It has been noted elsewhere in lots of places on TemariKai about starting and keeping a Temari Notebook. There is no set rule for how one is kept  - by far just the important thing is that you do! It becomes invaluable to help you refer back to see how you did something, be able to share a pattern with someone, help you be able to teach someone else how to make temari - and even be the resource you turn to if you decide to apply for Japan Temari Association licenses.

        Some people keep only a journal of finished temari - perhaps like a photo album, but it's much more valuable to include some basic information about the pattern that you worked. Doing so gives you a working reference of what you have accomplished, and helps you figure things out in the future. It's also fun to be able to look back and see how much you are learning and gaining through time! This is routinely done by Japanese Temari crafters, and indeed is a core task in Japanese Temari classes; a later requirement for certification is the ability to record and communicate patterns in a manner that others can understand, follow and reproduce the temari. In Japanese classes you are not given a step-by step "handout" of the day's project - rather the finished project is placed before you, and you "figure it out", with help from your Sensei as needed - and you keep your own notes of how to do it (re: Sue H). There are notebooks made just for this in Japan, available from the JTA and other select sources. However, it's just as easy - and perhaps even better -  to create your own, since the JTA books are very limited in that the offer the pattern grid with a blank page. Creating your own format to remind you to include some additional material could be more beneficial.    

       In general, the types of information that you could include per project are: pattern diagram(s) of how to stitch, finished pattern sketch or photo, the original reference inspiration of the design (is it original, or are you working an interpretation from a Japanese book, or a website, and if so where this resource is), size of the mari used, what was used to wrap and mark the divisions, what threads and colors used in stitching (perhaps even including color numbers and dye lots), any special notes that would help you to make it again in the future, specific stitch names, perhaps how long it took to make, and any special thoughts or tips you encountered while making it as well as general text instructions to support any drawings or diagrams. You may also want to include the date that you made it, and whether you gave it to someone, etc. As you progress you may want to begin to catalog your patterns so that you can easily locate them again (perhaps by division type).  Regular/colored pencils or fine point markers are great for diagramming - or whatever you are comfortable with. With the advent of digital cameras, it's a great opportunity to take photos of the temari in progress, so that you can see how it worked and especially to show any special or new techniques you used in making it. You don't have to be an "expert artist" these days to be able to illustrate a working notebook - digital cameras, scanners, disposable or regular cameras all offer ways to add illustrations to your notes.

Some folks also keep a special section in their notebook for future projects and ideas - including things like color source inspirations, patterns seen out and about, etc. It's also possible to keep a list of thread and supply sources so that you know easily where you can turn if you need something special.

What to use for your notebook? Anything you want! You can order a JTA notebook from Ai's Temari Store. Or, you can make your own by printing off either pattern grids and creating your own pages, or even starting with the sample pages on TemariKai. Regular three-ring binders, or any of the desktop publishing presentation folders now available at office supply stores work great. You can start with a plain old spiral bound notebook and pasteup as needed with pattern grids and photos (either way, you'll be pasting images galore!). Some people now do it all on their computers and "go paperless".  There is no rule - whatever works for you and you are comfortable with is the most important thing, and that you are recording the information you need to preserve and refer back to your temari projects.

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Early in the life of TT this message was posted from Sue H, our resident Japanese Resource who has lived in Japan and studied Temari there:

"NOTEBOOKS: mention was made of keeping a notebook.  This is one aspect of temari that I heartily endorse.  Ginny has the cover of the Japanese Temari Association notebook  listed on her page of temari book covers (last one at the bottom with the yellow cover).  It is ideal, having an assortment of blank and pre-lined forms for you to draw your pattern in, and plenty of space around the edges for writing in the details.  In the 10 combination (C10) section, it is prefaced by a wonderful measurement list to guide you for the pin placement on your ball.

    Tips that I have found useful in keeping notes on each ball include listing what color base and threads were used, making the notes and drawings in colored pencil or pen, use numbers on the drawing to indicate stitch order, and include a photo or two of the completed ball.

    Why should you keep a notebook - especially if you are following directions from a pattern in English?  As many of us have discovered, some of the directions given by different authors are confusing, or just plain wrong.  By making an attempt to explain the design in your own words, you will understand the pattern in greater depth, you can take note of any quirks and things to watch for, and eventually, you will get better at understanding how a design was made by looking at the ball, even if you do not have written instructions." - Sue H.
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   The closest blank book here in the west is a  Note-Sketch book that you can get at art supply stores. It divides each page into halves; one is left blank for drawing and sketching,  and the other is narrow-lined for notes. This sets up nicely for verbal notes as well as pattern diagrams and sketches - as well as attaching photos or prints of the completed ball.

 Personally, I have a combination:  -  Notesketch book with how-to pattern information (by pencil sketch), presentation notebooks used to keep computer printouts, and also a photo album of completed Temaris. Here's a glimpse of my pattern notebook: