In 2001 my husband was temporarily transferred to Asheville, North Carolina by the phone company. Because it was temporary, I was not working and spent my time doing needlework. One day I discovered Diana Vandervoort demonstrating Temari Japanese thread balls on a craft show on HGTV and I was hooked! I found Diana’s book and taught myself how to make Temari balls and I have
been making them ever since. I now have nine books and have made countless designs and colors of balls. I have given them as gifts to all my family and most of my special friends.
I love the process of selecting a design and then picking the perfect colors to go with that design from my stash of shiny cotton thread. I never know how beautiful it will be until it is finished. Even a design I have made many times turns out completely different with a new color selection. I get an enormous amount of satisfaction out of finishing each ball, especially with a new design.
The designs on the balls are divided in a geometric, mathematical way and since I made my living working with numbers, I guess I was a perfect fit for Temari.
TEMARI
JAPANESE THREAD BALLS
Te-mari, translates from Japanese literally into “hand-ball.” From a
simple home-craft with the humble origins of a toy ball made for
children’s games, Temari has evolved over a thousand years into a
revered art form. The Temari technique developed from the simple
concept of wrapping thread and yarn around a ball. The balls were
first made from humble home-style discards found in every family
household, the recycled fabric scraps and fibers of well-used clothing.
Accompanying the fascinating craft of Temari is the beautiful tradition
that has arisen because of the gentle love of Japanese mothers and
grandmothers for their young children and their wish to provide them
with a gift of happiness and joy. The ingenuity and creativity of these
lovely Japanese ladies eventually developed the simple toy ball into
the elegant and formal “auspicious gift” that it is today.
Through the centuries, the tradition of Temari has continued,
perpetuating the love and the beauty. Temari is the symbol of love
and joy and happiness – a very special gift, given from the heart and
from the true and unconditional spirit of giving with love.
been making them ever since. I now have nine books and have made countless designs and colors of balls. I have given them as gifts to all my family and most of my special friends.
I love the process of selecting a design and then picking the perfect colors to go with that design from my stash of shiny cotton thread. I never know how beautiful it will be until it is finished. Even a design I have made many times turns out completely different with a new color selection. I get an enormous amount of satisfaction out of finishing each ball, especially with a new design.
The designs on the balls are divided in a geometric, mathematical way and since I made my living working with numbers, I guess I was a perfect fit for Temari.
TEMARI
JAPANESE THREAD BALLS
Te-mari, translates from Japanese literally into “hand-ball.” From a
simple home-craft with the humble origins of a toy ball made for
children’s games, Temari has evolved over a thousand years into a
revered art form. The Temari technique developed from the simple
concept of wrapping thread and yarn around a ball. The balls were
first made from humble home-style discards found in every family
household, the recycled fabric scraps and fibers of well-used clothing.
Accompanying the fascinating craft of Temari is the beautiful tradition
that has arisen because of the gentle love of Japanese mothers and
grandmothers for their young children and their wish to provide them
with a gift of happiness and joy. The ingenuity and creativity of these
lovely Japanese ladies eventually developed the simple toy ball into
the elegant and formal “auspicious gift” that it is today.
Through the centuries, the tradition of Temari has continued,
perpetuating the love and the beauty. Temari is the symbol of love
and joy and happiness – a very special gift, given from the heart and
from the true and unconditional spirit of giving with love.
