My Ikebana Room

Three years ago, we bought a very old house (1950?) because of its location; It's near a park and has beautiful surroundings. We also kept in mind that our daughter, who is an architect, could redesign the house and have a builder renovate it for us. We have moved into this new, downsized (after 21 years living in a big house), smaller house. Now it's only two of us living here. Thanks to our daughter! This is a lovely home, well designed, cozy and comfortable. Especially, I have my own place to work, the sun room or Ikebana room. Watering my orchids is no longer cumbersome. Arranging my Ikebana is enjoyable with no mess. I always feel that I am so fortunate! For that, I am very thankful!    

Inside the cabinets are full of Ikebana containers  

I painted the oil paintings on the wall few years ago.
The book case is full of Ikebana, orchid, and garden books

Ikebana International Exhibition at Longwood Gardens

Last month, I was busy preparing for exhibitions. One for our Sogetsu BuxMont Study Group(see my last post), one for Longwood Gardens annual Ikebana International show (Philadelphia chapter). This year, as in the past, we are part of the annual Chrysanthemum Festival. This was my first time to participate at the Longwood Gardens exhibition(10/29-10/30/2016) along with other three major Ikebana schools ( Sogetsu, Ohara and Ikenobo). There were 22 arrangements in total. My arrangement was displayed on the 16"x 16"x 32" high pedestal. I am happy with my arrangement.

The material: winter berry, pink ornamental cabbage, red and 
 pink mum (placed in the back), statice, drift wood and green

The purple ornamental cabbage was no longer good for exhibition.
 I changed pink one instead (see above picture).  

The huge arrangement by Sogetsu Buxmont Study Group
member. Chih Huang, June Wu and Doris Liu  

The big arrangement by Ohara school 

By Pat

By Mary

By Betty ( center )

October - November Orchid Bloom

Bucks County Orchid Society (BCOS) held an orchids auction at our October meeting. Since we have moved to our much smaller house, our sun room is only half the size of the old one. Therefore I have to reduce my orchids collection to accommodate the new sun room. So, I donated some of my orchids to BCOS. I know someone there can take good care of my orchids, I won't feel so sad.
Now, my sun room looks like a small jungle. It also functions as an Ikebana room (it has granite counter top, sink, underneath the cabinets are full of my container collection). I always thought how fortunate I am! I have my very own hobby place. Whenever I need to be alone, I go there to read, to do flower arrangement, meditation or even daydream...

My sun room or Ikebana room

Cat. "Roman Holiday". Left one faded, right one still blooming  

Bllra. Pacific Treasures "Everything Nice"

Onc. Xenia, strong fragrant 

"Lady of the night" Fragrant 

Long lasting flower. 

    

Back to Basic and Free Style- Hata Sensei's Class

This month's lessons continue our study of basics. It's a good thing that I must review all over again. Especially because I should practice these arrangements from behind, as a teacher or demonstrator would do.
Lesson 1) Basic Upright Style Moribana.
Lesson 2) Basic Upright Style Nageire.
Lesson 3) Free Style: Using Fall Color or Practice and prepare for annual Ikebana exhibition at Long wood Gardens. It will be the last weekend of October (10/29-10/30/2016).

Lesson 1 upright style Moribana

Lesson 2 upright style Nageire

My practice and prepare for Long wood Gardens.
Material: Drift wood, Winter berry, ornamental cabbage, mum,
 statice and green. Container: Pottery  

My Fall arrangement
Vine, hydrangea, mum, nandinar, winter berry and
green in the ceramic tall vase 

Free Style: Hata sensei's demo, front view 

The view from back,  I like this side better

Hata Sensei's another demo

Sogetsu BuxMont Study Group Exhibition - " Fall into Ikebana "

The exhibition was held on 10/8/2016. The study group members had been working so hard and attentively. We had more than 25 arrangements plus a huge beautiful center piece by our teacher Meei Huey Lin . It was a successful exhibition and attracted more than a hundred people to come to see it.
At first, l would like to show my two arrangements:
1) " Wandering Around Nature"  is a traditional free style design. I followed the theme using a piece of long vine (wild grape vine?), it is soft enough to bend around my old Japanese ceramic vase.   Seasonal Firethorn berry, Hydrangea and not so dried Hosta leaves to complete my arrangement.
2) " Moon Shine" is a contemporary design. This metallic crescent moon with silvery Allium seed pods and hydrangea symbolizes the shining stars in the October Autumn sky.
The third picture is our teacher's center piece, it is really beautiful! The rest of other pictures follow below.

"Fall into Ikebana"

Autumn Galore. By Chih Huang

Fall Festival. By Latitia Chen 

Evergreen Fall.
 By Mary Swierczynski

Ikebana and Food in Dialogue
By Betty Tsai

Golden Fall
By Betty Tsai

My fall into Ikebana
By Grazynka Shaarani

Skyfall. By June Wu

Broke back Mountain. By June Wu

Go Modern.
 By Meei huey Sensei

Uplifting.
By Doris Liu

Dancing with Me.
By MeeiHuey Sensei

Enchanted Melody.
By doris Liu

Phoenix. By Ying Chen

Autumn's Loss. By Mary

Night at Abandoned City. By Chih Huang

"Ohara Autumn"

The first meeting of the Ikebana International was held on 10/6/2016. The opening luncheon was with a demonstration by Ingrid Luders, the recipient of the Meiji Ichijikin Award for her outstanding contributions in the promotion of Ohara school. Every piece of her demonstrations were beautiful! I especially like the first picture below, using six giant painted Allium seed pods and glass tubes for flowers, no kazens. It is stunning!