Now that it's been proven that it can be done with a few local gatherings under our belts - Diane B in Virginia organized a one-day gathering for Temari locals in the Richmond area on August 10, 2002. Here's how it turned out:

Thoughts from Diane (gathering organizer)- Richmond Temari Fest - August 10, 2002

        We had great weather - the perfect day for an outing.  Vicki (not on the discussion group - yet!!) was the first to arrive and then I was second.  We looked at each other's balls (don't go there!!!) and my books  and started getting worried about Amy & Ryan.  Ryan called and said she was stuck in the wonderful traffic coming south from D.C. - not unusual for a summer weekend.  So we assumed Amy was also stuck in the same mess.  Ryan arrived next and then Amy shortly after.  Neither one looked worse for wear but I believe both of them are more used to that kind of traffic than us Richmond girls!! More sharing occurred and Ryan became our official photographer.  Amy and I exchanged our GITS temari.  She made a beautiful temari for me with my name on it!!!  I love it!  AND it was in an origami box she had made.  Both are items I will treasure.

            We did more sharing - Ryan brought Beckerby's (webmaster's note -  Beckerby is Ryan's daughter, recently converted to Temari after the NY Spring gathering) creations and we all drooled over them.  We also enjoyed looking at Ryan's work - stunning as well.  Amy had many wonderful creations and had even done a ball with the red stars that was discussed in the group.  Vicki had some beautiful patterns as well.  It turns out that Vicki and I learned from the same wonderful lady.  Vicki also brought a vintage temari that she had purchased from someone's estate.  We got pictures of it - it's made with bunka thread and is not round - it's sort of the shape of a hassock - that's the only way I can think to describe it.  It has a kiku pattern and the ends with the kiku are flattened.  The points of the kiku near the pole are stitched between the marker lines - it was very interesting to see!

        Cathy was the perfect hostess (who opened her home to host the gang) and had lunch ready for us before we even knew she was working on it.  I swear she just sneaked out into the kitchen and put everything out (we had agreed to potluck!).  Vicki brought two kinds of delicious little sandwiches with the crusts cut off - pimento cheese and cucumber.  I felt very special not having to eat crusts!!!  And she must be a mind reader because I have been having a pimento cheese craving for a week now.  Cathy made a wonderful pasta salad and I brought chicken salad (not homemade but from one of the best places in Richmond to get it - I think!!) and some rolls.  For dessert, Ryan had made a Chocolate Decadence pie (correct me if I'm wrong, Ryan!!) that was kinda like a thick brownie.  She had added coffee and cinnamon so it had a mocha flavor and was out of this world.  The other dessert was a wonderful chocolate temari cake that Amy had made!!!  It was a round ball and decorated with the kiku stitch in icing.  Not only was it good to eat but it was a feast for the eyes!!!  Needless to say, we all ate too much (well, at least I did!!) and were ready for our naps after lunch.

        Before we started stitching, Ryan had gifts for all of us - she made teenies in several patterns.  I received one in the "pinwheel" pattern that I had described for one of the mystery balls - how thoughtful of Ryan to use that.  They are just beautiful and I will treasure this one also.  She included a thimble with a Maryland landmark on it.  Mine had one of the famous Chesapeake Bay lighthouses on it.  I had made some oriental note cards and a bookmark for everyone with my temari background stamp.

        And there was more to come.  We worked on an interesting pattern that I had found in one of my Japanese books and I hope everyone enjoyed it.  We all loved seeing what colors everyone had chosen.  When I am learning a pattern, I usually use the colors in the pictures because my poor feeble old brain can't handle too many things at one time.  Amy is full of energy and must break out the mold!!!  I loved her choices of colors and it helped me greatly to see something else.  I sometimes can't see past the colors used in the book, if you know what I mean.  Ryan had a beautiful turquoise base and used pink and white, which changed the whole look of the pattern.  Vicki had a green base and - help me out you all - I can't remember what she stitched the pattern in.  Cathy used the red with black and white like the pictures I sent.  I was trying a light blue base with navy and white.  Amy even spotted something in the pattern that I had missed, so between the five of us - we came out with a whole pattern!!  It's good for those of us with tired old brains (I'm talking about only me now!!) being around some energetic younger brains!!

We had a great time and want to get together again.  I'm sure I've left something out so I'm hoping that Amy, Ryan, Cathy and Vicki will fill in the gaps.      

From Amy: Thank you Diane!! It was wonderful meeting you and getting together with everyone in Richmond. Other things I'd like to comment on about what was given away in Richmond: Thanks to Ryan for a beautiful 1.5 inch long temari ball. It's adorable! I don't have any this small, so this is really a treat!  The pattern is very similar to a chrysanthemum, but instead of alternating lines, Ryan did all of one then covered it with the alternating lines. I don't think I can describe it that well without a picture, but I don't have a digital camera.  The base is pink with shades of purple and green on top! It just looks great!! Ryan also gave me a thimble with the Chesapeake Bay on it. Thanks to Ryan and to Cathy for the different fillings they gave us! I have never tried wool or rice hulls before! And now I'll have to try dryer lint as well (given the talk on this message board). Thanks to Diane for the beautiful stamped greeting cards and bookmark she gave out as well, as well as for the instruction for the temari we did as a group! It was a lot of fun! And last, but not least, one more thanks to Cathy for hosting the whole thing!! -Amy
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Hi there - I'm new to the Talk Temari group! I was fortunate enough to have been invited to the Richmond get together this past Saturday. I was VERY impressed with the workmanship of everyone's Temari... Come to find out, Diane B learned from the same lady who taught me. Of course, we all brought some food - the most "fun" being a Temari cake made by Amy... Good, too (chocolate!). I have been doing Temari for about a year and a half, and have a long way to go to perfect my skills to the level I saw on Saturday... I learned so much from these ladies on technique, color and wrapping. Thanks to Amy for her help in getting me to visually see the 4 centers on the ball Diane taught us! What a super group of ladies; thanks to Diane and Ryan for their thoughtful gifts and Cathy for organizing and opening up her home. Cathy also provided us with some rice hulls - I can't wait to try them out! I am interested in how some you choose to display your balls... Vicki

(webmaster's note - you guys got pics, holler and I'll add them in!)