Temari Obsession

Ah, Temari!

After a lifetime of creating fine art, and crafts, I had never heard of Temari. Then a new friend showed me the Temari she had learned to make while living in Japan. Their beauty so intrigued me I had to touch them and then learn to make them myself.

Then I showed a friend how to make them and one day she emailed me with the subject being "Temari Obsession". That they are. Reminds us of a long-ago Startrek episode called "The Trouble with Tribbles"... Imagine Termaris everywhere... on the furniture, in the cabinets, in the frig, pouring out the door of one room into another. Next they're in my dreams... in full color. New ideas and color combinations I hope to be able to remember in the morning when I wake.

Wow, what a journey! Along the way many of the beautiful threads and other supplies have come my way in the form of gifts... the only request in return being to spread them across the country, which I have had much fun doing, from coast to coast and border to border, and a couple even made it over the borders, north and south.

Some accounts say the origin of Temari may have been in China, and then around 600 A.D. they were introduced in Japan. According to most stories they were toys, used for playing hand ball. Early Temari were made by wrapping colorful threads around a soft center. Over the ages they have evolved into beautifully wrapped and embroidered balls and egg shapes and are considered a fine craft. Today they are used as hanging and decorative objects, displayed one alone or in groups in bowls or baskets.

Temari translates "hand ball". Itemari translates "thread ball".

In the West, these beautiful objects of art are called Temari.

Something New on Temari Obsession
...Check out Gift Ideas for Temari.

Remember... Temari are Special Gifts for Special People, including yourself!