Monday, April 28, 2014

Part Two - Intricate marking for multi centers

It's time to follow up on my post of a few days ago about marking multicenter temari using the multiple of three method. In the last post, I gave you the steps for making the ball on the left below, beginning with 32 centers. This post is about the ball on the right, beginning with 42 centers. The process is the same.


Multicenter Japanese Temari



What is this multiple of 3 method of marking?

The directions are in the files section of our TemariChallenge group. I am in the process of updating and editing but the changes are small. Have a look at the fourth file on that page - Multiple of 3 Study on TC 2012.

Process

Step 1 - ball is 42 cm in circumference and wrapped with navy Maxi Lock thread. I began by marking a C10 with Maxi Lock Radiant Turquoise. 

Step 2 - continue marking with Radiant Turquoise to create 42 centers. One important point about this step is to try to make the hexagons as regular as you can, so all sides are even. Then use multiple of 3 method to make 122 centers and once more to make 362 centers. All of this is done with the same Radiant Turquoise thread. 

Step 3 - with Sour Apple Maxi Lock thread, continue using the multiple of 3 method and add lines through all the pentagons. Then add one row through each of the green star points. 

Step 4 - stitch the remaining lines with Dark Turquoise Maxi Lock. You now have 1082 centers. 

Impressions

I was really surprised at how these two temari look so different! As far as process, I prefer beginning with 42 centers because stitching with the multiple of 3 method is a bit easier. I could make the two stitches inside each pentagon and then wrap the thread directly to the next pentagon without taking any stitches. This meant I only stitched at each center when that particular 12-way intersection was completed. I'm eager to design with this marking because I see the open areas at the center of the C10 triangles just waiting to be filled with a design of some sort. For the ball beginning with 32 centers, I want to play with color, not adding any extra design stitches on top of the marking. 

I've started my next experiment. I decided to mark the ball with Isacord, a beautiful, shiny, slippery (!) thread used for machine embroidery. I thought it would give some shine to the finished marking and be very elegant. Well, the impact of the extra shine is minimal and I was not able to wrap though any of the shapes because the thread slid around so much! But I persevered and just took a stitch at each intersection. When enough of the intersections had that one stitch, I could just slip my needle under that intersection without stitching. It's looks good and I'll share when I'm finished.


Friday, April 25, 2014

More about Carolina, a temari stitcher who spends time in two very different parts of the world!

The other day I shared Carolina's blog post about her trip to Guatemala. Those smiling faces reminded me of posts that I wrote when I began this blog - all about kindred sisters. I wanted to know more about Carolina and she has responded with some interesting tidbits. 



Thanks for being a part of our temari world, Carolina! 

***
Kindred (adjective): having the same belief, attitude, or feeling.
Sister (noun): a female friend regarded as a sister.
***

Where do you live? Tell us about your town.
I spend 5 winter months in Monteverde in Costa Rica, a very small town in the mountains of Costa Rica where the bird watching and weather are great. There isn’t much in the way of temari embroidery threads but I can get coffee husks which I use for the core of my balls here. I also can buy yarn and thread. So I bring a lot of embroidery thread with me. The rest of the year I am in Madison, Wisconsin. I definitely have ball containment issues in both homes. I’m occasionally able to part with temari as gifts but they do tend to pile up. 

What language do you speak? 
Not that it helps with making temari but besides English I speak Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and Indonesian. 

When did you begin making temari? 
3 years ago. 

How often do you stitch temari - every day? Once a week? Occasionally? 
Several times a week usually. 

How do you come up with your patterns? Follow directions in books? Web? Make your own?
I follow instructions in your books Barb and use a lot of patterns from the web. I love the stitch alongs on Temari Challenge and TemariKai. I have done a few patterns from Japanese books I own, but some I can’t figure out (yet). Sometimes I can figure out a pattern by looking at a photo. I spend (too much) time looking at photos of temari on the web. I always choose my own colors but have only made a few of my own patterns. 

What is your favorite thread? 
Cotton perle 5.

Do you teach temari? Tell us about your classes. 
I’ve shown a few people the basics but not in a formal class. That may come. 

Do you display temari in stores or craft or art shows? 
I’ve had one display at my local public library in Madison. 

What are your goals for future temari making? 
Continue exploring more patterns and all the wonderful colors. I hope to start creating more of my own patterns or variations. I never really now where temari is going to lead me. 

best wishes, 
Carolina

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Intricate marking for multicenters

These temari beauties have always intrigued me. A few years ago we studied multicenter temari and the multiple of 3 method of marking in our TemariChallenge Yahoo group. Our inspiration was the book Edo Temari from Japan (pages 70 - 71). 

Now in a new book from Japan, Dream in Temari Four, there is more about this type of marking (pages 52 - 56). I'm so inspired by these new temari that I've pulled out my old notes and have started experimenting again. 

I decided to make two temari, both the same size and to stitch them with the same thread with the same process. I really wanted a clear picture of the finished marking - to see differences and similarities for future designs. I started one with 32 centers and the other with 42 centers; then I continued stitching using the multiple of 3 method to further subdivide the temari. You can see how to mark 32 and 42 centers temari in my book Temari Techniques. Here is the result!

Multicenter temari  - 812 (left) and 1082 centers

Step 1 - each ball is 42 cm in circumference and wrapped with navy Maxi Lock thread. For the first temari (812 centers), I began by marking a C10 with Maxi Lock Radiant Turquoise. Call me crazy but I was at our house on the Pamlico River when I got the urge to begin the project. I didn't have any marking thread that was thin enough - or stitching thread either! Looking at them now, I think it's a good thing. The thread clings to the ball (doesn't roll out of place like pearl cotton) and it's easy to use when stitching. It does tangle now and then but with a little care, it's just fine for this type of work.

Step 2 - continue marking with Radiant Turquoise to create 32 centers, use multiple of 3 method to make 92 and once more to make 272 centers. All of this is done with the same Radiant Turquoise thread. 

Step 3 - with Sour Apple Maxi Lock thread, continue using the multiple of 3 method and add lines through all the pentagons. Then add one row through each of the green star points. 

Step 4 - stitch the remaining lines with Dark Turquoise Maxi Lock. You now have 812 centers. 

Here are some pictures I took with my iPad while I was stitching. 





812 centers temari with the pentagon facing front

812 centers temari with a hexagon facing front

I'm already getting lots of design ideas for what to do next! I'll write more on the process for beginning with 42 centers another day. 

Here is a chart from Dream in Temari Four. It shows the number of centers created from different starting points. This is a really handy reference to keep!


32
92
272
812
2432
7292
21872
42
122
362
1082
3242
9722
29162
162
482
1442
4322
12962


252
752
2252
6752





Carolina's Guatemalan Connection

Have a look at Carolina's blog about her trip to Guatemala. It's a very special connection between fiber artists!

Sharing embroidery in Guatemala

Monday, April 14, 2014

My YouTube Temari Channel

Yes! I have a YouTube Channel.  Not much there yet but I'll be adding more.  The newest one is how to mark a simple 8 division temari. I made this one because many people think it's so hard to mark a temari. If you watch this one and follow along the written directions on my website, I think you'll see it's definitely doable - even enjoyable!

So, look over my shoulder. You can do it - make temari.


Thursday, April 10, 2014

Yesterday, Today & Temari (Jinny Beyer)

Jinny's gift to her staff. Read all about it!

Jinny Beyer and Barb Suess stitching temari.



Monday, April 7, 2014

A new color palette

Jinny Beyer's colors have inspired me since the day my mom gave me Jinny's book Color Confidence for Quilters. Adding "deep dark" was the main message I got, although there is a lot of other color discussion in the book. My visit to Jinny's studio last week, brought it all back. Now, I'm eager to try for the balance of light and dark and the intensity of color that her quilts display. Here's my first try and I must say, I'm pretty pleased with it!

A new color palette for temari
My eye goes right to the the highlight, the light blue row, and then travels down, down, down, into the deep dark. This gives the design movement.

I mentioned to Jinny that I want to stitch Moon Glow on a temari. I have all the colors of thread and it's a work in progress now. Sometimes, I have to break for a little temari experiment like this one, though.

Moon Glow by Jinny Beyer


Saturday, April 5, 2014

Temari class in Virginia at Jinny Beyer Studio

Last weekend, I had a wonderful trip to the Jinny Beyer Studio. On Saturday, I taught a class to customers with the help of The Temari Twins, Karen Heppin and Jen Weber. Team teaching is definitely the way to go! We were able to teach 14 students at once and still give a lot of one-on-one attention. Sunday was a a repeat with Jinny and her staff joining us to learn how to make temari. They smiling faces? Yes, they were happy to be learning!

Temari class with Jinny Beyer and staff
Karen Heppin, Jen Weber, and Barb Suess