Decorating at Shofoso Japanese House and Garden

The crazy weather for the last couple of weeks has been stabilizing and feeling warmer. The Shofoso Japanese House and Garden opens to the public beginning in the month of April. The Ikebana International (I.I.) Philadelphia chapter has been in charge and responsible for the Ikebana decoration for the house's particular location for years. For the third weekend of April, three of us from Buxmont study group were assigned to decorate Ikebana arrangements for the location of the main tatami room, entrance, tea room and kitchen. (4/20/2014)

Main tatami room, by me

kitchen area by Monica, should be viewed all around

Tea room, by Betty and me

Entrance by Betty

Make a Basket and Arrange in It

This month in Hata Sensei's class, we spent the morning hours making a basket. Everyone in the class shared the expense for the basket materials. We just needed to bring some sort of container and plant materials that fit in our basket for an arrangement. In the afternoon, everyone made an arrangement in our own created basket.
I sorely regret that there was no time to take pictures of the other classmates' baskets, so I could show you how wonderful everyone did with their own basket arrangement. (4/16/2018) 

my creation, I left the empty area unweaved     

Japaneses Quince, pine and demdrobium (in class)

Japanese quince, azalea, daffodil and green (at home)

Spring Arrangements

Finally! Spring is in the air! You can spot the Daffodil and Forsythia almost every where. I would like to use them in my arrangements at this time. (4/10/2018)

Daffodil flower and leaves, azalea and magnolia branch/ceramic 

Horizontal style (4/10/2018 class)

Forsythia, daffodil, statice and green / ceramic

The Japanese Government award Hata Sensei

Mrs. Hata was awarded "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays" medal from the Japanese government at a reception at the Nippon Club in New York on March 8th. The festivities included a two-day Ikebana exhibition by many of Hata Sensei's students. The exhibition was to honor Sensei's lifelong contributions to the promotion of mutual cultural understanding between Japan and the United States. 

I should have attended and celebrated this wonderful and beautiful ceremony and party. But I was so disappointed and frustrated not be able to go due to the big snow storm (March 7). The 7 inches of wet snow caused a lot of falling trees and a power outage for 24 hours in our area, which also messed up the train schedules. 

I am so grateful someone from the NY chapter sent me these pictures. Even though I was not there to congratulate my teacher in person, it's such an honor to be Hata Sensei's student.     

Relief Works

Compositions made on flat base surfaces are called Relief. This relief works is in text book 5. it said " Dried, colored, or bleached materials are arranged on a piece of cardboard, a wooden board or other flat base. Unconventional materials can be arranged but fresh plants are not used in this work."
Hare are my composition and other two classmates' works.

My composition for your imagination

Shape of Container

In Hata Sensei's class, one of the lesson's subject was "Shape of Container." I selected a round, heavy black ceramic container from my collection. I forced the forsythia to bloom and shaped it into a circle to match the container. In the middle is tiger lily. Hata Sensei's criticism was the forsythia is too powerful and suggested making another circle downwards to balance the arrangement. I also think that the forsythia needs more trimming. (3/19/2018 class)

My arrangement

simple and beautiful arrangement by Sensei

Upright Style "Ka-bu-wa-ke" the water must be shown between the two Kabu

Magnolia Branch

After a big snow storm, our area had lost power for 20 some hours. The house became colder and colder, so we decided to drive around our nearby neighborhood, then we saw many tree branches fallen down on the ground. A big, beautiful budding Magnolia branch laying on the ground caught my eye and I thought it might be a nice material for an upcoming Ikebana class.

One of Hata Sensei's class, must use Tulip in an arrangement (3/19/2018 class)

 

I arranged at home. Magnolia with rose and Alstroemeria / ceramic

It's blooming after two weeks, changed to pine and flowering pear tree

Golden Anniversery

March 30, 2018 was our 50th anniversary. All my three children and their spouses plus four grandchildren came home for a day of celebration. It was also Easter weekend. After we finished our feast in the restaurant, we came home to have the desert, Brooklyn bakery cakes. My husband and I were so happy and proud of the good progress of our family; the successful careers of our 2nd generation children and the doing well in school of our 3rd generation grandchildren. The most important and fortunate aspect is everybody is in good health. Thank you for these blessings.
I received this flower bouquet from my children. The colors reflect this occasion. I used most of the flowers to make an Ikebana arrangement to memorialize our golden anniversary.
We have been planing a family vacation trip to Umbrie Italy in August. It is part of our anniversary celebration and family reunion too. We are all looking forward to it!

Golden color and five rinds for the Golden Anniversery