelain

  9. 9 Thea commented:


    I am in complete awe. These are so delicate and really look like plates. The loose strings give such a nice depth/sense of texture. My friend Sam uses a sewing machine to sew and it amazes me. One day she shows up for our coffee date with a cool stitched drawing on her tshirt-something she whipped up that morning because her tshirt felt boring. I dream of being able to sew , but know I just don’t have and innate talent or presently, the dedication to try to learn more than the basics. I may hit Sam (http://sammisofties.blogspot.com/) up for a few lessons some day, but for now I just stand in awe at what is possible…
    Thea´s last [type] ..Commercial and Business Photography Work Albany professional Photographer Thea Coughlin

  10. 10 Thea commented:


    oops I meant to say uses her sewing machine to draw. Sorry for the error!
    Thea´s last [type] ..Commercial and Business Photography Work Albany professional Photographer Thea Coughlin

  11. 11 jenny lee fowler commented:


    Absolutely exquisite. The tarts grabbed me, the artistry of the sewing cinched it.

    *For the tart obsessed Elizabeth Hodder wrote an excellent book called The Book of Old Tarts where she share old and new tart recipes and their history.

  12. 12 Bridgette at Picked Fresh Daily commented:


    Absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had the patience to create something so detailed. I would love a framed collection of them for my kitchen!
    Bridgette at Picked Fresh Daily´s last [type] ..Fresh Space – Dreamy Outdoor Living Spaces

  13. 13 Karena commented:


    These are really works of art and wonderful keepsakes! Love them.

    Karena
    Art by Karena
    Karena´s last [type] ..Pillow Mint Giveaway -amp Town Art Show 2010

  14. 14 Victoria Bennett Beyer commented:


    LOVE love love these. What a brilliant and simple concept that is beautiful and complements the food so nicely.
    Victoria Bennett Beyer´s last [type] ..Alaska- The Living Shore

  15. 15 Anna Gavrilov commented:


    yum!
    I’ll try to impress by boys with this soon.

  16. 16 Christine commented:


    Dare I say the illustrations are even more interesting than the desserts themselves..off to check out Miyuki’s work!

  17. 17 Valerie commented:


    Wow, what a beautiful spread. Will have to go and try to get a copy of the magazine to check that out. That strawberry and fig tart is making me very hungry this morning… Thanks Holly for sharing!

  18. 18 sideoats + scribbles (Lisa) commented:


    Oh my! Those are truly awe inspiring!!!!

    We recently had a second Anthro store open here, and they had the cutest paper napkins and plates with sewn designs on them as decorations on a table for the opening — but nothing like this! Just WOW. :)
    sideoats + scribbles (Lisa)´s last [type] ..Not just your average tissue paper flowers

  19. 19 The Design Dish commented:


    I am so glad you posted this! I saw this in the magazine and tried so hard to find the images for my blog and somehow couldn’t!!!!!
    Thanks!
    The Design Dish
    The Design Dish´s last [type] ..My take on preppy sailor…

  20. 20 Cheryl Elsbree Interior Design commented:


    Not only scrumptious but beautiful! The photos alone are a work of art!
    Thanks for this great post.
    Cheryl Elsbree Interior Design´s last [type] ..Interior Musings 1

  21. 21 My Owl Barn commented:


    I thought these were done in watercolors or something. But sewing machine? That’s incredible! I need to get the book to see every detail.
    My Owl Barn´s last [type] ..Cognoscenti Coffee

  22. 22 Nuit commented:


    oh wowww!! this is unbelievable!!! yes I thought they were painted too! what an artist… I wish I was crafty like that ;)

    xoxo
    Nuit´s last [type] ..High Tech-

  23. 23 Iva commented:


    This is too cute!! Aw :)
    Iva´s last [type] ..Summer Colors Week- Green

  24. 24 irene commented:


    this looks great, indeed! and i’d love to taste the fig and strawberry tart :)
    irene´s last [type] ..bookshelf

  25. 25 Laura (youngDCliving) commented:


    Those are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing these, this post was a lot of fun :) Per usual, of course.
    Laura (youngDCliving)´s last [type] ..This -amp- is Bananas- B-A-N-A-N-A-S-

  26. 26 Kitty @ Lavender Playground commented:


    Thank you for the scans, they just took my breath away!

  27. 27 Renee commented:


    Wow – I am such a fan. I just love the delicate touch and the beautiful colors in the artwork. I could hang them on a wall and call it a day.

    Thanks for the post Holly.
    Renee´s last [type] ..Contracts- Estimates -amp Invoices – Oh My-

  28. 28 Valentina commented:


    WoW! her work is soooo beautiful! Great artist. And now I’m hungry ;)
    Valentina´s last [type] ..You can win 2 of my prints-

  29. 29 lesley commented:


    oh wow, i saw these but didn’t realize they were made with a sewing machine… amazing!

    xoxo,
    lesley
    lesley´s last [type] ..venice square 5×5 fine art photography print

  30. 30 Shanon commented:


    I remember these from the issue. I remember thinking that they were breathtaking, original, inventive, and super gorgeous. It’s really great that you are showcasing them Holly.
    Shanon´s last [type] ..Garden flowers for you-

  31. 31 Chloe commented:


    Love love love!!! Soo perfect and fun to drool over! Thanks Holly!

  32. 32 The bunny theory commented:


    Oh my, is it wrong for me to say I’m in love? They are amazing, I want to get my paws on a copy of the magazine right now.
    The bunny theory´s last [type] ..Milky lollies

  33. 33 Sandra Kuwartowski commented:


    I just bookmarked Miyuki Sakai`s website. It is absolutely beautiful. Her machine sewn plates decorated with flowers and dangling threads are so delicate I not only like to eat up the delicious looking cakes for their own sake but to see the rest of the patterns hidden by those cakes…

  34. 34 Julie Cove commented:


    These are absolutely stunning, what an innovative artist–and a fabulous way to present these gorgeous desserts. Thanx for highlighting this for us:)
    Julie Cove´s last [type] ..Strawberries and Raw Chocolate Mousse–A dreamy European Trip and FBC 2010

  35. 35 Carol@The Design Pages commented:


    They’re stunning. I”d feel bad putting food on it to be honest…Carol
    Carol@The Design Pages´s last [type] ..Schools Out Baby-

  36. 36 ishtar commented:


    just when you think you cant be surprised any more…..WOW!!!!! I´m speechless….AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
    ishtar´s last [type] ..Summer weeds- Hierbas de Verano

  37. 37 claire commented:


    I saw this in the magazine too and my jaw just dropped. What a great medium to use and what a brilliant mind!
    claire´s last [type] ..Make Your Own Soap

  38. 38 lady a. commented:


    I can’t believe they are made using sewing machine!!! Really wonderful and the cakes…yummy!

  39. 39 Eglair Quicolli commented:


    Miyuki Sakai is really a great sew artist.
    I post her in my blog too.
    ;)

  40. 40 Purnima@acreativeproject commented:


    So beautiful!! It looks like a painting on hand made paper..!! Love the photography and the arrangement too..

  41. 41 {tig} commented:


    this is absolutely stunning and adore the real desserts placed on top
    {tig}´s last [type] ..colour inspiration- buttercream

  42. 42 Peta commented:


    Incredible! What talent :)

  43. 43 Tonya commented:


    My goodness! I have to go back and look again at those pages in my copy of Martha Stewart Living magazine. I did not realize that those images were done using a sewing machine. I usually don’t just browse. I am remembering the importance of reading articles because the learning and inspiration in those articles make the images all the more amazing!
    Tonya´s last [type] ..Spring Cleaning

  44. 44 Nikki commented:


    Absolutely amazing! Such a skilled artist!
    Nikki´s last [type] ..Featured Etsy artist- Irene Suchocki photography

  45. 45 Afi commented:


    Really pretty, true eye candies…I didn’t know about Miyuki, she is a true talent and I love Martha too, she’s awesome :)
    Afi´s last [type] ..Tropical bird

  46. 46 suzanne commented:


    ooh. I saw this too in the magazine and just about lost my mind because the images were so amazing.
    Thank You for sharing …. :)

  47. 47 Amy commented:


    Wow! What a brilliant idea and gorgeous execution.
    Amy´s last [type] ..An Illustrated Summer- Bing Cherries

  48. 48 tali commented:


    what?! That is amazing!
    Such stunning work.
    tali´s last [type] ..Smile

  49. 49 Kelly commented:


    Wow, these are gorgeous!

  50. 50 Ana commented:


    Her work is soooo inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
    Ana´s last [type] ..New e-zine- First issue is out-

  51. 51 christina commented:


    I cannot believe these! Painstakingly striking! I had to zoom in on my mac to see the detail. My god. Just insane. I cannot imagine the time she puts into these. I wish I had that kind of time to devote to my work!! :)

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