Have you admired those beautiful thread-wrapped and stitched balls known as temari? These wonderful stitched orbs can be easy to do -- especially with the guidance of one of the authorities in the field. I'm pleased to announce that Barbara Suess will be teaching a NEW series of courses in temari based on a curriculum developed by the Japan Temari Association. There are two levels, Level 1 and Level 2 and each level is broken into two parts. This email pertains to the Part 2 sessions of each level. (You can sign up for part 2 even if you didn't do part 1 - you just need to meet the prerequisites. See further in this document for more details.)
In January of 2015, the Japan Temari Association (JTA) introduced a curriculum for international study that is based on the same curriculum taught in Japan by JTA certified teachers and masters. This exciting opportunity inspired Barb to begin teaching this same curriculum in her online courses. While successful completion of these courses can lead to application for JTA certification by Barb's students, you can also participate just for the pleasure of learning to make temari with patterns provided by the JTA masters. You do not have to join the JTA or apply for certification when you take these courses; however, some of you will find temari so addictive that you will likely want to join and apply and these courses will provide an excellent basis for your certification application. I've attached a picture of the type of projects you will learn in these classes.
Barb has divided the coursework into two levels and each level consists of two six-month courses. There are LOTS of details for this new course curriculum and Barb has created several web pages to describe the new courses here:
http://www.japanesetemari.com/
Since this is brand new, Barb has anticipated some of the questions you might have and has a summary here:
http://www.japanesetemari.com/
The second parts of both Level 1 and Level 2 begin on October 1 and run through March 31 with the month of December off. Since we know everyone works at different rates, you may join the course in progress. (You can even still sign up for part 1 of either level, if you're quick.) The courses are progressive and each builds on skills developed in the earlier classes. The required text for all the classes is Temari Techniques, which is available from Barb if you don't already have a copy. Since many interested students will likely already have some temari supplies, there is no supplied kit. If you do need supplies, Barb has an etsy store to make as-you-go shopping easy and affordable.
Barb will provide lots of personal feedback as you progress through the lessons. Think of her as a coach, guide and mentor as she shares her expertise and love for this traditional art.
Yes, we know that October 1 is just around the corner. We needed to get started so that those who wanted to apply for certification could get their submissions done in time. There is plenty of time during the six months of each class to complete the work and it's not a concern if you join late. You know how much time you can dedicate to the class -- whether it's a matter of so many hours per week or a concentrated period of time in your life -- the perfect cure for the winter doldrums.
Students participating in the part 1 session of each level have progressed wonderfully through the lessons. They have shared photos and created LOTS of temari. It really feels like Barb is there coaching right beside you and her feedback is extremely prompt. If you're unsure about where you might fit in with your temari skills, look through the FAQ page here:
http://www.japanesetemari.com/
and if you're still unsure, send Barb an email at: barb@japanesetemari.com
So, are you ready to accept the challenge and learn temari based on a really well-organized series of lessons? If so, we hope you'll join Barb as she begins this new approach to temari classes. If you have any questions, there are links to contact Barb via the web page links above, or just send an email to:
So, are you ready to accept the challenge and learn temari based on a really well-organized series of lessons? If so, we hope you'll join Barb as she begins this new approach to temari classes. If you have any questions, there are links to contact Barb via the web page links above, or just send an email to: barb@japanesetemari.com
We hope you will enjoy this latest class offering from Shining Needle Society!
Kate GauntShining Needle Societykategaunt@aol.com
