The topic of coming up with bases and stands for Temari resurfaced not too long ago, and there was enough input from the discussion group and web readers at large to compile and share the ideas - if you have a good one not listed here, drop a note and we'll add it in......

From Jan P - While viewing this website: ww82.tiki.ne.jp/~chu-chu/index.htm of the Japanese Handicraft, I noticed that many of the Temari were displayed on small pillows, resembling bean bags that we would make and play with as children. This is a display item we had not mentioned before and would be a nice compliment to any Temari ball.  Made from an oriental print fabric and filled with rice, rice hulls, beans, sand, herbs, etc., would allow the pillow to softly conform to the shape of the ball.  They could also be dressed with small tassels in the four corners, or any other embellishments on or around the pillow.

From Kathy H -  I think "fabric" origami stands would be great.  All you have to do to stiffen the fabric is apply "Stiffy" to the material and let it dry (usually in about 30 minutes), then iron and fold.   I've also wondered how we artist can add our signatures to the temaris.  It seems to me a great place for signing would be on the inside of a specially made temari stand that goes with the ball. Kathy hewitt

From Louise O - I  have a dear dear friend who is a hand weaver who specializes in very fine fine silk fabrics and things. She has made me some teenie kimonos and she puts them in the square clear plastic baseball holders. You know those ones people use who collect them?? Well guess what else fits in them??? Yup... Temari balls and they really look great. And,  you can stack them in different shapes and show them off in a really nice display... I like the napkin rings and use them but the baseball cases are great. I do also have a wonderful flat box... the sides are about 1/2 inch or maybe a bit less and about 3 inches square... it is made of scraps of wallpaper but it is an origami box!! This too works great. Had to add a bit of heavy cardboard in the bottom but they can be made all different sizes. The round and the square base add a nice look to them. The box could be covered but there sure is some wonderful wall papers..

From Elaine H - I bet anything that could be formed into a circle could be used, for instance, a bit of Japanese braid about the diameter used for the obishima.  It could be tied in a knot or with a little extra work, rewoven into itself.  The threads used could be the same colors used in the temari.....  Little egg stands that you can find at Chinese stores.  They're black and unobtrusive.....  Napkin rings.....  Check out thrift stores.  Wooden bracelets......  sometimes you can find these at craft stores.  They can be padded with thin quilt batting and covered with fabric, marked for temari and embroidered like temari; perhaps in a complementary color or theme. ( I save the cores from  strapping tape; they are about 2 inches wide and are about the size of a bracelet.  Virtually unbendable.)  My favorite idea for a display stand is clear Plexiglas tubing.  You can get a rod of any length and diameter for a reasonable cost.  They need to be cut to the length you want and you'd need to polish the ends.  The nice thing about this tubing is its invisibility, something I find magical.  I imagine if there was suitable support, one could construct a stand long enough to display the ball and its tassel.
        I liked the pillow idea, except that the pillows are so precious, I can see someone wanting to pick the ball and the pillow up to examine it.  Now a bunch of egg shaped mari cushioned in a pillow would be nice. Oh, one could make a stuffed tube from fabric.  Just need a clever way to finish it off gracefully.  A plain piece of indigo dyed fabric would be nice, the ends wrapped and tacked down in the back.  Hmmm I like that idea.  Nice contrast for an especially glitzy ball or compliment to a ball done in soft, matte threads.
        For an origami stand, the first thing that comes to mind is the napkin ring done with folds on the diagonal to create a diamond pattern.  One end is pushed into the pocket on the other end to make a ring. I don't know if you've seen the origami pieces inspired by the Golden Venture designs or not.  We're seeing more and more kits and books about this technique brought over from China.  The objects are made from hundreds and hundreds of folded pieces of paper......There is a ring base that could be used.  The fold is from a tiny square and this little v shaped thing fits into another in a couple of different ways.  Most pieces require gluing, which would horrify a traditional origami ist, but it's really the only way to keep something like this together.......

From Yoshie - there are macramé techniques used to make solid bracelets, that could be used to make ring bases....napkin rings are great, come in a variety of colors and textures to compliment a particular ball. Today my friend gave me a set of cordial glasses. They look beautiful as stands. I'm going to haunt garage sales. It seems they are often at garage sales. (Of course, now I am saying this, there will be a dearth of them at garage sales) 

From the webmaster - in addition to ideas for displaying single balls, my favorite way to display a collection or grouping now is to use a large - very large, perfectly round glass bowl, like might be used to hold terrariums....  the clear glass allows that even the Temaris "underneath" on the bottom are able to be seen, and one can have a Plexiglas or regular glass circle cut to fit the top of the bowl to cover and protect from dust. Likewise, glass vessels like a round ivy bowl make wonderful ways to display collections of teenies...... digging around in the china closet can reveal lots of little pieces that work well... as do marble (as in little round glass balls) stands and crystal ball bases.

From Carolyn McD - napkin rings work great - candle holders work great too,  and some plant holders

From Roni - Seeing that everyone is exchanging display ideas, do forget about your candle stick holders. Remove the votive cup if you use them and set the balls right on top where the candle taper would go.  Adds height to the display and shows off ones that normally get hidden in the back on my shelves.  

From Lynn - Another find to use for temari stands (if they're in a shadow box where you can only see part of them) - shower curtain rings. The plain clear acrylic ones don't detract from the needlework but do elevate them just slightly.

From Doris - Go to your hardware store and look for caster cups that go under the legs of furniture--they make great simple temari holders.I found some
size l 1/4" in brown, which can be painted black,gold,silver or the color of choice. Also found 1 1/2" in clear plastic--keep one near my work area and put the ball on it when I am not working on it. I found some very old large glass ones, in a drawer, recently. Of course my favorites are clear plastic rings and clear plastic ones with 3 legs found at a rock shop.