Freestyle Using Mitsumata

June was a busy month! My last arrangement in June for my own pleasure was freestyle using two main materials; Mitsumata and painted allium which were just sitting in the Ikebana room, the rest of the other materials were easy to find from my garden. They were hydrangeas (two kinds) and Stokes Aster. (6/27/2024) 

Arrangement with Bamboo Mat

I have been playing and trying to make an arrangement with bamboo mat (or sheet), for the purpose of future workshop. See below: I used two kinds of containers, ceramic vase and suiban. 

Hydrangea, Solomon seal and dried palm (6/24)

Using leftover mums, feverfew and Mitsumata

Friends Remembering Friends

June/18/2024 was the last class of the season. It was a lovely ending to our year of ikebana with so many memories of friends who are no longer with us. Our arrangements were expressions of what ikebana means to each of us, and sharing the memories of our friends in Ikebana. We all had a wonderful and meaningful time!  

My arrangement was an expression of my memory to a friend who was always dear to me in the class room. I would like to use her wood structure which I owned through raffles during her memorial service two years ago. I missed her!

The wood structure was made by Midori Sensei 

The back view 

My first attempted design 

Feverfew and Blue Crystal Bowl

Actually, feverfew is an herb; you can make tea from it, fresh or dried. It has been called “medieval aspirin” or aspirin of the 18th century.” Feverfew is used mostly to treat headaches. Do you believe it or not?!

The Purple Japanese Iris

The yellow and white Japanese irises are gone, only few purple Japanese irises remaining. But tiny white “feverfew” flowers are just starting to bloom, which are spreading a lot more this year. I think they are an invasive plant! (6/1/2024)

Peonies and Garden

The month of May is coming to the end! So are my peonies. This arrangement made on 5/17/2024, one day before my demonstration at Taiwanese Grace Church. (For the purpose of demo practicing)

Mountain Laurel 

May Class - Freestyle Using Mitsumata

On May’s class lessons, we have to create two freestyle arrangements: (1) Using Mitsumata,  (2) Using whatever you have in your garden, flower and other materials, and (3) Variation No.5 Upright Style Moribana (Ka-bu-wa-ke). 

(1) I made my mind to use a metal moon shaped container with Mitsumata from time to time. I picked three different colors of peonies from my garden and made three similar requested arrangements. Which one is your favorite?  (5/21/2024)

Peony, lilac and nine bark, in class (5/21/2024) 

Tree peony, alstroemeria and spirea (5/15/2024)

Pink peony, lilac and nine bark (5/13/2024)

May Class Lessons- Ka-bu-wa-ke

Lesson 3 is variation No.5 Upright Style Moribana. The text book said: One group of arranged branches is called “Kabu” in Ikbana. As this style has separate “Kabu,” it’s called “Ka-bu-wa-ke,” and the water should be shown between the two groups (Kabu). It needs two Kenzans, Shin (15degree) and Soe (45degree) form one group and Hikae ((75degree) is in another group. (5/21/2024)

Materials: azalea, iris and mountain Laurel / ceramic container 

May Class - Freestyle Using Flowers & Materials from Your Garden

Class Lesson (2) : Peonies, peonies and more peonies in the month of May. Obviously! My materials would have all kinds of peonies from my garden; the others were hosta, nine bark and bamboo mat. (5/21/2024)

Arranged in class on 5/21/2024 

Arranged earlier at home before class / ceramic vase 

Side view 

Demonstration and Workshop

A good friend of mine invited me to participate in the demonstration along with Doris herself and Haloko at the Grace Church on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Each person did two demo arrangements then followed workshop. We had twenty persons participated, they all learned Ikebana basic upright style moribana.

I always emphasize to use seasonal materials, especially this time of year, there are so many beautiful flowers in bloom in my garden. If I don’t use them I would feel so sorry for them and myself!  Peonies, irises, lilacs, hosta, peeled wisteria vine, mountain laurel, Solomon seal and weigela were used in my two freestyle arrangements. (5/18/2024)

Tried at home earlier with tree peony and nine bark

Tried earlier with weigela  

Two demo arrangements at church 

Demo by Doris using bamboo pieces