Say good bye to 2022, welcome to year 2023 with health, peace, love and happiness. May everything go smoothly for you in the new year ahead.
I bought a bunch of lily for our class lesson a week ago. After that I made two extra arrangements using them. Once again, it’s a Japanese New Year Arrangement! (12/28/2022)
 |
| I use “tsubo” vase for this arrangement |
 |
| “Tsubo” vase has a narrow opening and wider, round body. Kenzan is not used in a “Tsubo” vase |
This year my Nandina plants are growing very well and beautiful! I made many arrangements using them, especially in winter time. Their leaves are lush green turning to shades of red, their berries vary from orange to very red. They are perennial, easily spread to new baby plants that I offend like to transplant and give away.
Here is another Christmas holiday arrangement. Nandina can last very long, but not lily, if you wish you can change with fresh flowers from time to time. ( 12/28/2022)
We didn’t have Xmas tree this year for the first time. But I made a bigger table Ikebana Xmas arrangement instead. All my children and grandchildren had come home for the holiday! Three generations 14 members in total. We had a wonderful, festive and joyful time together!
 |
| Same idea as previous one, but using different main flowers |
 |
| I think we got the best gift of all 😁🙏 |
Lesson two: Table arrangement with holiday theme. This is a freestyle Japanese New Year “Oshogatsu” arrangement using Mizuhiki.
Materials: Oriental lily, carnation, magnolia branch, winterberry, pine and Mizuhiki. I used an old bamboo as container, arranged in horizontal style. It’s perfect for table arrangement.
 |
| Arranged at the class, no background to take better picture |
 |
| Close up look |
 |
| Using leftover mum to practice this assigned subject |
Our December class meeting is always a special time with our year-end potluck luncheon after our morning class lessons. I brought my potato with ham salad to share with group. We had only two lessons.
Since these two arrangements were “East meets West” freestyle for either holiday theme, I decided my Christmas arrangement using holy branch with berries, poinsettia, pine, lily and ornamental balls. The other one would be Japanese New Year “Oshogatsu” using Mizuhiki (paper string) for holiday table arrangement.
 |
| Original design at home add allium on top |
 |
| Hate Sensei’s demo |
 |
| Side view with red ball |
 |
| Different angle |
 |
| Arranged in class |
I heard that the feedback from my demonstrations last Thursday were nice and delightful! The club members enjoyed it a lot and had a very fun time! I am glad I had this opportunity to practice my Ikebana skills; one thing for sure that I gained confidence for myself.
I had some flowers left from last time, here’s the arrangement: berried branch, mum, carnation and philodendron /ceramic container
I was invited to give a talk about Ikebana and do some demonstrations for the “Living well club”, located in Livingston, New Jersey. This club was organized special for American Taiwanese senior citizens. Their members meet every Thursday. Besides exercising, socializing and luncheon, they always have a special speaker with different kinds of topics at the end.
This Thursday (12/1/2022), I was the speaker. I started my first demonstration “ Basic Slanting Style Moribana” to explain how important the basic rules of Sogetsu Ikebana arrangement are. And then I went on to free traditional or contemporary styles.
 |
| Basic slanting style, Autumn cherry blossom, pine, mum/ ceramic |
 |
| Rustic placemat, tree bark, mum, carnation, bittersweet/ ceramic |
 |
| Azalea, mum, carnation, bittersweet, nandina, mat / metal container |
 |
| The last demo. Holiday arrangement |
 |
| Amazon gift bag for container |
 |
| Wrap glass bottle by Rustic placement for container |
From October to now, three Cattleya orchids have been fading away. But “Xenia” orchid (second picture) has been in bloom for a long while. Gladly, two oncidium and two phalaenopsis orchids are on the way (they are budding). I have a lot to be thankful for, and this is one of them. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
 |
| 11/16/2022 |
 |
| Epi. Cilive “Xenia” 11/9/2022 |
 |
| 11/1/2022 |
 |
| 11/26/2022 |
We have a beautiful weather for Thanksgiving day! Walking outside and getting fresh air! An ikebana idea flashed into my mind, and I made this arrangement using old materials! I am thinking to use this idea to do the demo too.😊
This was a busy week, I had Ikebana class on Tuesday, then on Thursday, I attended I.I. Philadelphia chapter’s meeting program “Comtemporary Style of Ikebana”, a demonstration by Che-haw Wang (teacher diploma 1st grade Komon of the Sogetsu school, from Texas). I also signed up for a workshop on Friday. Although it was a hectic week, I thought it was a worthy and very productive week. (11/17/2022)
Here are her contemporary arrangements, please see below:
Nineteen members attended the workshop led by Sensei Mrs. Wang. All the materials provided. Personally, I do not like this unconventional material, which seemed to overpower the arrangement, but perhaps this is the subject.
 |
| Sensei’s demo arrangement |
 |
| My arrangement |
 |
| This arrangement is by a member of Ichiyo school |
We planted two persimmon trees four years ago. I was so happy and excited to see that they had a lot of blossoms this year, which then grew to many tiny fruits. I checked them almost every day, but I didn’t know why the tiny persimmons dropped off little by little. So sad! Today, I harvested only one beautiful persimmon! I cut this precious “one persimmon branch” to use for this arrangement! (11/15/2022)
 |
| See! my arrangement using fruit branch, only one persimmon left |
 |
| Hata Sensei’s demo arrangement |
 |
| Marcia’s arrangement, very unique |
