The Ball Whisperer

I think you know what I mean when I say that there's a little whispering person inside your brain that says informative things, you know, the things you DO NOT want to hear. So it whispers, "Hey, that thing you're working on is a piece of junk" and you ignore it because, after all, calling someone else's work of art a piece of junk isn't very nice.

So this impolite Whisperer. I have one for when I knit things. Turns out, I have one for when I'm working on my Temari balls, too. I thought that the Whisperer only came when I knit, but this past weekend and today, I discovered the Whisperer is an equal opportunity one. She's not afraid to sail through my dreams and screw everything up.

I really should have listened to her when she gave me the first warning, the warning that said my marking threads were waaaayyy off. Then, later, she told me that I should probably put the ball down and work on the "real stuff," the knitting project that I'm actually going to be paid for. I did not listen.

You'd think I'd learn a thing or two from the class I took this past weekend, but I must have a thick head or something. To be honest, my motives were completely wrong. When I signed up, my hope was that I'd come away with more Ball jokes, you know, a little Ball repartee. Instead, this time it was more business than your everyday discussion about decorating balls. And the day's project, the white one up to the right was way, way over my head. That ball, it took me several hours and miles of thread for it to look this bad. You'd think my Whisperer could have made me stop. You'd think she could threaten me with a Taser gun, or maybe the one thing in the world that could actually sidetrack me: A bottle of sunless tanning lotion that truly doesn't stink.

But I do love this craft; I do. And I love my new friends. Problem is, these Temari balls are nearly impossible to frog. Kinda like mohair.

Knitting News: Zip. Although I did score 10 balls of Rowan Yarns Cashsoft DK in an amazing burgundy-ish color at 40% off! Must photograph it for you.

BTW: The good balls were made by Diana Vandervoort, my wonderful teacher (the gal on the right isn't her; it's my friend Leslie). Oh, and if you are interested in trying Temari, Kpixie sells Temari ball kits. You'll have to have very basic embroidery skills and a willingness to follow a chart. The threads that come with the kits are the best. Even better, the kits are on sale right now.

Oh, and if you're intrested, I took a bunch of progress pictures of the last rag quilt I made. There are so many good pics, I'm wondering if I should just put it all in a pdf document on my sidebar (as if I have time with all the balls rolling around the joint).

Comments

[Nanda]

oooooh, i just finished (well, more or less) a cropped cardigan in a burgundy color of RYC cashsoft DK. it's so pretty, isn't it?

[flutter]

Oh I am all about a quilt

[becky]

The thing about that voice is, sometimes it's right and sometimes it's just trying to make you feel crappy so you're never really sure when to listen to it!

[jan]

Do my eyes deceive me or are the pins in the pincushion are sorted by pinhead color?

[Katherine]

The white temari ball on the right looks really good to me! Don't listen to the voice--I never do.

I would like to see the pictures of your quilt. My dog Macy has ordered a quilt. Somewhere she heard that Chuck has one.

[kelly]

I just finished Glee out of Cashsoft DK in Opulence. Very pretty, but doesn't photograph worth a crap. Which means that if I can't take a good picture and show it to people who care I have to pirouette around in front of boyfriend ten times a day: "Isn't it awesome?, didn't I do a good job?" Ah, well.

[Sue]

The Temari balls are gorgeous - well, maybe all but one of them... but what really caught my eye is the pink pin cushion. Did you make that too, and is there any way you could give us a link to the pattern or tell us who sells the kit or where to find the pattern? My sewing kit would look great with that little gem in it!

[Kirsten]

Heh, I never listen to my little Whisperer,and that's gotten me in trouble more times than I can count!

I have a book on making Temari balls. Perhaps I should have a go at it.

Can't wait to see your Rowan score!

[Caren Pelletier]

I did some Temari balls way back when I was big into needlework and embroidery, and really enjoyed it. Of course, know it's all-socks-all-the-time around here! Congrats on a great class, though. Wow -- Diane Vandervoort -- she's the Elizabeth Zimmerman of Temari! I'm jealous. :-)

[Michele]

I'd love to see the quilt pdf!

[Jolene]

Yes, please share the pics of the rag quilt. I was inspired by you on this project and went home this last weekend and made one myself. I was so happy with the way it turned out and want to make more now.

[Leslie]

That turquoise pin cushion is mine. lol
Your straight pins in Temari are serious business. You need them sorted by color. Certain colors are always used for marking (White on the North Pole, Black on the South Pole) you generally find a color you like to use for your obi line (I like to use those light green ones for that) Then the other colors are used to section off different designs when you stitch. My pin cushion is kind of lightweight pin-wise compared to the advanced class. Their cushions are completely full with lots of different colors and types, all sorted neatly by color.

Hey Wendy, what happened to the picture of you and me stitching those pillow balls? I was looking forward to seeing that one.

[rb]

I would say I don't get the whole Temari thing but I'm afraid I'll be listed in the Temari Crimes blotter.

I'm allergic to dust so I don't collect or have many nicknacks. I like to knit so I justify that by telling myself that it's wearable, even if I rarely wear what I knit. (Except the Somewhat Cowl. I wear that sucker all the time.)

I guess I'm in it for the process, which I imagine is the draw of Temari, but like to tell myself that it's really about product.

& p.s. congrats on the Cashsoft score. Love that stuff.

[Debbie]

You have the patience of a saint! I don't think I could stick those pins into the styrofoam without looking like Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes) looks when he makes one of those faces!!! The balls are so beautiful. Yes, please let us see the quilt progress! I love it!

[rb]

Oh, sunless tanning lotion that doesn't stink: Aveeno something or other.. the stuff that doubles as body lotion and gives a gradual glow over time.

Aveeno Active Naturals Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion. I just googled it. I use the "fair" tone.

[KnittingPainterWoman]

Well, I think all that you showed are fabulous. And some "odd balls" (!) just make the obsessive-compulsive ones look all the neater. I have succumbed to a new thing, too. You can see the result of the kit(s) I have at http://knit1beadtoo.com/ The thimble/amulet/pumpkin thingy. And when one is proficient one can do evening bags etc. etc. Oh dear. Another craft!

[Donna P]

The Temari balls are pretty? What do you do with them?

[Wendy]

Some people just plop in a bowl and when people come over, they pick them up and enjoy them (they have bells inside). Some people make ornaments out of them.

[maureen]

My light white legs would also like to find "a bottle of sunless tanning lotion that truly doesn't stink."

Beautiful balls. Um... love the balls... It is difficult to compliment you on this art without snickering.