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.

Beautiful blue kit - only one left

 

[Update - the kit has found a nice home!]
Yesterday, I posted the fifth lesson in the Grandmother Star temari class online. I have only one kit left - will you make it yours? The Yahoo group for the class will remain open until July 31, 2012, so you have lots of time to make this temari.

Here's the scoop about the class on my website

Temari Addict Australia - a kindred sister down under

 
Today, Rebecca uploaded her 400th post to Temari Addict Australia!!

Congratulations, Rebecca. To you and to your group of temari stitching friends and students in Australia. You've made me smile from your very first post.  I love your passion for life - it shows in the stories you've shared with us about your family and friends (including the chickens!). 

Kyoto Kimono Kindred Sister

Headed into Miyama

  You know you're with the expert when you go to Kyoto with Kyoto Kimono!  Nancy spent some time living in Kyoto and took us to many of her favorite places on our trip last fall -  temple markets, workshops with textile artists, meals at wonderful restaurants, and a hotel and ryokan chosen for location and great price.

Circular Obsession

It's been a year! Over a year, in fact, since I started this blog. My goal was to have a place to share stories and pictures of our fabulous trip to Japan in October, 2011. It grew to be a place where I could share stitching projects, new classes, and additions in my little temari shop on etsy.com.

Size matters: big temari balls

Temari on the LARGE side

   Now, now. Calm down. This is not an X-rated blog post!

Kokeshi Collection

Here they are - all the girls and boys with their temari. New ones, old ones. Paper one in the middle made of washi instead of wood. Some in the back demurely peeking around the others. Some hidden by the taller folk.

Treasures from Japan - dolls, dolls, and more dolls

I've never been much of a collector. No coins or stamps. No big fabric or thread stash. But over the last few years, it seems that I just can't resist the darling, wooden kokeshi dolls from Japan. Not all of them. Just the ones with temari, especially the older vintage dolls. Here are a few of my favorites. Don't they just make you smile?

Sweet Home by Posie

A little bit of embroidery for my daughter. The pattern is Sweet Home from Posie. So cute!

Herringbone stitch for temari

Add support lines to help
place stitches at the outside points.

Update - last night I stitched a new temari with this unusual technique of stitching a kiku herringbone at the inside points combined with a wide herringbone at the outside points of the circular motif. I really like the result!

Feather and Cretan stitches for temari

Week 3 TAST (take a stitch Tuesday with Sharon) is the feather stitch.
I used it to fill a triangle.

Buttonhole stitch on temari for TAST

Week 2 TAST challenge is the buttonhole stitch. I've used this stitch but am a little rusty with it so I did the basic version to outline two sides of a triangle. In looking through Sharon's options, I fell in love with the buttonhole bar and decided to use it to create a little blue flower. It's a bit messy, but I got the hang of it and can add that to my stitching repertoire now. This is great, Sharon. Thanks!

Fly Stitch on Temari for Take a Stitch Tuesday

Finally! Yesterday, I was able to relax, watch some Downton Abbey on Netflix and stitch. I realized that I have not stitched for pleasure like this since November when I worked to finish the temari that Takahara Sensei taught us. So nice!

Coming in March - A new temari book

Happy as this little guy

My life is super busy right now. I hope to be back to blogging about temari in a week or so. In the meantime, I hope you are feeling the smile!

Bright and cheerful purples!

Basketful of Purple Temari 

Cheerful purples for sale!

Japanese Temari Newsletter

Happy Holidays!

Are you feeling the rush to get ready? I sure am. There are so many people shopping online this year. I'm busy almost every day with my shop, trying to get temari and supplies in the mail and photographing more temari to add to the group for sale in my shop on etsy.com. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me move "stash" from my place to yours with a purchase. The sale was a huge success and I've sorted my stitching supplies and can actually find things around here again.

We will always remember you

Here is a moving video from Japan about the earthquake and what the people are thinking today

Online Temari Class - Grandmother Star

At long last, I've got time to get back to teaching online! I hope you'll be able to join me in making Grandmother Star, a floral design stitched on 32 centers. This class was requested by several people recently so we'll start with this multicenters beauty.

Registration is open now. It closes Friday, January 6, 2012. Kits will be mailed by January 27, 2012 (by Priority to US or by First Class to Canada or by First Class to all other countries). Class begins Friday, February 3, 2012.

If you took this class from me before, please ask for the audit price (no kit).

Visit the class webpage to sign up

TAST (Temari Variation) with Sharon B. 2012

Sharon B. will be running Take a Stitch Tuesday in 2012!

See the logo on the sidebar to the right? That's the page I've created where I'll share what I stitch. I hope I'm not the only one stitching on temari. If you are also in the challenge, let me know and I'll put your link on the page. I'd love help and inspiration for the extra challenge of stitching all those wonderful embroidery stitches on temari!

BTW, I'm tagging this post "Kindred Sister." Anyone who stitches as much as I do and shares it on the web is absolutely my sister :)   You're an angel, Sharon.

Here is the link directly to Sharon's site

Grandmother's Hydrangeas on Temari

It's a cloudy day in Raleigh, but I am forging ahead and photographing more temari for my etsy shop. 

Grandmother's Hydrangeas Temari by Barbara B. Suess

Japanese Temari on Etsy.com

Meeting kindred sisters in Kanazawa - was it a dream?

Photo in the stairway to Mariya 

We climbed the small staircase to visit a one-room shop on the second level above the busy street in Kanazawa. I knew our guide was leading us to a specialty shop called Mariya, where we would find temari and supplies to make them. The displays on the way up were promising!

Outer Banks Color Palette

Silk Temari - Kyoto River

Silk Temari - Kyoto River 

I'm slowly getting temari photographed and posted for sale over on etsy.com. This is one of my favorites.

A temari outing: our day trip to Uji, Japan

We were so excited to meet Ai! After years of friendship on the internet, Glenna, Kathy, and I finally got to meet her and spend a wonderful day together. It was the first Saturday that we were in Japan - a day off from the tour's organized activities.  Ai met us in the lobby of our hotel and we took a taxi to the Kyoto train station.

Temari book from Japan - Dream in Temari 2010

It's always exciting to find a new temari book out of Japan. While visiting Japan, we saw a book from a group of temari stitchers called Non-Profit Organization Japan Temari Cultural Association. They have a website here....

Everything under one shop roof

No more foolin' around between website and shop for me! All temari goodies are in one place. There are sections so you can easily sort between supplies and books and other treasures. Thanks for looking and I hope you can put in your request for seasonal presents early!

Color-Blasted by Chihuly Glass

Help! I'm drowning in stash.

Stash busting sale begins

"Shindigo" with Hiroyuki Shindo in Miyama, Japan

Our small tour group boarded a bus that carried us from Kyoto to the mountain village of Miyama. The ride through the mountains was filled with hairpin turns, cedar forests (perfectly groomed to produce long, straight planks), and villages with gardens in full production. Here is a link to my album of photos from the day.

The village of Miyama, Japan

Happy birthday to the Shining Needle Society!

I recently got this happy email from Kate from the Shining Needle Society:


"Happy Birthday to Shining Needle Society!

Today we are four years old and we have almost 4000 members.

When Marie-Therese and I started Shining Needle Society in 2007, we certainly hoped that people would join and want to participate in the classes. I don't think we ever thought we grow so quickly and we keep growing. :-)

Thank you for your support and I hope you continue to enjoy SNS' class offerings. I will strive to keep bringing you "the best of the best!"

Happy birthday to us!

Kate Gaunt
Shining Needle Society"


Congratulations for the successful venture, Kate!

More from the Nishijin Textile Center in Kyoto

Our first stop on a Sunday morning was to this colorful textile center in Kyoto. The second floor was filled with thousands of goodies to purchase and demonstrations in spinning, weaving, painting on fabric, embroidery and other textile arts. Of course, the temari grabbed my eye right away!

Temari at the Nishijin Center

Temari on display, Japan Center in Raleigh, NC

What a delight is was for me to work with Dana and Keiko Raymond to put together a display for the upstairs classroom at The Japan Center! I learned so much about display and creating a cohesive show. Dana challenged me to combine nine to twelve temari in hanging displays to cover four different spots on the wall. I sorted the temari into four groups and constructed a bamboo hanger by bundling five thin pieces together. Dana and Keiko help me arrange the temari for each wall and I attached them to the bamboo rods with perle cotton.

Basic Shapes (from below)

We're back from Japan!

Safe and sound. Full of inspiration and admiration. Glenna, Kathy and I joined Kyoto Kimono's textile tour of Japan for two weeks of fun and learning. I've got lots to share beginning with this massive loom at the Nishijin Textile Center in Kyoto. No one was working at the loom when I filmed this video but I couldn't resist recording it's size and complexity. The fabric is very intricate!

Loom at the Nishijin Textile Center video on YouTube

I love the text on the main page for the Textile Center - 

"At Nishijin, each of the seasons is represented.
'Spring sings of the scent of flowers.
Summer speaks of days gone by.
Autumn indulges herself in simplicity and serenity.
Winter applies a delicate dusting of snow to the patchwork of roof tiles.
No one is inferior to any other in this world, lavish with beauty.
Savor contentment with the elegance of Nishijin, conceived in the midst of history and tradition.' "

I hope that in these autumn days, I can indulge in simplicity and serenity. I will not let the advertising world here in the US send me into a frenzy because of "the holiday season."  Gosh, the commercials here are almost unbearable! Culture shock.

Temari Glossary and Stitch Directory

It's Monday morning and I realize that, once again, I'm swamped! In a good way, for sure. As my time quickly winds down for our trip to Japan, I am also trying to finish several big temari projects. When a big project is completed, it's champagne time around here and I've chilled a bottle for Saturday night. My part will be done then.  I think there are always little gremlins waiting around to stir up trouble so I can't say the release date for this big project  is absolutely set. It's just an estimate and I'll let you know as soon as I can.

Temari Treasure

Temari Treasure
by Barbara B. Suess

An early morning visit to the antique market one fall yielded treasures galore – bits of antique chandeliers, beads, and metal medallions snipped from found objects. We sorted through bins to find the perfect treasures to repurpose in the creation of unique temari art.

This four inch diameter temari has a core of rice hulls and a rattling bell box filled with beads and positioned deep in the center. Thin black metallic thread makes an almost invisible marking (a simple 12-division).  Kiku herringbone designs stitched with satiny-looking rayon thread surrounds the antique metal medallions positioned at each pole, north and south. Coppery ribbon and sparkling green netted thread zigzag around the temari's equator and create frames for bamboo-colored embroidered flowers. 

Harvest Moon Japanese Temari

Harvest Moon
Japanese Temari by Barbara B. Suess

Yesterday, cherry blossoms

Tomorrow, red maple leaves –

Today's moon. (Buson)

In Japan, a full moon symbolizes autumn, just as cherry blossoms signify spring, and snow is the sign of winter. 

Moon viewing parties introduced from China celebrate the full moon of mid-autumn. Offerings of thanks for a good harvest are set upon a small table facing east. A display of autumn grasses sets off a pyramid of balls made especially for the season from rice flour, or a careful arrangement of melons or other harvest fruits. This is a time to gaze at the moon, sip green tea, and reflect upon the wonders of nature.

Harvest Moon is a large 42 centimeter diameter temari wrapped with soft yarn and dark red thread around a five inch diameter Styrofoam core.  It was marked with fine gold metallic thread into 272 centers. Bamboo-colored perle cotton was wrapped over the marking lines. Triwings were stitched in blue, green, and red perle cotton. Small hexagons were then stitched around each center.

To display this work, a black stand purchased at the museum shop of the Japan Temari Association in Tokyo is included. Also included are a history of temari and a description of this particular temari, signed by the artist.

Shipping is by priority mail to US locations and is included in the price. If you are located outside the US, I will send you an invoice for the extra postage needed to send Harvest Moon to you.

Visit the shop page for this temari

Unfolding Kiku

Unfolding Kiku
Japanese Temari by Barbara B. Suess

It's time for me to raise some funds for my trip to Japan and time to destash! I have a lot of temari that I need to find homes for and the first is up for sale in my shop. I'll put it on etsy as well. Please have a look at Unfolding Kiku and consider adding this unique Japanese temari to your collection of fiber art.

Link to this item in my shop

Moonlight Temari

Moonlight
Japanese Temari by Barbara B. Suess

A fellow temari stitcher recently wanted feedback on her stitching and reminded me of how nice it is to be inspired by haiku, like in my first book, Japanese Temari, A Colorful Spin on an Ancient Craft. She shared one she did with the moon as her topic. Got me going! I love reading through my haiku books and picked out this one by Issa.

Snowflakes fall
In twos and threes
A splendid moonlight night.

I stitched a temari that's tone on tone. 32 faces filled with layered kiku herringbone designs. Stitched with Vineyard Silk and Rainbow Gallery metallics. This one will be for sale very soon. 

And here's a variation in hot pink silk

Moonlight Temari Pink Variation
by Barbara B. Suess

Save the Date!

Japanese Temari Class at The John C. Campbell Folk School

 
One year from now, I'll be in the mountains of North Carolina for a full week, indulging in temari stitching. I hope you can join me. The Folk School is like camp for grown-ups where you do just your favorite activity for a whole week. Fun!

September 23 - 29, 2012

Update on Thread Sale

Wow! The thread is going fast.

I've sold out of Nordic Gold 300 yard spools in the gold color and all the Gold Rush thread.

There are still three colors of 300 yard spools of Treasure Braid Petite (1 gold, 1 copper and 2 silver).

I probably won't place another order until just before Christmas so please don't delay if you would like to get some nice metallics.

Japanese Temari Shop

Thread Sale

Rainbow Set of Nordic Gold

Metallic thread is a staple in any temari maker's kit and I've restocked the Rainbow Gallery thread that is so popular. A while back I posted a photo of the drawers full of thread here in my studio. Almost all of the spools sold out quickly and the sets of cards of thread were getting really low.

Sets of cards are 20% off now. The spools are always a bargain. Have a look and treat yourself to some new colors. Early Christmas shopping?

Japanese Temari Shop

300 yard spools of Treasure Braid Petite

Fall Exhibition at the NC Japan Center

Opening Reception: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 from 4 - 6 PM

Greetings!

We are now enjoying comfortable days. The summer must be coming to an end. We hope you are doing well.

The Japan Center wants you to join us at our reception celebrating the fall exhibition, which is coming right after the Labor Day weekend. This time we are presenting two artists, Reiko Chosokabe who is originally from Tokyo, Japan, and Barbara Suess from Raleigh, NC. Reiko has been living here in NC since 1992. Her whimsical paintings are abstract creations in acrylic. Some of Reiko’s inspiration comes from the Japanese language school where she currently teaches. She also works at the NC Japan Center.

Barbara Suess’s works are temari, which are intricate, decorative balls. She is an expert at this traditional Japanese craft. Barbara is a certified teacher and also a published author of temari books. She lived in Japan for four years in the 1980’s and continues to carry and develop the ancient techniques.

We hope you can join us and meet these remarkable artists. We are also looking forward to enjoying an interlude by Onju-kai, which is a musical combo including koto, flute, and viola.

We hope you can set aside this date to join us:

Saturday, September 10 from 4-6pm at the NC Japan Center.

The NC Japan Center’s exhibition program has blossomed with success due to the continuing generosity of support by Eiko Goti and Yoko Yamagishi. Our sincerest gratitude to both.

Sponsors:

Southern Bridge Int’l, Inc.

US Remac, Inc.

Dana Raymond

Art Curator, NC Japan Center

Certification Classes for JTA 2011-2012 are open

JTA brochure

If you love making temari, you're self-motivated, and you want to experience a journey of challenge where you'll discover new techniques as well as improved stitching and pattern writing, then Japan Temari Association certification is for you.


Here is some information on the JTA.

"Temari is so easy!" at the EGA Rocky Mountain Region 2011 Seminar

Beginner class in Japanese Temari

I've just returned from a long weekend in Denver, Colorado, where I taught a beginner temari class to a lovely group of gals who are members of the Embroiderers' Guild of America in the Rocky Mountain Region. The seminar was hosted by The Foothills Chapter at the Doubletree in Denver. The creative and joyous spirit of the seminar participants lingers with me even as I quickly try to prepare for another trip in just a few days. There were smiles everywhere, all the time, except perhaps when students were concentrating very hard to learn the new techniques. When the moment of understanding and accomplishment came, that smile reappeared. Yes, temari is so easy!