Monday, August 31, 2015

Looking for temari classes? Or looking for temari students?

It's that time of year when people are looking to take classes - maybe because it's time for the school year to start? Anyway, I'd like to update the teachers' page on my website


If you'd like to be added to the list or have changes to make, please let me know. I'll be happy to help! Send an email to me barb@japanesetemari.com


AND if your are a temari teacher, send me details of your classes that I can copy and paste into my next email. With almost 800 subscribers, I hope to help you reach some new students!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Need thread? Metallic thread? Silk?

We'll be ordering from Rainbow Gallery next Monday, August 24 . Would you like us to get some thread for you? They will make special put-ups on cones for any of their thread. After placing the order, it usually takes about a week to get it and another few days to package it and get it in the mail to you.



I usually order 300 yard cones of some of my favorites. 

Nordic Gold (limited colors available now- good size for general marking) - $22.25 for 300 yard cone

Gold Rush XS (similar to Nordic Gold in size) - $24.00 for 300 yard cone

Temari marked with Nordic Gold (ND3 silver)
by Barbara B. Suess
Treasure Braid Petite (finer for more intricate markings) - $$24.75 for 300 yard cone

first page of colors

second page of colors

This temari is marked with Treasure Braid Petite high gloss copper (PH13)
by Barbara B. Suess

If you'd like to get in on the order, please send your wish list by midnight, Sunday, August 23. Remember that you can request any of their threads and we'll get a quote for you on the 300 yard cone. If you'd like more than 300 yards on your cone, you can request that, too.

Please send your request to:

supplies@japanesetemari.com

Include the brand name and color number (for example, Nordic Gold ND3 - silver).

Dana Watson is handling sales now and will reply to you.

Thanks!


Happy stitching,
Barb Suess

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

"New" postcard of pretty Japanese lady with a temari

It's fun collecting vintage postcards. This one is circa 1901 - 1907.

Vintage postcard of lady with temari

Friday, August 7, 2015

Valerie's beautiful temari displays!

Valerie is taking both of my JTA online classes - Level 1 and Level 2.  She said she got a late start and is almost caught up with all four lessons posted so far. So beautiful!








Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Temari - Blue Poppies and Emerald Isle for our next lesson in JTA Level 2 class

Lesson 4 for our JTA Level 2 class will be a busy one! Blue Poppies and Emerald Isle - two Japanese temari.

Class is running now and you can join anytime.

Temari by Barbara B. Suess

Temari by Barbara B. Suess

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

New video on how to use a v-ruler for measuring Japanese temari balls

This morning I made a new video to share with you. I am working on a pattern called Blue Poppies for the next lesson in my Level 2 JTA class. This design is on a 14 faces temari. It begins with a combination 8 division and then you add support lines. I was using the v-ruler so much that I thought it a good time to make a video to demonstrate its use.

Have a look - here's the link

You can purchase v-rulers in our Etsy shop.

Barbara B. Suess - New V-rulers



Monday, July 6, 2015

Just for fun!

You will see temari in this.  

If you cannot open url, search from below words..

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "SHARP AQUOS 4K NEXT" TV-CM



Friday, July 3, 2015

2015 JTA Certification - we all passed!!!

Congratulations to everyone!!!


Level 1 - Trish Harris, Cindy Linert, and Deb Wilson

Level 1 and 2 - Cindy Lewis, Dorian Eng, Fraser Gianaras, Niccola Holmes, and Robin French

Level 2 - Bronwyn Collier and Gail Orval

Level 4 - Barb Suess

It's been an honor to help these dedicated stitchers with their work.



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.







Saturday, May 30, 2015

BIG news for JapaneseTemari.com! Have you met Dana Watson?

You probably know Dana from my emails telling you about her classes in North Carolina. She has a new series of classes for beginning temari makers starting soon in Chapel Hill. Dana teaches at Thimble Pleasures, a quilt shop that is the best in our region. It's worth a trip to see all the colors and prints of fabric, including a large selection of Japanese fabrics. Here is a link to the next session of temari classes.

I met Dana when she came to a book signing at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh when my first book, affectionately now know as “Colorful Spin" came out. Then, like so many of us, she became addicted to temari and showed up in all my classes. I’ve been envious of her perfect stitching and sense of color from the beginning!

Dana has spent time in Japan teaching in the Sendai area and she recently returned from a trip back to Japan where "the goal of the trip was to do ALL THE THINGS, and we sure did try." Her trip was packed with days on the move. Read Dana's blog to find out more about her trip as she gets the days documented and the photos sorted for her blog.

Great news! I will now be able to dedicate all my temari time to stitching and writing because Dana is taking over the job of maintaining the temari shop on Etsy.com. Yay!! When looking at my website or Etsy shop, you will not notice any difference. The only clue will be if you check the postmark on your order and see that it was mailed from Durham or Chapel Hill instead of Raleigh. Dana will be working hard to make stocking supplies and shipping kits and other temari goodies go as smoothly as possible. We will both see your order, but now Dana will fill it and mail to you.

While Dana is handling all the supply mailing, I’ll be able to use this newly freed up time to write more patterns and develop more classes for you. It's a great opportunity for each of us to become more involved in our favorite craft. I'm really looking forward to our cooperative efforts to make stitching temari fun and easy for everyone!

You can contact Dana directly at dkwatson@gmail.com should you want to request special supplies. We'll also both see conversations sent through Etsy, so that's another good way to reach us.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Chip the cat and temari



From Mary Jo....
"His name is Chip. And he is a sweetheart for a cat. And actually both of my cats are very good with all of my stitching - my Temari balls, my counted canvas work, etc. Except when I'm power wrapping my Temari balls, they just watch respectfully and I hope admire it."


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Introduction of Temari Curriculum and New Courses

News!

In January of 2015, the Japan Temari Association (JTA) introduced a curriculum for international study of the craft that is based on the same one taught in Japan by JTA certified teachers and masters. This exciting opportunity inspired me to begin teaching this same curriculum in online courses. While successful completion of these courses can lead to application for JTA certification by my students, many 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. We will be using Temari Techniques as the text for the course and I'll be providing patterns from the JTA books to inspire and challenge you with each technique.

The first session begins May 1st so head on over to my website to read all about it. I hope to see you in temari class!

New Temari Courses 

Membership and Certification in the JTA

FAQs

Thanks for all your support!

Coach Barb

"Double Star" temari

"Double Star" temari by Barbara B. Suess

Monday, April 20, 2015

Finished with a big project!

Finished and these are on their way to Japan today. Yay!

Temari by Barbara B. Suess

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Three little kokeshi

playing with temari


Monday, April 13, 2015

Temari rulers

Hello, Happy Spring!

Just a quick note this morning to let you know that the C10 circumference rulers from Tentemari that so many of you ordered will be here in a couple of weeks. As soon as they arrive, I'll contact you and give you information on how to purchase them. I have also ordered a lot more Kyo thread since my last batch sold out within hours!
 
We've heard that the Japan Temari Association will not be ordering new V rulers. Oh no! I use mine all the time for all sorts of measuring - not just for the C10 division. Well, I decided to bite the bullet and order some V rulers to be made. I found a company who can do it for us. Since I've always wanted numbers printed on the V ruler, I added them when I did the artwork. I should have this new version of the trusty ruler in about 6 weeks.






 I feel the love! Thank you for all your kind words about the new Temari Workbook. It's being translated into Japanese now as a gift to temari makers there. You can download your copy and print pages as you need them to record your temari stitching - one of the best ways to learn and keep track!

Link to download the Workbook