My First Temari
This is actually the good side of this temari. The other side shows that I had a little problem with the concept of a herringbone stitch. I wish I could remember the name of the woman who taught the temari workshop I went to because I would like her to know how grateful I am that she volunteered. I actually made a second temari in this exact same design but used white crochet yarn to wrap the ball and variegated crochet yarn for the design. I still have it but it is pretty sad looking.
Learning Ball
This is my 2nd Temari, if you don't count the one I made with crochet yarn. The design is from Temari, How to Make Japanese Thread Balls by Vandervoort. I chose shades of green instead of black/yellow/red because I was trying to make it a tribute to the Girl Scouts. I only found one other Girl Scout leader who wanted to learn this craft. Most of the others lost interest when they found out it would probably take longer than a single meeting to teach the girls in their troop to make one.
Aquarium
The Temari in this 'aquarium' is a version of "Flaming Pearl" from Temari Treasures by Vandervoort. I got the idea of putting temari in fish bowls from one of the temari sights. Unfortunately, I can't remember which. Last Christmas many people got temari's in fish bowls as gifts. The lid is simply a round peace of Styrofoam with champhered edges that I wrapped, marked, and embroidered much the same way as a temari. Wrapping one of these lids takes a lot of thread. Some temari, especially those made with embroidery floss, need a little more protection and this is definitely more attractive than a plastic bag.
Aztec[pattern]
This is my own design. I started out with one idea that didn't quite turn out the way I planned. I just kept adding layers of designs until I was satisfied with the result. At first I didn't like it much, but each time I looked at it I liked it more. Now I think it is one of my best. If you think so too, try out the pattern.
Clockwork
I can really tell that I took this photo. My daughter does a much better job. It is hard to see but, at the point where the three pentagrams meet, the color bands are woven over and under. The entire 'love knot' is then outlined by a hexagram in the same color pattern.
Dried Flowers
This is just a simple kiku design with a little different obi. I wanted the effect of leaves so I put an "inside out" four point green kiku on each side of the ball. The kiku stitches start on the outside tips of the kiku petals and the herringbone stitches start just inside the petal tips.
Drum
When I first had the idea for this web sight, my daughter and I examine all the temari I had to see which ones to photograph. When we came across this one, I honestly could not remember making it. Maybe there is a temari fairy in the house. The only other person who could have done it is Kendra but she snorted and rolled her eyes when I asked if she had made it. I guess the answer was 'no'. My favorite part of this temari is the obi. Whoever made it did a great job on the obi.
Egg
This egg is my attempt at the 'princess crown' from Temari, How to Make Japanese Thread Balls by Diane Vandervoort. In this book she uses a cheese cloth thread base, but it her later books, that have egg designs, she uses felt as a thread base. I plan to try doing an egg with felt and see if that makes it easier. The cheese cloth base was very hard to work with.
Faberge[pattern]
I call this 'Faberge' because the design reminds me of motifs I have seen on Faberge Eggs.