About Japanese Temari

手まり [temari], which means "hand ball" in Japanese, is an ancient folk art form. Centuries ago, people in Japan began playing with temari, which were made from easily obtainable materials such as rice husks and fabric scraps, and held together with threads.

During the Heian period (794~1184), temari became a popular toy and art object for the imperial court and upper classes. The simple craft was elevated to an art form with elaborate geometric and floral patterns embroidered with beautiful silk threads.

When brightly colored cotton threads became widely available, the art of temari spread to the common people and different styles developed throughout Japan.

By the end of the 19th century, temari had become less popular as toys and had almost disappeared. The art of temari was kept alive by Japanese people who passed on the techniques from generation to generation. Today, temari are made for enjoyment and are considered works of art and highly valued gifts.

加賀ゆびぬき [Kaga yubinuki] - Japanese thimble, is a traditional craft from Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture. During the Edo period, kimono seamstresses began making these thimbles from leftover silk threads. During the New Year holidays, the seamstresses would make such thimbles for themselves to practice their sewing skills and try out new patterns. 

The base of the thimble is paper, layered several times, then padded with raw silk or layers of thin thread and embroidered in an interlocking geometric pattern using a stitching technique similar to Japanese temari. Recently, Kaga yubinuki have become popular as unique pieces of jewelry and accessories.

Miwa Temari creates original yubinuki that are long-shaped, and can be worn as necklaces.