Two temari, a thousand possibilities…
When you open the Temari Box from Ikigai Box , you discover a treasure of elegance and simplicity: a complete kit for making two magnificent temari, these Japanese embroidered balls which combine patience, geometric beauty and inner calm.
But once the temari are finished, one question often comes up:
They are so pretty... but where do I put them? How do I use them?
It's a legitimate question - and an excellent opportunity to discover all the creative richness contained in this ancestral art. Because if the temari naturally finds its place as a decorative object , it can also become an original key ring , a sensory toy for your cat , or a meaningful handmade gift .
Before you embark on this exploration, a little reminder: The temari (手まり), literally "hand ball", is a sphere hand-embroidered according to a thousand-year-old Japanese tradition. In the past, it was made from old recycled kimonos and offered as a token of love and protection. Even today, offering a temari is a way of conveying a wish for happiness, friendship or peace . To learn more about the history of this fascinating art, we invite you to read our dedicated article:
👉 The poetic history of the Temari
And if you want to embark on the adventure, our Temari Box is the ideal starting point:
👉 Discover the Temari Box
In this box, you'll find everything you need to make two temari. A wonderful way to gently dive into this world... but also to ask yourself the big question:
Who will they belong to? And what kind of life will they have?
Because deep down, each temari has its own personality, a destiny to chart. What if we helped you invent three for them? Three possible lives, depending on your desires, your daily life, and even the people who share your home. What future will you choose for your temari?
1 | A temari keychain: between art and everyday life
A temari always with you
Transforming a temari into a keychain gives it a new function: to accompany you everywhere, to make the ordinary a little more poetic . Attached to your keys, your bag, or even your pencil case, it becomes a little daily reminder: take time. Breathe. Create.
Your Temari Box includes a keychain attachment so you can easily turn one of your creations into a unique accessory. Simply attach it to your Temari by following our little guide included in the box, and you're done.
No need to be a DIY expert: if you've embroidered your temari, you're already more than capable of transforming it into a bag charm.
Offer a piece of yourself
But this temari keychain isn't just for you. It's also a wonderful gift idea .
Imagine for a moment: you're giving a friend, colleague, or loved one a handmade temari, patiently embroidered thread by thread. It doesn't come from an impersonal shop; it comes from your hands, from your quiet evenings, from your peaceful thoughts.
It's a bit like offering an hour of serenity, wrapped in a circle of colored threads.
Giving a temari keychain is sharing your passion , transmitting something of yourself. A message without words, but full of symbols.
An inspiring anecdote: "She's a temari, isn't she?"
One day, while I was at the office, a colleague approached me as I was taking my keys out of my bag. She looked at my key ring, took it in her fingers, and asked me:
She's a temari, isn't she?
I was surprised. Few people recognize these objects—even fewer in Quebec. But she knew. She told me that her grandmother embroidered them, and that she still had a few in a wooden box at home. That little ball on my keys was enough to open a conversation full of emotion and memories .
We talked about embroidery, Japanese culture, and the joy of creating with our hands. Since that day, this colleague and I have developed a wonderful bond... born of a temari.
Personalize your temari keychain
To make your temari even more personal, consider:
- Choose a color palette that suits you (or the person you're giving it to), our Temari Box comes in three color palettes: blue, purple, and orange.
- Add a small bead or charm as an addition
- Embroider your initials discreetly on a segment of the temari
- Pair it with an inspiring phrase written on a card when giving it
The beauty of imperfection
And if your first temari isn't "perfect"? So much the better.
Every irregularity is a testament to your skill, your patience, and your learning. It's these small variations that make your keychain unique, impossible to mass-produce.
It is the anti-industrial product par excellence .
An idea for all ages
Finally, offering a child (accompanied, of course) or a teenager the opportunity to create a temari key ring is an excellent introduction to the art of thread. This develops:
- Fine motor skills
- Patience
- The pride of having created a concrete object
A temari can become a family project, a moment of bonding around the table. Buy a Temari box and each person makes a ball—there are two!
2 | A temari for cats: a handmade toy for your feline
If you have a cat at home, you know it: they're curious, demanding, and sometimes even a bit snobbish when it comes to their toys. The plastic balls rolling under the couch? Forget it. Commercial stuffed animals? Despised after two days.
What if, this time, you gave him something truly unique? A handmade, aesthetically pleasing toy, and above all... one designed with love.
Because yes, one of the two temari you make with your Temari Box could very well become your cat's favorite toy . And since May 15, 2025, we have added two light bells, to slip inside your temari during the first stage of making. A small addition, for maximum feline enthusiasm.
A sensory and original toy
Unlike standardized commercial toys, your temari is:
- Lightweight , so easy to push, catch or throw in the air
- Textured , thanks to its cotton embroidery, which stimulates the cat's touch
- Sound , thanks to the integrated bells, which arouse his curiosity
- Unique , because made by your hands, with care and personality
Every movement your cat makes gently jingle the bell inside, making the temari lively, interactive, and downright irresistible.
Choose the colors according to your cat!
Your Temari Box offers you three inspiring palettes, perfect for a toy that reflects your companion:
- Blue: for a soothing and elegant temari
- Violet: for a mysterious and refined touch
- Orange: for a bright and sunny temari
You can of course choose according to your tastes, or have fun matching it to your cat's personality (or coat!) It's also a great way to create a symbolic object that reflects your cat.
A creation full of tenderness
Creating a temari for your cat is more than just a creative hobby. It's a thoughtful gesture, a way of saying:
I'm thinking of you. I'm offering you a moment of play, made with my hands.
And if you make the two temari offered in the box, why not:
- Keep one for yourself (as a keychain or decoration)
- And offer the other to your cat?
A creative duo , in balance between human and animal, between beauty and utility.
Also offer it to the cats around you
If you have cat-loving friends, this is also a great handmade gift idea: a small, carefully crafted temari bell in pretty fabric, slipped into a small pouch or gift box. A unique, personalized, and heartfelt gift.
3 | A temari as decoration: a miniature art object to highlight
You've finished your second temari. It's delicate, colorful, and harmonious. And now that you have it in your hands, the question arises: where should you place it so it truly belongs?
Good news: a temari is much more than just an object that you create. It's a decorative work in its own right , which can enhance your interior in a thousand ways, with that little extra soul that comes with handmade items.
A touch of poetry in your daily life
Temari were once offered as precious gifts, embroidered with care and love. Even today, they still have the poetic power to attract the eye and create a moment of pause in a room. They tell a story: yours.
Placed on a shelf, perched on the edge of a desk, or tucked onto an entryway cabinet, your temari becomes a discreet but powerful reminder of your creativity , your patience , and the time you have given yourself to learn a new art .
Three decorating ideas with your temari
Here are some simple yet elegant ways to incorporate your temari into your decor:
1. On a shelf, near your books
Imagine a well-ordered library. Amid the book spines, a small embroidered ball catches the eye. Its intertwined threads gently catch the light. It looks almost like something out of a Japanese fairy tale.
The temari on the shelf adds a delicate, handmade touch to your interior.
💡 Tip : For optimal display, place your temari on a small wooden, plastic, or ceramic base. There are some very simple ones available online, sometimes even made to display decorated eggs or baseballs—perfect for temari!
2. Hung on a Christmas tree or decorative branch
The holidays are the perfect opportunity to bring out your most original creations. What if this year you hung a temari or two on the tree? They're a delicate nod to Japan and a crafty alternative to classic baubles .
Outside of Christmas, you can also hang your temari from a dried branch planted in a vase. It's a very Japanese way of displaying objects in a space. Minimalist, Zen, and poetic.
3. On a jewelry holder or decorative bowl
Your temari can also inhabit unexpected little corners of the house. For example:
- In a ceramic bowl on your dressing table
- On a jewelry stand, nestled between two necklaces
- Next to a candle holder, for a soft and subdued atmosphere
It's these little touches that transform an ordinary space into a personal refuge, where every object has meaning. And in this case, your temari tells a chapter of your creative story.
For a decoration that makes sense
We live in a world full of mass-produced objects. Creating a temari and displaying it in your home is a way of affirming a different approach: that of slowness , quality , and the joy of doing it yourself .
This is to say to those who come to your house:
Here, we love objects that tell stories.
And yours starts with a small circle of yarn… and a lot of patience.
And that's just the beginning.
Whether you're an experienced seamstress or a curious beginner, our Temari Box is designed to guide you step by step through this fascinating art. It contains everything you need to create two temari and discover this meaningful and serene Japanese tradition at your own pace.
🎁 To thank you for reading us to the end, we are offering you 25% off your Temari Box with the following code: TEMARIVIE25
Order your Temari today: Temari Box
Give it a try. Give yourself that time.
And who knows, maybe this first temari will mark the beginning of a passion that will stay with you for a long time.
