Rotarian Sybil Williamson gave a fascinating talk on the Japanese art of Temari a the latest meeting of Lockerbie and District Rotary Club.
Each year, Sybil adds a new craft to her skills and this year she learned this traditional form of Japanese folk art.
Tamari means ball or hand ball and it is associated with Kamari, the earliest form of football in Japan. Temari balls are made from remnants of old kimonos, as a way of recycling worn out hems or borders. The pieces were formed into a ball and stitched together. Traditionally, parents made Tamari for their children, to mark special occasions and some would contain a bell or grains of rice.
Over time, stitching became more intricate and decorative. The Japanese aristocracy began commissioning Temari work and Temari balls became highly prized and valued pieces of artwork. They were gifts symbolizing love, loyalty, friendship and good luck and things valued by society.
Temari embodies the nature of recycling ingrained in Japanese culture. There are more than 200 officially recorded patterns held at the Japanese Temari Association headquarters in Tokyo. Its aim is to develop Temari and foster international cultural exchanges .
Sybil had brought along examples of the balls she had made during the year and showed what was involved in producing these beautiful Temari balls and how she had picked up the skills.
Clem Maggiori gave a very fulsome vote of thanks to Sybil for her talk and demonstration.
The next meeting takes place in the Somerton Hotel on Monday, January 6 at 6pm.