About Hanano
Each hanano gift begins and ends with quality materials and a dedication to details. Imperfection is just perfect in our eyes. We love the one-of-a-kind charm of a crooked stitch, an elbow patch, a grim expression, and an odd loose end here and there.
Thank you for visiting!
My Story
My story starts with a bear.
Tiddy Bear started out a Winnie the Pooh – he ended up a flat, chewed bear with old button eyes and a hand-crocheted jumpsuit.
He was the original bear in my life. I loved him more than anything else. He went everywhere with me. Sometimes he was left out in the rain. Sometimes he was chewed by one of my dad’s patients – my dad was a vet so we had a lot of dogs in our house!
Each and every time Tiddy Bear was hurt or dirty, my mom lovingly washed and repaired him. Her Japanese influence crept into his look and his very essence. He was very Wabi Sabi in his rustic simplicity and understated elegance. As with kintsugi, his flaws were highlighted and became his charm.
Why Make?
There is a special magic in handmade stuff, knowing that someone has put their love and energy into creating an object. The objects that surround us should be picked carefully and cared for. If we can choose items that are one of a kind, made with upcycled or quality materials, and that have supported a small business or tradesperson, we are creating a lasting impact and a better world.
Now
These days, my full-time job is as a content creator and social media manager for a public library system that serves our community of around 300,000 people.
In my free time, I can’t keep my hands still so I am either practicing classical piano or making things. I am married to a book designer and we have one cat named Mochi and two tiny mutts, Nerman and Boris.
Thank you for visiting us today!
xoxo
Amy Hana
More About How I work
I work slowly, crafting each item by hand, sometimes while watching period dramas, cozy mysteries, and archeology shows.
I do my best to give secondhand materials a new life. It takes a little longer to find some materials, to clean them naturally, and to get the texture and color I like, but it’s worth it.If I can’t repurpose old materials, I buy high quality materials like mohair, cashmere and wool, so those items will have a long life.
