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…

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 Heather commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 8:03 am

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 blog ..Summer fun-
2 MelanieO commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 8:34 am

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 blog ..Retro Summer Sale- Circa 50 by Monaluna is 15 Off
3 Lauren commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 8:36 am

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 Verity commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 8:58 am

Wow! This is amazing work and so inspiring! I can definitely relate to the heart jumping out of the chest feeling. So beautiful!
5 theaxx commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 9:00 am

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 Claire commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 9:07 am

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 blog ..Alite Monarch Chair
7 juliette commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 9:24 am

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 blog ..Humble Mill Pottery in Seagrove- NC
8 Holly commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 9:32 am

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 blog ..Samantha Robinson – Beautiful Handmade Porcelain
9 Thea commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 9:37 am

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 blog ..Commercial and Business Photography Work Albany professional Photographer Thea Coughlin
10 Thea commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 9:37 am

oops I meant to say uses her sewing machine to draw. Sorry for the error!
Thea´s last blog ..Commercial and Business Photography Work Albany professional Photographer Thea Coughlin
11 jenny lee fowler commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 10:05 am

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 Bridgette at Picked Fresh Daily commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 10:17 am

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 blog ..Fresh Space – Dreamy Outdoor Living Spaces
13 Karena commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 10:33 am

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

Karena
Art by Karena
Karena´s last blog ..Pillow Mint Giveaway -amp Town Art Show 2010
14 Victoria Bennett Beyer commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 11:08 am

LOVE love love these. What a brilliant and simple concept that is beautiful and complements the food so nicely.
Victoria Bennett Beyer´s last blog ..Alaska- The Living Shore
15 Anna Gavrilov commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 11:15 am

yum!
I’ll try to impress by boys with this soon.
16 Christine commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 11:16 am

Dare I say the illustrations are even more interesting than the desserts themselves..off to check out Miyuki’s work!
17 Valerie commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 11:17 am

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 sideoats + scribbles (Lisa) commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 12:21 pm

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 blog ..Not just your average tissue paper flowers
19 The Design Dish commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 12:26 pm

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 blog ..My take on preppy sailor…
20 Cheryl Elsbree Interior Design commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 12:34 pm

Not only scrumptious but beautiful! The photos alone are a work of art!
Thanks for this great post.
Cheryl Elsbree Interior Design´s last blog ..Interior Musings 1
21 My Owl Barn commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 12:38 pm

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 blog ..Cognoscenti Coffee
22 Nuit commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 12:54 pm

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 blog ..High Tech-
23 Iva commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 1:18 pm

This is too cute!! Aw :)
Iva´s last blog ..Summer Colors Week- Green
24 irene commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 2:12 pm

this looks great, indeed! and i’d love to taste the fig and strawberry tart :)
irene´s last blog ..bookshelf
25 Laura (youngDCliving) commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 2:15 pm

Those are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing these, this post was a lot of fun :) Per usual, of course.
Laura (youngDCliving)´s last blog ..This -amp- is Bananas- B-A-N-A-N-A-S-
26 Kitty @ Lavender Playground commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 2:15 pm

Thank you for the scans, they just took my breath away!
27 Renee commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 2:56 pm

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 blog ..Contracts- Estimates -amp Invoices – Oh My-
28 Valentina commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 3:12 pm

WoW! her work is soooo beautiful! Great artist. And now I’m hungry ;)
Valentina´s last blog ..You can win 2 of my prints-
29 lesley commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 3:43 pm

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

xoxo,
lesley
lesley´s last blog ..venice square 5×5 fine art photography print
30 Shanon commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

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 blog ..Garden flowers for you-
31 Chloe commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 5:18 pm

Love love love!!! Soo perfect and fun to drool over! Thanks Holly!
32 The bunny theory commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 5:33 pm

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 blog ..Milky lollies
33 Sandra Kuwartowski commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 6:56 pm

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 Julie Cove commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 7:50 pm

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 blog ..Strawberries and Raw Chocolate Mousse–A dreamy European Trip and FBC 2010
35 Carol@The Design Pages commented:
June 30th, 2010 at 10:43 pm

They’re stunning. I”d feel bad putting food on it to be honest…Carol
Carol@The Design Pages´s last blog ..Schools Out Baby-
36 ishtar commented:
July 1st, 2010 at 3:23 am

just when you think you cant be surprised any more…..WOW!!!!! I´m speechless….AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
ishtar´s last blog ..Summer weeds- Hierbas de Verano
37 claire commented:
July 1st, 2010 at 7:17 am

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 blog ..Make Your Own Soap
38 lady a. commented:
July 1st, 2010 at 7:31 am

I can’t believe they are made using sewing machine!!! Really wonderful and the cakes…yummy!
39 Eglair Quicolli commented:
July 1st, 2010 at 8:31 am

Miyuki Sakai is really a great sew artist.
I post her in my blog too.
;)
40 Purnima@acreativeproject commented:
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:55 am

So beautiful!! It looks like a painting on hand made paper..!! Love the photography and the arrangement too..
41 {tig} commented:
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:27 pm

this is absolutely stunning and adore the real desserts placed on top
{tig}´s last blog ..colour inspiration- buttercream
42 Peta commented:
July 4th, 2010 at 7:00 am

Incredible! What talent :)
43 Tonya commented:
July 5th, 2010 at 7:28 pm

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 blog ..Spring Cleaning
44 Nikki commented:
July 6th, 2010 at 1:53 pm

Absolutely amazing! Such a skilled artist!
Nikki´s last blog ..Featured Etsy artist- Irene Suchocki photography
45 Afi commented:
July 6th, 2010 at 10:34 pm

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 blog ..Tropical bird
46 suzanne commented:
July 7th, 2010 at 6:03 am

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 Amy commented:
July 7th, 2010 at 7:24 am

Wow! What a brilliant idea and gorgeous execution.
Amy´s last blog ..An Illustrated Summer- Bing Cherries
48 tali commented:
July 7th, 2010 at 8:27 pm

what?! That is amazing!
Such stunning work.
tali´s last blog ..Smile
49 Kelly commented:
July 7th, 2010 at 9:22 pm

Wow, these are gorgeous!
50 Ana commented:
July 8th, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Her work is soooo inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
Ana´s last blog ..New e-zine- First issue is out-
51 christina commented:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:10 pm

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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