Barbara B. Suess, Kiku Designs
Barbara was first introduced to temari in the late 1980s while living with her husband and young daughter in Yokohama, Japan. Those four years in the Far East were filled with many happy times spent sharing her love of quilting, sewing, and embroidery with Japanese friends. Upon returning to the US, she tried making her first temari and quickly became enthralled with the range and beauty of temari patterns. A self-taught expert, it was not long before she expanded her talents to writing temari patterns, teaching classes, and creating temari-inspired jewelry.
Publications
- Japanese Temari, A Colorful Spin on an Ancient Craft, published in 2007 by Breckling Press
- Japanese Kimekomi, Fast, Fun, and Fabulous Fabric Handballs, co-authored with Kathleen M. Hewitt and published in 2008 by Breckling Press
- A New Canvas for Your Lovely Stitches published in April, 2008, in Creative Needle Magazine
- Oliver Twist Temari published in April, 2009, in Inspirations Magazine (Australia)
Organizations
- Japan Temari Association (passed examination for Shihan/Instructor Level in 2010)
- Embroiderers’ Guild of America
- National Academy of Needlearts
- National Embroidery Teachers Association
Teaching
- Embroiderers’ Guild of America –50th Anniversary Golden Gala in Louisville, Kentucky (2008), Rocky Mountain Region Seminar in Denver, Colorado (2011), and many chapter classes through the years
- John C. Campbell Folk School – Brasstown, North Carolina, in spring 2011 and scheduled for fall 2012
- Shining Needle Society – online classes held on a regular basis
Education
- Colorado State University - BS in Horticulture Landscape Design in 1980
- Wake Technical College– certificates in Adobe computer programs
"Conversation with Barb Suess"