imagination needs . . .

So you see, imagination needs moodling—long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.
— Brenda Ueland (1891–1985)

I'm still on the quest for "perfecting" the pattern-element I saw in some Japanese photos of kiku herringbone with long / spindly inner points (see no. 110). With each attempt I make adjustments, learn a little more, end up with a happy temari, and get ideas for the next try.

Thread wrap in seafoam-celadon green (light, very-slightly-blue green); S10 division with guidelines removed. Embroidery in light and medium blueish greens and periwinkle-violet. The quote by Brenda Ueland is in the bell box along with 27 brass rings. Circumference: 10 inches / 25.5 cm; diameter: 3.18 inches / 8.11 cm. Completed 1 May 2012 (no. 117).

an art of balance

What I dream of is an art of balance.
— Henri Matisse (1869–1954)

Like nos. 95 & 96, I wanted to do another "individual" herringbone stitch design. I think of these as "spirograph" designs, though this one is less so than 95 and 96, I believe because if how I divided the colors as well as fewer divisions.

Thread wrap in gray-brown; S16 division, guidelines removed after stitching; embroidery in 8 shades of silver-browns and moss greens. The quote above by Matisse is in the bell box along with 23 brass rings. Circumference: 9.875 inches / 25 cm; diameter: 3.14 inches / 7.95 cm. Completed 28 April 2012 (no. 116).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

wrote some blues

I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.
— Duke Ellington (1899–1974)

A variation of the wrap pattern I first used for no. 108.

Thread wrap in jet black; S6 but no marking lines. Embroidery in nine shades of blues, silver-blues, and grays. The quote by Duke Ellington is in the bell box along with 17 brass rings. Circumference: 10.325 inches / 26.5 cm; diameter: 3.28 inches / 8.43 cm. Completed 28 April 2012 (no. 115).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

destiny is made known silently

No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.
— Agnes de Mille (1905–1993)

This is another "sculptural" temari - an original "free form" design intended to be displayed with the north pole at the top or facing forward. I wanted to convey quietness yet strength; using ecru on ecru the pattern is subtle; fine gold highlights add grace.

Thread wrap in ecru; S6 division #8 perle. Embroidery in matching ecru with a few highlights in metallic gold. The quote by Agnes de Mille is in the bell box along with 27 brass rings. Circumference: 9.5 inches / 24.5 cm; diameter: 3 inches / 7.8 cm. Completed 25 April 2012 (no. 114).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

i shut my eyes in order to see

I shut my eyes in order to see.
— Paul Gauguin (1848–1903)

I love the ribbed kiku sitich (for example, no. 104), and decided to see what might happen if I layered it with traditional kiku — I think it looks pretty stunning! A new favorite.

Thread wrap in medium silver gray; S8 division #8 perle. Embroidery in matching gray, light yellow and very light green. The quote by Paul Gauguin is in the bell box along with 23 brass rings. Circumference: 10.25 inches / 26 cm; diameter: 3.26 inches / 8.27 cm. Completed 24 April 2012 (no. 113).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

at home in this universe

When I learn something new—and it happens every day—I feel a little more at home in this universe, a little more comfortable in the nest.
— Bill Moyers (1934– )

A symmetrical composition: an S20 division, each pole has four 5-point kiku herringbone stars in four colors. Browns for the nest, and midnight blue for the universe; the pattern & color placement create a kaleidoscopic effect.

Thread wrap in midnight blue; S20 division in metallic copper. Embroidery in four gradated shades from dark beige-brown to light-beige brown. The quote by Bill Moyers is in the bell box along with 17 brass rings. Circumference: 10.5 inches / 26.8 cm; diameter: 3.34 inches / 8.53 cm. Completed 21 April 2012 (no. 112).

Sold to benefit Kiva.org.

things do not change, we change

Things do not change, we change.
— Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

A variation on no. 093 (which I liked so much I decided to keep it for myself). This temari has a reverse kiku herringbone pattern of two interlocked five-point stars—reverse means the kiku points are at the equator and not at the poles. The only problem is that it wasn't until the second to last row that I realized the mistake I had made at one pole! Still, if it sells, it will go for a good cause.

Thread wrap in purple; S10 division (guidelines removed); embroidery in 5 shades of very light lavender-white (not actually white) to dusky lavender to purple. The quote above by Thoreau is in the bell box along with 21 brass rings. Circumference: 10.5 inches / 26.8 cm; diameter: 3.34 inches / 8.53 cm. Completed 16 April 2012 (no. 111).


Sold (at a reduced price) to benefit Kiva.org.

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