prepped mari

A bowl of six prepped mari — ready for stitching. For each I have a design in mind; and each already has a bell box inside with a quote or haiku. The next step is to map the division lines, which is done with just a paper strip and some pins (though I often use a fabric tape measure for more complicated divisions). Then the division lines are wrapped and tacked in metallic thread (or sometimes cotton perle, or sometimes regular thread that is removed once the pattern is stitched). I'll post about the process soon in the next installment of "anatomy of a temari."

The mari at top right is an experiment; the haiku inside starts "snow is upon snow," and I wanted to find a way to evoke the look of new-fallen snow. I wrapped the mari first with gray thread, and once that was complete, added some wraps of ecru thread — enough to stand out, but not so much that plenty of gray doesn't show through.

our imagination flies

Our imagination flies — we are its shadow on the earth.
— Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)

This temari employs a wrapped pattern, alternating two colors of thread, resulting in a very dimensional effect. It took me awhile to figure out how to make this one; I'm pleased with the result. In addition to being an author, Nabokov was also a highly regarded lepidopterist, and specialized in study of at least one species of blue butterfly. I chose the colors to evoke what are referred to as "Nabokov's Blues."

Lilac thread wrap (very pale purple); embroidery wrap in periwinkle-violet and dark navy blue. The quote by Vladimir Nabokov is in the bell box along with 9 brass rings. Circumference: 10.25 inches / 26.3 cm; diameter: 3.25 inches / 8.4 cm. Completed 9 October 2011 (no. 040).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

drinking morning tea (chrysanthemum)

drinking morning tea
the monk is peaceful
the chrysanthemum blooms
— Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694)

The chrysanthemum is possibly the quintessential traditional Japanese design. Sixteen petals, traditionally white with an inner color at the kiku points (kiku means chrysanthemum, as well as a term for the type of herringbone stitch used at the inner points of the petals). This is my first true chrysanthemum temari. ("A Good Poem" is chrysanthemum-style, but obviously a variant.)

Thread wrap in medium brown; S16 division with metallic copper; embroidery in light tea green, medium tea green, light brown and cream. The haiku above by Matsuo Bashō is in the bell box along with 16 brass rings (for the 16 petals). Circumference: 11 inches / 28 cm; diameter: 3.5 inches / 9 cm. Completed 08 October 2011 (no. 039).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

scissors hesitate

Before the white chrysanthemum
the scissors hesitate
a moment.
— Yosa Buson (1716–1783)

This temari was inspired by a pattern by Barbara Suess. Three four-petal kiku herringbone stars/flowers at each pole, layered. I wanted this to be very subtle and soft, and chose light colors, with the contrasting gray not too dark. Experimenting, the stars at the south pole are offset from those at the north pole resulting in an asymmetrical design. At the north pole the gray star has varying petal lengths, while at the south pole the thinner cream star has varying petal lengths, which results in a zig-zag appearance at the equator (which has no marking line or obi).

Thread wrap in ecru; S8 division in metallic silver; embroidery in cream and light silver-gray, with highlights and edging in metallic silver. The haiku by Buson is in the bell box, with seven brass rings. Circumference: 10.25 inches / 26 cm; diameter: 3.25 inches / 8.27 cm. Completed 5 October 2011 (no. 038).

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starry night (contemplation)

 Contemplation is the highest form of activity.
—Aristotle

Two kiku herringbone stars, interwoven, at each pole — created with colors to evoke van Gogh's painting "The Starry Night."

Thread wrap in dark navy blue; S8 division in metallic gold; embroidery in three shades of blue, three shades of yellow, and cream. The quote from Aristotle is in the bell box, with eleven brass rings. Circumference: 10.25 inches / 26 cm; diameter: 3.25 inches / 8.27 cm. Completed 3 October 2011 (no. 037).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

Arrange whatever pieces come your way — all-over stripes

Arrange whatever pieces come your way.
— Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)

Another in the all-over wrapped "web" style like no. 34 (meaning that none of the thread wrap shows through, and the back-stitching over the division lines are evocative of a spiderweb). Many of the newer patterns I am trying out first to practice and figure out the bugs, and then making the next to sell on Etsy.

Brown thread wrap (which you don't see); heavy cotton thread, like package-tying thread, for division lines (S8 division); embroidery wrap in browns, blues, and purples. The quote by Virginia Woolf is in the bell box along with 11 brass rings. Circumference: 10.375 inches / 24.5 cm; diameter: 3.30 inches / 7.8 cm. Completed 2 October 2011 (no. 036).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

katydid

katydid —
caught by someone
waiting for the stars
– Issa (1768–1827)

This is a second version of no. 33, with a few changes. Creating it was easier this time around, having practiced on the first one. Rather than marking it as an S12, I just marked an S6, and added the graphite "division" lines after the bands, before the obi, placed by eye.

Black thread wrap with embroidery in dusky lavender, pale yellow, light olive green, & edging in graphite gray; a wide black obi (18ish rows) with "x"s over it at the bands. The haiku by Issa is in the bell box along with 9 brass rings. Circumference: 10 inches / 25 cm; diameter: 3.18 inches / 8 cm. Completed 1 October 2011 (no. 035).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.