Wednesday Whim - Temari

 all images by NanaAkua via Trendhunter

Have you heard of the art of Temari ("hand ball" in Japanese)? Traditionally, they are toy balls made from silk scraps of old kimonos. The craft began in China and moved to Japan in the 7th century where it became an art of the noble class. They are highly valued gifts given to children by their parents on New Year's. As you might assume, the art of Temari is not an easy one. It's a historic craft and to be a recognized craftsperson in this trade requires specific training and testing. 

I became intrigued by Temari when I stumbled across these images and I was entranced at the intricate work created by....a 92-year-old grandmother from Japan! Can you imagine the level of dexterity and eyesight needed to create these wonderful creations? She learned the craft in her 60s (!!) and has made hundreds of different designs (photographed by her granddaughter, NanaAkua). 

I admire this woman's ability to learn a new skill later in life and become so proficient in it. I can only hope to be this agile in detail as I age! Check out the hundreds of others on NanaAkua's Flickr page and learn more about Temari here.