Barbara B. Suess was first introduced to temari while living with her family in Yokohama, Japan. Upon returning to the US, she tried making her first ball, and quickly became enthralled with the range and beauty of temari patterns. Today, she is a self-taught expert, writing temari patterns, teaching classes, and creating temari-inspired jewelry. An online showcase of her work, Kiku Designs, has grown into an extensive resource for temari enthusiasts (www.japanesetemari.com). Barb is an active member of the Japan Temari Association, the Embroiderer's Guild of America, the National Academy of Needlearts, and the National Embroidery Teachers' Association.