Temari Balls

Given her personal history, Chiyoe’s process of mastering Temari was quite different but no less rigorous, as is demonstrated by the mathematical precision and careful attention to detail and symbolism represented in her work. She was first exposed to Temari ball making as a child growing up in Japan, but did not become an active practitioner until 1984, by which point she was already a grandmother.

To make Temari, Chiyoe uses Styrofoam peanuts broken into small pieces, encasing them in plastic bags and molding them into perfectly round spheres in a variety of sizes, continuously compressing the ball. She then meticulously wraps silk embroidery thread in layers of repeated patterns. Beginning with a solid background and a selection of her favorite colors, Chiyoe uses gold thread to mark out a grid and adheres to highly precise measurements when creating her designs, which are based on traditional Japanese patterns. Some of this colored thread is special ordered from Japan, which requires her to undo the skein and pull them out and iron the delicate threads by hand. Once a pattern is marked out, she uses sewing pins to anchor the nodes of the developing design.

Chiyoe Kubota’s work is considered master level by her fellow Temari artists in the U.S. and abroad, who frequently turn to it for inspiration. Several of Chiyoe’s former students have commented that her presentations and instruction helped them reconnect with their Japanese cultural heritage.