Miyuki Sakai’s Incredible Sewing Illustrations

~ jama

miyukibonnejournee

Somewhere in San Francisco, Osaka-born artist Miyuki Sakai is busy creating yet another gorgeous sewing illustration.

Using only a standard sewing machine, about 200 different thread colors, and a basic straight stitch, she fashions amazing pictures of everyday objects and scenes, from the dining room and kitchen, to the office, street, cafe, garden, and supermarket.

miyukiwaffles

Miyuki grew up watching her mother make clothes and decided to adopt the sewing machine as her primary tool. After graduating from art college in Kyoto, she worked as a freelance illustrator in Tokyo before emigrating to the U.S.

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Her unique style is characterized by lush colors, meticulous detail, and studied compositions. She works freehand, leaving uncut threads that give her illustrations a charming human touch.

miyukiscones

miyukipersimmons

Back in 2011, she earned a Bronze Medal in Editorial Design (NY ADC Awards) for her “Viva la Tarte!” stitched plates that showcased real food in Martha Stewart Living.

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Her work has also been featured in various periodicals such as Country Home, Vogue, GQ, Seventeen, and The New York Times Magazine, and she’s done ads for SONY, Nordstrom, Microsoft, and Hitachi, among others.

miyukiviolets

At her site, she shares photos of her “darling sewing machine” and her “good friends” (BandAids). 🙂 I’m totally in awe.

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miyukicollage

miyukicorn

miyukibagel

miyukicarrot

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miyukiveggies

miyukitart

miyukionionsoup

miyikifruitplatter

miyukiseeds

miyukiteacups

miyukiblueberries

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miyukispices

miyukicrackers

miyukitypewriter

See more of Miyuki’s work at her Official Website and the Tokyo Illustrator’s Society.

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Copyright © 2016 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

 

33 thoughts on “Miyuki Sakai’s Incredible Sewing Illustrations”

  7. Wow, Jama, to repeat everyone else, these are amazing. I cannot even choose a favorite, but enlarged some, and was even more amazed by the detail. Thanks for finding and sharing!

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  8. WOW, if she even did something as simple as making a dish towel, it’d be so much detail and effort! (And then I’d frame it instead of using it.) I love how art can be …anything we make it. What a talent. Thanks for the heads up of such beauty, Jama-j.

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    1. Yes, anything we make it — that’s the best part. I’m constantly amazed, surprised, and impressed by people who create their own niches. I remember how I struggled with the dress I had to make for 8th grade home ec. Just straight seams!!

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  12. Jama,
    Thanks, once again, for the education. This is incredible. I can only imagine what the textures will look like in really life. I want to see one. Actually, I’d love to be able to feel one.
    I too would like to know how long one of her creations takes to make. Amazing. I’m always learning things from you. Thank you.

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    1. It would be great to be able to see her work in person and feel the textures. Would love if she made a calendar or something that we could all purchase.

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  13. Oh my goodness, Jama! These are incredible. I am simply stunned by her creativity and skill. Thank you for bringing her to our attention. You find the most amazing creations.

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