Japanese Temari Newsletter
September 12 , 2008
Hi, everyone!
Japanese Kimekomi Our new book, Japanese Kimekomi: Fast, Fun, and Fabulous Fabric Handballs is finally here in Raleigh, NC. Kathy Hewitt (my sister in temari and kimekomi) co-authored the book with me. Anne Knudsen of Breckling Press once again put together a beautiful book. If you already ordered and paid for a book, I sent it yesterday by US Mail and sent you an email to notify you. I have lots of extra copies of the book which I will be happy to sign and send on to you. I even managed to get in a good supply of kimekomi tucking tools from Japan. This handy tool has a wood handle in the middle with differently shaped blades on either end. It is 6 3/4 inches long and fits nicely in your hand to make tucking fabric down into the grooves easy. These are authentic tools for the craft and come directly from Japan. Note, please support the author rather than large discount book sellers.
January 4, 2009, week at John Campbell Folk School Mark your calendars for a very special week long temari retreat at a gorgeous location in the mountains of North Carolina, the John Campbell Folk School. Japanese Temari Balls, Beginning to Intermediate - Temari (meaning 'hand ball' in Japanese) is a folk craft born in ancient Japan from the desire to entertain children with an embroidered toy thread ball. Today, the lovely thread-wrapped, embroidered temari balls are given as tokens of good luck. The home craft has turned into an art form! In this class, we will start at the very beginning using her book, Japanese Temari, A Colorful Spin on an Ancient Craft. Extra patterns will be available for intermediate stitchers to tackle. In other words, start from the very beginning or tackle intermediate or advanced patterns that Barb brings along. There will be plenty to challenge you, no matter what your level. Please contact the school to sign up.
EGA National Seminar, Louisville, KY, September 1 to 5, 2008
Review from a student and fellow EGA CyberStitchers member
Here is the write up of the seminar that I posted on Temari Challenge Yahoo group:
Yes, I did have the time of my life! Last week, I talked for 5 days straight and met so many talented stitchers from all over the US. They had come to Louisville for Embroiderers' Guild of America national seminar. I gave away a box of business cards (200) before running out and the bookstore sold all the Japanese Temari books they had purchased from my publisher. So, now I am imagining all those I spoke with and all those who went home with a little something from me telling their friends and EGA chapter members about temari. Many, many had made temari years ago and seemed excited about trying it again using traditional methods like rice hulls and soft yarn for the core.
We had 23 students in the intermediate class on Monday and Tuesday. I joked afterwards that I killed them on Monday with a barrage of temari terms and new techniques and, of course, new stitches. New to them, but 600 years old! 23 out of 23 wrapped a round ball right off the bat and we had their balls marked into C8's before lunch. Stitching the kiku and swirl in the afternoon was very challenging for many and most of us, definitely including me, left class exhausted. On Tuesday morning, light bulbs were going off everywhere and by lunch time, the room was full of relaxed stitchers who proudly proclaimed "I got it!"
On Wednesday, I had a table in a grand ballroom to display temari and sell some kits and jewelry. The room was filled with tables covered with the most beautiful kits, patterns, threads and stitching accessories that I have ever seen. That is the day my voice began to be strained from describing the temari making process over and over to all of the stitchers who came to the event. 900 participants! I was whispering by the end of the day and retained a low, husky (some said sexy!) voice for the rest of the week.
The advanced temari class was on Thursday and Friday - 10 extremely talented stitchers each wrapped a large 5 inch Stryofoam ball and everyone marked a C10 ending up with nicely regular pentagons. Whew! Stitching the pattern I wrote for them went very smoothly so we could talk about designing and stitching other patterns on the second day while they continued stitching.
By the end of the week, I was physically drained. You could compare the whole experience to have a baby. Many, many months of preparation, then a physically demanding labor and delivery! At the end, I was thinking "I don't think I want to go through this again." But I knew the day would come when the difficulties would fade in my memory, and only thoughts of the fabulous people I met during the week would make me want to do it all over. Guess what? After a day at home and a long walk this morning, back to my regular routine, I'm thinking I'll go for that second child and propose for another national.
EGA has opened the registration for national seminar in Pittsburg in 2009. http://www.egausa.org/html/seminar.html No temari classes next year but have a look and be inspired by all of the offerings. Registration is open until September 15. It will close until next spring when registration opens for the regular sign up. The class pieces were on display in Louisville. They are stunning!
Lots of you on this list teach classes in temari or make displays for libraries, etc. If you have not jumped in yet, go for it! You will get a great reception, for sure!
Thanks for all the good wishes and good thoughts you sent my way last week. I was feeling them and all went well.
Patterns coming to website
In the next few weeks, I will be putting up patterns in the shop. I had so many requests at EGA Seminar for more patterns! I will post new additions on the Whats New? page on my website.
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Happy stitching (or fabric tucking),
Barb Suess