Special Occasion - Christmas Eve Family Get Together

The extended family gathering on Christmas Eve has become our tradition! We hosted this year with the help of our children. The first generation, second and third generations all together were 32 people in total!  Every family member was so happy to see each other and gratefully enjoyed the holiday potluck dinner! Big families crowded in my small but cozy home! The older and younger cousins only meet once a year, so it was a great time to catch up with everyone!  (12/24/2023)

It’s a happy occasion, I put all the fresh flowers in this arrangement 

See the Xmas lights outside of my neighbor’s yard

December Class - Fun for The Holiday

Lesson two: Composition using unconventional materials with a holiday theme.   I did read the text book 5-7 couple times, but I was wondering if I could use a little bit of fresh materials for the holiday theme besides the other unconventional materials? Then I realized in the class, you should compose only with unconventional materials. So, I quickly changed the Xmas holly to chocolate balls (from classmate). It’s the best I could do! Sensei said it’s cute! 😅 (12/12/2023)

Xmas holly, copper wire, white sparkly fabric/ ceramic vase 

Sensei’s arrangement 

My arrangement with Xmas colors 

December Lessons- Free Style For the Holiday

December is our traditional potluck lunch after the two morning lessons.  Hata Sensei showed us two beautiful demonstrations for the holiday arrangements: Christmas and New Year!

Lesson One: Make an arrangement using a favorite container, it’s a freestyle with a holiday theme (12/12/2023)

Winter berry, ornamental cabbage, carnation and evergreen /
 ceramic container 

Sensei’s demo, Merry Xmas 

Sensei’s demo, Happy New Year 

Classmate’s arrangement, Oshogatsu

My other arrangement for New Year (12/10/2023)

The Birthday Bouquet - Ikebana for Celebration

It was a very special birthday celebration for me last weekend (earlier then my actual date). Not only did I received a beautiful bouquet, but I also enjoyed an exquisite Japanese dinner “Omakase” style with all my children and grandchildren! Especially, we got the chance to get together and all celebrate my 80th birthday at the Sushi of Gari Tribeca restaurant in NYC.  I felt so fortunate and happy! It was a blessing! (12/9/2023)

The flowers of this arrangement, I used only a part of a bouquet.  

“Art in Bloom” Exhibition at Delaware Contemporary art Museum

18 members of I. I. Philadelphia chapter participated in this year’s “Art in Bloom” exhibition event.  You should see how each person interpreted their chosen artwork in their arrangements!! It’s amazing!

How I Interpreted My Artwork in the Arrangement

My daughter, Vivian, who is an architect, explained to me what “Quartersawn” meant (the title of the painting). Initially, I picked the painting for its vibrant colors, but I had no idea what was the meaning of the word, quartersawn. Then with her help and researching, I changed my preliminary thoughts to have more depth and understanding of the word. During the Thanksgiving gathering, I had my granddaughter, Hadynn, help me. She spray painted some bamboo strips blue for me. Later, all I needed to do was just buy flowers and gather other materials. I tried to arrange it at home until the we were ready to go to set up.

Materials: blue painted bamboo strips, bleached mitsumata, orange alstroemeria, yellow mum, pale yellow small carnation, and dried Aspidistra / two black ceramic containers and wood 

Exhibition from 12/1 to 12/3/2023

The Interpretation of an Art Work

I was trying to make two arrangements at home to see which one interpreted the painting better. Then I will have my designated arrangement ready to set up at the Delaware Contemporary art center on 11/30/2023.

Materials: painted blue bamboo strips, yellow mums, orange alstroemerias, pale yellow small carnations, dried Aspidistra and bleached mitsumata / two black ceramic containers and wood.

Made at home on 11/29/2023

The art piece “Quartersawn” (60”x 48”) on the ground 

First tried without alstroemerias