What began as a small group (9
people) of early TalkTemari members gathering in my living room 10
years ago, came full circle in April 2011. Over the years the NY
StitchIn has gone through "growing pains" - literally - with now
always more people wanting to come than we have available seating.
Even though we tried to keep accommodating the increasing numbers
through the years it finally hit "critical mass" in 2007 and I
(sadly) had to accept that future years we'd have to limit the
number of people attending due to available (safe and comfortable)
seating. Ever since we've used a lottery to determine attendees from
the sign-up list, in addition to the core Committee that helps
me make them happen. I did, however, promise that if we made it to
the 10th Stitchin in 2011, I would do what was necessary to allow it
to be "open call" so that whoever wanted to come from TalkTemari
could and we'd make it work. We did, and I did.
Plans started some 18 months
prior to the 2011 event, given all that needed to be done. Last June
(2010) saw active logistics planning really firing up. A
meeting room with support facilities needed to be found; insurance
needed to be bonded; furniture rented; catering planned and secured;
hotel accommodations arranged, and.... a program and related
amenities planned. Hours (days, weeks, months) of thinking,
planning, phoning, online digging and real paper-pushing brought all
of those needs to life, and they really did merge into the 10th
Annual TalkTemari NY Stitchin, April 15-17, 2011 - Reunion
Edition.
Some 30 Temari makers from 5
countries (US, Canada, Sweden, Cyprus, and The Netherlands)
including 13 states of the US (NY, CT, GA, VA, NC ,TN, PA, OH, IN,
IL, CA, LA, AL) began converging on the Residence
Inn
Marriott in Poughkeepsie by plane, train and automobile on
April 14 and 15. In addition to former StitchIn-ers returning, some
for the first time in several years, we had a great turnout of
"Firsties", attending (for most of them) their first temari
gathering and getting to meet temari makers for real (as opposed to
only an on-line acquaintance and interaction). Most of the Committee
people arrived early by a few days to a week and/or stayed on later
(thank goodness...) in order to make it all tick. A staff meeting on
Thursday evening (our thanks again to the Hobnobbin'
Pub for accommodating us) got things officially rolling with
the committee people getting their job assignments, program
review, a logistics and safety review, and any questions taken
care of (due to the scope and size of this year's gathering, we were
doing many things in different ways compared to previous StitchIns).
Friday morning found us up and at'em early to do load-in and setup
(1 truck & 3 cars of supplies and equipment, not counting the
rented tables & chairs being delivered to the site) at the
Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center in Hyde Park, NY, where we would
be most comfortable using the meeting/classroom and support
facilities. Thanks to many hands, the job went smoothly, and Step 1
was set.
The official kickoff for the
StitchIn participants began Friday evening, with a drop-in style
sign-in/meet & greet here at the house for everyone. Everyone
received their event bags - program folder and info, name tag,
commemorative insulated beverage tumbler (which is what everyone
used for beverage service the next day), and a goodie pack of fibers
from Rainbow Gallery
(RG has been a sponsor-in-kind of the StitchIn for many years and we
and thank you!). We mingled over punch and cookies while Color Kit
swaps and Stitcher Showcase temari were collected and folks reunited
(some after many years!) and got to know each other. Intrepid
members of the Committee were busy upstairs in my office/studio
photographing and prepping the temari for the next day's display.
With so many people coming this year the standard Show & Tell
sharing of everyone's work needed to be revamped in the interest of
both time, and being sure that we were protecting everyone's work
from damage or other untoward events (accidents happen). To
accomplish this, everyone was invited to bring up to 5 temari, no
larger than 5 inches in diameter. Identification tags to be attached
to each temari were provided to everyone prior to arriving. The
balls were collected, a formal photo of each person's collection
taken (later to be shared with everyone), and then placed in
protective clear bags before being mounted to a display board with
each stitcher's name and home location. These display boards were
put into place at the meeting venue on Saturday morning so that
everyone could wander through them and admire throughout the day and
evening. With the "formal" photos having already been taken,
it was great to just be able to browse and admire without scrambling
to get "the shot" of "that ball".
Saturday morning was an early
call for everyone - even earlier for the staff. We were at work at
HVHAC by 7am putting final touches on everything, setting up kitchen
needs and refreshment/meal services, and general final prep. The
doors opened at 8:30am with everyone to seated by 8:45 for opening
announcements (yep, we were). Following a welcome, program
reminders, and a safety review (this many people meeting in a public
venue carries a lot more requirements and responsibilities),
Learning Groups began at 9am. This StitchIn, because of its
significance, was learning-intensive. While each year there usually
has been a group project and a cultural presentation but mostly
social stitching, I felt that given the occasion, the number of
people coming, the mix of experience, and a lot of distance being
traveled, it was important to be sure that people went home having
advanced their temari skills, in addition to having fun
(hopefully). So, this was year was a full day of 4 Learning
Groups. The topics had been determined by soliciting input from
those planning to come with the hope of meeting the needs and
desires of as many people as possible. We were able to
accommodate pretty near every request in one way or another. Four
separate sessions offered: 2 were full-group for everyone, and
2 were Electives. Each person could choose 2 Elective offerings that
had been determined by the most requested topics. Everyone got at
least 1, if not both, of their requested electives, and a chance to
be sure other questions were answered (and it took Ginny more than a
few nights playing the shell game shuffling names and slots and
schedules to get 30 people in the right place at the right time....
)
The first Learning Group was
for everyone ("required" versus "elective") - a presentation on
basic color theory and using a color wheel to choose colors and
enhance the use of them in Temari making. We were fortunate to have
a guest join us for the day, Maggie C., who is a retired fine
arts teacher (with some 30 years experience). Maggie soon showed us
why she was a most-beloved teacher in our local schools. Everyone
learned and enjoyed the hows and whys of whether color choices work,
or don't (it was very interesting to listen to the "ohhs" and "ahhs"
and "wows" tittering through the audience). Following a
stretch-and-snack break, it was back to class with Elective 1;
either an open Study Hall was moderated by Nicole B. and Susan C.,
where participants could sit-and-stitch, & have personal temari
questions answered, or a lesson in setting up Multiple Face Markings
by Anne W. (which happened to be the most popular elective of the
day).
A half hour free-time break
before lunch, and then it was time for our now-traditional
multiple-foot long sub sandwich, salads, chips, fruit, and cookies.
A slide show of the Showcase Temari ran during the break (or was
supposed to... I was deeply touched with a surprise slide show of
messages from many TalkTemari members that had been compiled for me,
and my deep thanks to Nicole and everyone involved for pulling
that off). The StitchIn program resumed with the second
"required" Learning Group. We usually always have some Japanese
culture learning at each StitchIn, since it all goes to enhancing
the understanding of the Japanese aesthetic which helps temari
design. This year we were privileged to have a presentation on the
basics of Ikebana design, again by Maggie. Maggie is a
certificate-holding (12th level, and grade 1 teacher) member and
past-president of NY Tachibana,
and treated us to a wonderful demonstration of Ikebana. As we
watched and learned, the overall concepts also gave hints and
guidance for temari design. She created several beautiful
arrangements while describing the principles of the design process.
Everyone was drawn in and fascinated watching her bring these
arrangements to life (in 10 stitchins I've never had it so quiet as
everyone watched in amazement). We were very fortunate to have had
her share her talents with us throughout the day (Maggie is of
Japanese decent, and is one of my private Temari students. From the
moment I asked her to cover these topics at the Stitchin, she was
eager and happy to help), and we offer her our deep appreciation.
Following another
stretch-and-snack break the last Learning Group convened, the second
elective. The offerings this session were Free Embroidery Design
with Anne W., learning to stitch Hito Hude Gake design with Sue H.,
or Design Development/DeStitching with me. With everyone's brains
swimming following such an intensive day, there was ah hour of
free time prior to dinner to relax and unwind, visit with old and
new friends, and share thoughts and ideas. Dinner was again
catered by Giacommo's,
a perennial favorite now as well. Baked Ziti, Chicken Alfredo,
garden and Ceasar salads, and fresh bread.... since it turned
out to be a rather chilly and damp day, everyone welcomed the good
comfort food.
The evening was reserved for
fun and games. First to be done was the Class Photo to be sure that
we had everyone included (one of the hubbies that joined us for
dinner was commandeered to be the photographer). This year, again
because of different logistics, the traditional Temari Swap was
merged with the traditional Yankee Swap which turned out to be a
grand idea.... since the swapping occurs before anyone opens their
package, it made for some spirited "stealing" over inventive and
creative wrappings. Everyone then individually opened the package
they ended up with (in some cases not what they started out
choosing!) so that the appropriate admiring could be had and the
maker take a bow. The Annual TemariKai Trivia Quiz was met with the
usual moans, groans, disrespect and slap-stick non-attention; ditto
the Temari Stitch Match, despite my bribing with Wink Light prizes
for the winners (this has become a "most-beloved" tongue-in-cheek
part of StitchIns, with many people vying to do the worst on both).
During the evening I was side-tracked with a few wonderful surprises
(totally against the rules, but for which I thank everyone again).
Drawings for door prizes and table centers (each table had a bowl of
bamboo encircled by a black ribbon, as we remembered the lives lost
in the Japan Earthquake) were had. All too soon it was time to enjoy
cake (again this year by popular request from the Pastry
Garden) and coffee, and begin reuniting the Showcase Temari
with their makers as everyone took leave after a very full and busy
day (close to 12 hours worth).
We reconvened informally for
breakfast on Sunday morning at the Residence Inn. Some folks were
ready to roll out early with long drives ahead of them; those with
earlier flights were likewise packed and ready. A few others had
later Sunday flights or Monday departures. The Committee still had
work to do - thankfully we only had to turn off the lights and turn
the key the night before, but now it was pack-up and clean-up time.
Many hands from the Committee and a few more volunteers that were
waiting for later departures made for quick work as we left things
spic and span, very thankful for the use of the facility. With that,
those that worked so hard through planning and actual doing were
finally able to sit down and put their feet up. Over the next few
days I was given a lot of help in unpacking, putting away and
getting the house back to almost-normal before the last several gals
had to head for home. We thankfully had safe travels both to and fro
for everyone, and I still sit here reliving it all thinking that it
all came off not only as we planned, but as we hoped and dreamed.
The NY StitchIn is now not only the longest running gathering, but
this was to date, the largest get-together of people from the group
(TalkTemari) ever held.
Support for the 2011 Stitchin
was wonderful and wide-spread. I am always amazed at the number of
folks that want to come, and are willing to travel - and in many
cases, very long distances - to a little hole in the wall town in NY
that no one can pronounce. That is never lost on me, and I am deeply
honored and humbled that StitchIns mean so much to so many. Thank
you for your trust and faith. To those that pitch in to make it
happen year after year - your help is without measure. Without it,
we would not have been able to undertake this, plain and simple -
this year or any year in the past. Be it financial support,
gifts-in-kind, loan of equipment, planning and prep help, errand
running, and/or good old fashioned rolling-up-the-sleeves-and-doing,
much came together to make it happen. Deep thanks and appreciation
goes to:
*) Dr. and Mrs. Richard I. Horowitz, Hudson Valley Healing Arts
Center, and staff
*) Rainbow Gallery Fibers
*) Mrs. David (Maggie) Caccamo, B.S, M.S.; 1st level Teacher (12
certificates), Ikenobo School, NY Tachibana
*) Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Longhi
*) Mr. Thomas Larssen
*) Mrs. Alan (Kaye) Schrock
*) Skyllkill Chapter, Embroiderers' Guild of America
*) NY Tachibana Chapter, Ikenobo School of Ikebana
*) Those participating in the weekend that loaned Ott Lights, white
boards, extension cords, coffee urns, coolers, and accessory tables
(and probably more that I'm not remembering)
*) The StitchIn Committee and 2011 Event Staff from TalkTemari (in
no particular order): Anne Wimer, Linda Hogan, Susan Cameron,
Sue Hayashi, Karin Karlsson, Nicole Buchanan, Linda Watts, Blair
Heald, Kate Madeloso, Diane Boxley - and to all of whom I send my
love. You helped make a dream come true.
