Welcome to “Live Life Local,” a new series from Sasquatch Books, your Seattle-based Northwest Publisher. These posts celebrate the books and authors who are rooted in our beautiful, diverse region, helping you connect with it in new and exciting ways. Each month, we’ll feature two books, either by a local author or on a topic that connects with the region. This could be literal—think travel guides or outdoors-focused books—or symbolic—books that capture the adventurous, independent, sustainable, DIY spirit that defines us. And to embrace our community even more, each “Live Life Local” book pick will also include a chance to win a copy of the book and a gift to a local business.
This month our first pick is Animal Friends to Sew: Simple Handmade Decor, Toys, and Gifts for Kids by Sanae Ishida because May is for moms and what mom wouldn’t love to sew a cute critter for her kiddos (or be gifted one)? Sanae is a local mom herself, with a design sensibility informed by the PNW’s Scandinavian culture as well as by her own Japanese heritage. Find out how this beautiful book came to be, as Sasquatch Senior Editor Hannah Elnan shares why she simply had to acquire it.
And to enter a giveaway to win a copy and a $50 gift card to Dry Goods Design (one of Sanae’s favorite places to shop in Seattle), head over to our Facebook or Instagram page @sasquatchbooks and tag a friend! Stay tuned for our second May “Live Life Local” feature in a couple of weeks. (Hint: It’s very green.)
Sasquatch Editor (and Mom) Hannah: Why I Needed Animal Friends to Sew and Helped Bring it to Life
Dear Reader,
I’m Hannah, your friendly local editor at Sasquatch Books! I had the pleasure of working on Animal Friends to Sew: Simple Handmade Decor, Toys, and Gifts for Kids by Sanae Ishida.
Readers always seem to be curious about the backstory for books, and this one is pretty simple. Sanae is a treasure, so creative, thoughtful, and charming, exactly the sort of person you want to call a friend, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with her for about 6 years. I was working with her on another project and noticed that she kept posting pictures of things that she was making for fun—and for crafting magazines. These projects were all animal-themed, but they weren’t all the same old stuffed toys I was used to seeing. And I thought, Who doesn’t want more cute animals in their life? This has to be a book!
I love Sanae’s aesthetic sensibility—comforting, forgiving, and very wabi-sabi (a Japanese phrase that loosely translates to beauty in imperfection). It also has a Scandinavian-inspired minimalism, and is neutral and elevated in a way that goes with any sort of décor. These are kids’ toys, décor items, and wearables that you are not going to hate when they end up strewn about your living room for the next three years! Kids’ stuff can be, frankly, hideous and that’s what I love about Sanae’s projects—they’re kid-friendly and totally adorable while still appealing to adults.
The projects in the book are all deceptively simple and beginner-friendly, the sort of thing that would totally “win” any baby shower.
The book would be a great gift for anyone who loves to sew and has little ones in their lives (Mother’s Day is just around the corner, next Sunday May 10th!). It’s also great for anyone who suddenly finds themselves with a lot of time on their hands, which so many of us have these days.
I’ve been the lucky recipient of some incredibly sweet gifts as Sanae went through the testing process for the book: an adorable cat pillow and a darling bear clothes hamper (which didn’t quite make it into the book in their exact form, although variations did), as well as the amazing fishing game, which my son loves!
There’s something about making that can be life-changing. Sanae discovered this years ago and it informs all of her work. I hope you enjoy the book, and that the littles in your life enjoy all the gifts they’ll get from it!
Here’s to the calming, centering, joyous process of making!
Cheers,
Hannah Elnan
Animal Friends to Sew Book + Dry Goods Design Gift Card Giveaway
to enter a giveaway to win a copy and a $50 gift card to Dry Goods Design in Seattle (one of Sanae’s favorite places to shop), head over to our Instagram or Facebook page @sasquatchbooks and tag a friend!
ANIMAL FRIENDS TO SEW GIVEAWAY OFFICIAL RULES
IMPORTANT: Please read these Official Rules before entering the ANIMAL FRIENDS TO SEW GIVEAWAY (the “Sweepstakes”), presented by SASQUATCH BOOKS, a division of Penguin Random House LLC (“Sponsor”). By entering the Sweepstakes, you agree to the terms of these Official Rules. These Official Rules shall govern in the event of any inconsistency with other Sweepstakes-related materials.
Penguin Random House is the sole sponsor of this Sweepstakes, which is no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
ELIGIBILITY: The Sweepstakes is open to residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. If this is a Sweepstakes offer on Instagram, entrants must have a public Instagram profile. All federal, state, and local regulations apply. LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PER METHOD OF ENTRY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED. Employees of Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, and agencies, and their immediate family members and persons living in their household are not eligible to enter the Sweepstakes.
ENTRY PERIOD: The Sweepstakes begins at 4 PM PST on May 1, 2020, and ends at 11:59 PM PST on May 14, 2020.
HOW TO ENTER: Enter by:
1) Tagging a friend on Sasquatch Books Facebook Page post as required in the applicable Sweepstakes announcement.
2) Tagging a friend @SasquatchBooks’s Instagram post as required in the applicable Sweepstakes announcement.
In the case of a dispute, entries will be deemed made by the authorized holder of the applicable social network account and/or e-mail address used for entry. Automated entries are prohibited, and use of any automated devices will result in disqualification. Sponsor is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry of information by entrants; lost or late entries or transmissions; interrupted or unavailable network, server, or other connections; scrambled transmissions or other errors or problems of any kind whether mechanical, human, or electronic, technical malfunctions of any computer hardware, software, or any combinations thereof; or problems associated with any virus or any other damage caused to entrants’ systems. Incomplete or ineligible entries will be voided. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. If for any reason the Sweepstakes is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsor shall have the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes.
Comments and/or posts including photographs may not include obscene, offensive or inappropriate (in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion) material or defame any person, or otherwise infringe on any person’s proprietary rights. If you are posting a photograph, you must have permission from the photographer (or be the photographer yourself) and have permission from any persons who appear in the photo before submitting it.
PRIVACY POLICY: All information submitted in connection with entry to this Sweepstakes shall be governed by Sponsor’s privacy policy. By entering this Sweepstakes, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this privacy policy.
PRIZE:
ONE (1) Grand Prize Winner(s) will receive (i) a copy of ANIMAL FRIENDS TO SEW; and (ii) A $50 GIFT CARD TO DRY GOODS DESIGN. (Grand Prize Approximate Retail Value: $75.00).
TWO (2) Runner-Up Winner(s) will each receive (i) a copy of ANIMAL FRIENDS TO SEW (Runner-Up Prize Approximate Retail Value: $23.00).
No transfer or cash or other substitution of all or part of a prize is permitted, except by Sponsor, which reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute the prize or prize component with another of comparable or greater value. Any and all taxes on the prize will be the responsibility of the winners. Sponsor shall not be responsible for any delays, damage in the delivery of the prize, and/or loss of any prize in connection with delivery of the prize via mail. In the event that there is an insufficient number of eligible entries, Sponsor reserves the right not to award the prizes.
WINNER SELECTION: ONE (1) Grand Prize Winner(s) and TWO (2) -Up Winners will be selected in a random drawing on or about May 15 from all eligible entries received by the entry deadline. The odds of winning depend on how many eligible entries have been received. For Facebook and Twitter sweepstakes, winners will be notified via direct message on whichever social media platform their winning entry was posted. For a Twitter sweepstakes, winners must allow for direct messages so that Sponsor can contact winners via direct message. For Instagram sweepstakes, winners will be notified via a comment by Sponsor that he/she is a potential winner and Sponsor will provide an email address (or other contact information) where he/she can make a prize claim. Winners must respond to such notifications within ten (10) days of receipt. Winners must provide Sponsor with full contact details in order to be awarded the prize. Winners may also be required to complete, execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release. Noncompliance with these conditions may result in forfeiture of the Prize, and Sponsor reserves the right to select alternate winners (in random drawing from other eligible entries received before the deadline) in such circumstance. If winner notification of the Prize is returned as undeliverable, Sponsor may, at its discretion, select an alternate winner.
DISCLAIMERS: By competing in this Sweepstakes and/or accepting the prize, entrants agree that Sponsor, Facebook, and Instagram and their respective parent companies, assigns, subsidiaries and affiliates, and advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies and all of their respective employees, officers and directors will have no liability whatsoever, and will be held harmless by entrants for any liability for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind to person and property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse, or use of the prizes, or participation in this Sweepstakes. By accepting a prize, each Winner consents to the use of his/her name for publicity and promotional purposes on behalf of Sponsor with no additional compensation or further permission (except where prohibited by law).
Any dispute arising from this Sweepstakes will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law principles, and by entering the entrants
consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York County and agree that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.
WINNERS LIST: For a list of the Winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope by November 15, 2020 to SASQUATCH BOOKS, Attn: ANIMAL FRIENDS GIVEAWAY, 1904 3rd Ave #710, Seattle, WA 98101
SPONSOR: SASQUATCH BOOKS, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 1904 3rd Ave #710, Seattle, WA 98101
