Hello, I'm Masae

I learned to crochet from my mother when I was a little girl in Japan. One of my earliest projects was a tiny top for my Rika-chan doll. Growing up surrounded by my mother's knitting, sewing, flower making, and other creative pursuits gave me a lifelong love of making things by hand. 

Nature has been just as important to me. As a child, I built playhouses in the bushes and made flower crowns in the fields. That fascination has stayed with me through decades of hiking, camping, and backpacking, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains. From alpine wildflowers to the textures and colors of the landscape, these experiences continually inspire my creativity.

My creations reflect these influences, along with my curiosity about materials. Inspired by my husband and son's passion for cycling, I transform reclaimed bicycle components into jewelry. I also enjoy finding new possibilities in discarded objects, from soda cans and used N95 masks to retired traffic flags. 

I love working with natural materials, too, making lei and weaving baskets. One of my dreams is to grow my own fiber plants, spin the fibers into thread or yarn, and use them in crochet or weaving, following the process from plant to finished piece.