Week 30 of Take a Stitch Tuesday (my how time flies!)

Week 30 of Take a Stitch Tuesday

Oyster stitch in the center forms a little flower. This is a really nice way to bulk up a lazy daisy (detached chain) stitch. The temari is a prototype. I'm working up a design that isn't quite there yet!

Flax leaf - studying the books

Still on the flax leaf kick, I've been pouring through my collection of Japanese temari books and finding some amazing designs that include asanoha, flax or hemp leaf design. No wonder. It's a very old an important product.

From The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook by Susan Briscoe:
"Star-like asanoha (hemp leaf) is probably the most famous sashiko pattern. It originally came from China, where it was associated with Buddhism and represented radiating light or even the inner light of the soul. Before cotton became available to ordinary people, hemp was a very important source of cloth. There are many asanoha variations. It was particularly popular for children's clothes and bedding, and clothing for newborn babies would be decorated with the design in the hope that the child would grow up strong like the hemp plant. It also symbolized a wish for good health."

Left front: dark red simple 16 division covered with flax leaf
Right front: pattern from Color Coordinated Temari, page 18

I get so distracted while stitching a temari from a Japanese book and often change the design along the way or stitch only the part of the pattern that really interests me. But finally, I managed to finish one. The largest ball (right front) in the photo above is from the book Color Coordinated Temari, page 18. I'll be sharing details of how I made this one in our Temari Challenge Yahoo group.

There are still so many more flax leaf temari that I want to try. I'm not sure where I'll head next but I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Laura B. recently finished a beautiful temari with flax leaf design. Check it out on her blog...

Flax leaf stitching fun

Carolina posted some fun that she had stitching flax leaf design on temari over on her blog Rududu's semitropical adventures! She learned the technique on a C8 temari and then stitched some temari from a Japanese book and even designed her own. This is one of those techniques that works up so quickly and has a big impact. Once you start, it's hard to stop!

Carolina's flax leaf temari - WOW!

Online temari class DVDs

Did you miss the class? I offer online temari classes and repeat them every few years. If you can't wait for the next class and would like to purchase a DVD that includes the pattern and videos, please have a look at your options below. I'm just an email away so if you need help while working through the class material, just let me know. Grandmother Star is ready now.

Temari Class DVDs

Temari Class DVDs

Temari class on Saturday, July 21

It's time to sign up and prepare for Asanoha! Flax or hemp leaf stitching. I've got lots of different patterns for you to try and photos galore. I hope you can join me for temari class. Find out more by clicking on this link.

Temari class with Barb on Saturday, July 21

Thread, lots of thread

What a beautiful box I just received from Rainbow Gallery in California!

 Click on this link to see lots of thread now in my shop.

New stash of metallics from Rainbow Gallery

  

Stitch alongs are so much fun!

What's a stitch along? Well, join our group TemariChallenge and you'll find out. Joan led us in a stitch along to make this renzoku design simple 12 division temari. Now, she has challenged us to figure out another that is more intricate. Everyone is learning a lot and sharing their photos and ideas. Come join us!
TemariChallenge Yahoo Group

If you saw my post yesterday, you will recognize this as a continuous motif. Yes, renzoku (continuous). Yes, motif (one path creates the motif).

TemariChallenge Renzoku stitch along by Joan

Continuous motif - a temari stitching term

An excerpt from my new book Temari Techniques

Do you remember drawing stars in elementary school? You put your pencil on the paper, draw five straight lines along a path without lifting the pencil, and end right back where you started with a five-point star. You can stitch a star on temari in much the same way by taking a basic stitch at each turn your pencil would make. You are not limited to stars, though; there are many other continuous motifs which can be created in the same manner. These are different than shapes like squares and triangles because the thread path will cross over other stitches in the same motif as you stitch.

The Japanese have a phrase, hito hude gake (one stroke of the brush), to describe a kanji character that can be drawn with a single stroke of the calligraphy brush. Temari artists have borrowed this phrase to describe these continuous paths where one single stitching path will create the entire figure. Some motifs have special names because they are so common: hoshi kagari (five-point star) and mitsubane kikkou kagari (triwing).  After exploring the individual hito hude gake motifs, try the “one stroke” technique to complete multiple motifs with just one stitching path. Setting up the path is an intriguing temari puzzle; stitching along the path is a relaxing, almost meditative, experience.

Practice by drawing the path for your first continuous motif on paper to get a feel for how it is created. You could also place pins in your temari and wind perle cotton along the path to visualize the completed motif. Typically, diagrams will have the stitches numbered to help you get started. You can pin numbered slips of paper to the guidelines on the ball to help you stitch the first row.

Note: Renzoku means continuous in Japanese. All of these motifs are stitched with a single, continuous path. The term continuous motif (or hito hude gake) simply adds the requirement that one path is used to complete an outline of the entire motif. It has the same starting and ending points.

Stitching temari in North Carolina

I've got an email list going just for people interested in stitching temari with us in North Carolina. Please let me know if you want to join. Here is what I sent out today...

Hi temari stitchers,

You've expressed an interest in stitching temari with us in North Carolina and I've created a separate email list just for locals and those who want to come and be a local for a while. This is it. Thanks so much for joining the list!

Here's what's on the schedule as of today:

Chapel Hill, NC, at Thimble Pleasures Quilt Store

Three sessions (July, August, and September). Click on the link above to get the details. If you are beginner, start with Dana to learn the basics and lots of fun temari designs.

Sign up for this class through Thimble Pleasures.

Raleigh, NC, at Barb's home

Saturdays, from 9:30 am until noon or so. June 23, July 21, August 18, September 15. This class is for experienced temari makers who are at the level where they are comfortable making a C8 division. If you're not there yet, let me know and I'll hook you up with Dana for the beginning classes. Each session is $15 payable to Barb. Bring your own stitching supplies. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, midnight, before the Saturday class. Minimum is three students. Maximum is twelve students.

Sign up for each Saturday class individually by contacting Barb (barb@japanesetemari.com). Please sign up as soon as you know you will come since seating is very limited.

Saturday, June 23 -  Let's play with asanoha (flax or hemp leaf) design. Bring a ball (any color, any size) marked in a C8. Bring extra thread (same color as marking thread) for stitching the design. This technique is described on pages 144-149 in Temari Techniques. Bring balls marked in other divisions if you want to keep going and be sure to bring your requests for future classes.

Temari Retreat in Raleigh, NC

Almost 40 people have expressed an interest in coming to stitch temari over a two or three day period. Wow! I'm so excited! I'm hoping to get this event organized for October, 2012, and will let you know which days as soon as I can.

Thanks again for your interest in coming to stitch with us!

And the winner is....

# 17 Laura Bezzeg is the lucky draw for a copy of Echiro Temari, given by Sensei Ozaki in Tokyo!

To everyone who left comments about temari, thank you so much for expressing your love of the craft. We all enjoyed reading them!

Laura, I'll put your book in the mail today.

Echiro Temari - Book Give-Away!

Echiro Temari, a book in Japanese

Echiro Temari No ISBN. 68 pages. Published in 2005.

This is a small hardback book published to showcase the work on a temari teacher from Echiro. There are many striking black and white designs like these on the cover and also a series of traditional blue and white temari. There are no diagrams. This is a collection of photographs of intricately stitched temari.

When we went to Tokyo last fall, Sensei Ozaki gave each of us a copy of this book. I've already got a copy and decided right away to give it away here on my blog. Finally, six months later, here we go!

1. To enter to win this book, post a comment before Sunday, June 10, midnight, EST (US east coast).
2. Be sure that your name is given. Do not put your email unless you want it displayed here.
3. Tell me why you like to make temari. Use lots of adjectives! How does stitching them make you feel? Do you love to give them away or get satisfaction from selling them? What's your motivation?
4. Make sure you are subscribed to my email list. I have a new service for this just last week. If you aren't sure, then please fill out the contact form on my website.
5. On the morning of Monday, June 11, check back here and I'll announce the winner.

Good luck!

[Update Wednesday, May 29 - I'm so impressed with the eloquence of your comments! You've captured my feelings about making temari too. Keep them coming.
To leave a comment, click on the link at the bottom of this post that has the number of comments. Scroll to the bottom of that page and type your comment in the white block. Make sure you give your name. Select anonymous in the drop down menu. Publish.]

Sneak peek inside Temari Techniques

Click on this link to have a look at the contents and some other pages from the new book.

Did you get your copy yet? I'd really appreciate your review.

 Please click on this link and add your review in the comments section.

Ready to order? The books are here and waiting for you. Please visit my website to order.

Update: today is Thursday, May 24, and the mailman will pick up the last of the books that were preordered! Poor guy must be as worn out as me. Everyone who has ordered from me should have their book by Monday or Tuesday next week if you live in the US. All parcels were sent by priority mail. Packages going overseas were also sent priority and should arrive within 6 - 10 business days. 

Reviews of my new book Temari Techniques

Did you get your copy yet? I'd really appreciate your review.

 Please click on this link and add your review in the comments section.

Thanks! Barb

Quick post

Just to let you know that I'm at the Carolina Fiber Fest for three full days. Friday, I met lots of "internet" friends face-to-face. It means so much to make that connection! Groups came from New Bern, Wilmington, Richmond (Va), Cary, and of course Raleigh. This is SO much fun. Honestly, I'm having a ball :)

Book news: Yes, it finally arrived! I managed to send out 50 copies before Fiber Fest and I'll get back to the rest next week. If you ordered through PayPal, you will get a notice of shipping. Please be patient. I'm working like a dog here trying to get everything done. It's it weird how everything happens at once!

Friends Meg and Richard gave me flowers and champagne for my 60th birthday. Aren't these lilies beautiful!

A Mother's Love

Present for my mother, a musical temari ball

It's funny how sometimes you keep running into stories that express the same feeling, the same idea, the same quality of human nature. This happened to me four times this past week so I thought I'd better pay attention. Enjoy this moment, be present with it, and learn. The message is that when you make something by hand and thoroughly enjoy the process, you put something of yourself into that creation - your love and good spirit. Be sure you give some of these things to your children and loved ones. You will strengthen your family bond and pass on your love of creativity.

I've been watching the PBS series Craft in America. Have you seen it? The first episode is called "Memory."  This episode profiles several craftsmen and women who explain what their work means to them and their families. I particularly like the story of the family in South Carolina that has been passing on the skill of weaving baskets with native grasses for several generations.

"Unlike fine artists, who perhaps capture a moment in time, and are more concerned with an artistic style and technique, craft artists, through their objects, go beyond telling where we were, making a statement of who we are. Their objects will create memories for us, because the artists give selflessly of their memories in creating the objects. "

Sensei Ozaki wearing Glenna's corsage

I came upon this same thought when I was looking for something online and came across a translation of a newsletter from the Japan Temari Association. This was not part of my search but Sensei's words made me think of the PBS shows that I've been watching.
 

"A message from the President  of the  Japan Temari Association, Ms. Thoshiko Ozaki.

We are enjoying Temari making from ancient days; now we also can create many modern designs and enjoy stitching them into our Temaris. The pleasure that it gives us when we finish making new Temari is incomparable to anything else in the world, and such a beautiful feeling of achievement saves us from other small worries that are brought to us in our daily lives. As we continue to learn more about Temari making, we must nurture our feelings THAT CAN FEEL BEAUTY in this world, and convey this kind of knowledge to others. Further more, this kind of gesture will help our Temari making to flourish even more in the future. I feel that in every stitch that we weave into our Temari, we are stitching into it various feelings as well as memories, and this is how we create new Temaris. Please treasure such important feelings and memories that go into making Temari to produce your own Temari in the future. Continue to pass on the tradition to the next generation. This is my sincere wish that I like to convey to the members of Temari Association. Thank you.
(translated by Tomiko san)"

Hometown Temari  by Arai

This morning I picked up my new book, the advance copy that my publisher sent me, and flipped to the page about the book Furosato no Temari or Hometown Temari by Tomokazu Arai which was published in Japanese in 1990. The last paragraph (yes, I wrote it so you'd think I would remember) helped me make the connection between the PBS show, Sensei's words, and the words of Mrs. Nori Furuta (below).

From page 8 in Temari Techniques: The author traveled across the country and interviewed temari makers to document how they learned the craft as well as their techniques and designs. Furosato no Temari is filled with photographs of temari and the stories behind them.

From its very beginning, temari has exemplified a mother’s love for her child. In many regions, temari are handed down from generation to generation. The one thing all temari have in common is that they were made by mothers to show love for their children. Mrs. Nori Furuta said, “Every time I hold these temari my mother left for me, I remember my mother. They make me happy but a little sad at the same time since I feel that my mother is still talking to me.”

Yesterday, I got the best mother's day present from my daughter who is away at grad school in Wisconsin. Four times in one week - that same message! I was a bit dismayed when she decided to work in a lab but she assured me that she can be very creative there. She's a very talented gal and could have been an artist or a writer (my motherly pride is showing here). Anyway, she sent me a photo titled "Pretty colors today." Yep, that's my kid. I guess I succeeded in passing on my love of color and creating. I love you, Alison!

Creative chemistry

What's this mess?

 

Getting ready for the Carolina FiberFest!

Rebecca over at TemariAddictAustralia participated in a similar event not long ago and she found some clear acrylic boxes. I found a supply here in the States. Makes a nice, attractive display. 

I've got a bin full of kikemomi balls that just MUST go!

I'd like to bring the kimono and temari mobile but I'm not sure yet how to hang it at the festival.

Hope to see you there!

Sunflowers Class Schedule and Book Update

Oh my goodness, I am swamped with orders for Temari Techniques and with people signing up for Sunflowers Online Class. Thank you all so much for your support and joining me in my addiction to temari!

Book Update - my publisher just told me that Temari Techniques will arrive at her warehouse on May 9 unless there is a customs inspection to delay it. She said she's never had this happen before so let's cross our fingers. This is about two weeks later than expected when she placed the order but things happen, ya know? At least now we have a date.

If you haven't ordered from me yet, please do it now so I can get a book for you from my publisher. I'll start at the top of the list of orders (by date) when I begin to mail. Here's the link to the order page.

Sunflowers Class - Hard to believe but it's been two years since we last ran this class with the Shining Needle Society. I get requests for this one on a regular basis and decided it's time to run it again. This one is for experienced beginners. If you've made temari before and are pretty good at making the round ball and marking simple divisions, join us to learn a combination 8 division and many different ways to stitch a kiku herringbone and triwings. This time I'm adding videos of the whole process beginning with making the ball. So you'll be able to watch over my shoulder as I stitch the three temari in the class.

Why the big price jump? It's scary how much things have gone up since I ran this class before. When I priced the kit this time, almost everything has increased, including postage. I added a bit more to my teaching fee since I'll make the videos. There is an audit option for those who have taken this class from me before. I sure wish I could do something about this, but believe me, I've kept it as low as I can. Still, I think for the big kit and four weeks of instruction and a group that stays open for many months, it's not a bad deal. You don't have to travel and pay for a hotel. Stay at home and stitch in your PJ's!

Here is the link to the sign up page for the class. I hope you can join us.

Temari Techniques for Eggs

Patterns included with the purchase of Temari Techniques

Extra patterns included with book purchase

When you purchase my new temari book through my website, I'll send you Temari Techniques for Eggs - a $12 value.

Quick link to purchase

Temari Techniques for Eggs

Temari Techniques for Eggs

Mixed emotions with the first glance

Two copies of Temari Techniques arrived on my doorstep here in Raleigh on Monday. My first thought when I opened the box from my publisher was "God, it's TOO big!"  I've had a different reaction with each of my three books.  It's a very emotional experience to have been working so long and so hard on a project and finally receive the book in the mail.

With Japanese Temari, A Colorful Spin, it was more a feeling of disbelief, almost a detachment. Was that my work? Did I do that? Is it OK? Oh, no! Look how big she made the photos. She didn't fix the photo on the cover. She forgot! Are the rest OK or is the thread falling off the balls? My first reaction was that the whole book might just be a mess.  I was a mess. Then I settled down to read the book and it seemed like all was well (except for that photo on the cover).

With Japanese Kimekomi, my first reaction was "SO SMALL! What a tiny book!  Who will want to buy such a tiny book? "  Our publisher wanted Kathy and I to limit the number of patterns to 15. She created the tiny book to sell to quilters and it's been a big seller for her. Groups of quilters have emailed me to say how much they have enjoyed making the kimekomi handballs with leftover fabric from their quilts. So all is well with that book, too.

Temari Techniques, A Visual Guide to Making Japanese Embroidered Thread Balls is huge. It's 208 pages and weighs in at a hair under two pounds. I'm thinking I might have to supply book stands for my elderly customers. I wanted to put everything I know about temari in this one but of course, I could never do that. There is always more to learn, more to say, more designs and tricks and techniques to come, especially when it comes to advanced topics. I did squeeze in a couple of pages on marking multi-centers temari along with lots of options for adding extra guidelines on simple divisions and C8 divisions. Have a look at the table of contents.

You can really help me by pre-ordering the book now by following this link to my website. I'm a bit worried about being overwhelmed in early May after the books arrive here. Right now, I have the time to get the envelopes ready and keep the accounting up-to-the-minute, the grunt work of an author who is trying to sell her book. As you probably know, when a book is sold on amazon or through a cut-rate dealer, the author gets just about nothing. So please, support the author!

To return the favor of your purchase, I'll sign your book and slip in a pattern set for transferring the patterns in the book to egg shapes. I've had a lot of fun working on the eggs lately and I think you'll enjoy this twist on traditional temari.

Mark your calendar for The Carolina Fiber Fest  May 18 - 20
Dana Watson and Susan Fennell will be sharing a booth with me for the three-day festival.  Dana will be bringing adorable tea-cup pin cushions and washi crafts. And Susan will provide gorgeous indigo-dyed pieces. I can't wait for the event! There will be so many vendors, displays, guild groups at work/play, contests, and classes.  I'll bring my new book with the egg patterns for anyone who purchases the book from me at the event. Hope to see you there!

Open for pre-orders for Temari Techniques

new temari book

My advance copies have arrived here in Raleigh!

That means I can open up the web page for pre-orders. 

Support the author - when you purchase the book directly from me, you'll get a signed copy and I'll include a pattern set all about making temari eggs. You won't get either of those if you purchase anywhere else.

Be sure to check out the contents page, too.

Carolina Fiber Fest - May 18 - 20

Have you heard about it? The Carolina Fiber Fest?

I've just purchased a booth for temari! For three days in May, I'll be stitching and talking and showing off my favorite hobby. Please come join me! This is not the retreat that I emailed you about recently. It's an event open to the general public – free! We will be part of a huge crowd, with our own 12' by 12' space (my booth).  Space enough to show-and-tell, to introduce Japanese temari to all the other fiber-nuts, space enough to sit and stitch. Well, I guess if there are too many of us, we can shift over to the large sit and stitch area in the building where there will be groups of knitters, tatters, bobbin lace makers, spinners and weavers, etc.

This is a true festival - it's free to the public. There will be all sorts of fiber-related activities including classes and contests and demonstrations.  I'll be selling my new book as well as the first two books and over 150 completed temari that I've made. Rice hulls, rulers, thread, kits and patterns, too.

RSVP to me for a special gift you can pick up when you arrive (barb@japanesetemari.com). Let me know your name and where you live so I can put a tag on your gift.

For the love of fiber. Carolina Fiberfest:
•educates the public about fiber and its sources
•promotes small farms producing fiber and fiber animals
•supports fiber artists and fiber-related businesses
•provides a venue for the public to interact with the fiber arts world.

By demonstrating skills to the public, sharing knowledge, and through the close interaction of workshops, Carolina FiberFest is sowing the seeds for future generations of fiber artists and crafts people.

May 18—20, Raleigh, NC. Jim Graham Building, NC State Fairgrounds.

10 am to 8 pm Friday

10 am to 8 pm Saturday

10 am to 6 pm Sunday

Explore Carolina FiberFest. Take a class or two or three. Visit the Fiber Arts Village. Enjoy a talk on a favorite topic. Test your skills in contests. Hang out at the Fiber Cozy. Shop. Pet the fiber. Meet other fiber lovers.

It’s Free!

Zip. Zilch. Zero. Other fiber festivals charge admission. Some ask for donations. Carolina FiberFest is free. All day. Every day.

Catching up with TAST

Remember Take A Stitch Tuesday? Every week Sharon B. challenges her readers to try a new embroidery stitch or, if you already know the stitch, to go above and beyond with new experiments in stitching. The embroidery that people are sharing is so impressive and inspiring. I've been trying out embroidery on a large, sampler temari and using Caron Watercolors - really nice cotton that comes in variegated colors.





 
Week 14 - satin stitch  I was inspired by Mary Corbet's tutorial on stitching dots - they are just too cute! I'd never done satin stitch on temari and, yes, found it a real challenge without access to the wrong side. You have to work everything as a sewing stitch (not stabbed) with temari. This method makes for a wonderful raised dot - so puffy.

 Week 13 - time to take a break and have a week off -
Oh, yes! Thanks. I took the week to catch up.

 
Week 12 - barred and alternating chain stitch
Never done this, never even seen it. This spiky looking version of the adorable chain stitch is not all that hard using Sharon's good photos. I really had to keep my mind on the stitching to get it to turn out right. The inner ring here is barred, with all the long stitches out to one side. The line stitched around the triangle is alternating barred chain stitch. I had seen some of other people's samples and really like the look of stitching barred after barred, in a line, without the regular chain stitch in between.




Week 11 - whipped wheel
Sharon mentions that another name for this stitch is spiderweb backstitch. That's what I've known it as and have done lots of these. Another "TASTer" has a tutorial posted where she combined weaving with whipped version, so I had a go at that. Mine is much messier - I'd blame it on stitching on a ball but that's probably not true!






Week 10 - running stitch
After practicing the running stitch in a small triangle on the ball, I tried it here making circles around the whipped and woven wheel. Not my favorite. But this is all about experimenting, right?

Advertising for Temari Techniques (new book)

Temari stitched by Barb for the new book Temari Techniques

I could use your help. Do you know of magazines or other spots that would be good for advertising my new book? My publisher has the quilting places already under control. We are looking for publications that feature embroidery and other fiber arts. If you can help, please leave a comment or send me an email (barb@japanesetemari.com).
Thanks!

Retreat in Raleigh Update

WOW! Thanks so much to everyone who has filled out the form on my website to say they are interested in coming to Raleigh to stitch with me. This will definitely happen. I'm thinking of organizing a large get-together for the fall and several shorter classes until then. I'll be in touch soon. WOW! This is going to be fun.

Temari retreat in Raleigh

 
How would you like to come to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a temari retreat? I'm gathering information about the possibility of holding classes that last several days. Classes will be multi-level so will suit beginners to advanced temari stitchers. We will use my new book Temari Techniques and assorted patterns that I've not yet published. You bring your own supplies or I can provide you with a kit. The fee for the kit is flexible depending on what you need. My teaching fee will be split between those who come. Classes will be held at my home if the group is under twelve people or nearby in a rented facility if the group is larger.




Raleigh, NC, is served by RDU international airport, located 15 minutes from my home. The area is full of attractions of all kinds and is nearby to Chapel Hill and Durham, NC.

Still interested? Please give me a bit more information for planning. This is not a commitment from you – it will just help me decide whether there is enough interest. Fill out the form on my website. Thanks!

Springtime means eggs!

I love the spring. This year I'm cleaning out stashes of crafts - yes, literally remnants of my favorite crafts from years past are stashed all over the house. Spring cleaning and destashing, too.

New temari book - a look at the covers

front and back covers

 My new book is at the printers! Finally, after many years of working on it, I can relax with no more big deadlines and pressure. Whew! My publisher Anne Knudsen says it will be ready to ship by the end of April. So, let's keep our fingers crossed that all goes well.

In a few weeks, I'll open for pre-orders. Are you on my mailing list? If not, please add your name. I'll send out an announcement by email.