Sunday, June 28, 2015

Temari Workbook - suggestions?

Little help, please? I'm going to be adding some diagrams to the Temari Workbook. Takahara Sensei in Japan has asked for circle diagrams for more of the multiface markings. If you have used the Workbook and have any suggestions for changes/improvements, please let me know by sending me an email (barbsuess@gmail.com). I will be issuing a new and improved version in a week or two, after it's been approved by the JTA.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

New V-rulers are ready!

For many years, we’ve used a handy ruler supplied by the Japan Temari Association for measuring and marking our temari. Our JTA contact recently let us know that they will no longer produce and sell their v-ruler. Many of us temari makers have become very attached to our little v-rulers! So I decided to order a batch to be made and now they are ready for sale.



Dana (our new assistant and temari-goodie specialist here at JapaneseTemari.com) has been busy getting ready. She has listed the rulers in the Etsy shop in sets of 2, 10, and 50 with discounts offered for the higher number of rulers purchases. Shipping rates are calculated for all over the world.

Dana is ready to ship the v-rulers tomorrow, June 24, and Thursday, June 25. Then she heads out to attend a wedding on the west coast. The Etsy shop will remain open while she is away. Orders placed in that time period will be mailed beginning Monday, July 6.  Thank you for your patience!

The Etsy shop is fully stocked with sets of thread, large 300 yard cones of metallics, and sampler sets of Nordic Gold and Treasure Braid Petite, my favorite type for temari. There are patterns and classes as well, so please have a look around when you head there to see the new v-rulers.

 
New V-rulers for Temari

Saturday, June 20, 2015

"Arrows" temari

 "Arrows" temari is in the Level 3 (Shihan) area of the JTA curriculum. Thanks to Bronwyn for having a go at this one and sharing her experience!

Table top temari by Barbara B. Suess

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Tateyama Cedar Temari

In our JTA study group, we are continuing to tackle the inspiring patterns set out for us as a new curriculum for studying temari. A question from Robin got me interested in this temari design that I would have been reluctant to tackle on my own. We got help from Japan and learned a new technique called overstitching. I love discovery and learning! This design is called Tateyama Cedar and is found in the booCosmo 3 - New Temari (Atarashii Temari) by Chiyoko Ozaki, ISBN 4-8377-0281-3. Published by Macaw in January, 1981. 

Tateyama Cedar Temari by Barbara B. Suess
This is a simple 6 division temari where you stitch layered concentric diamonds with 3 strands of embroidery floss. I decided to keep the spirit of this temari and use shades of green like the one in the book. 

If you are a JTA member and wish to join our group, send me an email. We welcome all who have joined the organization.

A quick web search led to information on this cedar tree...

Tateyama Cedar

The shape of Tateyama Cedars allows them to shed snow and remain strong under heavy snowfall.
Here are some photos of the process.

With 3 strands of embroidery floss in the needle, stitch
concentric diamonds, one row at a time to layer them.

When the diamond corners meet at the equator, begin
overstitching. It's important to use embroidery floss rather than
pearl cotton, because it blends so well.

Another view of the overstitching. Now that I've learned the
technique, I'll be neater in my stitching next time!

Keep an eye on the area left to be stitched so all distances are
the same at the poles.