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

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.

https://www.youtube.com/user/barbsuess

Yesterday, Today & Temari (Jinny Beyer)

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

Jinny Beyer and Barb Suess stitching temari.

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

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

Beginning Temari - The Basics!

Originally written for a national embroidery organization, this course is now available for everyone! Hosted by the Shining Needle Society, it's perfect for absolute beginners to the craft of temari.

To sign up, visit this page on my website.

The Stunning Symbiosis between Math and Knitting in Scientific American

A notable scientific publication has noticed Japanese temari and its math element!

The Stunning Symbiosis between Math and Knitting in Scientific American published an article by Evelyn Lamb.

"A meeting of the minds at the intersection of mathematics and fiber arts yields eye-popping creations" is the subtitle for the article.

Carolyn Yackel put together a show at a meeting of mathematicians in Baltimore last month. Her "truncated" temari were part of this fascinating exhibit. Congratulations to you, Carolyn!

Temari by Carolyn Yackel, Mercer University

Need thread?

I've got thread!

A new shipment from Rainbow Gallery has arrived. Please check out the supplies section of my shop.

I've got cones in interesting colors....

Metallics for Japanese Temari

and I've got cards...

Sampler metallic set from JapaneseTemari.com

and more cards...

Sampler metallic set from JapaneseTemari.com

Thanks for looking!

A new pattern! Pink Christmas Cactus Temari

Pink Christmas Cactus temari pattern by Barbara B. Suess is available now

Pattern available for instant download in the shop.

This simple 10 division temari is an intriguing woven puzzle. At first glance, it appears to be stitched the same as a 5-point star, but look closer and you will see kiku herringbone designs that intertwine in an unusual way!

I love etsy's instant download feature! As soon as your payment goes through, you receive an email with a link with directions on how to download the pattern. Save it to your computer to use. Zoom in to the photos on the pdf to see every minor detail. Print a copy if you like.

I really enjoyed stitching this temari! It was a request from a temari stitcher in Australia. If you would like to request a pattern, just let me know.

Pink and green diamonds interlock around the equator
in a new temari pattern by Barbara B. Suess

Beautiful and meaningful temari by Cindy Coleman

Cindy Coleman lives up the road from me in Hickory, North Carolina. Well, it is a bit of a drive up towards the mountains on I40 towards Asheville.  She has been making temari for a few years now and sharing it with her community. I'm happy that she shares it with me via email. Cindy expresses the challenges of designing temari. Oh, but the results are fantastic and well worth the effort!

From Cindy:

"I am attaching three photos of a temari display I made for the permanent Holocaust collection at Catawba Valley Community College where I teach.  The project took me longer than expected because I had to rework my design several times on a smaller thread ball.  So many prototypes had to be dismantled. I transferred the final design to a 4-inch temari; the final result you see is a 5-inch ball.  It is asymmetrical which provided a bit of problem solving.  So that folks could see both top (Star of David) and bottom (kiku flame), I mounted the temari on to a 3-inch clear-glass candlestick which was glued to a 12”x12” piece of glass.  The temari sits freely on the candlestick.  At the base is rusty ring of barbed wire and a fabric Star of David on which was written 'Jude.' (The fabric star is impaled on one of the barbs.)  My husband found the glass cover online.  All in all, I  think it turned out well. The curator of the collection is Jewish by heritage, so I gave the 4-inch temari to him.

While working on the project, I discovered the meaning of the word holocaust is 'sacrifice by fire.'  The stitched Star of David was an over-under form which the curator told me is the preferred way.  This I didn’t know either."

Holocaust temari by Cindy Coleman

Detail of Holocaust temari by Cindy Coleman showing the mirror beneath.

The Holocaust display from April 8, 2013.

This is a recent display at Cindy's library. 

If you have a temari exhibition, please let me know. I'd love to share it for you.

Temari exhibition in Stuttgart

Don't you love seeing temari on display as art? I'm sure this cafe in Stuttgart was one special place to be! The owner of the blog was gracious enough to share her photos with us.

Hashimoto san the master and organizer of the TE-MARI exhibition 

& 

Antje san, one of the Te-mari artist.

Temari perched on a shelf

Hanging temari displayed with a white background

The branch on the wall has hanging temari.

It's always good to provide information for viewers.

 If you have a temari exhibition, please let me know. I'd love to share it for you.

Snow Crystals temari pattern

Temari pattern by Barbara B. Suess

I've finished writing the pattern for this sparkling winter temari! It's short and sweet - just the basics. I realized yesterday that I made this temari from threads in my stash and they are from four different companies. So, instead of subjecting purchasers to a wild chase around the internet to order them or shopping trips to several local needlework shops (not a bad thing of course!), I decided to remake the temari with threads all from Rainbow Gallery. I've asked John to set me up with similar products. AND - how about stitching this one in red for Christmas? We are working on that as well.

It will take a couple of weeks to get the thread and rewrite the pattern to include the new thread choices. Then I'll have it available in my etsy shop with optional thread purchase. The pattern will be $4.99 (instant download). Thanks for your patience!

I've had such good response to my new pattern writing. Thanks so much to everyone who has written requesting patterns! I'm working on them every day. If you have one you'd like to request, send me an email with a photo or a link and I will give it a shot.

Winter Night - A Temari Short Course

New! I've developed an intermediate level temari course from Winter Night, a temari I submitted to the Japan Temari Association for teacher certification. You receive the text by instant download from the shop, work at your own pace, and if you have questions, send me an email. I'll be happy to help!

Please visit my etsy shop to purchase this course.

Temari Course by Barbara B. Suess

Woven Spindles are featured on Winter Night

Combine several herringbone variations to make snowflakes

Joy is Round

"Ingenious little jewels"

Joy is Round
Article on National Geographic

Thanks to Kathy and her sister who found this article, here is a charming story about soccer balls. History (of temari balls) repeats itself thanks to the "joy of round."

"In the 30-odd soccer-loving localities she visited, in countries from South Africa to Ivory Coast, balls are spun into being with whatever’s at hand: rag or sock, tire or bark, plastic bag or inflated condom. Each might last days or months on a field of gravel or hard earth. Wherever Hilltout went, she swapped the store-bought balls she kept in her car for these “ingenious little jewels,” most of which were made by children."

Link to National Geographic article.

Photo Gallery

Rali's Temari Exhibition

Excellent craftsmanship and a beautiful display. Congratulation, Rali!

Have a look at her photos and be inspired.

Rali preparing for her temari exhibition

Rali's JTA certificate and temari on display

Roll Tide football "temari"

Leola from Foley, Alabama, sent me these pictures of a temari-style football.

All I can say is ROLL TIDE! Great job!

Need thread?

Cones of metallic thread from Rainbow Gallery

I will be placing an order next Monday for 300 yard cones of thread by Rainbow Gallery. Please let me know by Sunday midnight (January 12) if you would like to order. Send an email to barb@japanesetemari.com
I will let you know the total with shipping and send you an invoice through PayPal or you can send me a check.

Here is a link to the Rainbow Gallery website.

Treasure Braid Petite is $24.75 for a 300 yard spool. This is the finer thread that I use for C10 divisions and all more intricate embroidery.
There are two pages of photographs for this thread.
page 1
page 2

This temari is marked with Treasure Braid Petite high gloss copper (PH13)

Treasure Braid Petite also comes in a high gloss product and is the same price $24.75 per spool.
Here is a link to those colors on the company's website.

300 yard spool of high gloss copper

Nordic Gold is $20.25 for a 300 yard spool. I use Nordic Gold for most temari. It's wonderful for guidelines and for adding more sparkle to the ball.

Temari marked with Nordic Gold

The company will put any of their threads on a spool. I can get a quote for you if you know of other threads you'd like. One of my favorites is Silk Lame Braid #18. This is close to the size of pearl cotton 5.

Get set for stitching in 2014!

The Temari Twins

Karen and Jen have a new website!

Karen and Jen, The Temari Twins

I met the "temari twins" when they drove down from Maryland to stitch with me at the John Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. We had a whole week of stitching together. I was so impressed! They came with a mission - to learn as much about temari as they could with patterns and wish-lists in hand.

Temari by Karen and Jen
http://www.temaritwins.com/

Their joy and enthusiasm for the craft was certainly contagious and I'm so happy to learn they are teaching workshops and still exploring new patterns. To find out more, visit their website The Temari Twins.

We will be teaching together at Jinny Beyer Studio in Great Falls, Virginia, on Saturday, February 15. Contact Karen and Jen about travelling to you.

Best of luck, Karen and Jen!

Santas Galore!

Beverly E. stitched up a jolly batch of Santas for her book club!