About Talk Temari & Activities       

        TalkTemari is the companion discussion group to TemariKai.com. When I discovered and was captivated with temari back in 1998, I posted a few personal web pages (that was also pretty much the dawn of home computing and the web, as well) just to see if there were any other people out there. At that time there was precious little on the web, and certainly nothing that was instructional. Within 24 hours I had been contacted; that list quickly grew and a private email list was created. Within 4 months things were beyond what a personal address book could manage, and the first listserve was set up on OneList. Growth continued and we moved to eGroups; Yahoo Groups took over eGroups in 2000. We've now moved to Groups.io for a more effective home.  The group membership has grown to a membership of over 700 at this point in time; yet countless others have dropped in to visit for a time and then moved on. TalkTemari has birthed many friendships that transpire just a love of the art; we have has a group laughed, learned, celebrated and mourned together. It's a bit mind boggling to think back through it all, but it's been and is a pretty good ride. It's hoped that you will enjoy being a part of it.

 Anyone who wishes to learn how to make temari, or is simply curious about the art is welcome to join the group. In addition to helping everyone learn together (regardless of skill level - absolute beginner to more experienced stitchers), TalkTemari looks at some relevant Japanese culture, and holds various on-line group activities.


*) Check out and become familiar with the utilities available in TalkTemari Groups.io: Photo Albums, Events Calendar, Files, and Links. They are all easily accessed and there is an extensive TT Wiki to help you learn your way around. You must be logged in to your Groups.io TT account to access these functions. Please explore these functions and become familiar with them and use the TT Wiki in order to gain the most from being a member of TalkTemari.

Other activities that happen through the list include:

*) GITS: TalkTemari has become known for the Great International Temari Swap (GITS). Read about the history of how the GITS and about how it works. GITS Rounds are held about  every 6 to 8 weeks.

*) Theme/Project Challenges: Every so often we set up a theme or set of guidelines to stitch a temari around – such as perhaps a certain color, a particular stitch, pattern, etc. You work a temari according to the guidelines and post a photo of your results on TalkTemari Yahoo for everyone to share.

*) Stitch Alongs: StitchAlongs are online tutorials for working a particular stitch, pattern, technique, etc. The SA leader posts step-wise instructions every 5-7 days to guide everyone through the topic, using both the list posts as well as photos and PDF files that you can download as a written tutorial. You post questions back to the list as needed as well as photos of problems, etc as you go. Completed project photos are shared at the end of the SA (if you want to).

*) Ai’s Store: We have a good friend in Kobe who is a JTA Temari Kyoujyu/Level 4, and Ai is very generous in guiding and teaching us. She also has an online store for Japanese temari supplies. You can order from her at any time on your own, but it’s a much better deal to get in on a TT Group order which is set up every few months. This saves on shipping and usually results in some quantity discount. I have no business arrangement with Ai, and do not profit from coordinating orders or recommending her shop.

*) Group Supply orders - there will occasionally be a group order to obtain what might otherwise be some hard to find supplies. Again, I do not profit or otherwise benefit from coordinating them.

        If you have questions, suggestions, or requests, please drop a note. Likewise if you would like to volunteer to lead a StitchAlong, drop a note so we can work out the details. Remember that I’m happy to help with prepping materials with you for a StitchAlong if you need it. Email me at gttemari21@gmail.com