In the Making...

I thought I'd share my Christmas tree with you! I've made a few decorations for the tree. This flat ceramic bauble is double-sided and from the photo above you can see the Christmas tree on the other side. A ceramic glazed santa Hardanger embroidered decoration and it's filled with cloves so it smells very Christmassy Secret Garden folded fabric blocks with lucet cord and beaded tassels And, it's not just me. These are Mr's contributions, a wood turned bauble and a star for the top of the tree which is made from white leather (a strange material for a star but it looks nice) These are a few tree decorations that friends have made for me over the years. Going through them all, I've realised there is not one knitted decoration. That will be something I'll have to remedy for next year!

Edo Temari This is one of my favorite temari balls that I have made. It is from Edo Temari (ISBN 4-8377-0394-1) which is a beautiful Japanese (no English instructions) book of mainly geometric patterns. It took a little figuring out as only one side of the temari was shown and the other side didn't seem to mirror it. Though it turned out well (I think so anyway) and was given as a present to my mum. I've added a tassel and loop so it can be hung up - this was destined to hang as part of a curtain tie back.

One of the other crafts I do is make Temari balls. I was taught by a friend of mine who lived part of the year in Cyprus (from what I understand it is a popular craft there). Temarikai is a helpful site for anyone who is interested. They are stitched balls and are a traditional Japanese craft. I start with a ball of wool and wind some sewing thread of whatever colour I want the background to be. Then mark out the sections and stitch the pattern. Here are a few photos of temari balls I have made.