Another Christmas Temari

Another Christmas, another temari. Gee, I wonder what inspires me to start working on these again each December? Last year, my friend Melissa commented that she didn't have any special Christmas ornaments. Well, we can't have that, now can we? So I promised her one, thinking I would get to it right after Christmas. I didn't, and rather than send it to her in like April and her have to keep up with it, I waited until this December to make and send her one. I am absolutely thrilled with how this one turned out!! (And she seems to like it, too, which is the important thing.)



Please pardon the crummy photos; I was in a hurry to get it in the mail. Melissa's photo of this temari is actually much better than mine! This was my first time stitching this design, and I usually keep my first attempt at any new pattern (because, let's all admit, the first time you do anything it doesn't always turn out the best). But this one turned out *so* well, I decided to send it on instead of making a new one for her. It's not perfectly round, but it was pretty close. I also feel I have a much better grasp on the C8 division. I don't know why I had it in my head that dividing the ball into C8 was hard. It's not! Now, to conquer my fear of C10....

Currently feeling: crafty (sorry,they don't make temari emoticons)

Interlocking Square Temari

I know! Two temari in two months. What is this world coming to? Well, keep in mind the previous one was nearly done when I found it in my bag. This one, however, was started from scratch. I'd estimate about 12 hours of work over the course of about a week from the bare styrofoam ball to completion. Not bad at all, especially considering I've never tried this pattern before, and I didn't have any instructions, just a photo.



I also attempted this one by just using the simple 4 plus obi marking pins, plus half way divider pins, as opposed to actually placing all of the complex 8 guidelines. It was so easy for me to see where the six squares went, I didn't think I would need them. Mistake! I think things would have come out a little more square (no pun intended) if I had put the guidelines in. I will next time!



But for my first try at this pattern, and particularly given how non-spherical this base ended up being, I'm pretty happy with it.

Currently feeling: trimming the tree

Christmas Star Temari

Hey, look, I finished a temari! I think it has only been 2-3 years in the making, working small bits at a time, then leaving it to sit for months. Then, it got lost in a bag, which then got lost in the move. I'm actually still missing a craft bag that has all of my temari books in it. (Naturally, now that I'm in the mood to do some!) This one didn't turn out exactly as I intended.



Notice how the points are on alternate division lines, not on the same division lines on each side of the obi (center strip)? The idea was to make the points really long so that they crossed over the obi line and entered the empty space between the points of the star on the other side. Obviously, it didn't quite work out that way. I didn't leave enough distance between the center pentagon and the first stitch of the star points to allow for that. At minimum, both sets of points should touch the obi, but you can clearly see they do not on one side. Oh well! I'm still learning. Now, to make another one, before I forget what I've learned.

Currently feeling: star power

Four years in the making

Okay, no one faint. I hope you're all sitting down. Ready? I stitched!

:: Erin waits while everyone picks themselves up off the floor ::

Actually, you may just want to stay in the floor, since it gets even more amazing. I also finished two projects!

:: Erin passes out smelling salts, certain this information has caused some loss of consciousness ::

The title up there is both true and a bit misleading. Both of the projects I finished were started while I was pregnant. Both of them, sadly, were also *almost* finished when I put them down. I don't really recall why I put them down. I know late in my pregnancy, I had the attention span of a gnat. Concentrating on much of anything was difficult, especially something like stitching. Then after Luke arrived, I didn't have time, and then when I had time, I didn't have interest.

But Heather inspired me by finishing the flower fob she started around the same time (scroll to bottom of that post). I figured if she could do it, then so could I. First I had to hunt down the nearly finished berry, but it was right where I left it four years ago: in my stitching bag in the closet. I had all the beading and backstitching done. All it needed was some fusible fleece for backing, some handmade green cording, and peyote beaded strawberry leaves. Took about 3 days to manage all that (what with that pesky job thing getting in the way) and get it "fobinated" (sewn together and stuffed). So here is my newly completed (for the second time, seeing as I gave away the first one) beaded strawberry fob.



This is "A Strawberry for Emily" by Tomorrow's Antiques (they don't have a website, as far as I know).

But we're not done yet! Oh no. While I was in the closet hunting for the unfinished strawberry, I stumbled on my temari bag. Now, having seen Glenda complete a few temari in the last 4 years, one of them last month, I was already starting to get the temari bug again. Upon peeking into my bag, though, I discovered a temari that I had totally forgotten about, and it was nearly done! See the second picture below? All I had to do was put in the purple triangles with the white outlines (one was complete; had 7 more to do), and it was finished. I know I was working on this during the Myrtle Beach trip (that I never did write up) in February 2004, and again, I have no idea why I put it aside. But it's done now, and I think it looks pretty good. Certainly a lot of imperfections, but hopefully they're only really obvious to me, not anyone else.



Sorry, forgot the credits. Basically this pattern, but I actually figured it out only from a picture (the one at the bottom, in fact). There was no posted pattern at the time I started working on it, and I am thrilled with myself for being able to reconstruct it based only on the photo! Done in DMC floss.

Thanks for looking!

Currently feeling: amazed at myself!

Pay It Forward

I have been reading about the Pay It Forward movement on various blogs, but every time I found one, they were full! Finally, Melanie had an open spot, so I signed up with her.

The first five people who leave a comment on my blog, with their e-mail address, will receive a hand-crafted gift from me in the next 12 months, probably either a cross-stitched bookmark or a temari, your choice. (If you do not wish to leave your email address in the comments, please email me at erinmarie AT rocketmail DOT com, but please be sure that you also leave a comment!) In return for signing up to receive a gift from me, your obligation is to make the same offer on your blog. If you don't have a blog, then you can still participate but you'll have to find a way to make the same offer to your friends :)

Currently feeling: giving

Temari info and links (more info added)

No, no baby yet (thankfully; blood work came back fine, and all of my other factors were actually lower Friday than they were Wednesday), but I have another appointment today. I also think I'm coming down with bronchitis. Yeah, just what I need at 38 weeks pregnant! ::rolls eyes::

Anyway, someone asked me about temari in my most recent set of comments. Normally, I would expound quite a bit on temari, why I love it, and show pictures. But I just don't have the energy right now. So here is the super-short version. Temari is a Japanese embroidery technique done on spherical objects, usually handmade balls of some kind. It involves wrapping the ball with thread, then using decorative threads to create a design of some kind, usually geometric in nature. (You can see why this appeals to the engineer in me.)

I got started with it because a friend of mine learned to make them and brought an example with her to one of our stitching get-togethers. She then offered to teach us how to do it. She first used (with permission) Judy's Temari Tutor which, as far as I am concerned, is still the absolute best resource available. Better than any book. Another very good website, though better once you have tried your hand at a few is TemariKai. Great info, fair to good design instructions (depending on the design, but hey, they're free!), and an extensive links page. They also have a mailing list that has a good amount of chatter.

However, once you get the hang of the concept, the books are pretty useful as well. I use them more for inspiration (both design and color) than I do for actual instruction, but they are still good to have. Here are the three I own:
* Temari: How to Make Japanese Thread Balls, by Diana Vandervoort (she has several books)
* The Craft of Temari, by Mary Wood
* Temari: A Traditional Japanese Embroidery Technique, by Margaret Ludlow

I hope this helps. You can see examples of temari made personally by me in my temari webshots album. I'll get around to having a real webpage about them one of these days.

Okay, just for Glenda, I'm editing this post to talk about the supplies I use. I use 3 inch diameter styrofoam balls (available at any craft store, often in the floral section) as my base. Haven't gotten around to making my own mari yet. I then use 1/4 inch batting, a yarn layer (baby yarn), and at least one entire 300 yard spool of sewing thread. I think Judy talks about this on her site, but I don't remember for sure. Seems like either she does or Diana Vandervoort does. Anyway, once the base is wrapped, I divide the ball using quilting pins (I like the different colored heads, makes it easier to know what marking pin is what). You are now ready to put something on your wrapped mari base.

I usually divide the ball using Kreinik #4 braid or perle cotton (#5, I think, but I'll double check). For paper strips, I usually just cut the edges off of junk mail! I do most of the stitching (i.e. the actual design) in either perle cotton (again #5, IIRC) or just plain ol' DMC floss, just as it comes off the skein. For a cheaper alternative to perle cotton (that works perfectly fine, and I like it to play with, since it's cheaper), the DMC "craft thread" that is sold in packs is roughly the same weight as the perle cotton. It's not as shiny, but it comes in lots of colors, so give it a try if you don't want to put a lot of mone into it initially. However, it gives more dimension and texture than DMC floss, which ends up much more smooth in appearance. I can't remember what needles I use. Just the longest ones I can find; 2 inches is pretty good. The rubber "needle gripper" discs, often found in the quilting section, are fabulous for pulling the needles under the thread wrap.

That's everything I can think of. If I think of anything else, or if you have any other questions, just let me know.